Bush's Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, formerly CEO of Goldman Sachs, is preparing to loot the US Treasury. He wants US$700 billion to spend as he sees fit, without oversight.
The money could be distributed overseas, to prop up anything.
Paulson divested himself of a personal half-billion dollars stake in Goldman Sachs stock when taking his present government job. Bloomberg reported "He was exempted from paying capital gains tax on the sale of those stakes under a rule meant to avoid penalizing wealthy people who take government jobs and are forced to sell assets." The Treasury Secretary job itself pays $191,300 (or $478,250 over his expected 30 month term), but there were thus hundreds of millions of dollars of benefits. Sweet!
Of course, those $100 millions of capital gains taxes thus don't go to the Treasury, but instead are in Paulson's pocket.
Today, wonder of wonders, Paulson's reportedly got a new friend:
"Berkshire Hathaway, the company owned by US investment guru Warren Buffett, has bought ... $5bn of Goldman Sachs preferred stock bearing a 10% annual interest rate. It could increase its holding of Goldman shares as under the terms of the deal, it has the option of buying $5bn of common stock for $115 per share at any time in the next five years." Sweet deal!
Available for Financiers Only!
Beware especially the bailout's proposed Section 8 -- almost unbelievable: "Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency. " Wow! Looters Seek Prior-Immunity. Very bold. But it's a 'big bucks' play...
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Double Whammy !
Speculation & lies have driven US finance firms to the brink of disaster. The "financial leaders" and "statesmen" who forced us into the morass are now begging for bailout by common working citizens.
What are these losers (most still in their high-paying jobs) now doing while Bush talks of a bailout costing $800 billion (don't trust low-figure Bush arithmetic)...
The financiers certainly now are doing what they do best -- jigging the system. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley decide to change their legal status and become commercial banks -- the regulators accept their proposal the same day (21 Sept 2008); on a Sunday no less!
Be sure that the weasels are positioning their businesses and themselves personally to gorge maximally from the carnage they devised. Bailout costs are already rising; of course nobody wants to pay, now or ever. We must require any firm accepting public funds to purge all top management and make such failed managers liable to disgorge salaries and benefits already taken.
The big loser = the average mensch. It just ain't right!
What are these losers (most still in their high-paying jobs) now doing while Bush talks of a bailout costing $800 billion (don't trust low-figure Bush arithmetic)...
The financiers certainly now are doing what they do best -- jigging the system. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley decide to change their legal status and become commercial banks -- the regulators accept their proposal the same day (21 Sept 2008); on a Sunday no less!
Be sure that the weasels are positioning their businesses and themselves personally to gorge maximally from the carnage they devised. Bailout costs are already rising; of course nobody wants to pay, now or ever. We must require any firm accepting public funds to purge all top management and make such failed managers liable to disgorge salaries and benefits already taken.
The big loser = the average mensch. It just ain't right!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Business as Usual = A Bad Business
The increasingly globalized world is always changing. We continuously need to adapt to survive.
Last week our US President suddenly became interventionist in business affairs, with friendly bail-out of major finance, banking and insurance businesses.
This is bad policy for many reasons. First, in most cases the same or wholly similar dipshits will continue to run those businesses. Careless & overpaid executives and regulators whose policies led to systemic problems haven't learned any lessons -- only that the taxpayer can bail them out. They should be forced personally to disgorge salaries, bonuses & profits.
Tycoon bailout without oversight is bad business, too similar to the mistake made by Pres. Ford in pardoning Richard Nixon, drawing a veil over Watergate. As a nation of laws, the full debacle should be presented in open court, with public evidence on record. Otherwise the same errors will reemerge again & again.
Bush & his cronies have fiddled the system from the top, and have driven our nation to near ruin (to justify bailout, they now admit financial ruin is near).
Irresponsible appointments have focused on ideologues, often with bankrupt options. 'Creative accounting' led to poor performance, perhaps inevitably.
Hurricane Katrina's infamous "Brownie" became Undersecretary in the Dept. of Homeland Security after presiding over the decline of the Intl. Arabian Horse Assn. Smashing!
Enron's Thomas E. White became Secretary of the Army (previous CEO of Enron Operations Corp. & Vice Chair of Enron Energy Services). White's responsibility for the Army didn't last two years, but he was in charge during 9/11 and the deadly anthrax attacks. (It's now believed the anthrax poisoner operated from within Fort Detrick, a US Army facility). Lovely...
http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0917-04.htm
http://www.thememoryhole.org/white-bio.htm
Last week our US President suddenly became interventionist in business affairs, with friendly bail-out of major finance, banking and insurance businesses.
This is bad policy for many reasons. First, in most cases the same or wholly similar dipshits will continue to run those businesses. Careless & overpaid executives and regulators whose policies led to systemic problems haven't learned any lessons -- only that the taxpayer can bail them out. They should be forced personally to disgorge salaries, bonuses & profits.
