Will Obama, McCain, and Dodd Return Their AIG Bonuses?

Politics • Views: 3,002

As politicians on both sides of the aisle make populist hay out of the AIG bonuses scandal, ABC News asks: Will Obama, McCain, Dodd Return Contributions From AIG Employees?

AIG employees kept doling out donations to politicians, including presidential candidate Barack Obama, after getting bailed out with federal funds last year, raising the question whether those politicians will now return the money.

AIG executives gave more than $630,000 during the 2008 political cycle even as the company was falling apart.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks campaign finance reports, more than $120,000 of that money was donated after AIG received its first $85 billion in federal bailout funds last September. The company has since received a total of $170 billion in taxpayer cash to prevent its collapse.

Their generosity included more than $23,000 to Obama’s campaign.

Both Obama and Republican presidential candidate John McCain raked in much larger sums from AIG earlier in the year. Obama collected a total of $130,000 from AIG in 2008, while McCain accepted a total of $59,499.

This raises two key questions: Was any bailout money used to make political contributions? And will the politicians who received AIG cash give the money back?

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292 comments
1 Sharmuta  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:21:59am
Will Obama, McCain, and Dodd Return Their AIG Bonuses?

Oh, hell no.

2 pink freud  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:22:29am

It’s good to see ABC asking this question. The lovefest ends …

3 bryantms  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:22:32am

Do pigs fly?

To return it would admit guilt.

4 saberry0530  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:22:46am

re: #1 Sharmuta

Oh, hell no.

Not just hell no, FUCK NO!

5 NonNativeTexan  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:23:37am

It is comical when people who routinely waste taxpayer’s money
complain about wasting taxpayer’s money.

6 pingjockey  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:23:53am

Mwahahahahahahaha! I can’t see a one of these guys giving back any campaign cash.

7 Sharmuta  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:23:57am
This raises two key questions: Was any bailout money used to make political contributions? And will the politicians who received AIG cash give the money back?

They should give it back on top of their Congressional bonuses, which should also be returned to the people. Damn dirty hypocrites.

8 pingjockey  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:24:31am

re: #7 Sharmuta

Damn dirty apes!

9 Desert Dog  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:24:49am

AIG gave me $53 Billion and I am not giving it back…..Chuck Shumer can kiss my a**

/

10 Kragar  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:24:54am

Why should they? They fufilled their contractual obligations.

/

11 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:25:09am
12 pink freud  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:25:10am

re: #5 NonNativeTexan

It is comical common when people who routinely waste taxpayer’s money
complain about wasting taxpayer’s money.

FTFY.

13 pingjockey  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:25:33am

Rassmussen poll out…..42-42 generic congressional ballot. Just on Rush.

14 rawmuse  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:25:36am

What a mess.

15 lawhawk  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:26:18am

In a word, no. It’s all so much phony outrage - so much so that I’m outraged.

And will Congress take action against Freddie Mac, who also engaged in the same kind of executive compensation? Again, not likely.

This is all a kabuki play, and we’re getting played by Congress and the Administration for anger at AIG over the bonuses, all while hundreds of billions go out the window with no accountability and no idea when that money will ever come back (it wont).

It was Dodd who inserted the language allowing the executive compensation to proceed.

16 VegasRick  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:26:19am

re: #5 NonNativeTexan

It is comical when people who routinely waste taxpayer’s money
complain about wasting taxpayer’s money.

I’m not laughing.

17 joncelli  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:26:33am

Were these personal contributions or contributions made as officers of AIG?

18 Sharmuta  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:26:44am

When TFK talks about the evil money cult- this is exactly what he’s talking about. These assholes hand over money so it can be handed right back again. This is like legalized money laundering and the fox is guarding the henhouse.

19 Killgore Trout  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:27:00am

,,,,,But things would be better if McCain were elected.
/

20 pingjockey  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:27:05am

Later folks. Nap time, very late work night last night. Or this morning, 3:30 am!

21 Desert Dog  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:27:10am

“Hey kids, let’s bail out AIG and the Banks and the Car Companies and the Sub-Prime Mortgage Market and people upside down in their mortgages….what could possibly go wrong?”

/

22 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:27:18am

“Business as usual” … and the Republican Party doesn’t “get it”.

Two “/” there … heh.

Of course they “get it” in another sense — ALL TOO MUCH OF IT!

23 Honorary Yooper  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:27:24am
Will Obama, McCain, and Dodd Return Their AIG Bonuses?

Quick two letter answer:
No.

24 pat  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:27:32am

Wall Street must habe buyer’s remore by now. These Pols just won’t stay bought.

25 MadJadBad  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:27:34am

Never thought I’d say it, but I got to give credit to ABC for doing some actual reporting of relevant information and not just how much they like the presidential pecs.

26 seekeroftruth  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:27:37am

Hats off to ABC News for this article. I hope this is change we will see more of - reporting even when it’s negative about Democrats.

27 VegasRick  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:27:41am

re: #18 Sharmuta

When TFK talks about the evil money cult- this is exactly what he’s talking about. These assholes hand over money so it can be handed right back again. This is like legalized money laundering and the fox pimp is guarding the hen whorehouse.

28 Kenneth  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:27:50am

Was McCain given half as much as Obama so the Dems could claim both parties got donations, therefore AIG was non-partisan?

29 NonNativeTexan  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:28:25am

re: #16 VegasRick

I’m not laughing.

Sorry about that, one thing I like about you is your ability to find
humor in many things:)

30 VegasRick  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:28:47am

re: #19 Killgore Trout

,,,,,But things would be better if McCain were elected.
/

Where’s Mandy when you need her?

31 pingjockey  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:28:52am

re: #19 Killgore Trout

Oops, didn’t see the tag. This whole mess is at congress’ feet. Wouldn’t matter who was prez. But, I don’t think McCain would’ve submitted a 3.5 trillion dollar budget……I hope.

32 Adrenalyn  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:29:32am

will ABC investigate how much money 0bama got from overseas ?

if not, this means squat

he can ceremoniously give back the AIG money and the press will Saint him

33 pingjockey  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:29:38am

BBIAB!

34 Zimriel  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:30:03am

re: #7 Sharmuta

Damn dirty hypocrites.

It’s a maaaaad House! (and Senate)

35 rawmuse  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:30:05am

Let’s write a letter to King George, say we’re sorry, it was all a big mistake.

36 Honorary Yooper  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:30:35am

re: #31 pingjockey

Oops, didn’t see the tag. This whole mess is at congress’ feet. Wouldn’t matter who was prez. But, I don’t think McCain would’ve submitted a 3.5 trillion dollar budget……I hope.

Neither did I, and I dinged it. I also just don’t see McCain being anywhere as irresponsible as Obama.

37 yesandno  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:30:41am

Dodd still hasn’t come forward on his loans from Countrywide….

In other words, don’t hold your breath…….

38 VegasRick  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:30:48am

re: #29 NonNativeTexan

Sorry about that, one thing I like about you is your ability to find
humor in many things:)

Thanks (I think) but It’s very hard to laugh when you constantly have the urge to puke.

39 Desert Dog  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:30:59am

re: #31 pingjockey

Oops, didn’t see the tag. This whole mess is at congress’ feet. Wouldn’t matter who was prez. But, I don’t think McCain would’ve submitted a 3.5 trillion dollar budget……I hope.

Who knows? He was riding that Bailout Express pretty hard during the campaign. I don’t think he would have signed a bill that contained as many earmarks as the ones Obama has….I at least I HOPE he wouldn’t.

Don’t matter now though, he lost.

Let’s ask the Magic Teleprompter what is next, I am afraid to find out.

40 yma o hyd  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:31:25am

Bad investment, AIG, giving less than 50% to McCain, compared to what you gave to 0bama.

Serves you right! Should have done due diligence on whom to support.

41 NonNativeTexan  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:31:36am

re: #38 VegasRick

Thanks (I think) but It’s very hard to laugh when you constantly have the urge to puke.

Yep, I agree.

42 Occasional Reader  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:31:42am

re: #28 Kenneth

Was McCain given half as much as Obama so the Dems could claim both parties got donations, therefore AIG was non-partisan?

Large private companies routinely give donations to the candidates from both major parties.

43 Fluffy Bunny  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:32:29am

The Magic Eight Ball says:

Outlook Not So Good.

44 rawmuse  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:32:42am

re: #42 Occasional Reader

Large private companies routinely give donations to the candidates from both major parties.

In the hopes that they will leave them the hell alone.

45 Ben Hur  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:33:12am

100% lifted from Mark Levin’s show last night.

46 Sharmuta  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:33:20am

Will 0bama give the money back? That depends on what the Teleprompter says.

47 Zimriel  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:33:37am

re: #35 rawmuse

Let’s write a letter to King George, say we’re sorry, it was all a big mistake.

And then we’d get Gordon Brown. NO THANKS

48 albusteve  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:33:40am

re: #18 Sharmuta

When TFK talks about the evil money cult- this is exactly what he’s talking about. These assholes hand over money so it can be handed right back again. This is like legalized money laundering and the fox is guarding the henhouse.

exactly like organized crime…I hate the feds

49 looking closely  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:33:56am

re: #5 NonNativeTexan

Yeah.

AIG received $135 BILLION in bailout money, but we’re hearing faux outrage at $165 million in contract-agreed bonus money?

Let’s see Obama or the “outraged” Dem Congress pass a bill that has 1% or less waste in it.

50 Czarny_Smok  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:34:33am

This whole AIG bonus mess is a huge smokescreen! Obviously Obama’s sudden outrage at the payments of bonuses, which they have only known about for a year, is a tactical diversion: He’s again throwing out the evil corp. managers as the devils which draws attention from the fact that AIG promptly sent $12 billion each to France and Germany and another $8.5 billion to the UK, etc. If enough of this travesty gets exposure he won’t be able to get even the Dem. congress to continue to pump money into this hole - - and without that, he’s toast.

51 Sharmuta  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:34:41am

re: #48 albusteve

exactly like organized crime…I hate the feds

It really is.

52 alegrias  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:34:52am

re: #19 Killgore Trout

,,,,,But things would be better if McCain were elected.
/

* * *

Yes, McCain at least is feared by Putin, KGB, Ahmedinejad, and other dictators who hate us.

53 Bubblehead II  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:35:17am

Here’s the list of top AIG recipients for the 2008 campaign:

1. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., $103,100
2. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., $101,332
3. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., $59,499
4. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., $35,965
5. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., $24,750
6. Former Gov. Mitt Romney, (R) Pres $20,850
7. Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., $19,975
8. Rep. John Larson, D-Conn, $19,750
9. Sen. John Sununu, R-N.H., $18,500
10. Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R) Pres $13,200
11. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-Pa., $12,000
12. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., $11,000

Hmmmmmm……………….. 4 Republicans vs 8 Democrats.

54 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:35:23am
55 Ben Hur  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:35:30am

re: #43 Fluffy Bunny

The Magic Eight Ball says:

Outlook Not So Good.

No more eight balls for The One.

