Small's big expenses at the Smithsonian

We U.S. taxpayers help support national institutions like the Smithsonian. There was the secret sweetheart deal the institution made with Showtime Networks and now comes the revelations of expenses and the money that it doled out to it's chief officer. Both deserve some scrutiny.

"Internal Smithsonian documents offer a glimpse into what one senator called the "Dom Perignon" lifestyle of the taxpayer-supported institution's chief official, who turned in a $15,000 receipt for the replacement of French doors at his home and spent $48,000 for two chairs, a conference table and upholstery for his office suite."-Washington Post

Congress needs to start digging to see how these deals came to be.

SOME BCP AWARDS FOR 2006

Well as 2006 comes to an end I thought it might be a good time to hand out some year end awards.

BEST EXAMPLE OF A POLITICAN SHOOTING HIMSELF IN THE FOOT:

NEW MEXICO GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON

BEST EXAMPLE OF A POLITICIAN SHOOTING SOMEONE ELSE IN THE FACE:

DICK CHENEY

BEST LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

TO THE WASHINGTON POST

WORST REPORTING BY A NEWSPAPER:

NEWSDAY

SMELLIEST DEAL MADE BY AN INSTITUTION THAT RECEIVES PUBLIC FUNDS:

SMITHSONIAN

These are just a few of the items that aroused my attention in 2006. There were MANY more but, tonight it is time to celebrate the New Year arriving and to paraphrase Dorothy Parker see what fresh hell the new year brings. Happy New Year Everyone!