Snort: Deadbeat defaulting Democrat tries to collect

By Michelle Malkin  •  November 12, 2008 10:36 AM

You remember Laura Richardson, right? She’s the Democrat congresswoman who defaulted six times on her home loans and has left a trail of unpaid bills in her wake. Well, she’s back. On behalf of taxpayers in her district, she’s now trying to get money back from Lehman Brothers after an investment gone awry. Hat tip to reader Thomas, who e-mails: “The irony is mighty thick.”

Savor it:

Congresswoman Laura Richardson is working to recoup the $19.9 million the city of Long Beach lost when Lehman Brothers went bankrupt in September, she announced Thursday night.

Richardson, D-Long Beach, said she and unspecified California delegation colleagues are calling on Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson to purchase the city’s now worthless investment – Lehman Brothers commercial paper, which essentially would have functioned as a short-term, 27-day loan.

City officials, already struggling with budget shortfalls, would surely be grateful if the newly re-elected congresswoman could broker the deal.

Long Beach officials made the investment as part of the city’s $1.8billion investment portfolio just days before Lehman Brothers went bankrupt.

Under the federal Troubled Assets Relief Program, which is part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act passed by Congress in September, the Treasury Department can buy up troubled assets held by local governments.

Richardson said in a statement she wants to ensure “that taxpayers are protected and receive a share in the solutions” of the economic rescue plan.

Long Beach is also expected to lose up to $5.8 million more as a result of shifting other money into lower-yield investments, city officials have said.

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Posted in: Subprime crisis

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Comments


  1. #1
    On November 12th, 2008 at 10:40 am, RabbidSquirrel said:

    California gets what it deserves. Let it fail too and become the 3rd world country it wants to be.

    (Sorry to those that still live there, but I did my 6 years there)

  2. #2
    On November 12th, 2008 at 10:44 am, ajmontana said:

    Known in Ca. circles as “Wrong Beach”

  3. #3
    On November 12th, 2008 at 10:46 am, islandman78 said:

    RabbidSquirrel,

    We need your income here. 10.25% sales tax awaits you. C’mon back. Be patriotic and pay your taxes, California style!

    The fit is hitting the shan.

  4. #4
    On November 12th, 2008 at 10:46 am, Yashmak said:

    So my take is, that Laura’s position is:

    We invested poorly, so our broker should have to pay up.”

    Recall the economics textbooks, they’re going to need some updating.

  5. #5
    On November 12th, 2008 at 10:47 am, Paul Revere said:

    Isn’t California already a 3rd world country? If you live there, leave and come to NC. We need more Republican transplants. The Yankee libtards are taking over like a bad fungus.

  6. #6
    On November 12th, 2008 at 10:48 am, BrianNY said:

    Laura Richardson adheres to the modern-liberal policy of short-term gain/long-term harm.

    The election and the tolerance of every Laura Richardson is just one step closer to the collapse of our former way of life. A way of life that has never been matched by any other civilization in human history.

  7. #7
    On November 12th, 2008 at 10:50 am, Bob Hayes said:

    The hubris is staggering.

  8. #8
    On November 12th, 2008 at 10:52 am, LC said:

    I’m in CA right now. Been here for about a year.

    I’m going back to TX. The illegal aliens and gang bangers can have fun here without my productivity and taxes. Good riddence.

  9. #9
    On November 12th, 2008 at 10:52 am, hawkeye54 said:

    On November 12th, 2008 at 10:44 am, ajmontana said:
    Known in Ca. circles as “Wrong Beach

    You’re not kidding. I had the misfortune to live there for just over a year before moving to Lakewood right next door.

    I’ve said that if you want to write a manual on how to run a city, Long Beach would serve all your needs as an example of what not to do.

    City officials, already struggling with budget shortfalls, would surely be grateful if the newly re-elected congresswoman could broker the deal

    Long Beach has been hemmoraging financially in too many ways to mention.

    Any surprise it’s run primarily by Democrats?

  10. #10
    On November 12th, 2008 at 10:52 am, RedDog said:

    The blood of patriots and tyrants? What was it Jefferson said?

