Jay Bookman

By Class of '98

January 22, 2009 7:26 PM | Link to this

Jay, this is one thing we agree on. This is an outrage.

By T

January 22, 2009 7:27 PM | Link to this

I chose the wrong career path.

Soooo, lets see. I could do a crappy job, lose millions of my companies money and still receive a huge bonus. Wow.

Then the people whom are punished are the ones that make less than a third of what I do, in the form of layoffs.

Interesting.

When my mother told me to look to Uncle Sam for help, she meant the military.

By fed up

January 22, 2009 7:41 PM | Link to this

This is exactly why this banking *#%% needs to be investigated and all found guilty or culpable in any way, form or fashion need to go to jail no matter who they are.

By Paul

January 22, 2009 7:44 PM | Link to this

Republicans blew oversight.

Democrats didn’t do much better the first go-around. Maybe they will for the second go-around. Heck, maybe they can find the time to hold hearings and draft some legislation. But that requires looking forward. They’re still fixated on the rear-view mirror.

Sheesh. More bad news, but somebody’s gotta deliver it. Thanks, Jay. I think.

I’m going to go fix a drink.

g’night

By Eleanor Rigby

January 22, 2009 7:54 PM | Link to this

Outrageous! Un-%%%%ing-believable! And these slime balls would look down their nose at the likes of you and me.

By tinker

January 22, 2009 7:55 PM | Link to this

So, this has been posted for a little over an hour. Where are the usual folks that are always here, whining about their hard earned money being taken from them, and given to “those people” who just want it handed to them? Maybe they all had sense enough to put a sock in it…..? One can hope.

By RW-(the original)

January 22, 2009 7:56 PM | Link to this

As bad as this sounds on the surface it’s really hard to condemn it out of hand without looking at several factors. First you would need a list of all the bonuses that were paid, to whom, and for what. It’s conceivable that certain players legitimately earned their bonus and it’s not unreasonable that the payouts were moved up under the circumstances.

Does anybody have such a list so we could analyze this in a factual manner rather than an emotional one?

By GOP is gone

January 22, 2009 7:57 PM | Link to this

Merrill is not the ONLY one giving bonuses. AIG also gave them out. I was personally told this by a recipient.

Sickening

By Eleanor Rigby

January 22, 2009 8:08 PM | Link to this

And while we’re discussing imcompetence and/or corruption, I’m not too happy about this Timothy Geithner thing either. Even if you buy his story that it was all an honest mistake on his part, how can you expect someone to run the treasury, no less, when they can’t seem to pay their own income tax! We are s%%wed! Sc%%wed! A few more of these financial geniuses and we’ll all be emigrating to Mexico.

By AJC/DNC Management

January 22, 2009 8:15 PM | Link to this

{{{{By Paul January 22, 2009 7:44 PM Republicans blew oversight.}}}}

Paul: You may want to check me but the US House of Representatives has a committee-

{{{{The House Committee on Financial Services oversees all components of the nation’s housing and financial services sectors including banking, insurance, real estate, public and assisted housing, and securities. The Committee continually reviews the laws and programs relating to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Reserve Bank, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and international development and finance agencies such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The Committee also ensures enforcement of housing and consumer protection laws such as the U.S. Housing Act, the Truth In Lending Act, the Housing and Community Development Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Community Reinvestment Act, and financial privacy laws. Click here for a more detailed description of jurisdiction by subcommittee.}}}}

And democrats control this committee-

{{{{Chairman Barney Frank represents Massachusetts’ Fourth Congressional District. The other Democratic members of the Committee are:}}}}

Outrage, indeed.

geez

By Paul

January 22, 2009 8:20 PM | Link to this

Okay, I left, turned on the tv and thought - “this is just too rich.”

Seems according to a “source close to the governor” that Ms Kennedy dropped out of consideration for the Senate because… she was having an affair with Arthur Salsberger (sp) publisher of the New York Times.

Nothing proven. Noting substantiated. Ms Kennedy said “personal reasons.” Here’s a suggestion: NY Times drags out the article they ran with unnamed sources and innuendo that Sen McCain was having an affair with a lobbyist. All they have to do is substitute “Ms Kennedy” for “Sen McCain” and “NY Times publisher” for “lobbyist.” See? Easy! And it simply follows their already-established journalistic standards!

Then they can have their reporters conduct an on the record interview with their publisher and ask him “You knew about this affair with a person being considered for public office. Why did you not come forward with this information? Why did you operate in secrecy, seeking to deceive the citizens of NY?”

I really am going to go fix a drink. If I can stop chuckling.

Irony. I love irony.

By Class of '98

January 22, 2009 8:24 PM | Link to this

Hey RW-

I’ve did a great job at work this year, but the company I work for went under last week. Why don’t you go ahead and write me a check.

I do, after all, deserve it for a job well done.

Don’t like that idea? It’s the same thing.

By Paul

January 22, 2009 8:24 PM | Link to this

Management

I was referring to the years building up to the collapse. Also the SEC’s apparent numbthumb when they got reports of irregularities, as with Madoff. It just struck me as not enough skepticism. Reminds me of a scene from Yes, Prime Minister where the head of the Bank of London was being questioned by one of the PM’s people regarding one of his staff who was thought to be involved in irregularities. When asked if he’d confronted the man, the head of the Bank replied, “good heavens, no. One just doesn’t do that with such a chap. Bad form. Implies we may have something bad going on.”

I know some Reps were warning loud and long. But it wasn’t enough. Dems hammered them for “no regulation.” I’ll stipulate to that. But now they have established the standards and we’ll see how they measure up.

By fed up

January 22, 2009 8:26 PM | Link to this

Wow tinker are you one of the ones we’re handing it to?

By AJC/DNC Management

January 22, 2009 8:28 PM | Link to this

I shouldn’t be so hard on Bwarney Fwank-

{{{{U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs- US Senator Christopher J. Dodd Chairman}}}}

Hahahaha, Bwarney’s had some help.

Geez, let’s see here, the majority of the financial irregularities have occured within the last two years, hmmmmmmmmmmmm, gee, I wonder what time period that coincides with, gosh?

morons.

I can’t even imagine the amount of kickbacks these felons Fwank and Dodd have got.

geez

By @@

January 22, 2009 8:40 PM | Link to this

(((the company had to be bailed out by taxpayers)))

Had to be, jay? HAD to be?

The “brokers” in D.C. did this without consent from the shareholders.

But hey! They’ve got a plan…..

Thppbbbt!

By fed up

January 22, 2009 8:42 PM | Link to this

I agree with Ms. Rigby…corruption at it’s finest. This guy Geithner doesn’t pay his taxes even though he knows he owes them and then pays them right before he’s nominated for this position. Didn’t Bush nominate someone who had an illegal cleaning his house and they wouldn’t confirm due to that? But it’s okay to not pay your taxes? Hypocrisy.