Anybody else think it ironic when The One criticized the Reps by saying “‘Just say no’ is the right advice to give your teenagers about drugs. It is not an acceptable response to whatever economic policies are proposed by the other party.”


I know, I know. Drinking beer in college is much worse.

56 Edouard  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:36:15am

Tax Obama & Dodd at 91%.

57 Boxy_brown  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:36:18am

I’m just happy to see that I wasn’t the only one to have given money to McCain.

58 Desert Dog  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:36:19am

re: #49 looking closely

Yeah.

AIG received $135 BILLION in bailout money, but we’re hearing faux outrage at $165 million in contract-agreed bonus money?

Let’s see Obama or the “outraged” Dem Congress pass a bill that has 1% or less waste in it.

They will cry like babies about this because it makes them look bad. The real crime here is they (the Congress, Bush and Obama) gave away over a $TRILLION dollars of money they did not have with very little oversight and thoughts about how it will be spent.

59 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:36:32am
60 JohnnyReb  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:36:43am

I am shocked that ABC actually did this piece. The honeymoon is fading even more quickly than I bet it would.

61 Kenneth  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:37:04am

OT: Al-Qaeda suspect to ask for return to prison

TORONTO — An Egyptian man accused of links to al-Qaeda plans to turn himself in to be returned to jail on Wednesday morning, with his wife saying she will no longer serve as his supervisor.

Mohamed Zeki Mahjoub, a “security-certificate” detainee living under house arrest, waged a protracted legal campaign to be freed from jail while locked up from 2000 to 2007. But now Mr. Mahjoub says he hopes to return to prison. He will ask federal officials to send him back when he goes to a Mississauga office at 12:30 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday.

Since his release two years ago, Mr. Mahjoub has spoken out about how the terms of his strict house arrest – including constant surveillance by federal agents – is so difficult on his wife and young children that it is actually worse than jail.

So far, removals have been stymied by the likelihood the detainees would face torture if deported to their homelands. Judges have ruled that such removals and indefinite detention are unconstitutional, leaving house arrest as the next best option.

But constant surveillance by federal agents is taking its toll on the detainees and their families, as well as taxpayers: the scrutiny costs an estimated $500,000 to $1-million per year in individual security certificate cases.

Can’t deport him. Can’t jail him. Can’t keep him under house arrest. What are we going to do, set him free to live on welfare?

62 Noodniklel  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:37:11am

There’s some kind of mass distraction going on with all the news outlets focusing on the disgraceful bonuses, and almost total silence on the billions of dollars AIG gave to foreign banks. And another thing, there’s nothing new about the big corporations giving money to politicians.

63 Zimriel  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:37:23am

re: #53 Bubblehead II

Here’s the list of top AIG recipients for the 2008 campaign:

3. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., $59,499
6. Former Gov. Mitt Romney, (R) Pres $20,850
10. Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R) Pres $13,200

Food for thought for the many Romney and even more Giuliani fanboys wandering around LGF

64 alegrias  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:37:33am

re: #48 albusteve

exactly like organized crime…I hate the feds

* * * *
Remember our troops are 100% government issued feds.

Tarring all government employees including those who protect us 24-7, is not helpful.

65 looking closely  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:37:58am

re: #60 JohnnyReb

I am shocked that ABC actually did this piece. The honeymoon is fading even more quickly than I bet it would.

Its because the behavior has just been so absolutely egregious.

The honeymoon would have lasted longer if the groom hadn’t given the bride a black eye on the second night.

66 J.S.  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:38:14am

re: #50 Czarny_Smok

CNN reported this morning that the checks (bailout money to AIG) were mailed out on Friday (once the checks were in the mail, it was a done deal.) Then, on Monday, the Zero comes out with his feigned outrage about AIG. If the checks had not been mailed out, the government would have had some leverage…now, there’s zero leverage, thanks to Zero.

67 funky chicken  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:38:15am

Rather than giving it back, how about giving it to military associations like the American Legion and VFW?

LOL, I mean McCain’s donations, of course.

68 turn  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:38:15am

Hell they cheat on their taxes, what the hell makes anybody think they’re going to give back something they got legally?

69 seekeroftruth  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:38:41am

re: #50 Czarny_Smok
Rush is all over this AIG phony outrage today.

70 albusteve  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:38:46am

re: #51 Sharmuta

It really is.

the IRS owes me money…they rooked me out of it and even admitted it…the feds are a criminal institution…legal thieves and killers

71 turn  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:39:12am

re: #69 seekeroftruth

Rush is all over this AIG phony outrage today.

I’ll have to go listen to that.

72 Sharmuta  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:39:13am

Our Founders would be appalled at the level and intricacy of the special interest lobby in Washington. They warned against this very thing, and yet, here we are.

73 oh_dude  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:39:25am

This isn’t a problem for McCain. Republicans are expected to be evil money-grubbers.

But this looks real bad for the Messiah. Taking money from the people? How could his holiness ever stoop so low.

I feel so used. So dirty.

74 Bubblehead II  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:39:54am

re: #59 buzzsawmonkey

Apparently they didn’t pay enough as he didn’t stay bought.

/But we knew he wasn’t an honest politician already.

75 Ben Hur  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:40:06am

Haute Couture of Corruption.

(sleeveless in Feb!)

76 albusteve  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:40:28am

re: #64 alegrias

* * * *
Remember our troops are 100% government issued feds.

Tarring all government employees including those who protect us 24-7, is not helpful.

I’m not talking the armed forces or park rangers here

77 Irenike  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:40:31am

And we slide ever closer to communism …

Once we let the government decide whether to give private companies money, how the companies ought to spend it, and whether companies owe even more in taxes to “pay back” what they owe, it is just a matter of time before we are all at the mercy of Washington bureaucrats and their micro-management.

How long before they decide those of us making more than 100K are “earning too much” and need to be taxed to a more “reasonable” level? How about the house thermostat being set too high? Americans don’t need two cars, heck, not even one car. They can use public transportation. Americans eat too much. Let’s tax people for being too fat. Let’s ban sugar and cigarettes outright, since these are a threat to public health. Let’s decide how many children people are allowed to have, since overpopulation is a problem. Let’s decide who are fit to be parents and who are not. (Do I need to add a sarc tag at this point? This is already becoming a reality, folks.)

Once you admit the principle, it’s only a question of degree. And the lefty democrats have absolutely no restraint in pursuit of their utopian vision.

78 JohnnyReb  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:40:50am

re: #67 funky chicken

Rather than giving it back, how about giving it to military associations like the American Legion and VFW?

LOL, I mean McCain’s donations, of course.

That is an outstanding idea. I am going to email Sen Dodd later and ask him to “donate” his AIG contribution to our VFW post here in CT. That would pay off our mortgage and give us some money to fix the place up a bit.

79 alegrias  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:40:56am

re: #63 Zimriel

Food for thought for the many Romney and even more Giuliani fanboys wandering around LGF

* * * *
Campaign reform happened!

Romney, as you WELL KNOW, paid millions out of his own pocket for his campaign.

Not all campaign donation recipients are created equally rotten.

80 Zimriel  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:41:14am

re: #63 Zimriel
re, McCain, Romney, and Giuliani being bribe-takers:

What this shows is that AIG supported the Community Reinvestment Act regime which got us to this mess. The Republicans McCain, Romney, and Giuliani were the “moderates”, the “compassionate conservatives”, the Bush-ists in the campaign. AIG did not support the “social conservatives”, who might have stopped the gravy train.

81 lawhawk  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:41:29am

re: #60 JohnnyReb

I am shocked that ABC actually did this piece. The honeymoon is fading even more quickly than I bet it would.

It’s a diversionary tactic when the true problem is the hundreds of billions that remain unaccounted for that went to bailouts for failed companies (not unlike the hundreds of millions provided to top execs at Freddie Mac or AIG for bad business decisions). If Congress has a problem rewarding failure, how are they not angered by the bailouts that reward failure on such a massive scale that the money involved is mindboggling huge and will never be seen again. They approved this in ramming through TARP and the other porkfest bailout packages, ignoring common sense and the marketplace to deal with failing and failed companies. Instead, the government is propping up these companies, which are doing what they’ve always done - providing executive compensation packages that include deferred compensation and bonuses for working at the company.

82 Conservative in Liberal Hands  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:41:30am
AIG execs demand Senators “resign or commit suicide”

AIG Vice Chairman and Chief Marketing Officer Robert G. Krebs suggested that Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT), Charles Grassley (D-IA) and Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) take a “Japanese approach” toward accepting responsibility for the collapse of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by resigning or killing themselves.

Hat Tip to directorblue :: 6 hours, 42 minutes ago in the Humor Section.

83 J.S.  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:41:32am

Now the Zero is on CNN demonizing corporations. It fits his socialist playbook. Demonize the “capitalists”, while he paints himself as the “white knight” out to “save America.”

84 Desert Dog  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:41:43am

re: #73 oh_dude

This isn’t a problem for McCain. Republicans are expected to be evil money-grubbers.

But this looks real bad for the Messiah. Taking money from the people? How could his holiness ever stoop so low.

I feel so used. So dirty.

Our beloved President was also at the top of the Fannie Mac/Freddie Mac gravy train list too, wasn’t he? Him and Dodd.

I am seeing a pattern here….

85 pink freud  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:41:49am

I like how Rush has anthromorphized 0’s teleprompter. Ouch.

“The teleprompter totally embarrassed the President of the UNited States” LOL!

“the teleprompter told 0Bama to say …..” “The teleprompter forgot to change speeches from 0’s to Brown’s.”

86 Sharmuta  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:42:05am

re: #70 albusteve

I favor a flat tax or consumption tax. Get the IRS out of our lives, no more loopholes for snakes to hid assets.

87 yma o hyd  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:42:08am

re: #50 Czarny_Smok

This whole AIG bonus mess is a huge smokescreen! Obviously Obama’s sudden outrage at the payments of bonuses, which they have only known about for a year, is a tactical diversion: He’s again throwing out the evil corp. managers as the devils which draws attention from the fact that AIG promptly sent $12 billion each to France and Germany and another $8.5 billion to the UK, etc. If enough of this travesty gets exposure he won’t be able to get even the Dem. congress to continue to pump money into this hole - - and without that, he’s toast.

In this global economy we now have, lets keep in mind that thes sums didn’t go to ‘France, Germany and the UK’ - they went to banks and companiesin which AIG held huge stakes, and which would have crashed without that.

It might be worthwhile to imagine how global bank failures would ahve affected this global economy, and how that woulkd ahve played on the international stage.

And lets not forget that, especially in the UK, the governments ahve pumped sums on a comparable level into the banking system as in the USA - and the Bank of England was even forced to start printing money.
Its unfortunate, but there are now no national barriers in international finance.

88 Zimriel  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:42:23am

re: #79 alegrias

* * * *
Campaign reform happened!

Romney, as you WELL KNOW, paid millions out of his own pocket for his campaign.

Not all campaign donation recipients are created equally rotten.

So, Romney took the money because he agreed with AIG’s aims. That’s supposed to make me feel better?