  11. #11
    On November 12th, 2008 at 10:54 am, CantCureStupid said:

    I’m a Kalifornia expat, and one of the reasons is because the idiotic voters there elect the stupidest, most corrupt people they can find. I expect it to fall into the Pacific very soon.

    Louisiana isn’t perfect, but it’s Eden compared to Kalifornikation.

  12. #12
    On November 12th, 2008 at 10:54 am, hawkeye54 said:

    Isn’t California already a 3rd world country? If you live there, leave and come to NC. We need more Republican transplants.

    Thanks for the offer Paul, my heart is set on going back to my roots in Iowa. It needs more Republican conservative transplants too.

    Alas, such is the case for many, many states :(

  13. #13
    On November 12th, 2008 at 10:56 am, Craig said:

    Actually Long Beach has a much more coarse moniker- jokingly assigned as a result of the rather large population of male homosexuals.

  14. #14
    On November 12th, 2008 at 10:56 am, MarcoPolo said:

    Was there no election in that district this year?

  15. #15
    On November 12th, 2008 at 10:57 am, hawkeye54 said:

    Was there no election in that district this year?

    That’s a joke, isn’t it?

  16. #16
    On November 12th, 2008 at 10:57 am, BlameAmericaLast said:

    On November 12th, 2008 at 10:46 am, islandman78 said:

    RabbidSquirrel,

    We need your income here. 10.25% sales tax awaits you. C’mon back. Be patriotic and pay your taxes, California style!

    The fit is hitting the shan.

    Oh yeah, and don’t forget the proposed 5% increase in income tax too!

    Yep, the poop sure has hit the vent.

  17. #17
    On November 12th, 2008 at 10:57 am, Craig said:

    As captured so well- here.

  18. #18
    On November 12th, 2008 at 11:05 am, maine yankee said:

    (to the tune of Chilli’s theme song)

    I want my
    BAIL OUT, BAIL OUT, BAIL OUT
    I want my
    BAIL OUT, BAIL OUT, BAIL OUT

  19. #19
    On November 12th, 2008 at 11:18 am, prendad said:

    Long Beach officials made the investment as part of the city’s $1.8billion investment portfolio just days before Lehman Brothers went bankrupt.

    Another shining example of the worth?? of the politician. Stupid people make stupid investments with other peoples money and then whine and cry for a bailout. Gee, this is NOT the way I learned to invest MY money. Maybe the “Long Beach Officials” should be held accountable for their stupidity. Oh, but wait, that would be very mean wouldn’t it.

  20. #20
    On November 12th, 2008 at 11:22 am, conservativesRus said:

    Once again – how nice it is for people to completely disconnect actions and elections.
    If you ask them, nearly everybody says people should do x – but then when it comes time in the voting booth, that’s all out the window.
    Policies, positions, character and performance apparently don’t matter.

  21. #21
    On November 12th, 2008 at 11:23 am, mojack420 said:

    dose this mean i can now ask for a bail out if i make a bad bet on football ?

    and how stupid are these people tyo re-elected this crook?

  22. #22
    On November 12th, 2008 at 11:26 am, hawkeye54 said:

    Maybe the “Long Beach Officials” should be held accountable for their stupidity.

    Actually, here in Mexifornia, elected officials are actually rewarded for their stupidity with reelection. But only if a “D” follows their names, as a rule.

  23. #23
    On November 12th, 2008 at 11:33 am, BadIdeaGuy said:

    It feels like every day I wake up and the world around me is crazier and crazier. I can feel everyone’s frustration because there seems to be little voice of opposition to this crap smorgasbord.

    I keep thinking of Khrushchev “I once said, “We will bury you,” and I got into trouble with it. Of course we will not bury you with a shovel. Your own working class will bury you.”

    I feel like our founding fathers are rolling over in their graves, as are those who dedicated their lives to keeping us free, as we enter into (semi-) voluntary servitude.

  24. #24
    On November 12th, 2008 at 11:33 am, wighttrasch said:

    ‘…with so much drama in the LBC/it’s kinda hard bein’ Laura D-O double G…’

  25. #25
    On November 12th, 2008 at 11:39 am, right_on said:

    Congresswoman Laura Richardson is working to recoup the $19.9 million the city of Long Beach lost when Lehman Brothers went bankrupt in September, she announced Thursday night.