By AT

January 22, 2009 8:42 PM | Link to this

I work with these type (investment bankers) day in and day out. I have no sympathy. They have destroyed our economy with their greed. This is ourageous and they are slime balls. There is no excuse fro them destroying their companies except complete greed. They tricked the rating agencies, investors, and borrowers for greed, greed, greed.

By AJC/DNC Management

January 22, 2009 8:44 PM | Link to this

I’ve already won, because I didn’t vote for these racist &^%$-

{{{{Oblahmasan labor secretary Robert REICH: I am concerned, as I’m sure many of you are, that these jobs not simply go to high skill people who are already professionals or to white male construction workers. I have nothing against white male construction workers. I’m just saying that there are a lot of other people who have needs as well, and therefore, in my remarks, I have suggested to you, and I’m certainly happy to talk about it more, ways in which the money can be — criteria can be set so that the money does go to others, the long-term unemployed, minorities, women, people who are not necessarily construction workers or high skilled professionals.}}}}

Maybe we coulda used the words “job training programs” and all would have been well, but no, that isn’t how the democrat party works, you are a color to them, a wrong color and a right color.

I won, and I never thought it would be so apparent on Day Number Two, I didn’t vote for your little manchild, you did.

By @@

January 22, 2009 8:51 PM | Link to this

OTHER people?

Is that the same as saying “those people”?

By RW-(the original)

January 22, 2009 9:05 PM | Link to this

Class of 98,

Sorry to hear that unless it’s just your idea of an illustration. They would be two entirely different things though.

Maybe if Jay B doesn’t slam the door shut we can discuss this later, but I’ll be out until about 11.

By s

January 22, 2009 9:15 PM | Link to this

Ok, I have had enough of this. If you work for a company and that company loses money you don’t get a freaking bonus, got it! I don’t care if you think you are a God, you don’t get a bonus, you are broke! When you are broke and we the taxpayers have to bail your butts out, you don’t turn around and give our money to yourself and your cohorts in crime, got it! No one and I mean no one forced(held a gun to your head) you(the banks) to lend money to those who could not afford it. You all are self made men/women, you are all thieves.

You are thieves of the worst kind, you stole from us the taxpayers and I will not keep quiet any longer. You and your cohorts or anyone who took our(taxpayers) money should be in Jail. I for one will be passing the above info on so others can see what enormous crooks you all are. I hope you are all prosecuted to the full extent of the law!

To these company’s(boards) that give bonuses to CEO’S and their cohorts that are broke or on the edge, I will no longer be buying any of your stock! There is no one worth more than what our President makes, no one. It is time the good old boys/girls on these boards of company’s find that out. Enough is Enough. Time to pay the piper.

By Eric

January 22, 2009 9:21 PM | Link to this

“What really gets me aggravated — and still leaves me frankly astonished — is the sense of royal entitlement to other people’s money that developed on Wall Street. It’s just mind-boggling.”

Take out the words “Wall Street” and replace them with the words “Congress and the President”

Something tells me Jay doesn’t get as aggravated at that one, even though their sense of royal entitlement is bigger, and has lasted longer, than anything happening on Wall Street.

Of course, Jay probably believes in the statement “we’re from the government, we’re here to help”

By GayGrayGeek

January 22, 2009 9:37 PM | Link to this

@@: The “brokers” in D.C. did this without consent from the shareholders.

That’s right. Your Very Own REPUBLICAN administration and REPUBLICAN President and REBPUBLICAN Treasury Secretary bailed ‘em out last Fall. Glad to see you’re finally recognizing a slight glimmer of “Reality” there…

By fed up

January 22, 2009 9:39 PM | Link to this

Just think about it if we all knew what Geithner did and they’re still going through with his nomination…can you imagine what’s going on behind closed doors. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again all the people in Congress should have been voted out, every last one of them. They aren’t doing their jobs and a lot of them knew exactly what was going on and did nothing.

By fed up

January 22, 2009 9:53 PM | Link to this

Sorry GayGrayGeek it wasn’t just the Republicans. The dems are just as much at fault in all this as the repubs are. They’re all crooks and looking out for themselves and who will line their pockets. It’s past time to get rid of all of them and start over. They all knew this was coming and chose to do NOTHING!!

By TW

January 22, 2009 9:53 PM | Link to this

The ‘w’ admin will go down in history as the sickest get rich scheme in the history of the US. ‘Who cares if ‘operation iraq entrepreneurship’ fails - we’ll always have the neat little deregulation bud here at home just waiting to bloom.’

Somebody needs to go to jail - and there ain’t nuthin’ ‘liberal’ about that.

By vuduchld

January 22, 2009 10:03 PM | Link to this

On Tuesday in midtown, a friend alerted me to a group of people holding placards saying “Honk if you’re a capitalist”. This is naturally in response to Obama becoming president, with the thinking that he is going to snatch their wealth. Well, he won’t and didn’t have to because the real capitalists like Bernie Madoff and Merrill Lynch already have.

I’m not against capitalism, but I am against the greed and graft that has given capitalism a bad name. These same people berate Obama, but turn a blind eye and deaf ear to the REAL thieves who are stealing and pilfering the $$$$.

Why haven’t these same people ask the basic question of why even average Americans are now asking for more financial regulation. The reason is that FOLKS LIKE THEM CAN’T AND WON’T REGULATE THEMSELVES. These past 8 years are a classic case for this thesis.

Free markets can only work if people are honest and truthful with other peoples money. For them to now come and try to cast Barak Obama as some thieving socialist out to grab their $$$$ is completely ludicrous.

Folks, the party is long over, it is time for people to get back to reality. Please tell those who were out there with their raging megaphones on Tuesday to stop drinking the Jim Jones Kool-Aid!!

By getalife

January 22, 2009 10:10 PM | Link to this

Congrats on keeping the blog open.

I have to agree with Isakson for a full investigation.

These people act like nothing is wrong and business as usual in government and Wall Street.

It stinks to high heaven.

By frog1101

January 22, 2009 10:12 PM | Link to this

if the managers were that pathetically inept at what they were doing, why don’t they take the money back?

By jon

January 22, 2009 10:12 PM | Link to this

Jay,

I agree with your outrage. How about the millions that CitiBank gave to spice up Obama’s coronation?

And about Geithner. His tax evasion was no innocent mistake. He was reimbursed by IMF for the money he was supposed to pay in taxes. When he got the reimbursement money, he signed statements that the money was reimbursement for his tax obligation. Either he purposefully evaded taxes or he is stupid. I vote for the former.

Next news conference that the O’man gives, do you think that any of the press will ask him if he still wants a tax dodger to head up the Treasury Dept?

By Greg Mendel

January 22, 2009 10:14 PM | Link to this

Off Topic —-

I see a new worm has attacked the internet. I have no patience or sympathy with bomb throwing/wearing terrorists, and even less with computer hackers. Could we pass a global law that computer hackers, when tracked down, be crucified? I’m for it. 100%.

