It might have been fun, but was it right?
It’s also not the real nut of the issue: Federal Reserve officials knew for months about bonuses at American International Group but failed to tell the Obama administration.
So, we interrupt the tar and feathering of A.I.G. to review the treatment of Edward Liddy during the hearing yesterday. Excuse me, but there is an important issue that the politicians of both parties seem to refuse to digest so they could put on a show for their constituents about how outraged and angry they are about the A.I.G. bonuses. The performances of some in Congress was not only appalling and counterproductive, but bordered on congressional malfeasance for over the top grandstanding, not to mention being wholly disingenuous and adding nothing to the proceedings, which was to actually gain information so they could solve the problem going forward.
The clip above is of Rep. Lynch, whom I heard on C-SPAN radio yesterday, which was so outrageous I use him as exhibit A. In the clip the exchange below happens at around 4:55. It’s instructive, especially for congress members too ignorant to consider the details. Lynch asks Mr. Liddy if he has anything to say for himself, to which he replies, “Yes, I do,” then continues on:
“You have generously used the word ‘you’ in that construct. As I mentioned, these contracts were all put together before I was at A.I.G. I would not have done these contracts this way and this whole arrangement would have looked, if it had existed, a whole lot different. So I really do take offense, sir, at the use– (interrupted by Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-MA)
“Well, offense was intended…” spat Mr. Lynch.
Well, bully for you, you grandstanding blowhard.
The fact that Mr. Liddy was brought in after the A.I.G. debacle began, but was also not involved in putting together the contracts, evidently meant nothing to the congressman from Massachusetts, though he was by no means the only one directing theatrical outrage towards Mr. Liddy.
The Gavel, Speaker Pelosi’s blog, has more clips available, some actually useful.
If you want to know why we don’t get private citizens willing to help out in times of crises now you know. Who needs crap like what Rep. Lynch was slinging Liddy’s way?
You don’t have to be outraged at A.I.G. to understand that directing rhetorical fire at the wrong guy serves no one, but also makes asses out of opportunistic individuals playing politics with a deadly serious issue.
Mr. Liddy is certainly not the hero of the moment, but he didn’t create the problem. Someone send a memo to House members trying to get us out of this mess. They evidently aren’t paying attention to the fine print, which is how we got into this in the first place.
After yesterday I think I will leave this one alone
I absolutely have no idea why.
heh-heh.
Nope, not doing it.
I heard that yesterday and was appalled – apparently Mr Lynch was too busy talking to listen.
Kris, I want to know why too.
djjl -
Taylor knows.
If you read the threads from yesterday it got a little heated. Words like puma and rushbo were thrown my way.
So NOPE, not doing it today.
I read the threads yesterday. Some posters here routinely through those words around. I certainly have received my share. If it’s not true don’t worry about are let silly comments direct your behavior or limit your right to express your opinion. I thought you did fine yesterday.
Thanks djjl. I know you have received some of that as well. I’ll just cool off on this topic because I certainly don’t want to be accused of over reacting. This whole topic really pisses me off.
kris says:
19 March 2009 at 12:41 pm
djjl -
Taylor knows.
If you read the threads from yesterday it got a little heated. Words like puma and rushbo were thrown my way
_____
I apologized for that remember? Does that count for anything?
____
Taylor, I thought Libby held up pretty well under the sniper fire he was taking.
Yep it does count GeoT and I appreciate your apology.
I will ask this question however – if Congress votes to tax the bonuses are we really just taxing ourselves?
Kris, I went back and reread some from yesterday. I note that you got a well deserved apology from the poster making the Rush comment.
As far as those hurling the beloved puma accusations, I think it’s akin to cursing. You only do it when you have nothing intelligent to say on the topic.
Yeah djjl, GeoT did apologize and I appreciated that.
Amen on your puma comment.
I will ask this question however – if Congress votes to tax the bonuses are we really just taxing ourselves?
No. Technically we’re simply getting our money back (90%?)
pmichael
I completely agree.
I thought Liddy did pretty well. The buffoon Rep Lynch really pissed me off too. They are supposed to be working for us not grandstanding for the uninformed.
Good post Taylor…I so agree that yesterday was an example of why Obama can’t fill his positions. The leaders of this country are really a mess. Both political and business. So full of tunnel vision self interest…I am losing faith that any of them can set the country back right. Obama can’t do it alone. He is working as hard as he can but he is only one person.