Tycoon bailout without oversight is bad business, too similar to the mistake made by Pres. Ford in pardoning Richard Nixon, drawing a veil over Watergate. As a nation of laws, the full debacle should be presented in open court, with public evidence on record. Otherwise the same errors will reemerge again & again.
Bush & his cronies have fiddled the system from the top, and have driven our nation to near ruin (to justify bailout, they now admit financial ruin is near).
Irresponsible appointments have focused on ideologues, often with bankrupt options. 'Creative accounting' led to poor performance, perhaps inevitably.
Hurricane Katrina's infamous "Brownie" became Undersecretary in the Dept. of Homeland Security after presiding over the decline of the Intl. Arabian Horse Assn. Smashing!
Enron's Thomas E. White became Secretary of the Army (previous CEO of Enron Operations Corp. & Vice Chair of Enron Energy Services). White's responsibility for the Army didn't last two years, but he was in charge during 9/11 and the deadly anthrax attacks. (It's now believed the anthrax poisoner operated from within Fort Detrick, a US Army facility). Lovely...
http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0917-04.htm
http://www.thememoryhole.org/white-bio.htm
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Govt. Flim-Flam Unravels
The Bush Republican government has been marked by buffoonery & catering to special interests. Assorted chauvinistic crusades around the globe cost untold lives & huge amounts of money, leaving a trail of enmity and destruction.
Lies and foolishness became systematic duplicity: "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job!" as some 1,836 people died, invalids drowned in their hospital beds, etc. Few Americans know that the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina saw over 70 nations send disaster relief teams & aid donations to help New Orleans recover. In some cases the Bush regime first declined help, yet backtracked soon after to beg for assistance. Pitiful hubris.
Deregulation and patronage have led to grand mistrust of government - one more Republican goal achieved.
Priority spending areas = militarism & secrecy.
Now the financial markets are in turmoil, the cost of basic commodities is obscenely high, and most Americans feel less secure than when they elected (and reelected!) George W. Bush and his cronies.
Lies and foolishness became systematic duplicity: "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job!" as some 1,836 people died, invalids drowned in their hospital beds, etc. Few Americans know that the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina saw over 70 nations send disaster relief teams & aid donations to help New Orleans recover. In some cases the Bush regime first declined help, yet backtracked soon after to beg for assistance. Pitiful hubris.
Deregulation and patronage have led to grand mistrust of government - one more Republican goal achieved.
Priority spending areas = militarism & secrecy.
Now the financial markets are in turmoil, the cost of basic commodities is obscenely high, and most Americans feel less secure than when they elected (and reelected!) George W. Bush and his cronies.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
God's Plan for His Church?
The Roman Catholic Church shuns women as leaders, claiming (in a misdirecting defense) that "the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven are not the ministers but the saints." (Inter Insigniores, 1976; reconfirmed in Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, 1994: 'On Reserving Priestly Ordination to Men Alone'). But why is female ordination banned? Are women truly incapable of ministering to a congregation or providing pastoral services? Is this proper tradition, ancient lore, or chauvinistic foolishness?
Should non-believers interfere? If reform is rejected here, what of other cases where religion or culture seem to conflict with healthy human lives? For example, what of circumcision? Is it reasonable? (when a child cannot reasonably make a choice). What of female circumcision - otherwise termed genetic mutilation... should cultural tradition trump law and reason? Such arguments could condone human sacrifice!
Should non-believers interfere? If reform is rejected here, what of other cases where religion or culture seem to conflict with healthy human lives? For example, what of circumcision? Is it reasonable? (when a child cannot reasonably make a choice). What of female circumcision - otherwise termed genetic mutilation... should cultural tradition trump law and reason? Such arguments could condone human sacrifice!
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Hawaii's 1st Jewish Governor on Palin
3 Sept 2008; Haaretz (Israel)
Hawaii's 1st Jewish Governor: Palin More Experienced than Obama
by Natasha Mozgovaya
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1017469.html
...
"Lingle says she has never discussed Israel-related issues with Palin. "But Senator McCain's commitment to Israel is strong and well-known, and I assure your readers that he would not put someone on that ticket who did not have the same feelings. Certainly he has discussed those issues. Governor Palin is a very religious person, and the religious Christians are the greatest supporters of Israel."
According to Lingle, the Republican Party is likely to attract growing numbers of Jewish voters because "the Republicans have a much stronger position on Israel than the Democrats, and that's why I think more people will be seen on the Republican side."
...
Hawaii's 1st Jewish Governor: Palin More Experienced than Obama
by Natasha Mozgovaya
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1017469.html
...
"Lingle says she has never discussed Israel-related issues with Palin. "But Senator McCain's commitment to Israel is strong and well-known, and I assure your readers that he would not put someone on that ticket who did not have the same feelings. Certainly he has discussed those issues. Governor Palin is a very religious person, and the religious Christians are the greatest supporters of Israel."