By jon

January 22, 2009 10:28 PM | Link to this

But take heart. The O man is freeing the terrorists held at Gitmo and in the secret CIA prisons. The human rights of these people bent on the destruction of our country are going to be preserved. Maybe Bwarny and Chris will take a few into their homes. There is a lot of room in that big White House on Pennslavania Ave. Maybe the Obama girls would like to have some Taliban playmates.

By Paul

January 22, 2009 10:38 PM | Link to this

jon 10:28

Sen McCain has the same views on closing Gitmo and ‘torture’ as does Pres Obama. So even if Obama would’ve lost we’d be seeing the same news stories.

By jon

January 22, 2009 10:54 PM | Link to this

Paul 10:38

So they were both willing to put the human rights of those bent on destroying America in front of preventing the loss of American lives. It was a lose-lose for Americans and win-win for the Taliban.

Obama has put a politician in charge of the CIA. More regulations and handcuffing of our intelligence agencies is to be expected. Maybe “The Wall” between CIA and FBI that Clinton built will be reconstructed.

Next time it be millions of Americans that die, AOT thousands. Nine months after Obama leaves office and the libs can blame a Republican for it all.

By Chad Harris

January 22, 2009 11:03 PM | Link to this

That TARP exists is the major metaphor of why Congress and whoever is President is a farce as far as effective governing. And the blame is bipartisan although clearly the thugs contributed systemically to getting the economy where it is. I can’t talk to an experience realtor that doesn’t find the banks behaving stupidly on a micro and macro leel.

Smash the Bush Rethuglican Stupidity Shoutouts

Boy the rich thuglicans and Ultra Rich Dems like Gathier and Caroline Kennedy sure do deploy illegal housekeepers and cheat on their taxes don’t they? They simply think they are above the law and don’t care if they get caught. It never matters until they want a high public office anyway.

Russell Tice has confirmed now that Bush and Cheney have collected all your phone conversations and emails. It hasn’t changed in the Obama administration and probably won’t.

Established the means to collect all American communications Analyzed meta-data to select a smaller subset of communications to tap further Conducted human analysis of those messages That is, the Bush administration used meta-data (things like length of phone call that have nothing to do with terrorism) to pick which communications to actually open and read, and then they opened and read them.

USA USA USA right?

Palin who claimed publicity was unfair to her has hired publicity guru and book contract guru from Williams and Connolly attorney Bob Barnett who has done deals for President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Additionally, he has handled TV deals for many top news anchors and reporters, among them Brian Williams, Lesley Stahl, Neil Cavuto, Christiane Amanpour and Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

I see a reality show for her like “Mommies of Highschool Dropouts with Outof Wedlock Kids Who Have Drug Dealing Inlaw Inmates”—whoops they never got married did they? That was a publicity stunt aimed at the 20 percenter Thug base whose votes can’t get anyone elected in a national election.

Guess the grandkid is gonna stay a b*******, but it’s only a term anyway and better than the one Palin usually gives to her kids.

Besides two b******* can marry in any state and b******* are vested with all legal rights. It’s not like they’re “gay” right?

The megachurches campaign mightily to make sure gays have few rights as in Prop 8 in Caleeforney.

And I guess they can’t marry in Georgia. They have to remain in Georgia government/business in the closet for the most part.

How Chuck Todd and the MSM are BSing You

Recently the Bush government made the lying claim in court to FISCR that it does not have a database of the communications of incidentally collected non-targeted persons.

The AJC editorial board has done a maginificent job in publishing next to nothing to date on the illegal wiretapping of email and phone communicatgions by the Bush administration ‘cause hell Jawjaws don’t care and don’t understand it anyway. Right?

By Paul

January 22, 2009 11:04 PM | Link to this

Jon

[[So they were both willing to put the human rights of those bent on destroying America in front of preventing the loss of American lives]]

Apparently so. I’m not sure either has yet figured out what constitutes their ‘human rights’ other than to state what will not be done with them.

[[Obama has put a politician in charge of the CIA]]

So did Pres Ford when he appointed George HW Bush to head the CIA. Bush’s prior stint was head of the Republican National Committee. Doesn’t get much more political than that. His tour turned out pretty well.

But now, I’m gonna turn in.

By Chad Harris

January 22, 2009 11:12 PM | Link to this

Now I know to spell it b******* or busturds perhaps.

By David X

January 22, 2009 11:23 PM | Link to this

Aux guillotines!

By Just ME

January 22, 2009 11:34 PM | Link to this

Overheard: John Thain to Marie Antoinette … “Let them eat cake!

By Just ME

January 22, 2009 11:37 PM | Link to this

Overheard: John Thain to Marie Antoinette … “Let them eat cake!

By RW-(the original)

January 22, 2009 11:43 PM | Link to this

Paul,

I hate to call you out on a technicality…..aw who am I kidding, I love technicalities…..but even though you’re correct that McCain and Obama had very similar views about Gitmo it doesn’t follow that had Obama lost we would see the same stories. For one the media would report from a different angle were McCain the winner, but Obama losing could also mean we just got done swearing in President McKinney or President Nader and I’m certain the lead stories would be different in those cases.

By bj

January 23, 2009 12:00 AM | Link to this

obama on gitmo.

lame.

whatever

By Chad Harris

January 23, 2009 12:00 AM | Link to this

You can parse Gitmo to infinity, but the main problem with Gitmo is not that some of the inhabitants at Gitmo are terrorists who want to kill innocent people. The main problems is that a large percentage of them aren’t.

The cases for holding them there weren’t in any way shape or form investigations and evidence. They were heresay by scumbags who were bribed by US dollars to say anything to confirm superstitcians. A story that got no play in AJC because it deems Georgians to stupid to understand national stories is that the last week Bush was in office about 20 something people were freed from Gitmo who had not been charrged, where there was never evidence uncovered they did anything wrong without a scintilla of apology. And they’re the tip of the Gitmo iceberg.

What a lazy DOJ and CIA that they sat on their butts with thumbs firmly planted inside for over 6 years with no evidence gathering whatsoever.

The Washington establishment’s plans for Obama’s executive orders

By gijoe

January 23, 2009 12:28 AM | Link to this

shoot ‘em on the battlefield and be done with it.

By Chad Harris

January 23, 2009 12:31 AM | Link to this

And a lot of them weren’t on any battlefield. This ain’t the Jaw Jaw Hee Haw Florida game. The battlefields have increased exponentially now in Pakistan and Afghanistan thanks to the hicks who were in office for 8 years and the hicks who backed them in Congress including a lot of Blue Dog Dems.

By Chad Harris

January 23, 2009 12:41 AM | Link to this

It’s down to Kirstin Gillibrand and Andrew Coumo in NY for Senate.