89 looking closely  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:42:39am

re: #66 J.S.

CNN reported this morning that the checks (bailout money to AIG) were mailed out on Friday (once the checks were in the mail, it was a done deal.) Then, on Monday, the Zero comes out with his feigned outrage about AIG. If the checks had not been mailed out, the government would have had some leverage…now, there’s zero leverage, thanks to Zero.

Its worse than that.

As I understand it, there was explicit language in the aid package specifically protecting bonuses authorized before Feb 11th.

And Obama signed it.

So either he didn’t know about this provision, or didn’t care.

The evidence strongly points the latter, as there was considerable discussion about this very issue from Treasury beforehand. In short, discussion about limiting bonuses was quashed by Treasury, who argued (with considerable legal merit) that trying to limit them would be breach of contract by the gov’t and would be reversible…with damages…in litigation.

Again, this is a completely phony issue.

The gov’t threw tons of money at AIG without accountability, and is now angry that AIG is spending some of it.

90 Sharmuta  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:42:50am

re: #85 pink freud

Teleprompter needs to unclench.

91 seekeroftruth  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:42:53am

re: #85 pink freud

I do too - hilarious!

92 Raven1  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:43:51am

Obama is doing what he has always donen and what he is best at. He is on TV right now throwing people under the bus. Nothing is ever his fault.

93 thedopefishlives  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:44:09am

re: #85 pink freud

I like how Rush has anthromorphized 0’s teleprompter. Ouch.

“The teleprompter totally embarrassed the President of the UNited States” LOL!

“the teleprompter told 0Bama to say …..” “The teleprompter forgot to change speeches from 0’s to Brown’s.”

Reminds me of his SUV update snark where he points out how news articles anthropomorphize the vehicle, making it seem like the car took control of itself and crashed or what have you. Say what you will about Rush, he has a talent for what he does.

94 ilzito guacamolito  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:44:14am

re: #85 pink freud

I like how Rush has anthromorphized 0’s teleprompter. Ouch.

“The teleprompter totally embarrassed the President of the UNited States” LOL!

“the teleprompter told 0Bama to say …..” “The teleprompter forgot to change speeches from 0’s to Brown’s.”

That is like when Rush reads the stories about how SUV’s are killing people, not the idiot drivers.

95 Golem Akbar  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:44:19am

Story with legs! Way to go, MSM. Finally, they report something worthwhile.

96 J.S.  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:44:28am

omg…a series of contradictions from The Zero. First he claims no one here is responsible for the current mess. Seconds later he claims “the buck stops here.” Yeah, right Zero. (as I roll my eyes). It’s once again, everything for everyone — take your pick of what to believe. Now the Zero has the audacity to yak about “those who are feigning outrage about the bonuses” — yeah, Zero, go take a look in the mirror, ok?

97 Edouard  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:44:38am

The sad truth is that AIG’s 100 grand to Obama is just the tip of the iceberg, when one really starts looking into the mindboggling degree of campaign finance malfeasance practiced by the dirty Obama campaign.

98 alegrias  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:44:47am

re: #88 Zimriel

So, Romney took the money because he agreed with AIG’s aims. That’s supposed to make me feel better?

* * * *
No, but get real.

Campaign staff took the money.

You seriously think a candidate necessarily tracks every single solitary donor, much less know everything a donor is doing?

99 looking closely  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:44:55am

re: #85 pink freud

I like how Rush has anthromorphized 0’s teleprompter. Ouch.

“The teleprompter totally embarrassed the President of the UNited States” LOL!

“the teleprompter told 0Bama to say …..” “The teleprompter forgot to change speeches from 0’s to Brown’s.”

Its a wry take on the “empty suit” label, that suitingly fits Obama.

The guy has literally never held executive office before, nor run anything of substance in his entire life.

100 Conservative in Liberal Hands  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:45:05am

In a lot of marriages, the most powerful partner controls the remote… I wonder who controls the teleprompter?

/White Smoke

101 pink freud  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:45:28am

re: #93 thedopefishlives

re: #94 ilzito guacamolito

Has anyone ever seen thedopefishlives and ilzito guacamoliti in the same place at the same time? Hmmm ……

:-)

102 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:45:33am
103 Desert Dog  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:46:23am

re: #102 buzzsawmonkey

My point is that Obama, as a freshman Senator with little leverage and an initially long-shot Presidential candidate, worth almost as much as the Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. Very interesting.

As far as his staying bought or not, see my #12 above. I don’t think that he didn’t stay bought; I think that the bonus uproar is a show for the rubes, planned as a distraction that enables the larger bailouts to continue—and the larger bailouts are more important. Obama has given further bailouts to AIG since the initial one; the hue and cry over the bonuses distracts from the bailouts themselves.

Obama and Chicago politics….money talks, he listens

104 brookly red  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:46:35am

re: #100 Conservative in Liberal Hands

In a lot of marriages, the most powerful partner controls the remote… I wonder who controls the teleprompter?
/White Smoke

/Soros?

105 Ben Hur  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:46:40am

Exposed: How Palestinian Fixers Manipulate their Media Bosses

NR: The thing is, do you agree that there will be in the future one Palestinian state [..] that all the Palestinians want is to be treated as anyone else in the world….[sic]…when you are making life equal for the people [..] when [their] dream to see Jerusalem… and in the West Bank, and Ramallah and in Jenin [..] you are not suffering at the end of the day and you want people to believe…

DA: Please, don’t get excited, of course I’m not suffering because I’m not killing anybody.

NR: And you want to decide, you want people to believe, that you as previous ambassador to the UN, sorry to say fascist, fascist [..] party… where this party… I am the indigenous people, I have been here as my grandfather was here before the State of Israel [..]

Crowd: What’s the question, what’s the question?

NR: …the whole thing you are talking about is bullshit, you don’t want to open your eyes and you keep [being] blind, not to see what’s the problem, and it is occupation.

DA: Now you know why you don’t have a state.

NR: And the only guarantee to live here is ending the occupation. Do you not recognize that there is an occupation? Yes or no? YES OR NO? Do you agree that there is an occupation? Do recognize the occupation? Yes or no? Give me an answer and then you can go.

[**]

DA: I would like first the eradication of terror, first of all, and secondly, your recognition that I have the right to be here, that this my country, I’m not here by anybody’s favor. This is my country, this is my land.

NR: It’s Palestinian land.

DA: No its not Palestinian land, this is Jewish land, this is what you have to accept, and if you don’t accept it, then we don’t even have anything to talk about.

NR. NIDAL RAFA. Producer CNN

106 CyanSnowHawk  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:46:54am

re: #19 Killgore Trout

,,,,,But things would be better if McCain were elected.
/

Yes they would be. We would still be outraged, we would still be screaming invective about what he and Congress were doing, we might even be wondering if we should have elected Senator Government, but the end result would not be the one that Saint Obama seems to be driving us toward.

107 turn  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:46:57am

re: #81 lawhawk

head fake

108 J.S.  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:47:06am

re: #102 buzzsawmonkey

the whole bonus fiasco is a dog and pony show.

109 albusteve  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:47:18am

re: #86 Sharmuta

I favor a flat tax or consumption tax. Get the IRS out of our lives, no more loopholes for snakes to hid assets.

there has to be a system more fair than what’s in place…something is inherently wrong when the iRS can’t even figure out all the rules…and beyond that our taxes fund a monsterously bloated, inefficent and wasteful gov…it’s criminal imo

110 VegasRick  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:47:23am

Zero asked about the $100,000 donation from AIG - Umm..Uhh, ahh. Ummm. NO ANSWER!

111 alegrias  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:47:24am

Obama says he believes in “free” markets & capitalism. Stop the leftist presses!

Disinformation campaign in full mode.

112 Emerald  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:47:28am

ABC asked this? ABC?!? Part of the unquestioningly loyal MSM? Holy Mackeral, Obama-man, your teflon shield is failing!

On a serious note, this is a perfect example of how strong the backlash is. There’s no way in hell ABC would be asking this unless they felt they can no longer blindly support him without running the risk of ending up like the print media.

113 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:47:54am
114 realwest  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:48:39am

re: #56 Edouard
“Tax Obama & Dodd at 91% 99%.”
TFTFY!

115 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:48:48am
116 dhg4  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:48:53am

Ya think the Democrats might suggest that they tax the bonuses of Raines or Johnson at 100%?

117 Zimriel  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:49:38am

re: #98 alegrias

* * * *
No, but get real.

Campaign staff took the money.

You seriously think a candidate necessarily tracks every single solitary donor, much less know everything a donor is doing?

If in doubt, blame the staff!

118 realwest  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:49:39am

re: #61 Kenneth

OT: Al-Qaeda suspect to ask for return to prison


Can’t deport him. Can’t jail him. Can’t keep him under house arrest. What are we going to do, set him free to live on welfare?

Yep, that’s about right!

119 Sharmuta  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:49:45am

re: #109 albusteve

there has to be a system more fair than what’s in place…something is inherently wrong when the iRS can’t even figure out all the rules…and beyond that our taxes fund a monsterously bloated, inefficent and wasteful gov…it’s criminal imo

I can’t disagree. The tax code really pisses me off. From the means they obtain our money in taxes to the way government spends it- the entire process is wasteful and disgusting.

120 kansas  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:49:51am

re: #63 Zimriel

Food for thought for the many Romney and even more Giuliani fanboys wandering around LGF


Here’s the list of top AIG recipients for the 2008 campaign:

3. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., $59,499
6. Former Gov. Mitt Romney, (R) Pres $20,850
10. Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R) Pres $13,200
………………………………………………………… Total 93,549

Barack Obama………………………………………….Total 101,332

Food for thought huh?

121 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:50:14am
122 CyanSnowHawk  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:50:19am

re: #106 CyanSnowHawk

Oops. You know, for being a Hawk, I’m letting down the whole “Hawk eye” thing by missing sarc tags like that.

123 vxbush  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:50:28am

re: #112 Emerald

ABC asked this? ABC?!? Part of the unquestioningly loyal MSM? Holy Mackeral, Obama-man, your teflon shield is failing!

On a serious note, this is a perfect example of how strong the backlash is. There’s no way in hell ABC would be asking this unless they felt they can no longer blindly support him without running the risk of ending up like the print media.

Yesterday on the evening news NBC spent over ten minutes on the AIG insanity, but they were just focusing on the bonuses, how much money was going overseas, etc. It was at least half the show. (Nothing about the contracts and the language inserted in the bailout to see that the contracts got paid, alas.)

Today, ABC is asking questions.

My, how we live in interesting times.

124 looking closely  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:50:45am

re: #106 CyanSnowHawk

Yes they would be. We would still be outraged, we would still be screaming invective about what he and Congress were doing, we might even be wondering if we should have elected Senator Government, but the end result would not be the one that Saint Obama seems to be driving us toward.


Actually, McCain has always been a financial hawk.

He wouldn’t have let pork-laden earmark bills fly without so much as reading them, and he would have used some of his political capital as new POTUS to ensure they didn’t pass as such.

