How AIG failed....

[Polemicvol]

An amazing story of political manipulation by huge companies and a compliant Republican dominated government, who changed the rules to allow huge risks with little oversight or regulation.

How AIG failed and why.... (http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/26793903/the_big_takeover/1)

[humbletx]

were ZERO Democrats showing ZERO interest while all this was going on.. Ooooops Dodds was - wasn't he? He was just taking the money and letting things slide...

BTW - what was Obamalamadingdong doing in 07?

Its stunning to think all the swinging dickheads running things in Washington today the Obamalamalites sat on this asses sucking their thumbs and did NOTHING, ZERO, NADA, ZILCH....

[Polemicvol]

Meant that the three Republican Senators who voted for the Stimulus were absolutely critical to the bill passing. Senator Dodd didn't sit on his hands, he got the provision banning the bonuses in the Senate version of the Stimulus package.

But that provision was stripped in conference committee, between the House and the Senate. And everyone seems to forget that the original approval for the bonuses was in George W. Bush's bailout bill that passed last October. That bill was written by George Bush's Treasury Secretary, Paulson, and was supported by the GOP leadership in both houses of Congress.

Republicans voted for the bonuses in October 2008 and against the Stimulus bill in February that tried to strip the bonuses. Unfortunately the Democrats failed to strip the bonuses, but that doesn't change the facts.

Republicans were for the bonuses. Democrats were against them.

[humbletx]

Meant that the three Republican Senators who voted for the Stimulus were absolutely critical to the bill passing. Senator Dodd didn't sit on his hands, he got the provision banning the bonuses in the Senate version of the Stimulus package.

But that provision was stripped in conference committee, between the House and the Senate. And everyone seems to forget that the original approval for the bonuses was in George W. Bush's bailout bill that passed last October. That bill was written by George Bush's Treasury Secretary, Paulson, and was supported by the GOP leadership in both houses of Congress.

Republicans voted for the bonuses in October 2008 and against the Stimulus bill in February that tried to strip the bonuses. Unfortunately the Democrats failed to strip the bonuses, but that doesn't change the facts.

Republicans were for the bonuses. Democrats were against them.

Aaaaaah - AIG had already "FAILED" - which was a key word in you initial post. Your comments were directed at the Republicans in charge "back in the day" - my comments were directed not only at the failures of the Bush/Republican administration - but the Democrats who sit idly by and DID NOTHING.. Where was Senator Obamalamadingdong? Dodds? Anyone question his being on the take from AIG during the Bush Administration?

[gallavol]

I have 0 faith in ANY member of Congress. They are all servants of a donating master. The nation has been in the grip of a corporate oligarcy for 30 years. Everyone, Democrats and Republicans and ALL Presidents (including Clinton) have been a party to this sale of influence over our elected representatives and has led us to this. The only person I trust in Washington is Obama, and I wish he would do the peoples business in spite of the greed party going on in Congress. He vowed to rid the capitol of lobbyist (or at least greatly lessen their death grip on government), well its time to step up Mr President, do what you said you would do, you have the backing of the people, even if you don't have the backing of your own party.

[humbletx]

I have 0 faith in ANY member of Congress. They are all servants of a donating master. The nation has been in the grip of a corporate oligarcy for 30 years. Everyone, Democrats and Republicans and ALL Presidents (including Clinton) have been a party to this sale of influence over our elected representatives and has led us to this. The only person I trust in Washington is Obama, and I wish he would do the peoples business in spite of the greed party going on in Congress. He vowed to rid the capitol of lobbyist (or at least greatly lessen their death grip on government), well its time to step up Mr President, do what you said you would do, you have the backing of the people, even if you don't have the backing of your own party.

danged Galla you are one crazy mofo.. You have all this so called trust in Obamalamadingdong and his is a former MEMBER of Congress..

Look is is the spawn of Chicago politics - hell just take a peek at the job done by his homies finding a replacement for him in the senate..

[ZippyVol]

The only person I trust in Washington is Obama

He's pretty much the last one you should trust...

Like Humble said, he is a former member of the Senate. What should make you trust him even less than anyone else who is currently there? ALL he did during his time there was run an election. Every action he has taken has been to one end: getting elected. That sums up what is ultimately wrong with our political system in a nutshell.

[gallavol]

So, you don't trust him hum? I'm shocked. Then who are we going to trust? If not him, who and if not now, when? I know he is a cunning politician and a ruthless one as well, but I believe he has the good of the nation at heart and will not sell out, any futher than he absolutely has to, the interest of the American people. Even those that don't trust him. I can't say that about any other political figure in the US.

[gallavol]

That sums up what is ultimately wrong with our political system in a nutshell.

We can agree on that much.

[ZippyVol]

Then who are we going to trust? If not him, who and if not now, when?

I'll answer that.

You are not supposed to trust ANYBODY in the government at all.

You are not supposed to take their word for anything, about anything, at any time.

Ever. Not him, not someone else, not now, not before, not later. Never never never. Ever. It is fine to agree, of course, but you need to actually agree with specifics that you have considered. Not just listen to the bullshit and nod in agreement simply because you 'trust him'. He is not trustworthy. None of them are; particularly not the guy at the top. That's the absolute last guy to trust.

This really is not new, this has been true from the beginning. This is what is ultimately GOOD about our government, we can, should and DO question.

[Athenian]

Oh how I love it when we blame Democrats for all the trouble we are in and how I love it when we blame the Republicans for the trouble we are in. You know what? Everyone is right. There is not a dimes worth of difference in any of them. Each one has his own agenda and it's based on his special interest group back home or the special interest group that donated all the monies to get he/she elected. Monies donated by special interest groups is one of the reasons we will never see term limits in Congress. Every member of congress is in someone's back pocket.

It is not serving in the best interest of the country. It is all about greed and power.

To single out the AIG bonuses as something immoral is absurd, when compared to how we are being fleeced each and everyday by the politicians.
They have milked the cash cow until the cow is about dry.

The same thing is going on locally. The housing market is at rock bottom, yet I just received my property tax assessment and it jumped $40,000. Greedy, greedy bastards is about the best thing that I can say about politicians.

[ZippyVol]

Oh how I love it when we blame Democrats for all the trouble we are in and how I love it when we blame the Republicans for the trouble we are in. You know what? Everyone is right. There is not a dimes worth of difference in any of them. Each one has his own agenda and it's based on his special interest group back home or the special interest group that donated all the monies to get he/she elected. Monies donated by special interest groups is one of the reasons we will never see term limits in Congress. Every member of congress is in someone's back pocket.



is why we should all, as voters (without respect to political affiliation of any sort), should ALWAYS strive for divided government. Always. Single party control has never and will never be a good thing. It will always end badly.

[humbletx]

So, you don't trust him hum? I'm shocked. Then who are we going to trust? If not him, who and if not now, when? I know he is a cunning politician and a ruthless one as well, but I believe he has the good of the nation at heart and will not sell out, any futher than he absolutely has to, the interest of the American people. Even those that don't trust him. I can't say that about any other political figure in the US.


da zipster pretty much sums things up..

obamalamadadingdong - "trust" well what about his judgement? H'mmmmm - seems he wanted us to trust him with a number of his selections to help him in his administration... Ooooops


Now, your belief that he has the good of the nation at heart - APPLIES TO GEORGE BUSH. That his beliefs were fundamentally different is a vast number of areas doesn't hide the fact he truly believed his decisions were made in the best interest of this nation and all Americans..

The same applies to Dick Cheney..

How about my pal from down in Lake Jackson - Mr. Paul? One crazy assed dude - but is a true believer..