Joe said something smart this morning…I know…I know…but even a broken clock is correct twice a day. He said that Geithner is becoming the sacrificial lamb for all the colletive sins of Washington.
Does anybody remember a story a few weeks ago, about Republicans secretly holding up key Treasury Dept appointments? If not, I will try to find it.
Also, it would be interesting to find out who the ‘career staffers’ from the Tres. Dept. (who kept the info from Geitner) were.
Hey Kris, GeoT and others called me puma/Puma for a long time. Don’t let anyone run you off. I miss a lot of people who left here – especially FNelson, ginaswo,WMCB,Grey, and a lot of others. I tried to find where they went and couldn’t. I know a lot went to camille – hey, they wouldn’t let me in. If I let them run me off from here I’d be a woman without a blog.
Note, I posted an agreement with you about those who act as if President Obama is infallible. That really gets old.
Morning all. Lynch was absolutely appalling. Even more so was when the blowhard said he was a contract lawyer. Well if he is then he must know the legal part of this. I really felt for Liddy most of the time because everyone is right about politicians grandstanding.
Unfortunately there are people who love that and would prod them on.
AG I would appreciate that link.
This is one of the reason I think the Republicans are stepping in it big time:
The Cable:
There’s one as yet unremarked constituency increasingly disturbed by some Republican senators’ efforts to block the confirmation of former North Korea envoy Christopher Hill to be the next U.S. ambassador to Iraq: the U.S. military..
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/19/generals-disturbed-by-gop_n_176798.html
Ok, I found it
Here
http://tinyurl.com/c7nfs5
and here
http://tinyurl.com/cljtkt
So if they hold up the appointments, they can say the administration is not doing a good job, and if the the admin fails, they can say, we voted NO on everything and we told you so. Seems like the are actually try and hoping that this fails, as it is the only way for them to win in 2012.
Now they’re complaining about Obama being on the Leno show. Mostly Republicans. I guess it’s because it’s the first sitting President to do the Tonight show. I don’t know. Like he doesn’t have his finger on the pulse of what’s going on.
Betsy says:
19 March 2009 at 1:28 pm
Look for that to continue. Their biggest fear is that Obama will connect with people, which he does very well. The response he got in ruby-red Orange County yesterday (where not one person asked about AIG), hurts the message that the DC folks and pundits want to portray.
I predict they will be saying the same thing when he goes overseas in a few weeks for the G20, ect.
By going on ESPN and Leno and doing townhalls, he is trying to reach people to sell the stimulus and budget. People (unlike most of us
who don’t follow the cable news.
djjl -
I miss some of the oldies too. And thanks for the agreement on infallability.
The Repub’s, like Sen Kyl, are now saying that Obama should be focusing on the economy and not doing NCAA brackets. OMG! They are jumping on a tongue in cheek (and poorly reported by the AP) quote from Kris and Betsy’s evil Coach K and acting like the public are outraged.
Anyone that is outraged that Obama spent 15 minutes on the brackets cannot possibly be a rational human.
ag I read that, geez all for revenge.
djjl, The Cable is down right now doing maintenance.
At some point the country is going to have to decide if we are going to live in what feels like a permanent state of outrage. Now we have CITI spendning 10m to redecorate NY offices, Fannie Mae paying bonuses and 13 firms that received bailout money owing 220m in unpaid federal taxes. It goes on and on and I for one cannot get worked up about everything (can you believe it Betsy
?
Yeah maxadog – like he isn’t supposed to have a life. I think it is terrific that he and Michelle are real people.
LOL maxadog. The poor Republicans are just trying to get something going for themselves.
Kris – I agree. I have outrage fatigue. Not everything is, in the grand scope of things, the end of the world. I think the general public gets that. I think it’s totally driven my the 24 hour news cycle.
Your boy, Coach K startin’ trouble. He’s just mad because Dean Smith endorsed Obama.
kris says:
. I also read all that on the internet, and feel like this is all just now coming out. Why didn’t it come out when Bush was President. I’m sure he’s sitting back laughing that the Obama admin is having to deal with his f****ps.
19 March 2009 at 1:41 pm
There you go kris
maxadog -
I can’t stand UNC so any trouble my Coach K starts is good with me!!
kris says:
19 March 2009 at 1:42 pm
___________
Kris – you know I luv ya so forgive me when I say I love the Tar Heels but I also have a great deal of respect for Coach K. I lived in Chapel Hill in the days of Coach Smith, Coach K and Coach Valvano (from NC State). I enjoyed the competition more than you know, probably the only time I was really interested in any thing to do with sports.