And he certainly would NOT have created a panic-laden atmosphere to rush that turd sandwich through the Congress.

While I admit that its probably impossible to pass major legislation without SOME pork or wastage especially given the Dem majority Congress, I think the outcome under a hypothetical McCain administration would have been a lot better.

125 Desert Dog  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:50:46am

re: #120 kansas

Here’s the list of top AIG recipients for the 2008 campaign:

3. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., $59,499
6. Former Gov. Mitt Romney, (R) Pres $20,850
10. Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R) Pres $13,200
………………………………………….. ……………. Total 93,549

Barack Obama……………………………………… ….Total 101,332

Food for thought huh?

At that price, AIG is probably thinking Obama should have “stayed bought”…they might want THEIR money back now!

126 albusteve  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:50:55am

the Flat Tax in simple terms….


heritage.org

127 turn  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:51:08am

shit my normal kfbk.com link to streaming audio of Rush isn’t working.
Anybody got a different link I can try?

128 dhg4  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:51:13am

re: #59 buzzsawmonkey

It’s amazing that a freshman junior senator would be worth so much, isn’t it?

You’ve got promise kid.

129 So?  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:51:28am

Like that bully on The Simpsons would say : Ah ha! (pointing finger)

130 Edouard  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:51:36am

McCain would make a big splash if he got on this thing fast and sent the $$ back, and right away held a press conference about it holding Obama’s feet to the fire.

131 pink freud  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:51:43am

re: #127 turn

shit my normal kfbk.com link to streaming audio of Rush isn’t working.
Anybody got a different link I can try?

streamingradioguide.com

Take your pick.

132 CyanSnowHawk  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:51:46am

re: #43 Fluffy Bunny

The Magic Eight Ball says:

Outlook Not So Good.

That’s what most of us Thunderbird, Eudora, and Netscape mail users have been saying for years.

133 brookly red  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:52:17am

re: #127 turn

shit my normal kfbk.com link to streaming audio of Rush isn’t working.
Anybody got a different link I can try?

AWBC radio has live stream…

134 Irenike  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:52:23am

I forgot to rant about one more thing.

I don’t give a crap about AIG bonuses.

What really makes me angry is all the tax money President Teleprompter is spending. How much are we up to now? Is it 4 trillion?

One hundred billion is of that money is going to be wasted down the education rathhole. I homeschool my kids because public schools are so bad. Yet, I’ll be on the hook for that hundred billion in wasteful spending. My taxes are going to skyrocket because the damned Democrats are spending my money on their pet projects. Liberal democrats are nothing but a pack of thieves. And President Teleprompter is the king of the thieves.

135 looking closely  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:52:47am

re: #111 alegrias

Obama says he believes in “free” markets & capitalism. Stop the leftist presses!

Disinformation campaign in full mode.


So what’s changed?

Its not what they SAY, its what they DO.

Has Obama actually done ANYTHING to support free markets? As far as I can tell, he’s been involved in messing with free markets in every way possible in his limited time as POTUS.

136 vxbush  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:52:51am

re: #132 CyanSnowHawk

That’s what most of us Thunderbird, Eudora, and Netscape mail users have been saying for years.

ZING! I love it. Updinged.

137 albusteve  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:52:54am

re: #119 Sharmuta

I can’t disagree. The tax code really pisses me off. From the means they obtain our money in taxes to the way government spends it- the entire process is wasteful and disgusting.

and now we have BO…Im almost feeling like a victim here…haha!

138 rawmuse  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:53:03am
139 wiffersnapper  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:53:03am

Pretty obvious they won’t.

140 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:53:15am
141 alegrias  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:53:34am

re: #130 Edouard

McCain would make a big splash if he got on this thing fast and sent the $$ back, and right away held a press conference about it holding Obama’s feet to the fire.

* * * *

McCain is probably busy working on keeping US military vets’ medical care safe from Obama’s minions out to screw wounded military veterans.

142 Czarny_Smok  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:54:12am

re: #87 yma o hyd

In this global economy we now have, lets keep in mind that thes sums didn’t go to ‘France, Germany and the UK’ - they went to banks and companiesin which AIG held huge stakes, and which would have crashed without that.

It might be worthwhile to imagine how global bank failures would ahve affected this global economy, and how that woulkd ahve played on the international stage.

And lets not forget that, especially in the UK, the governments ahve pumped sums on a comparable level into the banking system as in the USA - and the Bank of England was even forced to start printing money.
Its unfortunate, but there are now no national barriers in international finance.

I have to disagree with you. The AIG funds were sent to the Euro banks, those funds are our tax dollars. If our government is hell bent on bailing out our banks, why should we, the US, also pay to bail out foreign banks. I realize that the world economy is interdependent, but the people should know, have a right to know where our dollars are going, and as far as I’m concerned, we’ve overpaid for the dubious privilege of making nice with Europe and we’ve bailed them out one to many times - there are a lot of white crosses providing ample proof. This time, they should sink or swim on their own. We cannot be responsible any more - charity starts at home.

143 kansas  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:54:15am

re: #134 Irenike

AIG is all a diversion. From the borders, terrorists, 4 trillion to God knows where.

144 dhg4  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:54:25am
145 Zimriel  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:54:30am

re: #120 kansas

Here’s the list of top AIG recipients for the 2008 campaign:

3. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., $59,499
6. Former Gov. Mitt Romney, (R) Pres $20,850
10. Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R) Pres $13,200
………………………………………….. ……………. Total 93,549

Barack Obama……………………………………… ….Total 101,332

Food for thought huh?

This shows that the aim of AIG was to support Obama and, failing that, to help select Obama’s opposition for last November.

(And some of us still wonder why there is an “evil money cult”…)

Come on, guys. You’re throwing already-dead fish into this barrel, and you’re doing it too slowly.

146 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:54:33am
147 wintercat  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:54:40am

Obama was just directly asked if he felt different about AIG now (that this bonus issue has hit the fan) after having taken over $100K in campaign contributions and he just ignored the question and jumped into a lengthy vote of confidence for Geitner.

I am not surprised but it really irks me that he is allowed to get away with this.

148 turn  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:54:43am

re: #126 albusteve

the Flat Tax in simple terms….


[Link: www.heritage.org…]

That looks interesting, I should learn more about that (not that there is any possibility of it happening in the foreseeable future)

149 Sharmuta  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:54:52am

re: #119 Sharmuta

I can’t disagree. The tax code really pisses me off. From the means they obtain our money in taxes to the way government spends it- the entire process is wasteful and disgusting.

It’s also unAmerican and shameful that such a powerful and wealthy nation would tolerate such an inefficient system. Complacency is toxic.

150 turn  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:55:13am

re: #131 pink freud

hey thanks PF!

151 alegrias  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:55:39am

re: #135 looking closely

So what’s changed?

Its not what they SAY, its what they DO.

Has Obama actually done ANYTHING to support free markets? As far as I can tell, he’s been involved in messing with free markets in every way possible in his limited time as POTUS.

* * * *
Obama just said that for the sound bite. Then he got on his plane headed for California where he’ll speak moonbat to his most fervent believers in Pelosi land. (Arnold Schwarzenegger will lick his boots too)

152 Killer Tomato  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:56:01am

re: #120 kansas

Here’s the list of top AIG recipients for the 2008 campaign:

3. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., $59,499
6. Former Gov. Mitt Romney, (R) Pres $20,850
10. Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R) Pres $13,200
………………………………………….. ……………. Total 93,549

Barack Obama……………………………………… ….Total 101,332

Food for thought huh?

Where is this money from?
AIG - the company?
AIG employees?
The dollar amounts seem weird.

153 gmsc  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:56:41am

re: #144 dhg4

via instapundit

Director Blue is hilarious!

LOL, Best Line I Have Read This Week

Referring the Senator Grassley’s statement that AIG executives who are receiving bonuses should “resign or go commit suicide,” David Harsanyi responds:

C’mon. If suicide were a proper penalty for piddling away taxpayer dollars, the National Mall would look just like Jonestown after refreshments.

154 pink freud  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:56:53am

re: #150 turn

hey thanks PF!

You’re welcome! I had it just sitting up there in its own tab; my local station wouldn’t load this morning either so I had to go searching …I am listening to Pennsylvania. Kinda cool.

155 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:57:07am
156 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:57:15am
157 Killgore Trout  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:57:24am

re: #126 albusteve

Probably not a good idea. No deductions for mortgage interest, healthcare costs, business expenses etc. but worst of all it shifts the tax burden down the economic ladder. It would decrease taxes on people with private jets and villas in Maui to people renting a crappy apartment and working for a low hourly wage. Our current tax system could use some tweaking but it’s not really that bad and it’s not really the problem.

158 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:57:39am
159 pink freud  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:58:21am

re: #156 MandyManners

As is its younger brother, mediocrity.

160 Fluffy Bunny  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:58:25am

re: #138 rawmuse

“Police Officers Association President Gary Delagnes confirmed that his union got a call from federal investigators telling them they had an “active investigation and should not be commenting on the case.”

*coughbullshitcough*

161 Bubblehead II  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:58:39am

re: #102 buzzsawmonkey

My point is that Obama, as a freshman Senator with little leverage and an initially long-shot Presidential candidate, worth almost as much as the Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. Very interesting.

Connections to George Soros Perhaps?

As far as his staying bought or not, see my #12 above. I don’t think that he didn’t stay bought; I think that the bonus uproar is a show for the rubes, planned as a distraction that enables the larger bailouts to continue—and the larger bailouts are more important. Obama has given further bailouts to AIG since the initial one; the hue and cry over the bonuses distracts from the bailouts themselves.

Good point.

162 looking closely  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:58:43am

re: #141 alegrias

* * * *

McCain is probably busy working on keeping US military vets’ medical care safe from Obama’s minions out to screw wounded military veterans.

The irony there is rich.

Right now we HAVE a functional (though crappy) Federally administered “universal” health care system for veterans…and Obama wants to undermine it in favor of private insurance “to save money”. He loves our soldiers…just doesn’t want the gov’t to pay for their war injuries.

At the same time, he wants to undermine private insurance for everyone else.

In other words, private insurance is great for Veterans “to save money”, but its inappropriate for everyone else because its so wasteful!

Hell, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think Obama hates veterans, and doesn’t know jack s@#t about economics.

163 albusteve  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:59:29am

re: #149 Sharmuta

It’s also unAmerican and shameful that such a powerful and wealthy nation would tolerate such an inefficient system. Complacency is toxic.

if dissent is patriotic then I’m a super patriot!….oooh rah!

164 dhg4  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:59:34am

re: #59 buzzsawmonkey

It’s amazing that a freshman junior senator would be worth so much, isn’t it?

Also, those investments in Sen. Obama paid off quite handsomely. And it wasn’t just AIG.

165 Zimriel  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:59:41am

re: #155 ploome hineni

if the MSM ignore this story

did it really happen?

/how can we continue to be so betrayed?

Because we let ‘em. We’re okay with having the enemies of freedom select the leaders for their opposition. The leaders they chose for us last year were McCain, Romney, and Giuliani.

