Maureen Dowd on Wall Street Socialists

[chess9]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01.../28dowd.html?th&emc=th

"As President Obama spreads his New Testament balm over the capital, I?m longing for a bit of Old Testament wrath.

Couldn?t he throw down his BlackBerry tablet and smash it in anger over the feckless financiers, the gods of gold and their idols ? in this case not a gilt calf but an $87,000 area rug, a cache of diamond Tiffany and Cartier watches and a French-made luxury corporate jet?

Now that we?re nationalizing, couldn?t we fire any obtuse bankers and auto executives who cling to perks and bonuses even as the economy is following John Thain down his antique commode?"

Will any of these thieves actually be prosecuted? Except for a few obvious Ponzi scheme arrests-all small potatoes except for Mad Madoff-none of the real crooks have been indicted. Those who pushed over-hyped investment vehicles with strange names and even stranger pedigrees and bilked whole countries out of their money are sitting fat and happy in their penthouse suites, untouched by either the Bush or Obama administrations. Our fear is that the crooks who ran Wall Street will be treated the same way Cheney The Barbarian, Gonzalez the Smug, and Rumsfeld the Ridiculous are being treated-as though they were entitled to screw up the world and especially our America.

Yes, let the show trials begin. At least we'd have cake to eat....

-Robert

 

[Moonbeam]

I find this to touch on profoundly interesting, to me at any rate, questions about the proper way to move beyond the terrible disaster of the last 8 years. Just like the issue of torture, was it criminal and how far should we look back to bring potential criminals to justice, including the ex Pres of the United States, how far should we reach back to bring those responsible for our current financial melt down to justice over the practice of irrational mortgage loans and related issues.

In the first place we have a new President whose objective is to bring the country together and ameliorate left right wounds and antagonisms to better address long standing problems begging redress. A witch hunt for yesterdays delinquencies isn't going to further that.

But what of the notion of accountability and the theory that crimes that go unpunished only inspire new generations of criminals to boldness. This will also require lots of time and money, with time and money in short supply.

The issue fascinates even further in my opinion in that the traditional role of retribution for sin is, I think, is a conservative value and it is conservatives who should be hunting down these folk. And the namby pamby left is known to be worthless precisely because they don't have the stomach do deal harshly with enemies. I hate to think that the right would whine if Democrats seek to jail them. Hell, the personal responsibility folk like Bush and Cheney should be turning themselves in.

I really don't know what we should do because sadly the voices I hear rising deep from within seem to be all Old Testament. If I look back will I turn into a pillar of salt?

 

[cubeless]

and dowd has really become unleased now... she's decided to be the limbaugh of the left, methinks...

 

[nageov3t]

how Maureen Dowd manages to stay gainfully employed is one of the great mysteries of the modern age.

 

[chess9]

She's employed by the New York Times. Is it possible the editors of the Times are paying her a six figure income because she's loaded with talent? You guys are making 7 to 8 figure incomes I know, but have heart for the little woman who is struggling to make a name for herself as a writer.

Oh, and don't bother to address any of the issues in the post. You might give evidence you aren't dumber than a box of rocks....

-Robert

 

[chess9]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
I find this to touch on profoundly interesting, to me at any rate, questions about the proper way to move beyond the terrible disaster of the last 8 years. Just like the issue of torture, was it criminal and how far should we look back to bring potential criminals to justice, including the ex Pres of the United States, how far should we reach back to bring those responsible for our current financial melt down to justice over the practice of irrational mortgage loans and related issues.

In the first place we have a new President whose objective is to bring the country together and ameliorate left right wounds and antagonisms to better address long standing problems begging redress. A witch hunt for yesterdays delinquencies isn't going to further that.

But what of the notion of accountability and the theory that crimes that go unpunished only inspire new generations of criminals to boldness. This will also require lots of time and money, with time and money in short supply.