As to Obama spending 15 minutes on the brackets – at least he’s not running off to Crawford to clear brush.
BYW = being one of the oldies but goodies – you and Djjl are two of my favorite people.
Betsy says:
19 March 2009 at 1:50 pm
__________
Betsy – there’s a lot that didn’t come out during the Bush years. I felt it was one of the most secretive if not darkest administrations that I can remember. Lies, lies and more lies.
Thanks JA.
You are right – those UNC, NC State and Duke made for some great basketball. I love college basketball and am in real heaven when March Madness rolls around.
As for Obama I think he would be going to Hawaii to trim palms
. If he did I wouldn’t blame him at all.
kris says:
19 March 2009 at 1:41 pm
__________
Kris as to living in a permanent state of outrage, I think because we have kept abreast of what is going on in this country we feel like we are living in a permanent state of outrage. There are people out there that have no clue because while all this garbage was going on they were otherwise involved. It’s just starting to seep into their psyches as to what has happened and naturally they are outraged. I say about time. As to me I’m furious that this stuff wasn’t front and center along time ago but I’m hardly surprised it happened. the handwriting was on the wall along time ago.
I agree with you JA and I understand the fury. Part of my outrage is that I feel helpless to affect any of this. And I get upset when people don’t pay attention to what’s going on. It’s a real Catch-22 for me. I try to not care so much but eventually I know I am just fooling myself.
djjl says:
19 March 2009 at 12:53 pm
Kris, I went back and reread some from yesterday. I note that you got a well deserved apology from the poster making the Rush comment.
As far as those hurling the beloved puma accusations, I think it’s akin to cursing. You only do it when you have nothing intelligent to say on the topic.
______
that would be the same unintelligent jerk that made both comments, me. But I hope Kris knows from the thread last night that I respect her opinions. So I apologize again. I will think twice post once in the future.
kris says:
19 March 2009 at 2:09 pm
________
Not to get OT but I loved when UNC won the ACC a few years back (quite a few years) and the entire downtown of CH from Franklin Street all the way up Airport Road was wrapped in blue toilet paper by the Greek houses. Those were fun days. I actually almost pulled out my hair at a UNC/Georgia Tech game that went into 3 OTs. UNC won eventually but after that I couldn’t watch anymore basketball. It was dangerous for my health.
Hey Lake Lady, JA, and all.
kris says:
19 March 2009 at 12:41 pm
Actually, I don’t know why. The emails forwarded to me that you sent in certainly don’t answer it.
I also don’t understood why people are afraid or get hurt feelings and won’t duke it out in the comments through backing up your debate, minus the name calling. Taking sides is part of the problem, but good debate thrives on conflict and confrontation.
kris says:
19 March 2009 at 2:16 pm
___________
Since Obama has become President my Congressman and my Senators hear from hubby and me on an average of 2 times per week. Thats the only way I know how to have a voice and keep my voice in the mix.
GeoT says:
19 March 2009 at 2:18 pm
___________
GeoT – I think you, kris and Djjl are just passionate about your politics as are Lake Lady, Betsy and so many others who have been hanging around TM’s place and that’s good – it shows you’re engaged and care about the plight of this country and its people. Just go easy on some of us who get skeptical every so often.
I wasn’t trying to answer in my email.
I just get sick of the PUMA crap. It gets thrown at djjl and others as well. I have no issue with good debate at all.
That said I am moving on. GeoT apologized, I thanked him. Today is a new day and I’m not looking backwards.
Oh, it sounded by your comment that I knew something, which I didn’t.
Don’t take the bait.
GeoT says:
19 March 2009 at 12:49 pm
Yeah, he did, but it’s extremely distasteful to me to watch the grandstanding by some of our congress people.
Yeah Taylor it did sound like that. Sorry.
I think I am suffering from “24 hour news cycle” fatigue. I get testy on the days I listen to news and talking heads almost all day long.
Lake Lady said a couple of weeks ago to take the time to appreciate the small things. She is so right about that. I am guilty of getting to wrapped up in the big things.
djjl says:
19 March 2009 at 1:24 pm
Hey Kris, GeoT and others called me puma/Puma for a long time.
____
I’m not going to say you’re lying but I can actually google your claim and see if it’s true. Let’s be careful with the character assassination djjl. I said I apologized, I’m not here to insult people and since I did i caught myself and apologized.