Whom will they choose for us next time?

166 looking closely  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 9:59:51am

re: #151 alegrias

* * * *
Obama just said that for the sound bite. Then he got on his plane headed for California where he’ll speak moonbat to his most fervent believers in Pelosi land. (Arnold Schwarzenegger will lick his boots too)

I’m sure its a fuel-efficient hybrid jet.

Otherwise, he’s not going to…you know…heal the environment.

167 redstateredneck  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:00:10am

re: #147 wintercat

Obama was just directly asked if he felt different about AIG now (that this bonus issue has hit the fan) after having taken over $100K in campaign contributions and he just ignored the question and jumped into a lengthy vote of confidence for Geitner.

I am not surprised but it really irks me that he is allowed to get away with this.


I heard that. I wonder what reporter even dared to ask the question of the great and powerful O.

168 realwest  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:00:16am

re: #138 rawmuse
An “active investigation” eh? I can’t say anything more without being either deleted or banned.

169 Unakite  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:00:28am
170 Ben Hur  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:00:28am

re: #162 looking closely

The irony there is rich.

Right now we HAVE a functional (though crappy) Federally administered “universal” health care system for veterans…and Obama wants to undermine it in favor of private insurance “to save money”. He loves our soldiers…just doesn’t want the gov’t to pay for their war injuries.

At the same time, he wants to undermine private insurance for everyone else.

In other words, private insurance is great for Veterans “to save money”, but its inappropriate for everyone else because its so wasteful!

Hell, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think Obama hates veterans, and doesn’t know jack s@#t about economics.

Thank you!

I thought the exact same thing!

I am not alone in my madness!

171 alegrias  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:01:46am

re: #165 Zimriel

Because we let ‘em. We’re okay with having the enemies of freedom select the leaders for their opposition. The leaders they chose for us last year were McCain, Romney, and Giuliani.

Whom will they choose for us next time?

* * * *
Zimriel, I’m beginning to think you’re a hater. Any McCain, Romney or Giuliani would have been better for our country than Pres. Obama.

Whoever your candidate was didn’t get elected or apparently garner any votes on his or her own. Your sour grapes are showing.

172 turn  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:02:09am

re: #138 rawmuse

SF Cops told to pipe down over Ayers bombing case.

Finally, we also spend $711 per resident per year on Muni.

Wow, that’s startling. I wonder what it is here in sac …

173 albusteve  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:02:18am

re: #157 Killgore Trout

Probably not a good idea. No deductions for mortgage interest, healthcare costs, business expenses etc. but worst of all it shifts the tax burden down the economic ladder. It would decrease taxes on people with private jets and villas in Maui to people renting a crappy apartment and working for a low hourly wage. Our current tax system could use some tweaking but it’s not really that bad and it’s not really the problem.

it’s just one idea….but the current system needs more than a tweek, more like a major overhaul…it not that hard to slash corporate taxes and do away with a clearly unethical inheritance tax

174 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:02:54am
175 RightMinded  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:03:24am
176 yma o hyd  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:03:28am

re: #142 Czarny_Smok

I have to disagree with you. The AIG funds were sent to the Euro banks, those funds are our tax dollars. If our government is hell bent on bailing out our banks, why should we, the US, also pay to bail out foreign banks. I realize that the world economy is interdependent, but the people should know, have a right to know where our dollars are going, and as far as I’m concerned, we’ve overpaid for the dubious privilege of making nice with Europe and we’ve bailed them out one to many times - there are a lot of white crosses providing ample proof. This time, they should sink or swim on their own. We cannot be responsible any more - charity starts at home.

I understand you anger - but lets not forget that this American company, AIG, made huge earnings from said European companies. And lets not forget that it was for example a company like AIG who wrapped what is called ‘toxic loans’ up in nice little parcels and sold it via their European companies, to spread the earnings and the failings we now have.
Its nothing to do with ‘bailing out Europeans’ - its to do with keeping the global economy ticking over as best as can be.
Don’t think the governments of Europe have just held their hands open - large amounts of taxpayers’ moneys have gone down the drain here as well.

If you still think Europeans should just get on with it and leave you alone, well I suggest you have a look at the history of the Great depression, and how that played out, especially the various trade tarriffs which prolonged the misery.
We all know how that ended - only, this time round it won’t be the Europeans from whom the big bangs will come, they will come from the ME and Asia.
Its not a time to pull up the drawbridges in the USA and vilify the only allies actually prepared to do something.

177 Honorary Yooper  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:04:05am

re: #165 Zimriel

So you’d rather have that idiot Huckabee?

178 realwest  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:04:09am

re: #141 alegrias
I sure hope so! He’s the one Senator I e-mailed about this yesterday who isn’t from my State. Didn’t receive any answer yet, except from my Congresswoman, Sue Myrick (R) who said that there is absolutely ZERO enthusiasm for that proposal of making vets pay for their own health care and that a “lot” of Democrats are seriously disgusted by it.
I’ll let y’all know if Sen. McCain responds to my e-mail.

179 rawmuse  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:04:18am

Yesterday was the first time in my life I ever recall elected politicians threatening to create special legislation for the specific purpose of confiscating 100% of earnings from a small number of citizens.

I think they crossed the Rubicon.

180 Ben Hur  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:04:25am

re: #175 RightMinded

Posted on Fox:

Pelosi Tells Illegal Immigrants that Work Site Raids are Un-American

And have been going on for decades and decades.

181 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:04:27am

re: #138 rawmuse

SF Cops told to pipe down over Ayers bombing case.

We can, I suppose, cross our fingers.

/damn! … this just might get really interesting!

182 JohnnyReb  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:04:34am

re: #174 Iron Fist

Then tax the 9% they are left with at a 110% rate. Tax them for the taxes they’ve already paid. Tax them until every drop of blood is squeezed out of their turnip.

And then hit them with a bad luck tax that requires overtaxed people to be taxed at an effective rate of their entire net worth plus the negligible value of their already mortgaged-to-the-hilt soul.

Tax them until they commit suicide, and then tax their estate for the actual value of the bullet they use to blow out their worthless brains. And fine them for discharging a weapon within city limits.

Didn’t they already do that in that Popeye movie?

183 Killgore Trout  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:05:01am

re: #173 albusteve

..it not that hard to slash corporate taxes and do away with a clearly unethical inheritance tax


True but that revenue has to be made up somewhere. The reason why we have such high corporate taxes is because personal income tax is relatively low.

184 turn  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:05:20am

re: #154 pink freud

You’re welcome! I had it just sitting up there in its own tab; my local station wouldn’t load this morning either so I had to go searching …I am listening to Pennsylvania. Kinda cool.

Yeah, I didn’t know about that site. I just clicked the first link and hooked up right away.

185 Ben Hur  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:05:52am

WHEN IS EVERYONE GOING TO DEMAND THAT AIG PULL ITS SPONSORSHIP OF MANCHESTER UNITED?!?

I can’t even wear my Man U jacket without getting dirty looks because of the giant AIG on the front!

186 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:06:20am
187 looking closely  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:06:23am

re: #170 Ben Hur

Thank you!

I thought the exact same thing!

I am not alone in my madness!


This idea to force our vets onto private insurance is absolutely insane.

Even the most superficial read of this plan stinks of rank hypocrisy and this WILL blow up in his face if Obama pushes it.

So that leads to a question. Is Obama really that stupid/crazy, or does he have some ulterior motive here? Given the political equivalent of Occam’s razor (never assume guile when incompetence suffices as an explanation), the first read on this doesn’t look good.

Still, I don’t mind. As predicted earlier, Obama is spending his his political capital like the proverbial drunken sailor at the whorehouse. Pretty soon he’s not going to be able to get anything done…

188 Erik The Red  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:06:36am

OT: For those Lizards that don’t know/have not updinged.

It is littleoldlady’s Birthday. Please go HERE and upding. Lets get her to 100+.

189 DistantThunder  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:06:58am

Face it, it’s Congress that is greedy and corrupt. And Obama is Greedy and Corrupt it is plain to see. And Lazy. No one read the bill.

190 Ben Hur  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:07:12am

re: #187 looking closely


I think he wants to discourage enlistment.

191 realwest  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:07:30am

re: #142 Czarny_Smok
With all due respect, the money AIG sent to foreign banks was money that the foreign banks PAID AIG for (it was insurance against bad derivatives). Had AIG not paid the foreign banks, then AIG would certainly been sued (and would have, IMO, lost) and the cost to fulfill AIG’s contractual obligations would have been even greater.

192 CommonCents  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:07:36am

re: #15 lawhawk

In a word, no. It’s all so much phony outrage - so much so that I’m outraged.

And will Congress take action against Freddie Mac, who also engaged in the same kind of executive compensation? Again, not likely.

This is all a kabuki play, and we’re getting played by Congress and the Administration for anger at AIG over the bonuses, all while hundreds of billions go out the window with no accountability and no idea when that money will ever come back (it wont).

It was Dodd who inserted the language allowing the executive compensation to proceed.

The phony outrage is only exacerbated by the fact that NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, FoxNews, etc. keep plugging away on the outrage at AIG. Why is it that one has to look to Hotair.com, Michelle Malkin, etc. to get the hypocrisy angle? It’s not that our major news outlets are bought-and-paid-for, they are just lazy and stupid like the simpletons they pander for and to.

193 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:07:58am
194 redstateredneck  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:08:04am

re: #188 Erik The Red

OT: For those Lizards that don’t know/have not updinged.

It is littleoldlady’s Birthday. Please go HERE and upding. Lets get her to 100+.

I have duly dinged.

195 Erik The Red  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:08:05am

re: #185 Ben Hur

WHEN IS EVERYONE GOING TO DEMAND THAT AIG PULL ITS SPONSORSHIP OF MANCHESTER UNITED?!?

I can’t even wear my Man U jacket without getting dirty looks because of the giant AIG on the front!

I agree. Let ManU sink. Pull the money.

Go Liverpool

196 Ben Hur  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:08:15am

re: #185 Ben Hur

WHEN IS EVERYONE GOING TO DEMAND THAT AIG PULL ITS SPONSORSHIP OF MANCHESTER UNITED?!?

I can’t even wear my Man U jacket without getting dirty looks because of the giant AIG on the front!

BTW, Manchester United is a football soccer team in Britain.

197 looking closely  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:09:13am

re: #179 rawmuse

Yesterday was the first time in my life I ever recall elected politicians threatening to create special legislation for the specific purpose of confiscating 100% of earnings from a small number of citizens.

I think they crossed the Rubicon.


Eh…I’ve heard LOTS of REALLY stupid and blatantly illegal ideas come from the mouths of politicians over the years.

When it comes to taxing things, politicians are generally both shameless AND economically stupid.

Unfortunately, there is generally no political fallout whatever for this stupidity until/unless these cockamamie ideas come to an actual vote.

198 Ben Hur  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:09:20am

re: #195 Erik The Red

I agree. Let ManU sink. Pull the money.

Go Liverpool


To quote Shia LeBoef:

Whoa whoa whoa whoa!