The issue fascinates even further in my opinion in that the traditional role of retribution for sin is, I think, is a conservative value and it is conservatives who should be hunting down these folk. And the namby pamby left is known to be worthless precisely because they don't have the stomach do deal harshly with enemies. I hate to think that the right would whine if Democrats seek to jail them. Hell, the personal responsibility folk like Bush and Cheney should be turning themselves in.

I really don't know what we should do because sadly the voices I hear rising deep from within seem to be all Old Testament. If I look back will I turn into a pillar of salt?

LOL, Moonie! No, not salt. But, you might be disappointed if you look back on this time in about two years. I suspect Obama isn't going after the Bush Thugmeisters. Too bad.

-Robert

 

[Double Trouble]

1) Dowd is an idiot, and anything written by her should be viewed in that context. 2) Please provide some details on what laws exactly the "fat cats" broke during these times.

Just like everyone else, I'm frustrated when I see these scum making millions and running companies into the ground, laughing all the way to the bank. Still, most of them are acting in accordance with the laws and are simply playing by the (stupid) rules we created......

 

[chess9]

Originally posted by: Double Trouble
1) Dowd is an idiot, and anything written by her should be viewed in that context. 2) Please provide some details on what laws exactly the "fat cats" broke during these times.

Just like everyone else, I'm frustrated when I see these scum making millions and running companies into the ground, laughing all the way to the bank. Still, most of them are acting in accordance with the laws and are simply playing by the (stupid) rules we created......

I would find it hard to believe there weren't a lot of laws broken by these people. Too much has gone woefully wrong. But, securities law is not my schtick. I'd be happy to have about 10 Justice Department lawyers with securities experience looking at Citibank, Merrill Lynch, AIG, and the rest.

Calling Dowd an idiot is not going to convince anyone she's an idiot. It makes YOU sound like an idiot, however.

-Robert

 

[GroundedSailor]

?If you don?t pay your best people, you will destroy your franchise? and they?ll go elsewhere, he said.

Hello? They destroyed the franchise. Let?s call their bluff. Let?s see what a great job market it is for the geniuses of capitalism who lost $15 billion in three months and helped usher in socialism.

Bartiromo also asked Thain to explain, when jobs and salaries were being cut at his firm, how he could justify spending $1 million to renovate his office. As The Daily Beast and CNBC reported, big-ticket items included curtains for $28,000, a pair of chairs for $87,000, fabric for a ?Roman Shade? for $11,000, Regency chairs for $24,000, six wall sconces for $2,700, a $13,000 chandelier in the private dining room and six dining chairs for $37,000, a ?custom coffee table? for $16,000, an antique commode ?on legs? for $35,000, and a $1,400 ?parchment waste can.?

Does that mean you can only throw used parchment in it or is it made of parchment? It?s psychopathic to spend a million redoing your office when the folks outside it are losing jobs, homes, pensions and savings.

Thain should never rise above the level of stocking the money in A.T.M.?s again. Just think: This guy could well have been Treasury secretary if John McCain had won.

Bartiromo pressed: What was wrong with the office of his predecessor, Stanley O?Neal?

?Well ? his office was very different ? than ? the ? the general décor of ? Merrill?s offices,? Thain replied. ?It really would have been ? very difficult ? for ? me to use it in the form that it was in.?

Did it have a desk and a phone?

Spending that much money is one thing. Just think about the reason he uses to justify it (on national TV), while jobs and salaries were being cut.

Its amazing that such guys have a job!!

 

[chess9]

Originally posted by: GroundedSailor

?If you don?t pay your best people, you will destroy your franchise? and they?ll go elsewhere, he said.

Hello? They destroyed the franchise. Let?s call their bluff. Let?s see what a great job market it is for the geniuses of capitalism who lost $15 billion in three months and helped usher in socialism.