    First of all, the only thing they lost was the investment valuation, unless some idiot decided to cash out at the bottom.

    Secondly, I’ll bet she’s negotiating for a 20% finders fee, or some such thing!

    Yes, I know…she is in an elected position. How does that change anything? She is a liberal hypocrite, and as such, you know there is a quid pro quo in there somewhere….

  26. #26
    On November 12th, 2008 at 11:44 am, Conservative Hawk said:

    Thanks for the offer Paul, my heart is set on going back to my roots in Iowa. It needs more Republican conservative transplants too.

    Please do. We sure need you, especially here in the Iowa City area!

  27. #27
    On November 12th, 2008 at 11:45 am, vcferlita said:

    Everybody needs a bailout

  28. #28
    On November 12th, 2008 at 11:46 am, hawkeye54 said:

    especially here in the Iowa City area

    I’m hoping for Cedar Falls if I can get my wifes approval (as a native SoCalifornian her resistance is strong), but Iowa City would do: )

    GO HAWKEYES! WOO-HOO!

  29. #29
    On November 12th, 2008 at 11:51 am, ammo john said:

    Newly elected? Those Left Coasters don’t learn very well.

  30. #30
    On November 12th, 2008 at 11:56 am, J S Ragman said:

    Under the federal Troubled Assets Relief Program, which is part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act passed by Congress in September, the Treasury Department can buy up troubled assets held by local governments.

    That is technically correct. However, in this case, Long Beach will have to request money under the Worthless Assets Relief Program (WARP), which has yet to be passed by Congress.

    Morons.

  31. #31
    On November 12th, 2008 at 11:57 am, hawkeye54 said:

    Left Coasters don’t learn very well.

    To be expected after 40 years of school indoctrination and Democrat brainwashing into believing Republicans are the most evil people on earth to whom Stalin, Mao and Castro are upstanding kind-hearted people lovin’ leaders in comparison.

  32. #32
    On November 12th, 2008 at 11:58 am, hawkeye54 said:

    Worthless Assets Relief Program (WARP), which has yet to be passed by Congress.

    Morons.

    Worthless Morons aptly describes LB city leadership.

  33. #33
    On November 12th, 2008 at 12:06 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

    Dem = PASS

    Repeat until you acclimate.

  34. #34
    On November 12th, 2008 at 12:07 pm, RabbidSquirrel said:

    On November 12th, 2008 at 10:46 am, islandman78 said:

    RabbidSquirrel,

    We need your income here. 10.25% sales tax awaits you. C’mon back. Be patriotic and pay your taxes, California style!

    Dont worry, with the new wealth distribution, you will get it soon enough. All the ‘rich’ states will contribute to the ‘poor’ states. (Read that Red to Blue)

    especially here in the Iowa City area

    Its still there? I was in the Marriott when the floods were going on last summer. I’ve got great photos of downtown Cedar Rapids the night before it went underwater and the bridge washed away.

  35. #35
    On November 12th, 2008 at 12:14 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    Budget shortfalls? When all you do is spend, spend, spend? How did that happen?

  36. #36
    On November 12th, 2008 at 12:27 pm, 30 pcs of silver said:

    On November 12th, 2008 at 12:14 pm, AlohaGuy said:
    Budget shortfalls? When all you do is spend, spend, spend? How did that happen?

    It’s for the roads and emergency services. They are vital to the community. :roll:

  37. #37
    On November 12th, 2008 at 12:32 pm, Micheleeroo said:

    I still don’t understand why they gave this woman loan after loan, when she’d established such a poor borrower’s record. Dumb banks?

  38. #38
    On November 12th, 2008 at 12:45 pm, Cosmo said:

    Suck it, Trebek! Richardson!

  39. #39
    On November 12th, 2008 at 12:47 pm, Uplander said:

    Did I read that right? ‘Recently Re-Elected’.
    OMG.
    Maroons on parade.

  40. #40
    On November 12th, 2008 at 12:54 pm, Cosmo said:

    Um, Uplander? If you lived in Long Beach, or nearby, you’d realize how Richardson could be re-elected.