Jist cause your daddy had enough money to buy hookers as expensive as Marilyn Monroe and the mob boss’ wimins don’t mean your unlimited inheritance can buy you into office.

Caroline has learned that and that she has no business being in public office. Once a Park Avenue y’know y’know y’know maven who doesn’t think the peasants need answers and that they can stuff themselves with cake, always an elitist effitist. Buh Buh.

By jaypat

January 23, 2009 3:10 AM | Link to this

And as of yet, not a single soul has figured out why this thing is so screwed up.

The problem, ladies and gentlemen, is because the banks are creating the money. One of our great forebears, Thomas Jefferson, said that if it ever came that the bankers were creating the money, then that would be the end of the republic.

Unfortunately, that is what has been happening since 1913. Now we are near the logical end of this trap. There is one more huge blowup, the the final explosion. See the Mandlebrot set for the complete mathematical description of the catastrophe. But that was late in coming.

I just want to ask a simple person a simple question: How can you loan money that you do not have? That’s not possible, right? It’s fraud under any circumstance…except if you are a banker, then it’s called “leverage”. But that is exactly what happened for the past umpteen years, and now the mathematics of it all have fallen on us to clean up.

I ain’t gonna do it. They can go to hell.

I am ready to create a new country if need be, but no more of this .

By joel

January 23, 2009 5:07 AM | Link to this

“royal entitlement to other people’s money that developed on Wall Street.” I agree with you on this one. To bad you can’t see the that the expectation of entitlement to other peoples money doesn’t just happen on Wall Street. The Federal government has redistributing “other peoples money” for many years. I guess it just depends on who’s money is being redistributed.

By AJC/DNC Management

January 23, 2009 5:47 AM | Link to this

Blah, blah, blah-

{{{{President Barack Obama’s top military officials said Thursday they will make sure he knows the potential downside of any timetable for pulling U.S. forces out of Iraq, including the 16-month deadline Obama set during his presidential campaign. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the 16-month option is one of several. He did not provide a range, nor say which option he prefers. Speaking publicly for the first time since Obama took office, Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, suggested the 16-month timeline is not as firm as Obama’s campaign rhetoric implied, blah, blah, blah-Urinal/Jihad}}}}

“Staying the course,” are we?

By AJC/DNC Management

January 23, 2009 6:35 AM | Link to this

{{{{Economy, Jobs Trump All Other Policy Priorities In 2009-Pew Research}}}}

“Global warming” scored a whopping 30% and placed at the very bottom of the list, a full percentage point below trade policy.

Funny how the people who do not stand to profit from this hoax couldn’t care less about it.

By Josh

January 23, 2009 6:40 AM | Link to this

Jay, you and all the other democrats are hypocrites. What about the lazy people who don’t work but think they are “entitled to other people’s money” that actually work for a living, you know, spreading the wealth as ya’ll like to say?

Jay = Hypocrite

By Paul

January 23, 2009 7:09 AM | Link to this

RW-(the original) 11:43

[[I hate to call you out on a technicality))

Almost as much as I hate calling you out on your calling me out. So technically, it was more of speculation that Sen McCain would’ve followed the same path as Pres Obama, I think you’re on pretty solid ground (technically) to say the media would’ve reported the stories differently.

This is what I read this morning: Headline – “The new President signs executive orders… to halt torture.” Pretty clear, right? Story: - “by banning harsh interrogation practices…”

Waitwaitwait – “harsh” is torture? That’s a main problem with this entire discussion (as is the headline, which implies ‘torture’ of detainees is ongoing) – it’s centered around a term its opponents are loathe to be pinned down upon. Show of hands, everyone: how many have spanked your kid – even once? Hand up? Okay – you are guilty of beating your child. Or engaging in harsh punishment. You should go to jail. The duration was short? Irrelevant. There was no lasting damage? An excuse. You engaged in physical violence against a person in your charge who was unable to defend himself. “There is never an excuse for hitting a child.

Is now when I call people who have ever in their lives spanked a child who also oppose ‘torture’ “hypocrites?” Or are they repentant people who have seen the light? (Oh my, I’m going to get barraged with accusations I’m trivializing torture by comparing it to spanking. Maybe not - Mrs G’s on holiday).

Y’know, RW: under the Field Manual for Interrogations, a spanking or a slap is prohibited and is prosecutable!

AJC/DNC Management 5:47

[[“Staying the course,” are we?]]

MoveOn gets about as much return on their contributors’ investments as…..

Josh 6:40

[[What about the lazy people who don’t work but think they are “entitled to other people’s money”]]

Thank you for staying on topic. Yes, this thread is about Wall Street executives. Oh, you were referring to welfare people? (Other than Wall Street execs?) OHMYGOSH – people go get food stamps or disability pay or get paid because they’re lazy get annual bonuses of ten million dollars?!!? Where do I sign up? Or sit down?

:-)

By bobfromcanton

January 23, 2009 7:13 AM | Link to this

Wow, this is history in the making! I agree with Jay! Better yet, let’s do with the bank execs (that were such a miserable failure) what China does to people that do a bad job with infant formula!!!

By AJC/DNC Management

January 23, 2009 7:32 AM | Link to this

Paul: MoveOn has received many empty platitudes for their “investment” and from what I can see, they seem to be quite contented munching happily on their comfort food.

Odd way to run the world’s only superpower’s foreign policy, by making great gaseous statements of nothingness, statements solely crafted to soothe extreme left wing pinko activists.

And dangerous too. The Islamic radicals attacked us on 9/11 because they thought we were soft and stupid, so here is our new Dear Leader telling the world we are soft and stupid.

I sure hope nothing bad happens.

By metoo

January 23, 2009 7:37 AM | Link to this

Republican Christian morals – at work

By Alecia

January 23, 2009 7:39 AM | Link to this

Before we blame the prior president, let’s look at the real power players, congress. Gee, Republican bashers can you guess who has been in control of congress or who pushed all of these banks to offer loans to everyone? I’ll give you a hint. It starts with a D. Please pull out your 4th grade Social Studies book and check out the branches of government. Also, what is the deal with Geitner? If he does not know how to do his taxes correctly, as he stated in the confirmation hearings, should he be in a position to control money? Either he is incompetent, as stated by him or he is an unethical tax dodger. Gee, neither one looks to good.

By Paul

January 23, 2009 7:50 AM | Link to this

Alecia 7:39

Charles Krauthammer is a conservative columnist and a regular member of Fox’s evening news discussion group. The other evening he gave quite a stirring argument for confirming Geithner and referred to all the difficulties as “trivialities.”

Interesting, eh?

By Salty

January 23, 2009 7:52 AM | Link to this

Separate ‘tax code’ compliance from competency. Geitner is no different than many of us…there comes a point when you simply hope you’re doing taxes correctly. It’s a sham that any of us can’t simply calculate taxes without spending add’l money, and still be unsure if they’re 100% correct.