According to Lingle, the Republican Party is likely to attract growing numbers of Jewish voters because "the Republicans have a much stronger position on Israel than the Democrats, and that's why I think more people will be seen on the Republican side."
...
Recent Wars: Vietnam & Elsewhere
In the USA many feel it is injudicious, even treasonous, to criticize the wars now being waged by our brave uniformed men & women. But 35 years ago the USA was engaged in a distant intervention in Southeast Asia. Was the Vietnam war a grave mistake? Don't look to John McCain for a clear answer: he was a war victim, but also an active aggressor (dutifully piloted 23 bombing missions). His father served as Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Command (CINCPAC), in charge of unified US & South Vietnam (RVN) forces; the person responsible operationally for waging the war from 1968-1972. Was the US war in Vietnam a grave mistake? Was it fundamentally wrong? ... a criminal enterprise? Powerful Americans avoid the nasty facts (millions killed directly, continued crippling from landmines & dioxin pollution); if not citing US heroism, they'd like to forget about that war.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Chattering Mice Be Scolded
Too many Americans have become terrorized, but very few are the direct physical victims of terrorist attackers. Instead, they have been belittled and abused by their Republican leadership & megacorporate media into shadows of lost potential. Fearmongering has become the American way, practiced daily by the Bush administration.
John McCain offers more of the same. He sidled up to Bush Co. and now lies with them, bathed in hogwash.
People who should know better are still being misdirected into doubting Barack Obama. I believe that Barack Obama is ready, willing and able to work for a better world. I expect that he can build a strong team of experts and colleagues to bring about positive change. The hemorrhage of the Bush years must be staunched. The Republican Party has led America to a terrible condition. It is time for change. Please America, vote carefully for a better future: with Barack Obama as President of the USA.
John McCain offers more of the same. He sidled up to Bush Co. and now lies with them, bathed in hogwash.
People who should know better are still being misdirected into doubting Barack Obama. I believe that Barack Obama is ready, willing and able to work for a better world. I expect that he can build a strong team of experts and colleagues to bring about positive change. The hemorrhage of the Bush years must be staunched. The Republican Party has led America to a terrible condition. It is time for change. Please America, vote carefully for a better future: with Barack Obama as President of the USA.
Monday, August 25, 2008
So many issues...
25 August 2008; Haaretz (Israel)
As convention kicks off, Democrats say U.S. Jews will overcome fears of Obama
by Natasha Mozgovaya
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1015039.html
"..the choice of Senator Joe Biden ... provide(s) a strong boost to Obama support among American Jews. "For Jews he's a mishpucheh," Oregon Senator Ron Wyden said of Biden, using the Yiddish version of the Hebrew word for family. "Biden will help to persuade Jews who are skeptical," New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg told Haaretz. "His support for Israel is widely known. Any skepticism that Obama won't support Israel is wrong, because no president can ignore Israel, it's too important. And the best thing for Israel is a strong America."
...
As convention kicks off, Democrats say U.S. Jews will overcome fears of Obama
by Natasha Mozgovaya
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1015039.html
"..the choice of Senator Joe Biden ... provide(s) a strong boost to Obama support among American Jews. "For Jews he's a mishpucheh," Oregon Senator Ron Wyden said of Biden, using the Yiddish version of the Hebrew word for family. "Biden will help to persuade Jews who are skeptical," New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg told Haaretz. "His support for Israel is widely known. Any skepticism that Obama won't support Israel is wrong, because no president can ignore Israel, it's too important. And the best thing for Israel is a strong America."
...
Thursday, June 12, 2008
"Sic 'em Billow" (née Bill O’Reilly)
It's an emotional experience seeing Mr. Bill O’Reilly perform on the Fox network. So many descriptive phrases flit to mind: he acts deranged; he's shameless; he’s a wealthy journalistic anarchist; he's a a smarmy wanker. It's frightening that many American people believe & applaud his extreme & dangerous theatrics.
His enemies (oddly) try repeatedly to engage him in rational discussion, though clearly he'll disconnect from such shenanigans.
Simple namecalling ("Bill O'Reilly is an asshole.") won't likely impress him. Turn the other cheek -- he's sure to bite it. But he trades on his good name, and making fun of it as "Billow" is cute and observant: he is a windbag, he likes the short sound bite. The name is soft & lovable as an obnoxious little dog can be. Sic 'em Billow! We love you Billow!
His enemies (oddly) try repeatedly to engage him in rational discussion, though clearly he'll disconnect from such shenanigans.
Simple namecalling ("Bill O'Reilly is an asshole.") won't likely impress him. Turn the other cheek -- he's sure to bite it. But he trades on his good name, and making fun of it as "Billow" is cute and observant: he is a windbag, he likes the short sound bite. The name is soft & lovable as an obnoxious little dog can be. Sic 'em Billow! We love you Billow!
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Creative Deception
One nation learns from another. An international epidemic built on lies & deception has been unleashed. Deny and Lie. The euphemism "very tight security" masks oppression. People around the world, bullied by their leaders, curse my country's President.
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