    Remember, these are the same type of people that elect Marion “Crack” Berry as mayor. Or John Murtha. Or Barney Frank.

    Gerrymandering is so delightful.

  41. #41
    On November 12th, 2008 at 1:00 pm, Conservative Hawk said:

    On November 12th, 2008 at 12:07 pm, RabbidSquirrel said:

    especially here in the Iowa City area

    Its still there? I was in the Marriott when the floods were going on last summer. I’ve got great photos of downtown Cedar Rapids the night before it went underwater and the bridge washed away.

    Yup, we’re still kicking. For all the liberalism, there are some good things about Iowa City. One of the biggest is that we did not pull a New Orleans after our flood. Instead, we all pitched in, pulled together, and worked hard to get our businesses and neighbors back ontheir feet!

  42. #42
    On November 12th, 2008 at 1:18 pm, RabbidSquirrel said:

    We need your income here. 10.25% sales tax awaits you.

    Buy in Oregon! If Oregon has amended its laws for Cali’s to need an Oregon ID then everyone needs to do like the Dems and get 400 people into one home address.

    Maybe Cali should set up a shopping co-op and send trucks to Mexico and Oregon for goods. lol

  43. #43
    On November 12th, 2008 at 1:30 pm, cheapseat said:

    we’ve been intimidated and thugged into bailing out every special interest in this country, and the chicken’s have come home to roost. we bailed out seaside houses when storms came, which led to bailing out new orleans, which led to bailing out banks, which led to bailing out states, which led to bailing out car manufacturers, which led to bailing out the country.

  44. #44
    On November 12th, 2008 at 5:36 pm, jt3151 said:

    On November 12th, 2008 at 10:46 am, islandman78 said:

    RabbidSquirrel,

    We need your income here. 10.25% sales tax awaits you. C’mon back. Be patriotic and pay your taxes, California style!

    Chicago is at 10.5%. Of course, that is Barry’s political cradle.

  45. #45
    On November 12th, 2008 at 6:04 pm, bradley said:

    Obama’s probably going to select this idiot as part of his administration. Maybe Secretary of Mortgage Default. People that elect idiots like this should lose the right to vote. They obviously have no clue, thus shouldn’t have a say in running the country.

  46. #46
    On November 12th, 2008 at 6:43 pm, Bruce said:

    I think you are unfairly characterizing Laura Richardson as a deadbeat.

    She is a politician. Politicians don’t have to pay their bills if they don’t want to… especially if you’re a Democrat politician.

    So what if she’s defaulted on loans and not paid bills anyway? Millions of Americans are lined up waiting for the government to refinance their forclosed house… and what about all the businesses? American Express, GM, the banks, the brokerages… they all have failed businesses due to poor management and/or inferior services, so they are getting money from the government too? Somehow, I don’t think anyone is going to bail ME out!!!

    So what? She’s right to get the Lehman Brothers’ money while she can!

  47. #47
    On November 12th, 2008 at 7:40 pm, guerro said:

    Lawrence Livermore Laboratories has discovered the heaviest element yet
    known to science.

    The new element,Governmentium (Gv), has one neutron, 25 assistant
    neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving
    it an atomic mass of 312.

    These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which
    are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons.

    Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert; however, it can be
    detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into
    contact. A tiny amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would
    normally take less than a second, to take from 4 days to 4 years to
    complete.

    Governmentium has a normal half-life of 2- 6 years. It does not decay,
    but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the
    assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places.

    In fact, Governmentium’s mass will actually increase over time, since
    each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming
    isodopes.

    This characteristic of morons promotion leads some scientists to
    believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical
    concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as critical morass.

    When catalysed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium, an
    element that radiates just as much energy as Governmentium since it has
    half as many peons but twice as many morons.

  48. #48
    On November 12th, 2008 at 7:55 pm, Lifeofthemind said:
  49. #49
    On November 12th, 2008 at 8:14 pm, AniMEL said:

    Doooood, where’s my bailout?

    Sorry. Couldn’t resist.

    Bruce is right, Richardson is being sly about it. She knows how to get a nice little payday just like every other defaulting loser out there. They’re just biding their time.

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