If Geitner is competent, confirm him. Don’t use our lame tax code as the litmus test, though. Heck, 98% of us would likely flunk that!

By outspoken1

January 23, 2009 7:54 AM | Link to this

I blame me. I blame me for voting for idiots that would make stupid decisions on my behalf. I have elected a group of self serving, gutless and stupid people to take my money and give it to their friends in high places. We allowed our gov to give away our money with no strings attached. I am sick in my heart for what America has become and how stupid we really are. I blame the voters and we are getting what we deserve.

By h ryder

January 23, 2009 7:54 AM | Link to this

The problem as I view it is the lack of term limits. Almost all members of Congress are essentially bribed with reelection donations by a variety of individuals and organizations to obtain their objectives. Few members of the house or senate vote for various bills unless short term or long term enhancement of their personal grandizment is forwarded. Term limits seem to be the answer since voters keep reelecting the people responsible for the cyclical economic woes within the United States. When our representatives vote for what is right for all people in the country rather than those greasing their palms we might return to some fiscal responsiblity.

By Bud Wiser

January 23, 2009 7:57 AM | Link to this

The precedent for all of this malfeasance began back in the 1970’s and ‘80’s under Carter and then Reagan, with the deregulation, and beginning of the destruction, of our nation’s airlines.

Greedy b******* like Frank Lorenzo and T. Boone Pickens (yes, the same one) were allowed, even encouraged, by government to come in and essentially rape the companies assets, enrich themselves immensely in the process, then declare bankruptcy. Then, union contracts would be voided, low cost hires put in place, pensions voided, and then the running of the operation into the ground. Eastern, Continental, Frontier, TWA, BOOM, gone or restructured.

Ever since, under primarily Republican stewardship, these practices have spread like a cancer throughout American industry (mostly to abet the dissolution of unions), and now where it has hurt the most, in finance. It was only a matter of time. Combine this destructive behavior with, in many cases, Democratic oversight, or complicity by staying quiet, and VOILA, you have chaos.

Now we have a president who nominates and gets, among other things, a tax cheat in place as Secretary of the Treasury. Wonder how that IRS oversight thing is going to go for him? I wonder how a similar tax evasion situation like the Sec has would affect, say, the credit rating of any of us? Yeah, I wonder all right.

SSDD - (same —— different day, or different democrat if you want to count this as part of your change we can believe in)

By You betcha

January 23, 2009 8:11 AM | Link to this

I think it is ironic that Bookman has issue with the sense of entitlement bankers developed on Wall Street to “other people’s money” but apparently has no problem with the federal government staking a claim to other people’s money. You can certainly argue the use of the money is completely different, however, you have to appreciate the irony that at it’s core, it is the same thing. If you are taking money that isn’t yours from someone else who earned it, does it really matter if that money goes to buy a solid gold toilet or universal health care? I think all that matters is that the person who earned doesn’t have it anymore. However, I am not surprise that Bookman overlooked this tidbit of irony. He never presents both sides or looks at the whole picture. Now that I think about it, he is quite typical of the what’s mine is mine and what’s yours is mine left.

By Jabroni

January 23, 2009 8:14 AM | Link to this

I think it is ironic that Bookman has issue with the sense of entitlement bankers developed on Wall Street to “other people’s money” but apparently has no problem with the federal government staking a claim to other people’s money. You can certainly argue the use of the money is completely different, however, you have to appreciate the irony that at it’s core, it is the same thing. If you are taking money that isn’t yours from someone else who earned it, does it really matter if that money goes to buy a solid gold toilet or universal health care? I think all that matters is that the person who earned doesn’t have it anymore. However, I am not surprise that Bookman overlooked this tidbit of irony. He never presents both sides or looks at the whole picture. Now that I think about it, he is quite typical of the what’s mine is mine and what’s yours is mine left.

By Mack

January 23, 2009 8:16 AM | Link to this

I have lost all confidence in businessmen. They are all crooks only intersted in howmuch they can steal from investors. Note: I hope President Obama is not counting on Americans living on Social Security to spend money to improve the economy. It takes all their Soc Sec to buy food. We dont have any left to purchase tvs and new autos

By AlphaDog

January 23, 2009 8:24 AM | Link to this

“What really gets me aggravated — and still leaves me frankly astonished — is the sense of royal entitlement to other people’s money that developed” The best statment Bookman has ever penned.

Its funny how that same statement applies to 90% of politicians currently in office.

By Harp

January 23, 2009 8:24 AM | Link to this

Jay this is the first thing I have ever agreed with you on but you nailed this. Simply criminal!! And I’m sitting here with a Wells Fargo letter converting my old Wachovia stock to Wells stock for $0.019!! Less than 2 cents a share! I could not live with myself if I had had a hand in all of this… These folks are pathetic scum.

By BOLO

January 23, 2009 8:26 AM | Link to this

I’m always amused at the security measures and Be On The Lookout postings at our company buildings.
We take great care to keep people from stealing our laptops, yet all the real crimes in America are being committed by the boys sitting at their desks using those laptops.

By dittohead

January 23, 2009 8:30 AM | Link to this

By Boots

January 23, 2009 8:34 AM | Link to this

It sucks!

By AmVet

January 23, 2009 8:35 AM | Link to this

Bud at 7:57, good post. No, great post.

Both political parties and numerous administrations have a hand in this Crime of the Centuries..

There are those fools who posit that this entire scenario unfolded under the past two years of a razor thin Democratically controlled Congress. Or under the past eight years of Bush in the White House.

Do these “leaders” share in this malfeasance and corruption? Did they throw gasoline on the fire? Of course! And in some cases they probably belong in jail.

But you’re right, the seeds were planted long ago and they have been faithfully tended ever since.

Ben Stein, Ralph Nader and Gloria Morganstern, amongst others all predicted nearly the exact details that were coming.

The attempted corporate destruction of capitalism.

Allowed and enabled by the people who were bought off - our governmental agencies that were supposed to protect us.

And I predict that there will be NO widespread prosecutions or economic justice for those who are going to suffer now.

Just bailouts and more turning a blind eye…

By What the..??

January 23, 2009 8:41 AM | Link to this

Now, Jay if it were you or me or any other reader on the blog who basically lied to the Federal Government about the intent or need for cash to save our butts, we’d all be in pokey. This is blatant, NONPARTISAN, robbery and we’re the ones paying for it. What’s worst is BoA is MY FRIKKIN’ bank and they will not refi my mortgage. They are lyin’ that they didn’t know this was happening and further, they went and got more money to pay these bastids. All we have to expect is that the culprits resign and that’s the end of it… How screwed up is that?