199 CyanSnowHawk  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:09:26am

re: #166 looking closely

I’m sure its a fuel-efficient hybrid jet.

Otherwise, he’s not going to…you know…heal the environment.

It saves nothing on those non-stop long haul flights, but you should see the mileage in stop-n-go air traffic.

200 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:09:44am
201 albusteve  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:10:40am

re: #183 Killgore Trout

True but that revenue has to be made up somewhere. The reason why we have such high corporate taxes is because personal income tax is relatively low.

the gov does not need all the trillions in taxes so that revenue should not even need to be generated in the first place…they burn money and mismanage the rest…layer after layer of taxation is just legal thievery imo…the beast is out of control…my father’s money has been taxed over and over again…so what’s left is taxed even again when I take it…it’s simply criminal

202 wintercat  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:10:54am

re: #158 ploome hineni

I was just listening to my local radio station (so sorry, I can’t give you a linky). He was giving a speech on the WH lawn. Choppers sounding in the background. I think it was being carried live. He dodged the question. Interestingly enough, he also was asked how he would stem anger for this problem and he said he didn’t want to stem it (I am paraphrasing here) he wanted to channel it. I guess he sees this as yet another crisis that he doesn’t want to waste.

203 Ben Hur  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:10:56am

re: #195 Erik The Red

I agree. Let ManU sink. Pull the money.

Go Liverpool


I’d downding that sh*t, but I like you.

BBL.

204 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:11:05am

re: #200 MandyManners

But, Dodd knew about the contract provision. He inserted it.

Perhaps AIG execs ASKED him to insert it.

205 Erik The Red  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:11:08am

re: #198 Ben Hur

To quote Shia LeBoef:

Whoa whoa whoa whoa!

You’ll Never Walk Alone. Liverpool

206 Killgore Trout  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:11:09am

re: #196 Ben Hur

I was in Africa for the financial meltdown back in August/September. All of a sudden I started notice people walking around in AIG shirts. It took me forever that they were Manchester jerseys.

207 looking closely  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:11:34am

re: #190 Ben Hur

I think he wants to discourage enlistment.


If so, there are all kinds of ways he could do that.
Hell, he’s probably doing it already indirectly via his foreign policy idiocy.
Maybe he wants to keep the military establishment “in check” by yanking their chain here. Or maybe he wants to keep the military “lobby” tied up with this nonsense, so they can’t work on other things.

208 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:11:46am
209 CyanSnowHawk  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:11:52am
210 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:12:06am

re: #179 rawmuse

Yesterday was the first time in my life I ever recall elected politicians threatening to create special legislation for the specific purpose of confiscating 100% of earnings from a small number of citizens.

I think they crossed the Rubicon.

Rube, I con. Sounds like a general job description of a politician.

211 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:13:17am
212 turn  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:13:28am

re: #187 looking closely

Hey there LC,

I’ve been able to pick up on a few theories on that got kicked around here over the last few days.

One is that be a means of enabling socialized medicine, if we can’t get the vets in private then everybody should be entitled to gov med.

Another was that it would stifle recruitment with the end goal of requiring a draft.

And the last was it’s just a classic head fake to distract us from their gradual march toward socialism.

213 brookly red  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:13:35am

re: #204 pre-Boomer Marine brat

Perhaps AIG execs ASKED him to insert it.

/wonder what that cost?

214 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:13:39am
215 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:14:35am

Rush just called Obama TOTUS - Teleprompter Of The United States - first heard here on LGF, I believe.

216 redstateredneck  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:14:39am

Rush talking about Obama press conference now.

217 looking closely  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:14:45am

re: #204 pre-Boomer Marine brat

Perhaps AIG execs ASKED him to insert it.

Its more complicated than that.
AIG asked Treasury, then Treasury blamed Dodd:

firedoglake.com

salon.com

Meanwhile Dodd denies everything (though he could be lying through his teeth):

In an interview with CNN, Dodd denied inserting that exemption at the 11th hour, and insisted he doesn’t know how it got there.

“When I wrote the language there was no such language like that,” Dodd told CNN Tuesday.

218 WinterCat  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:14:53am

re: #167 redstateredneck

I heard that. I wonder what reporter even dared to ask the question of the great and powerful O.

I don’t know who he is. I wonder if he is planning his retirement.

Obama just jumped to the next question. Perhaps he will call this guy later to clarify?

219 FurryOldGuyJeans  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:15:42am

So far the government is doing wonderful in engineering a crisis and then using it to make populist demands to ensure the voting rubes think they actually did something to resolve the crisis they started.

220 Noodniklel  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:16:29am

My son is 100% disabled veteran and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind the private insurance if it’s exactly like the Senators get, as promised for all of us
by candidate Obama.

221 turn  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:17:03am

re: #219 FurryOldGuyJeans

So far the government is doing wonderful in engineering a crisis and then using it to make populist demands to ensure the voting rubes think they actually did something to resolve the crisis they started.

Wow, that’s exactly what’s happening. I hope that post makes it to the top 10.

222 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:17:32am
223 yma o hyd  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:18:01am

re: #185 Ben Hur

WHEN IS EVERYONE GOING TO DEMAND THAT AIG PULL ITS SPONSORSHIP OF MANCHESTER UNITED?!?

I can’t even wear my Man U jacket without getting dirty looks because of the giant AIG on the front!

I feel your pain …
(And Liverpool beat them in the last game, as well …)

224 Erik The Red  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:18:03am

re: #220 Noodniklel

My son is 100% disabled veteran and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind the private insurance if it’s exactly like the Senators get, as promised for all of us
by candidate Obama.

Thank your son for his service and sacrifice for me.

225 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:18:47am
226 razorbacker  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:18:57am

I heard a congresscritter (missed the name) on the top-o’-the-hour newscast refer to AIG as Arrogance, Incompetence, and Greed.

*”Hello, Mr. Pot. Have you met Mr. Kettle?”*

227 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:19:10am

re: #223 yma o hyd

I feel your pain …
(And Liverpool beat them in the last game, as well …)

Maybe if soccer games would take a damn commercial break every now & then, the players wouldn’t be walking, kicking billboards.

228 redstateredneck  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:19:11am

re: #218 WinterCat

I don’t know who he is. I wonder if he is planning his retirement.

Obama just jumped to the next question. Perhaps he will call this guy later to clarify?

He asked about three questions in one. 1st, will you repay the money your campaign received from IAG, 2nd, there is a lot of public outcry to replace Geithner and 3rd, how do you feel about that (or something to that effect).
Blah blah blah …Geithner didn’t write those contracts for AIG bonuses…blah blah blah Alexander Hamilton (wtf?)…blah blah blah

229 WinterCat  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:20:00am

re: #228 redstateredneck

He asked about three questions in one. 1st, will you repay the money your campaign received from IAG, 2nd, there is a lot of public outcry to replace Geithner and 3rd, how do you feel about that (or something to that effect).
Blah blah blah …Geithner didn’t write those contracts for AIG bonuses…blah blah blah Alexander Hamilton (wtf?)…blah blah blah

Any idea who that masked man is?

230 Erik The Red  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:20:03am

re: #223 yma o hyd

I feel your pain …
(And Liverpool beat them in the last game, as well …)

BEAT? That was a hiding.

231 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:20:38am

re: #211 MandyManners

I’m sure the $103,000.00 asked for them.

heh

232 redstateredneck  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:20:49am

re: #229 WinterCat

Any idea who that masked man is?

I was listening to Fox News on the XM in the car. I couldn’t place his voice, though.

233 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:21:16am
234 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:22:19am

re: #217 looking closely

Interesting. I’d heard of this but didn’t know the details.
I’ve got five bucks on “lying through his teeth”.

235 FurryOldGuyJeans  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:22:35am

re: #222 MandyManners

Cloward and Piven are smiling.

Barney Frank, as well as most of the rest of Congress, sure is not letting a crisis go to waste. They manufactured this, so why not reap the benefit?

236 Chicago Blonde  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:22:48am

re: #175 RightMinded

Posted on Fox:

Pelosi Tells Illegal Immigrants that Work Site Raids are Un-American

I’m having a little dental stuff done, and on pain killers. And I still can see that’s a STOOOOPID statement.

Also - wasn’t Rush talking about people getting hassled in Missouri for bumper stickers protesting a North American union? I missed part of that but heard enough to alarm me.

237 looking closely  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:23:22am

re: #212 turn

Hey there LC,

I’ve been able to pick up on a few theories on that got kicked around here over the last few days.

One is that be a means of enabling socialized medicine, if we can’t get the vets in private then everybody should be entitled to gov med.

Another was that it would stifle recruitment with the end goal of requiring a draft.

And the last was it’s just a classic head fake to distract us from their gradual march toward socialism.


I don’t really like any of these explanations.

Again, if Obama’s goal is to discourage recruitment, there are a lot of other things he can do more meaningful than to play with Veterans health care issues.

As to encouraging socialized medicine, you’re saying he’s going to make the argument that if its good enough for our soldiers it should be good enough for everyone else too?

I don’t think that’s going to fly. Veteran medical care is a “special case”. The gov’t is providing healthcare benefits to service members injured during duty. You could argue how to accomplish that, but I think even the most callous cynic would concede that we have to pay to treat our wounded soldiers. Its simply not fair to make vets pay for their own injuries out of pocket.

Its also pretty easy to argue…ask anyone whose every dealth with healthcare at any VA system…that the VA system is NOT a model that most Americans want to see for their own personal healthcare!

If he’s doing this, its going to come back and bite him for the exact reason I mentioned earlier. When he proposes socialized medicine to “cut costs”, the question is going to be why then is private insurance better for our Vets?

238 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:24:22am
239 yma o hyd  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:25:33am

re: #227 BeerDrinking_VictoryMonkey

Maybe if soccer games would take a damn commercial break every now & then, the players wouldn’t be walking, kicking billboards.

You fiddle with the century-old rules of soccer, a game played world wide, at your peril!

240 gmsc  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:26:05am

re: #175 RightMinded

Posted on Fox:

Pelosi Tells Illegal Immigrants that Work Site Raids are Un-American

A few years ago in Texas, there was a housing development that was having a big problem with garbage. Right next to this housing development, there was a farm that had many workers (not all of whom could be said to be legal) who would eat and drink throughout the day, and the workers would throw their garbage on the ground. Much of it, due to the winds, was blowing over into the housing development.

When this got to be a regular problem, the housing development president went over and asked the foreman if they could not make such a mess. The foreman was indignant, gave excuses, and generally refused to help them. For days they tried to get through to him, but they finally had to try the landowner himself.

The landowner wasn’t much more of a help, though. He jokingly suggested that if they wanted it cleaned up so badly, they should do it themselves. Taking that as a starting point, the homeowner’s association asked if they could really have the landowner’s permission to clean up the garbage off his land. The landowner figured this was a great way to get free trash removal, and agreed.

Both the landowner and the foreman refused to stop the workers from littering, or even do so much as put out a garbage can.