Bartiromo also asked Thain to explain, when jobs and salaries were being cut at his firm, how he could justify spending $1 million to renovate his office. As The Daily Beast and CNBC reported, big-ticket items included curtains for $28,000, a pair of chairs for $87,000, fabric for a ?Roman Shade? for $11,000, Regency chairs for $24,000, six wall sconces for $2,700, a $13,000 chandelier in the private dining room and six dining chairs for $37,000, a ?custom coffee table? for $16,000, an antique commode ?on legs? for $35,000, and a $1,400 ?parchment waste can.?

Does that mean you can only throw used parchment in it or is it made of parchment? It?s psychopathic to spend a million redoing your office when the folks outside it are losing jobs, homes, pensions and savings.

Thain should never rise above the level of stocking the money in A.T.M.?s again. Just think: This guy could well have been Treasury secretary if John McCain had won.

Bartiromo pressed: What was wrong with the office of his predecessor, Stanley O?Neal?

?Well ? his office was very different ? than ? the ? the general décor of ? Merrill?s offices,? Thain replied. ?It really would have been ? very difficult ? for ? me to use it in the form that it was in.?

Did it have a desk and a phone?

Spending that much money is one thing. Just think about the reason he uses to justify it (on national TV), while jobs and salaries were being cut.

Its amazing that such guys have a job!!

Not just a job, but he was the head of Merrill Lynch! LOL. Guys with such poor skills are leading major corporations and getting paid millions of dollars. This is America, so intelligence is not a prerequisite, nor even a desireable trait in our corporate leaders. And we wonder why America is floundering so badly?

-Robert

 

[Atreus21]

Originally posted by: chess9

Originally posted by: Double Trouble
1) Dowd is an idiot, and anything written by her should be viewed in that context. 2) Please provide some details on what laws exactly the "fat cats" broke during these times.

Just like everyone else, I'm frustrated when I see these scum making millions and running companies into the ground, laughing all the way to the bank. Still, most of them are acting in accordance with the laws and are simply playing by the (stupid) rules we created......

I would find it hard to believe there weren't a lot of laws broken by these people. Too much has gone woefully wrong. But, securities law is not my schtick. I'd be happy to have about 10 Justice Department lawyers with securities experience looking at Citibank, Merrill Lynch, AIG, and the rest.

Calling Dowd an idiot is not going to convince anyone she's an idiot. It makes YOU sound like an idiot, however.

-Robert

I dunno. I'm pretty convinced.

 

[Ozoned]

Originally posted by: chess9


Will any of these thieves actually be prosecuted?

A massive shift of money from the hands of the thieves to the hands of the lawyers. Same ilk.

How do you get the money back to the pocket where it came from in the 1st place?

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: chess9

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
I find this to touch on profoundly interesting, to me at any rate, questions about the proper way to move beyond the terrible disaster of the last 8 years. Just like the issue of torture, was it criminal and how far should we look back to bring potential criminals to justice, including the ex Pres of the United States, how far should we reach back to bring those responsible for our current financial melt down to justice over the practice of irrational mortgage loans and related issues.

In the first place we have a new President whose objective is to bring the country together and ameliorate left right wounds and antagonisms to better address long standing problems begging redress. A witch hunt for yesterdays delinquencies isn't going to further that.

But what of the notion of accountability and the theory that crimes that go unpunished only inspire new generations of criminals to boldness. This will also require lots of time and money, with time and money in short supply.

The issue fascinates even further in my opinion in that the traditional role of retribution for sin is, I think, is a conservative value and it is conservatives who should be hunting down these folk. And the namby pamby left is known to be worthless precisely because they don't have the stomach do deal harshly with enemies. I hate to think that the right would whine if Democrats seek to jail them. Hell, the personal responsibility folk like Bush and Cheney should be turning themselves in.

I really don't know what we should do because sadly the voices I hear rising deep from within seem to be all Old Testament. If I look back will I turn into a pillar of salt?

LOL, Moonie! No, not salt. But, you might be disappointed if you look back on this time in about two years. I suspect Obama isn't going after the Bush Thugmeisters. Too bad.

-Robert

I suspect the same thing.