By Enough

January 23, 2009 8:47 AM | Link to this

To Alecia

I checked my fourth grade civics textbook and it seems that the Treasury Department, the SEC, FDIC and the FBI—all the other departments and agencies responsible for policing the banking industry— are under the Executive branch of government, the one headed by George Bush for the last eight years. Yes the congressisonal committees responsible for oversight failed, but they were performing oversight, no more. Blaiming them them for this mess would be like giving the House Armed Servcices Committee full credit and glory for a battlefield victory by our military. And as for this right-wing myth that all this is the result of the poor and Bill Clinton forcing the banks to make bad loans— show me please an example of a banking executive who ever complained to congress or anyone else about this mythical “coersion.” They were too busy giving themselves bonuses for booking these bogus loans to complain.

By NICK

January 23, 2009 8:50 AM | Link to this

Your Democratic Congress at work! Here’s the “CHANGE” you STUPID liberals wanted! This is just the “tip of the iceberg!” But hey, Barack The Magic Negro is going to pay for everyone’s gas and mortgage! Already a failed administration…

By dw

January 23, 2009 8:56 AM | Link to this

I normally disagree with Bookman, but he is correct this time. I can’t believe I said that. These Wall Street bigshots are in my opinion essentially guilty of grand theft. They must really go by the 80’s “money for nothing” song creed. Bonuses should be received only when positive profits occur and some of it should trickle down to everyone in that company. I’m not saying it would be the same. But something to share in when a company is successful.

By Braves2009

January 23, 2009 9:04 AM | Link to this

Hey people, stop the party stuff. Its both the Republicans and Democrates and they know it. WE THE PEOPLE accept this. Hows about we all stand up as AMERICANS not PARTY and demand that this spending and corruption be stopped. I have already written my senator and you should too. The fact that we are allowing these banks and insurance companies our hard earned money as a handout (not bailout) is outragious and we need to stop it now. The American dream is to own a home by working hard and earning it, not by government handouts but if this bailout continues it wont matter how hard you work, you money will be taken before it ever gets to your pockets.

Stand up people. Start telling your representatives what you want.

Oh and by the way, Democrates have a plan to sneak Ammensty into a bill behind our backs. You might want to speak up now. Democrate/Republican this is not good. 20 million illegals will become citizens and therefor qualify for our medical, dental and social programs including social security and will not be forced to even begin to know the English language. Therefore when this happens a flood more illegals will come across demanding ammensty because the first 20 million or so got it and it will never end. Our country is being taken over and we need to let our government know now that we are aware of what they are doing and will not tolerate it in any way shape or form. Its only a matter of time before no american can work in america without the ability to speak spanish. That should and cant ever happen. (although its going on now) look at the papers and want adds. MUST SPEAK SPANISH. Why is that, the adds should say MUST SPEAK ENGLISH. Come on people, start standing up and fighting. You dont speak up government will walk all over us. Get a backbone and start yelling and dont stop till the corruption is out of Washington.

By Robert

January 23, 2009 9:05 AM | Link to this

Is it extreme of me to think that John Thain’s severed head on a pike at the base of Wall Street might change this culture? His ilk don’t seem to be getting the message through civil discourse.

By MrLiberty

January 23, 2009 9:05 AM | Link to this

“What really gets me aggravated — and still leaves me frankly astonished — is the sense of royal entitlement to other people’s money that developed on Wall Street.”

The fundamental problem in america is that it is THIS that gets people aggravated, not the implicit sense of entitlement that our government AT ALL LEVELS feels towards our money. Once the 16th amendment was allegedly ratified (read “The Law that Never Was”) all citizens effectively became slaves of the government. They could now take as much of our income as they desired and we had no choice.

Since that horrible change in the relationship with government, there has been a permanent sense of entitlement on the part of government employees and elected representatives to as much money as they desire. Yet any criticism of this fundamental relationship is blasted with platitudes about the “social contract” which none of us ever signed, or “the price we must pay for society.”

How it is that we never consider the fact that we had NO income tax up until 1915 and the previous years are hailed as the time of greatest growth and productivity in our history.

Wall Street has only developed their sense of entitlement because our elected officials used their sense of entitlement to steal from the rest of us, though taxation and the Federal Reserve printing press, the monies that they willingly handed over to their friends on Wall Street.

Wall Street and the companies and marketplace that make it up are typically businesses that make their money through voluntary exchange of goods or services. The bigger government gets, the more regulations, tax breaks, subsidies, tarriffs, and other market manipulations are put in place. These distort the market by favoring some over others to the point that these companies no longer rely on their business skills, but on their lobbying skills to enhance their bottom line.

If there is to be any outrage it should not be about Wall Street. They didn’t start this. It should as always be about government, its ability to steal our money through taxation of income and support of a worthless currency (versus gold), and their unending desire (whether democrat or republican) to reward their friends with this loot.

As always, the anything but free market takes the criticism rather than having to confront the real source of all of societies ills - government.

By Steve Basche

January 23, 2009 9:17 AM | Link to this

Thain essentially stole taxpayer money. He witheld information and did not fulfill his fiduciary responsibility. The arrogance is mind numbing. Justice Dept should investigate to find some law he broke and make an example of him.

By professional skeptic

January 23, 2009 9:19 AM | Link to this

Jay, I have been blogging since early this fall— since the first government bailout was still just a twinkle in a crooked CEO’s eye— about the injustice of corporations in or near bankruptcy paying out billions of dollars of bonuses funded by taxpayers.

And you know what? These brokers and bankers who have grown accustomed to these royal payouts year after year call us mindless populists when they hear our cries of moral outrage.

We have allowed a kind of corporate royalty to develop, in which the royals still benefit richly during times of economic decline, simply because they feel entitled to the wealth.

Where does it end?

By JackLeg

January 23, 2009 9:22 AM | Link to this

Where do I get a degree in how to steal money from the federal government and not go to jail?

By MrLiberty

January 23, 2009 9:27 AM | Link to this

By the way, please don’t construe my comments as in any way being in support of the actions of Merrill Lynch or other similar companies. Investors need to hold leadership accountable. The ability of investors to have transparency, control, etc. is once again severley impacted by SEC regulations and other government actions. A way too complicated situation to cover in a blog posting.

Suffice it to say that if companies like this had to compete in a TRULY free market, they would be far less likely to be this big, this controlling, etc. and certainly as they made bad business decisions they would fail and other more productive, more accountable companies would fill the void left by their demise. The same with the banks, etc.

Unfortunately that is exactly the opposite of what is happening now. The poor performers are being given handouts by both the republicans and the democrats and the money is being taken from you and I and the productive companies that could be replacing these losers in the market.

I am fearful that this new administration (just like the last) seems to embrace the idea of propping up and rewarding failure with the hard earned monies of the productive and successful. So long as those handouts go to friends of republicans or democrats the president will have the undying support of both parties for these misguided and historically destructive policies.

By JackLeg

January 23, 2009 9:28 AM | Link to this

Where do I get a degree in how to steal money from the federal government and not go to jail?