_____
Did anyone see coverage of Michelle Obama’s morning. I’m at work on conference calls all day, and didn’t catch it online. According to what I read, she led a group of successful women to discussion groups at like 10 schools in DC to talk about career choices, etc. I think our new first lady is the real deal, HRC-esq, if you will.
Wow, I leave to get on the phone and now we are talking basketball. I always root for Duke over UNC. And I can’t stand UConn.
Missed it maxadog. Michelle is the real deal – I think she is terrific.
maxadog, even one of the Republican strategists on MSNBC said she was a great asset to the President.
That a girl Betsy. I knew there was a reason I like you.
My granddaughters are into all things Michelle. They probably know more about her schedule than the President’s. She certainly got one of the girls into lifting weights. She wants those arms like Michelle. Id love to see a little more of the girls.
I meant I’d like to see more of the Obama girls. I always see the granddaughters. It’s so cute – now they drive me home; I remember when I used to drive them all over the place.
According to Halperin’s Page (yuck), the list of women involved was: First Lady Michelle Obama, Alicia Keyes, Gen. Ann Dunwoody, Mae Jemison, Sheryl Crow, Debbie Allen, Maggie Daley, Lisa Leslie Lockwood, Bobbi Brown, Dominique Dawes, Phylicia Rashad, Debra Lee, Marissa Mayer, Penny Pritzker, Kerry Washington, Alfre Woodard, Amb. Nancy Brinker, Denyce Graves, Fran Drescher, Sarah Jones, Karyn Kerr Pettigrew, and Tracee Ellis Ross.
Pretty strong group of women.
Well – an independant film is being shot at one of the properties I manage, so I’m going to go check it out. The arts are alive in the Bay Area.
You guys have a wonderful afternoon. Town hall again today!
kris says:
19 March 2009 at 2:29 pm
Hey, no problem.
New thread. And a very interesting one.
something tells me djjl is compiling a greatest hits of my posts for the last 8 months… I better retire while ahead… or have a head.
BBSD
the only one I could find djjl is you accusing Taylor Marsh of being a “secret PUMA”: (now that’s a good one!)
I read this to mean beat the shxt out of any Clinton. This kind of stuff from Taylor is one
of the reasons I have long wondered if she was silently PUMA. She is smart and surely could
not believe this would do anything to bring support to Obama.
djjl | 09.25.2008 – 4:37 pm
Geez I’m on the new thread talking to myself, LOL
Wow GeoT you had to dig for that one didn’t you
Hey, don’t let all that bother you, you apologized and she accepted. If djjl wants to continue that, oh well.
I’m listening to Obama in CA.
GeoT, Betsy and anyone else : I like to keep things in context. My statement was a response to MABlue who, like me, questioned what benefit Taylor’s comment on Bill Clinton’ s errant civility. I could not imagine how some of her postings at the time could possibly engender peace from those Democratic voters who still held some anger at the conduct of the Democratic Party. I said it more than once and was smart enough to “duck” each time. Taylor and everyone else has a right to their opinion. At the time, I was of the opinion that some of Taylor’s posts didn’t engender reconcilliation.
PS
I’d have better links, but for some reason I can’t get the archives to open the full post with comments. But GeoT is a whiz at all that.
” From the Politics channel »
We Wouldn’t Want to ‘Overly Parse’ Bill Clinton, Now Would We
http://www.taylormarsh.com/ archives_view.php?id=28…
BY TAYLOR MARSH Aren’t you just so proud of our former two-term Democratic president today? When he could have been critical of our Republican rival who we are trying to beat to take over the White House, instead, WJC put partisanship aside to fluff give John McCain the benefit of the doubt. “We know he didn’t do it because he’s afraid because Sen. McCain wanted more debates,” Clinton said, adding that he was “encouraged” by the joint statement from McCain and Sen. Barack Obama.
???
MABlue September 25, 2008 1:26 pm
I read this to mean beat the shxt out of any Clinton. This kind of stuff from Taylor is oneof the reasons I have long wondered if she was silently PUMA. She is smart and surely couldnot believe this would do anything to bring support to Obama.djjl | 09.25.2008 – 4:37 pm”
I personally was embarassed by the treatment of Liddy and the absurd grandstanding by congresspeople. It was just pathetic.
Now, professional activists have put together a tour of AIG executive homes?
This type of activity, frankly, should fall under the stalking laws.