The association had a meeting, and managed to get 25 volunteers. They would get together on Saturday at an appointed time, and go over to clean up the mess around noon. They decided to call the committee the “Inter-Neighborhood Services”.

When they got together on Saturday, the volunteers were given free hats and jackets with the committee’s initials on it, to help foster a sense of unity in the project. They divided up the various work tasks, and then headed over to the farm.

Think about what the workers saw at that time: 25 people are headed over to a farm property, all with hats and jackets that say “I.N.S.”.

Needless to say, there were no clean-up problems after that.

241 yma o hyd  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:26:41am

re: #230 Erik The Red

BEAT? That was a hiding.

Not into soccer, I’m not - but it was delicius, as was the trouncing of Real Madrid, so it was!

242 FurryOldGuyJeans  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:27:09am

re: #237 looking closely

Oooh, oooh! Ask me about the wondrous system that is the bureaucracy called Veterans Affair Medical Care. Just make sure you get some flame-proof coverings.

The doctors and staff at the VA hospitals I go to for care are nothing but professional and caring. The rules they have to abide by are atrocious, and always evolving.

243 Raven1  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:27:23am

Speaking of Liverpool, here is a favorite live performance by the Fab Four.
Youtube Video

244 looking closely  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:27:26am

re: #220 Noodniklel

My son is 100% disabled veteran and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind the private insurance if it’s exactly like the Senators get, as promised for all of us
by candidate Obama.


My condolences to your son. I do thank him for his service.

Sure, everyone likes nice gov’t handouts.
But the goal is unattainable.
If you give everyone a gold-plated health insurance policy at the gov’t dime, you’d literally suck up the entire GDP and run the treasury dry.
Economics is all about allocating scarce resources, and good medicine don’t come cheap.
There is a good reason why EVERY socialized medicine system in the whole world is rationed or offers substandard care compared to competing private systems. In true socialist fashion, the only way to eliminate the glaring disparity is to do what they have done in Canada…namely ban any physician who accepts public insurance from taking one cent privately.
This is why so many Canadians come to the USA for their healthcare.

245 brookly red  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:27:57am

re: #236 Chicago Blonde

I’m having a little dental stuff done, and on pain killers. And I still can see that’s a STOOOOPID statement.

Also - wasn’t Rush talking about people getting hassled in Missouri for bumper stickers protesting a North American union? I missed part of that but heard enough to alarm me.

Yes, apparently LEOs have been told that such bumper stickers, ones that support a 3rd party & others suggest that the driver is a “militia member” & should be considered dangerous… you should be alarmed.

246 J.S.  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:30:30am

re: #200 MandyManners

But, Dodd knew about the contract provision. He inserted it.

CNN is doing an investigation into this matter. From what I’ve heard, Dodd blocked a ban (the ban would have said “no” to using govt bailout money to AIG execs). Dodd nixed that ban, which then allowed the bailout money to be used for exec bonuses. (perhaps further details will be forthcoming.)

247 Noodniklel  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:31:03am

re: #224 Erik The Red

Thank you Erik The Red. I will tell him.
An anonymous person, who noticed his “disabled veteran”
license plate, recently left a lovely card on his windshield thanking
him for his service. We were all in tears at that kind gesture.

248 turn  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:31:25am

re: #237 looking closely

That all makes sense to me. The problem I’m having is what O’s proposing doesn’t make any sense, surely it’s a political football he’d end up dropping big time. So the question remains, why is he doing it? It must be part of some sinister scheme dreamed up by Emanuel and the lot. What about the head fake in the least?

249 gmsc  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:32:06am

re: #244 looking closely

My condolences to your son. I do thank him for his service.

Sure, everyone likes nice gov’t handouts.
But the goal is unattainable.
If you give everyone a gold-plated health insurance policy at the gov’t dime, you’d literally suck up the entire GDP and run the treasury dry.
Economics is all about allocating scarce resources, and good medicine don’t come cheap.
There is a good reason why EVERY socialized medicine system in the whole world is rationed or offers substandard care compared to competing private systems. In true socialist fashion, the only way to eliminate the glaring disparity is to do what they have done in Canada…namely ban any physician who accepts public insurance from taking one cent privately.
This is why so many Canadians come to the USA for their healthcare.

Did you know that more than US$1 billion of Canada’s healthcare budget goes to American hospitals?

250 anotherindyfilmguy  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:33:16am

re: #72 Sharmuta

Our Founders would be appalled at the level and intricacy of the special interest lobby in Washington. They warned against this very thing, and yet, here we are.

They thought this level of corruption and outrage at it would only take a generation or so… the amazing thing is it took so long… and may still turn out to be a tempest in a teapot if let for the politicians and lapdog media to manipulate and quell…

251 looking closely  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:33:21am

re: #242 FurryOldGuyJeans

Oooh, oooh! Ask me about the wondrous system that is the bureaucracy called Veterans Affair Medical Care. Just make sure you get some flame-proof coverings.

The doctors and staff at the VA hospitals I go to for care are nothing but professional and caring. The rules they have to abide by are atrocious, and always evolving.


Choir…preaching.

I’ve worked at three VAs in my day. I’ve also spend enough time in a well-known Canadian hospital to see the similarities between it and the VA hospitals.

My take is that despite the many obstacles imposed on them by the system, in terms of stifling beaurocracy, limited physical and staffing resources, there are still many individuals at the VAs capable of delivering excellent healthcare. But that’s largely because of the “labor of love” system of individuals giving back to the vets, and it happens in spite of the system, not because of it.

Its also possible to walk into a VA in the 21st century and feel like you’ve walked into a hospital from the 1950s, with some of the most incompetent staff imaginable.

252 RaiderDan  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:33:46am

112 Emerald wrote:

On a serious note, this is a perfect example of how strong the backlash is. There’s no way in hell ABC would be asking this unless they felt they can no longer blindly support him without running the risk of ending up like the print media.

Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner. 10,000 updings for you.

I’m just worried the MSM will tear down Obama too fast, then turn again to ressurect him just in time for 2012. 2010 is looking very good for the GOP, as long as they keep showing the Dems as total hypocrites.

The “Do-As-I-Say, No-As-I-Do” Democrats

The “Recount-Until-I-Win” Democrats

The “Power-Over-Honor” Democrats

Hope your 401K still has some Change left…

253 soxfan4life  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:35:58am

re: #252 RaiderDan

112 Emerald wrote:


Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner. 10,000 updings for you.

I’m just worried the MSM will tear down Obama too fast, then turn again to ressurect him just in time for 2012. 2010 is looking very good for the GOP, as long as they keep showing the Dems as total hypocrites.

The “Do-As-I-Say, No-As-I-Do” Democrats

The “Recount-Until-I-Win” Democrats

The “Power-Over-Honor” Democrats

Hope your 401K still has some Change left…

If the GOP cannot capitalize on this administration in 2010, it will be time for Micheal Steele to step down.

254 JohnnyReb  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:36:06am

re: #242 FurryOldGuyJeans

Oooh, oooh! Ask me about the wondrous system that is the bureaucracy called Veterans Affair Medical Care. Just make sure you get some flame-proof coverings.

The doctors and staff at the VA hospitals I go to for care are nothing but professional and caring. The rules they have to abide by are atrocious, and always evolving.

I too am a customer of the VA system. And it is true the Docs are good. However, they are simply overwhelemed by paperwork and patient load.

255 Chicago Blonde  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:37:27am

re: #245 brookly red

Yes, apparently LEOs have been told that such bumper stickers, ones that support a 3rd party & others suggest that the driver is a “militia member” & should be considered dangerous… you should be alarmed.

Thank you, I missed the 3rd party bit. That is beyond frightening!

256 Chicago Blonde  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:39:46am
257 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:40:42am
258 shane  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:41:31am

Come on, keep your eye on the football for christ’s sake. The bonuses and even this drival is the slight of hand. Billions of the bail out slop bucket have traveled over seas to bail out foreign banks, thats the real gotcha of the trick. This is a side show so you don’t notice it slinking out the back door.

259 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:42:00am
260 turn  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:42:48am

re: #237 looking closely

Again, if Obama’s goal is to discourage recruitment, there are a lot of other things he can do more meaningful than to play with Veterans health care issues.

Oh, and I was curious to find out what you think those things would be.

261 gmsc  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:44:23am

re: #257 buzzsawmonkey

True story, or fun urban legend?

True story!

The foreman even threatened to sue the homeowner’s association for such a stunt, but they pointed out that no one ever claimed to be from the governmental INS, or had even done so much as talk to the workers. They also pointed out that they had the landowner’s permission to be there, so there really wasn’t a whole lot the foreman could do.

262 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:45:34am
263 gmsc  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:46:09am

re: #162 looking closely

The irony there is rich.

Right now we HAVE a functional (though crappy) Federally administered “universal” health care system for veterans…and Obama wants to undermine it in favor of private insurance “to save money”. He loves our soldiers…just doesn’t want the gov’t to pay for their war injuries.

At the same time, he wants to undermine private insurance for everyone else.

In other words, private insurance is great for Veterans “to save money”, but its inappropriate for everyone else because its so wasteful!

Hell, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think Obama hates veterans, and doesn’t know jack s@#t about economics.

Next time someone says, “We lost in Iraq!” Point out that, if the military had truly failed, the 0bama administration would be bailing vets out and providing free health care.

Since they’re getting less taxpayer money, they must have succeeded by definition!

264 WinterCat  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:46:43am

re: #256 Chicago Blonde

“All this is an educational thing,” Hotz said of the report. “Troopers have been shot by members of groups, so it’s our job to let law enforcement officers know what the trends are in the modern militia movement.”

Your text to link…

I’d like to know how many officers have been shot by which groups. He is insinuating that 3rd party political groups are behind attacks on police officers. Has anyone seen any reports of this? I’d like to see the evidence.

265 Chicago Blonde  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:49:39am

re: #264 WinterCat

I’d like to know how many officers have been shot by which groups. He is insinuating that 3rd party political groups are behind attacks on police officers. Has anyone seen any reports of this? I’d like to see the evidence.

You and me both. So being disenchanted with both parties makes you a militia kook?

266 Erik The Red  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:50:08am

re: #240 gmsc

A few years ago in Texas, there was a housing development that was having a big problem with garbage. Right next to this housing development, there was a farm that had many workers (not all of whom could be said to be legal) who would eat and drink throughout the day, and the workers would throw their garbage on the ground. Much of it, due to the winds, was blowing over into the housing development.

When this got to be a regular problem, the housing development president went over and asked the foreman if they could not make such a mess. The foreman was indignant, gave excuses, and generally refused to help them. For days they tried to get through to him, but they finally had to try the landowner himself.

The landowner wasn’t much more of a help, though. He jokingly suggested that if they wanted it cleaned up so badly, they should do it themselves. Taking that as a starting point, the homeowner’s association asked if they could really have the landowner’s permission to clean up the garbage off his land. The landowner figured this was a great way to get free trash removal, and agreed.

Both the landowner and the foreman refused to stop the workers from littering, or even do so much as put out a garbage can.