By STFU

January 23, 2009 9:34 AM | Link to this

Ben Stein didn’t get a damm thing right - Peter Schiff did.

I was on a television show with Peter Schiff of Euro Pacific Capital, who warned that Merrill Lynch could be in very bad shape. I glibly said that I thought that its problems were limited and that the stock was a buy. Mr. Schiff was completely right and I was wrong. I had no idea that Mother Merrill, where I have been a happy stockholder for years, had been turned into a such a wild house of high-stakes gambling. *I apologize to Mr. Schiff for my dismissal of his views, which turned out to be far superior to mine in this area. **

Ya’ll blather on about Republicans and Democrats when it’s the whole damm bloated diseased over-reaching FEDERAL GOVERNMENT with its “greedy” CAREER POLITICIANS and CORPORATISM and SOCIALISM and MILITARISM resulting in a BROKE(N) AMERICAN EMPIRE that’s the problem.

By williebkind

January 23, 2009 9:39 AM | Link to this

With the largest bail out funds handed out to incompetent bankers or very skilled thieves, why doesnt congress vote themselves another pay raise? The recent pay raise surely could not account for the second bail out. Now Reich wants to give money to people who are not productive. I should have went to private schools.

By Sam

January 23, 2009 9:43 AM | Link to this

The bureaucracy is expanding to support the needs of the expanding bureaucracy

By MeMyselfandI

January 23, 2009 10:00 AM | Link to this

I agree, this is nuts. However, are you as outraged when people who don’t work get other people’s money as well? Will you show the same outrage when Obama gets his policy passed and they give “rebate” checks to people who didn’t pay taxes?

Is what this company did dumb and unethical? Absolutely! But why would you defend the same act by thousands of other people? Why are you okay with ANYONE receiving free support from tax payers?

By Vick

January 23, 2009 10:01 AM | Link to this

This sounds criminal to me… This company stole from our country and its tax payers and they should be held accountable.

By MeMyselfandI

January 23, 2009 10:05 AM | Link to this

I agree, this is nuts. However, are you as outraged when people who don’t work get other people’s money as well? Will you show the same outrage when Obama gets his policy passed and they give “rebate” checks to people who didn’t pay taxes?

Is what this company did dumb and unethical? Absolutely! But why would you defend the same act by thousands of other people? Why are you okay with ANYONE receiving free support from tax payers?

By Jason

January 23, 2009 10:31 AM | Link to this

John Thain also spent $1.2 million of Merrill’s money redecorating his office last year. Noteworthy purchases include an $87,000 area rug, an $18,000 desk, a $16,000 coffee table, and a $1400 waste basket.

By Peadawg

January 23, 2009 10:52 AM | Link to this

So, Bookman thinks this is wrong…but he’s ok with spreading the wealth, which is also a sense of royal entitlement to other people’s money..how ironic! LOL!!!!!

By metoo

January 23, 2009 10:58 AM | Link to this

Posting here is just a vent. It is time to start calling your Congressmen and Senators!

By Shawny

January 23, 2009 11:31 AM | Link to this

Peadawg, that is exactly what I was thinking… Jay says “the sense of royal entitlement to other people’s money”.

It is no more wrong for rich people to feel entitlement as it is poor. If it aint their money, and if they don’t deserve it, they shouldn’t get it. period.

By Joey

January 23, 2009 11:50 AM | Link to this

I am late to the show but: Jay, you and your peers must accept some responsibility for the continuation of this mess.

You and others wrote more that a few articles and commentaries declaring Republican, and specifically Bush, responsible for the economic troubles. Because of the cover you provided for Democrats and the people they are in bed with, they continued and still continue to abuse us. Steal and steal again.

Name some Democratic names. Blame the responsible. Then maybe they will feel a small need to wind down this ripoff.

By Swede Atlanta

January 23, 2009 11:54 AM | Link to this

Re dittohead @ 08:30

Hello? You say that the source of this money is a result of one party rule - the Democrats

You are correct with the new Congress from 05 January and the new President, this past Tuesday the Democrats have effective control of the Executive and Legislative branches.

But these bonuses were paid in 2008 and possibly bleeding over into early 2009. At that time, the Executive branch was held by the Republicans and the Legislative branch by the Democrats. In the context of this, however, the distribution of these funds and the terms under which they were given was under the control of the Executive Branch in the person of the Treasury Secretary. Granted Congress didn’t create enough controls on the use of the funds when the first half was distributed but everything points to pressure from the Administration to not limit their freedom of action.

With the second half that was recently approved, you are absolutely correct that the Democrats need to be held accountable for what happens with these funds. But that plan hasn’t been executed let alone developed.

I want accountability but let’s lay it appropriately

By Reality

January 23, 2009 12:01 PM | Link to this

As I understand (and hopefully am wrong) the intial bailout funds had no accountability, benchmarks, or payment back to the feds associated with them - correct?? If so, the same firms will be right back for the second, third, etc. rounds of “free money”.

What about the new administration’s round of bail-outs, i.e., welfare — any accountability????

By Red

January 23, 2009 12:37 PM | Link to this

Two simple fact: unbridled capitalism and the sense of entitlement of Thain et. al. brought our economy to where we are now; bleeding badly and circling the drain. Socialism, American Socialism not the boogey man cold war crap we’ve all been scared into believing threatens our way of life, might just be our only hope now.

By Rhett

January 23, 2009 1:14 PM | Link to this

What aggravates AND astonishes me is that we all sit around complaining about the wrong-doers BUT we do absolutely nothing to stop them. I don’t have the necessary education to lead a revolt (get the laws changed so as not to allow these type thefts), but I would definitely support one if I could find one person willing to lead it. So many well-educated, well-trained, well-qualified professionals in my office complain about the situation, but all of them say it’s no use. I guess all the education trains them to believe that they don’t matter and nothing can be done. Common senses tell me I do matter and some thing CAN be done. May be I’ll start the revolt and as I mess up badly enough, I’ll end up on TV which will get the right qualified person to take over the revolt.

By LD

January 23, 2009 1:23 PM | Link to this

Jay,

When your sense of outrage extends to how the government spends the hard-earned money of its citizens and never bothers to stop asking for more, maybe this article exercising your ‘sense of outrage’ at Wall Street will be worth the time.

With the democrats in charge, though, I doubt you’ll have any complaint.

By CatherineAtlanta

January 23, 2009 1:28 PM | Link to this

Let’s say it was 3 billion in bonuses. Do some math with me…

That would be a $1 billion bonus for three people or $100 million bonus for 30 people or $10 million bonus for 300 people or $1 million bonus for 3000 people.

Unbelievably bold in these times.

By JJ

January 23, 2009 1:42 PM | Link to this

I’m amazed at how little scruitiny was done by Congress and by the media on the whole Financial industry bailouts considering how much money was handed over to them. Yet, the auto industry, where there is a tangible product, was put through the ringer for loans. Looks like Wall Street has better lobbyist than the auto industry.

By Wayne

January 23, 2009 1:52 PM | Link to this

WASHINGTON knew this was happening, but they still gave them OUR MONEY without any restrictions. All bonus money needs to be stopped until these people are solvent. The average person knows that you don’t give someone money in this manner without rules, guidelines or restrictions. WAKE UP GOVERNMENT. OK NEW PRESIDENT DO YOUR THING—STOP THIS NOW. CROOKS HELPING CROOKS.

By Hillbilly Deluxe

January 23, 2009 2:03 PM | Link to this

Why do the John Thains and the Bernie Madoofs do these things? Because they know they can get away with it. On the off chance they are prosecuted they know what will happen to them. At worst a couple years in a country club prison, maybe $5-10 million in fines. They get to keep all their ill gotten gains and continue living like kings when they get out.

I used to work in a job where I came in contact with people who thought like this (on a much smaller scale of course). If you asked them, they would explain to you right quick why they were special and deserved to be rewarded so much more than the rest of us. They see themselves as a priviledged class. Wall Street and Washington both fit into this class and they will always take care of their own. Hank Paulson and Barney Frank and a whole host of others are all equally to blame. One side is no better than the other.

By Dusty

January 23, 2009 2:08 PM | Link to this

Well, might as well have a debate here. Some say that Thain was a great CEO, held pretigious positions in the business world.

Bonuses that became common in the business world (like contractors building big houses) were not unusual and expected from those who ran the companies, not the people who only worked in them. Thus Thain, in accustomed greed, gave extra money to the leaders just before the door to the money vault was shut tight by Bank of America.

Greed? Yes. Common? Yes. But as one former executive and owner of Merrill Lynch said to the effect that you have to be there to understand.

So Thain made the money, took the money and left. You might compare him to the doctor that got paid although the patient died with a body too sick to recover. Both were inevitable.

Thus the case for Thain in the main. Justifiable greed?

By SaveOurRepublic

January 23, 2009 3:11 PM | Link to this

This absurdity is further proof that Wall $treet is a giant ponzi scheme enabled by the Central Banking Cartel. Both the Republicruds & Demoncraps are guilty of corporate welfare via taxpayer funded “bailouts”. Free market is one thing, but these slimeballs have distorted pure Capitalism into quasi-socialism. The notion that these financial institutions needed the taxpayer bailout (for American’s well being) is a fallacy.

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

January 23, 2009 3:49 PM | Link to this

This robbery of our money needs to be examined and if criminal intent, which there was, is found, Thain should be brought to trial, sent to jail and be forced to make restitution. We’re damn tired of this and we aren’t going to take it anymore!

By Pogo

January 23, 2009 4:18 PM | Link to this

It should outrage all of us Jay. The sad part is, our money is still going to flow out by the trillions to all kinds of places under Obama and who in the hell in our government is going to be accountable for all that money? Our government is not capable of competent accounting and now it is delving into private business? I have been an optimist all my life. I really have a bad feeling about all this bail-out/stimulus business being cooked up right now. We cannot spend our way out of trouble. Especially with money we don’t have. The children of the future are going to suffer. Throw the political party stuff out the window people and think. Just think. What they are talking about doing in Washington right now with this “stimulus package” is going to make your children suffer. Is that what you want?

By catlady

January 23, 2009 4:57 PM | Link to this

Here is what might put a dent in it: put the Thains and the Maddoffs and the Paulsons in jail cells with a few irritable African American bubbas (Te’various and Demonte, for example) or a few white meth addicts without a fix, or some Mexican drug gang folks, and grant no bail and no family visitation. Let them sit in jail for months or years while awaiting trial for felony theft. That might discourage some of the future offenders from such theft, especially if graphic pictures were released.

The reason you don’t see a large-scale revolt is because we have been trained to grant authority to the wealthy (remember, they make 90% of the money and pay 70% of the taxes, by Gawd!). If you question, you are NOT a patriot, you are a supporter of all things evil! We are raising a lot of children with even more obsience to them, more willingness to follow the herd, less practice at thinking for themselves, with the programs promulgated by NCLB, such as Reading First and scripted instruction, where kids answer in unison to a dog clicker. All part of the grand ploy to separate the mighty, the wealthy, from the rest of the people. There is them, and then there is the rest of US.

No one should get another cent of taxpayer money until the banks and Wall Street are forced, by peer pressure, to reveal exactly what has been done with the money received. You know, if the Big 3 cannot get any money they would put a great deal of pressure on those first recepients to disclose their use. Criminal indictments should flow like rain to those who have abused their powers (see above, for example).

Until we straighten this out, until we hold the con men and thieves and their enablers responsible, this country will NEVER recover. We lost our moral ground—our reputation around the world— under Bush. It is past high time that we take the moral ground back in our country and around the world. One way is to hold the felons responsible.

By Dave

January 23, 2009 5:36 PM | Link to this

Where’s the GOP outrage of this $3-4 billion BONUS money from our taxes? You know, the same outrage they’re showing toward the auto bailout.

But heck, the Dems in Washington are just as responsible for letting this happen. Whether it’s the Iraqi invasion or the Wall Street bailout, the Dems prove time and time again that they can be led around by the nose by the GOP.

By Frederick Douglass

January 23, 2009 6:23 PM | Link to this

Why all of the outrage about this latest dust up? I was led to believe that this whole financial morass we’re involved in, was caused by African Americans buying houses they couldn’t afford.

By Billions

January 23, 2009 8:19 PM | Link to this

Billions in “tax rebates” for those who don’t pay taxes… but for what?

Billions in increased taxes for wealth redistribution, being fair, patriotic… but for what?

Billions for the increased care and feeding of those who make poor life choices, have no sense of personal responsibility, and are generational parasites on the government…but for what?

By Hmmmmm

January 23, 2009 8:24 PM | Link to this

The hits keep rolling in….. The Obama saga has just started, we are in for the ride of our lives! Oh well, you get what you voted for…..

By Hmmmmm

January 23, 2009 8:33 PM | Link to this

What we need is a tax revolution. NOBODY file, nobody pays anymore taxes, and get rid of every scumbag politician in Washington! Black, white, democrap, or rethuglican get RID of them ALL!

By Frederick Douglass

January 23, 2009 9:11 PM | Link to this

To Billions, Hmmmmmm, Pogo, and others. What you guys are witnessing is a man (Obama) actually carrying out the duties of a president, something that hasn’t happened for at least eight years. Hard times call for hard choices, not boneheaded ones. There’s no amount of spinning that can justify the money we’re wasing in Iraq. The last guy that held the office was asleep at the wheel, and you racists are complaining about someone that’s taking the job seriously——-pleassssssse!