The association had a meeting, and managed to get 25 volunteers. They would get together on Saturday at an appointed time, and go over to clean up the mess around noon. They decided to call the committee the “Inter-Neighborhood Services”.

When they got together on Saturday, the volunteers were given free hats and jackets with the committee’s initials on it, to help foster a sense of unity in the project. They divided up the various work tasks, and then headed over to the farm.

Think about what the workers saw at that time: 25 people are headed over to a farm property, all with hats and jackets that say “I.N.S.”.

Needless to say, there were no clean-up problems after that.

This is a joke. Right?

267 Noodniklel  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:50:33am

re: #244 looking closely

Thank you about my son’s service.
I don’t believe in socialized medicine and I don’t believe any of us, especially veterans, will get private insurance just like the senators get.(even if candidate Obama promised this)
In fact, under socialism, I’m fearful that as a senior, I will be told to go away and die rather than get approval for expensive procedures. I doubt, under socialism and even current medicare, that I would qualify for Mrs Bush’s heart valve surgery that she recently had at age 80+.

268 gmsc  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:52:21am

re: #175 RightMinded

Posted on Fox:

Pelosi Tells Illegal Immigrants that Work Site Raids are Un-American

John Stossel on border security (Full special – Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6):
Youtube Video

269 Czarny_Smok  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:52:29am

re: #176 yma o hyd

Yma I understand what you are saying, but, there would have been no need to ‘pay out billions’ not if you roll the sucker into Chap 11 or as applicable, receivership. They could have fed at the same trough as everyone else - - probably for pennies on the dollar vs. full payment by the Good Ol’ U.S. Taxpayer.

Most AIG divisions were solvent or making money; but the derivative trader bunch were so over leveraged that it brought the whole house down. Like GM - - just roll it into formal reorg & chop it up. Then it won’t be “too big to fail.”

Someone once used that line on Nixon (I believe it was) in seeking some sort of bailout. His response was “tell them to get smaller.”

Where’s Milhous when we need him?

270 gmsc  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:53:05am

re: #266 Erik The Red

This is a joke. Right?

Nope – True story. I was trying to find the link to the news story, but I couldn’t locate it.

271 [deleted]  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:53:43am
272 debutaunt  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:59:18am

The Ballad of Tim Geithner:

Youtube Video

273 gmsc  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 11:03:09am

re: #272 debutaunt

The Ballad of Tim Geithner:

[Video]

PIYF

274 funky chicken  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 11:05:53am

re: #96 J.S.

omg…a series of contradictions from The Zero. First he claims no one here is responsible for the current mess. Seconds later he claims “the buck stops here.” Yeah, right Zero. (as I roll my eyes). It’s once again, everything for everyone — take your pick of what to believe. Now the Zero has the audacity to yak about “those who are feigning outrage about the bonuses” — yeah, Zero, go take a look in the mirror, ok?

I really think that people are going to get tired of this behavior, and soon.

275 funky chicken  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 11:07:06am

re: #185 Ben Hur

WHEN IS EVERYONE GOING TO DEMAND THAT AIG PULL ITS SPONSORSHIP OF MANCHESTER UNITED?!?

I can’t even wear my Man U jacket without getting dirty looks because of the giant AIG on the front!

Cover up the AIG with a new patch “sponsored by the USA.”

276 Opinionated  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 11:14:43am

In New Terror Video, AIG Demands Huge Ransom from U.S.
By Andy Borowitz

Shadowy group seeks bonuses, golf retreats

American intelligence experts are analyzing a new terror video from the American International Group (AIG) in which the leader of the shadowy organization demands billions of dollars from the United States.

In the four-minute tape, which surfaced over the weekend and caused deep concern among U.S. officials, a man believed to be the chairman of AIG says that if his organization is not paid its ransom, “chaos and destruction will rain down on the American economy.”

“If we are not paid billions more in bonuses and corporate golf retreats, America will be made to suffer,” the man threatens.

Intelligence analysts said that the man, AIG chairman Edward M. Liddy, appears to be speaking at a luxury beach resort that offers few clues as to his exact location, although there is “good intelligence” pointing to the Ritz Carlton in the Cayman Islands.

“We have some reason to believe that he and other AIG executives are there, based on a series of intercepted room service orders from the all-day dining menu,” one analyst said.

Reacting to the video, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano raised the nation’s terror alert level to orange, meaning “taxpayers are about to get reamed again.”

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner also released a response to AIG’s latest demands, but intelligence experts said they would need several weeks to decipher Mr. Geithner’s response.

jewishworldreview.com

277 player  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 11:29:09am

In other words, private insurance is great for Veterans “to save money”, but its inappropriate for everyone else because its so wasteful!

Obamonomics in a nutshell.

It doesn’t have to make sense as long as he says it - until he contradicts himself tomorrow.

278 Mirage  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 11:29:24am

re: #274 funky chicken

I really think that people are going to get tired of this behavior, and soon.

It couldn’t come soon enough …

279 XMarine  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 11:29:35am

A little OT, perhaps, but this is a burning question with me. Recently in the discussion on the outrageous payouts the incompetent executives of AIG were getting it was brought up that ex post facto laws and bills of attainder, along with laws impairing the obligation of contracts were unconstitutional. The Constitution states under Section 10 of Article 1 as such:
Section 10 - Powers prohibited of States
No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.

In Section 9, even the FEDERAL government cannot pass bills of attainder or ex post facto laws, so we are safe there:
Section 9 - Limits on Congress

No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.

However I see nowhere in the Constitution where the feds cannot pass a law impairing the obligation of contracts. This is the cornerstone of our capitalist system, so it must be in there somewhere. Would one of you lawyerly lizardoids please refer me to where it is?

280 debutaunt  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 11:34:02am

re: #272 debutaunt

The Ballad of Tim Geithner:



Sorry - it doesn’t work.

281 funky chicken  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 11:46:32am

re: #271 taxfreekiller

There are armed units attacking Police State Troopers, and U.S. Border Patrol and D.E.A agents , in the U.S.,,

Zetas and other armed Mexican drug enforcement gangs operating inside the U.S..

Who knew they were all supporters of Luap Nor?

/

282 funky chicken  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 11:49:12am

re: #236 Chicago Blonde

I’m having a little dental stuff done, and on pain killers. And I still can see that’s a STOOOOPID statement.

Also - wasn’t Rush talking about people getting hassled in Missouri for bumper stickers protesting a North American union? I missed part of that but heard enough to alarm me.

Yeah, the Luap Nor/NAU folks are kinda wacky, but they aren’t dangerous. Mexican drug gang members? Um….

283 soccerdad  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 12:01:44pm

I think this is both a great question to ask/report on, and a flying Pig moment….ABC news is asking this? An MSM member? Wow. The shine really is off the candidate.

284 Right mind left  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 12:24:01pm

re: #280 debutaunt

Sorry - it doesn’t work.


How about this:
Youtube Video

285 debutaunt  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 12:48:41pm

re: #284 Right mind left

How about this:



Thank you! It’s pretty funny!

286 RightMinded  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 1:05:38pm

re: #268 gmsc

Thanks for the links. I had not seen the John Stossel report on the border fence.

Living in AZ, I’m familiar with the issues that come along with the illegal aliens. And, let me say, I don’t mind people coming here to work, if they do it legally.

But, even if we make the work visa program easier for those looking for entry to find jobs, we will still have a lot of illegal crossings due to the gangs and drug traffic. I still think we need to construct some type of barrier to try and prevent that traffic not coming into our country.

287 Emerald  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 1:55:50pm

re: #123 vxbush

Yesterday on the evening news NBC spent over ten minutes on the AIG insanity, but they were just focusing on the bonuses, how much money was going overseas, etc. It was at least half the show. (Nothing about the contracts and the language inserted in the bailout to see that the contracts got paid, alas.)

Today, ABC is asking questions.

My, how we live in interesting times.

I never watch network news, so I didn’t know that. I wonder how much of it is buyer’s remorse now that the network execs are watching their worth vanish as the stock market fumbles over Obama’s policies. Or how much of it is realizing they’ve lost a lot of credibility. None of the media reports that bias played a part in the close of newspapers, but some of the upper management has to understand it.

288 Emerald  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 1:57:58pm

re: #252 RaiderDan

112 Emerald wrote:

Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner. 10,000 updings for you.

I’m just worried the MSM will tear down Obama too fast, then turn again to ressurect him just in time for 2012. 2010 is looking very good for the GOP, as long as they keep showing the Dems as total hypocrites.

The “Do-As-I-Say, No-As-I-Do” Democrats

The “Recount-Until-I-Win” Democrats

The “Power-Over-Honor” Democrats

Hope your 401K still has some Change left…

One good thing that came out of the 2008 election was it woke some of the Dems up to the lopsided coverage. There are plenty of Hillary Clinton supporters who still blame the media for her defeat in the primaries. It’ll be interesting to see how good their memories are.

289 MJBrutus  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 2:41:22pm

If I didn’t know better, I would say that what we have here is “pay to play.” But that only happens in Chi-town.

290 Dasher  Wed, Mar 18, 2009 10:28:01pm

Note that is illegal for a company to make campaign contributions. Contributions come from individuals that work for companies, using there own money. Some companies create PAC which employees contribute with there own funds, and these PAC can make contributions too.

Unions on the other hand can make direct contributions to campaigns. Not sure I see the logic in that however, except that Democrats made those rules, and the Republicans have never had enough votes in the Senate to get cloture on such a proposal.

291 Pupdawg  Thu, Mar 19, 2009 6:41:11am

Please pardon the subject switch, but Jamie Dupree made a statement yesterday on the Boortz radio show that was very disturbing as well as telling. He told Boortz that Obama’s intention to end wounded veterans Governmental medical coverage and have them rely on their private health plans for coverage for their wounds or injuries was not receiving much media play in Washington, DC. What the hell! Evidently, the comrades and their el heffe have made progress in suppressing the MSM for their propaganda purposes. This is a huge story, but not in Washington, DC. The Dems / liberals / the left control the town and the socialist invasion of the body and soul snatchers marches on.

292 zelnaga  Thu, Mar 19, 2009 9:07:30am

en.wikipedia.org

According to that, the max any one person may donate is $2,300.

en.wikipedia.org

According to that, when the donations exceed $200, the donators employer (among other things) must be noted.

If Obama got $23,000 dollars from AIG executes, that doesn’t mean that AIG - as a company - dolled out $23,000, but rather, that as few as ten people whose employer just coincidentally happens to be AIG donated $2,300 each.

That said, there are a few things about campaign financing that confuse me. For example, did the Obama and McCain campaigns spend all the money that was donated to them? If not, what did they do with the remaining funds? Can they just hold onto them for the next campaign? If so, what if this campaign was your last? Bush couldn’t save the money he raised for his 2004 campaign for his 2008 campaign because he couldn’t run in 2008.

Also, why are employers names collected at all? If Obama got a ton of money from employees of one company he might feel indebted to that company (even though it wasn’t the company who made the donations), but if the name of the company wasn’t recorded, it’d be hard for Obama to know who to feel indebted to.


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