Senators to Paulson: You lied, TARP died
Three GOP Senators have sent Treasury Secretary Hank “Never mind” Paulson a “joint letter of concern.” I’ll have more on this abominable subject in my syndicated column tomorrow.
Joint Letter of Concern to Secretary Paulson After His Announcement to the Change Intent of the Troubled Asset Relief Program
November 13, 2008
Dear Secretary Paulson:
We are writing to express our deep concern over your announcement this morning that the Department of the Treasury will halt all plans to purchase trouble mortgage assets through the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). We are concerned that the program has been fundamentally changed from its original intent and worry that continued changes may erode the structures of accountability put in to protect taxpayers.
When legislation authorizing the TARP was first proposed to members of Congress in mid-September, its primary component was a program to allow the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase “toxic” mortgage assets from financial institutions. The primary reason for this course of action, we were told, was to assist the market in discovering the price of these assets and to return liquidity to the financial markets.
At a hearing of the Senate Banking Committee on September 23, 2008, you made the following comments on the urgent necessity of a troubled asset purchase program:
We have proposed a program to remove troubled assets from the system. This troubled asset relief program has to be properly designed for immediate implementation and be sufficiently large to have maximum impact and restore market confidence. It must also protect the taxpayer to the maximum extent possible, and include provisions that ensure transparency and oversight while also ensuring the program can be implemented quickly and run effectively.
This troubled asset purchase program on its own is the single most effective thing we can do to help homeowners, the American people and stimulate our economy.
Although the legislation was passed on October 3, the program was never implemented and now has been officially abandoned in favor of alternative plans after little more than a month. Such a rapid reversal raises questions about the TARP’s original design as well as the propriety of future plans.
Congress never intended for the TARP to be a blank check that could be spent with unlimited discretion. To ensure proper boundaries are in place to protect the taxpayer, we hope and expect that congressional approval will be sought by the administration before further changes are made.
Sincerely,
U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D., U.S. Senator Richard Burr, U.S. Senator David Vitter
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Trackbacks
- Kick the Anthill » Coburn is a bigger person than I am
- The College Politico » Blog Archive » Forbes: Bailout Costs 5 Trillion… So Far
- Really? No Formal Action Has Been Taken To Fill The Independent Oversight Posts Established By Congress When It Approved The Bailout | Right Voices
- The Crap Sandwich Has a New Flavor « Trust, But Verify
- The Rude News » Blog Archive » Checks & Balances
- GOP Senators to Paulson: You Lied | The American Pundit
- Free In Idaho! » Blog Archive » Losing Our Grip
- Paulson Lied–Economy Died or Bailout Bolshevik Bureaucrats Corrupt Capitalism Credit China « Pronk Palisades
- Melissa officinalis
- Paulson bait and switch | Smoke, Mirrors and Reality of Current Events
- Pasadena Real Estate Blog Interviews Dr. Ryan C. Amacher, Professor of Economics » Pasadena California Real Estate Blog
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You mean they didn’t keep thei work and changed the rules after the fact?
SHOCKING! That’s what this is.
Did anyone believe they would do what they said they would do? Did anyone believe giving one guy a bunch of money and no restrictions would lead to anything good for us?
If ignorance is bliss then there much be millions of ecstatic people walking around today in this country and in this government.
DON’T BLAME ME. I VOTED AGAINST SOCIALISM.
Why don’t they just have a do-over?? Repeal the law.
(This time without all the spelling errors)
You mean they didn’t keep their word and changed the rules after the fact?
SHOCKING! That’s what this is.
Did anyone believe they would do what they said they would do? Did anyone believe giving one guy a bunch of money and no restrictions would lead to anything good for us?
If ignorance is bliss then there must be millions of ecstatic people walking around today in this country and in this government.
DON’T BLAME ME. I VOTED AGAINST SOCIALISM.
They did give him a blank check to do whatever he wanted…
I hate Congress.
No more bailouts.
We’re bailing out car companies, banks and insurance companies. The cost is going from $700 billion to $5 trillion! How much longer before the economy collpases, New Year’s, Easter, anyone (Bueller)?
Yeah and the banks PROMISE not to give any bailout money to their executives. Alrighty then…
Really? And, of course, that was clearly stipulated in writing, and completely understood and agreed upon. Right?
The President should fire him on the spot. I would not even give him the option of resigning.
Apri 1 would be appropriate. No?
Tar. Feathers. Scumbag pol. Some assembly required.
Don’t drink or eat anything while reading that line.
2 things:
1) Wouldn’t this qualify as misrepresentation on Paulson’s part?
The Federal Govt gave this man a check – a VERY LARGE check – to do ‘X’.
But now he says he’ll use it instead for ‘Y’.
2) Check this out: Bush Warns Against `Too Much’ Government in Markets
Ohhhhh!!! NOW he’s warning us!
“Here’s 7 billlion for ya! Let me know if you need more!. Oh, and by the way….”
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aMXzD7tQQGdY&refer=worldwide
My Republican “friends”…
PLEEEEEASE don’t PLEAD ignorance or “deep concern” NOW…
The time to have taken a STAND with A SPINE!!!
WAS when the $700,000,000.000.0000,0000000000000000+++
was put before you for THE VOTE!!!!
That would be my $$$$$$$$ and the $$$$$$$ of my fellow -HONEST citizens!!!!!!!
C-CS
Why?
‘W’ was the one who gave him the cash!
‘W’ is the same guy who signed-off on a 400-page bill…..!!!!
(Once again: You never sign a document you haven’t read.)
I called Richard Burr (my state) the other day and talked to their “person” and said, “Look, I’ve voted for you every time. You had BETTER get out there speaking LOUDLY about this travesty. This is now an overt takeover of our system and I want it STOPPED or I’m out.”
I’m really happy that, even if we are screwed, my senator’s name is on this letter.
did ANY senators or congressman actually READ what they were voting for???
do they ever???
This crap has gone on way to long. WE The People need to file a lawsuit in federal courts to stop this VERY UNCONSTITUTIONAL plan. Congress alone holds the purse strings and do not have the power to relinquish that power to the treasury sec. or anyone else. Each American has a say in how our money is spent through our elected representatives.
Congress can’t avoid blame by turning over their duties to others!!!!
Hawkeye54, you do realize you are asking a lemming to write something?
Sounds like the Dems who said, “When I voted for the Iraq War Resolution I never intended for it to be an approval to actually go to war!”
You nailed it Hawkeye!!
P.S. It was GREAT to be a Hawkeye.
The economy is all but finished. Now Obama can bring on universal everything and nail the coffin shut.
Add millions of illegals and give them benefits and a check every month. Create some new programs spending billions more. Send those that contribute nothing a check every month. That should just about do it.
Oh and while your at it set up abortions at will, tax everything that moves and have our troops surrender.
CHANGE WE WILL DIE FROM
Y’all please excuse me. I have to go to my room and scream now.
Storm the halls of Congress and make citizens arrests on the Democrats responsible for this debacle. The Wall Streeters are punks compared to the Democrat “rulers” and their crimes. Rule this baby.
An officers word is his bond. Conduct unbecoming. All the President should feel is the recoil.
I’m sick to my stomach just thinking about how bad Paulson screwed the pooch on TARP in both concept and execution. What was this man thinking?? His plan fell out of the Stupid Tree and hit all the branches on the way down.
Shame on President Bush for buying Paulson’s snake oil when respected conservative voices were vehemently objecting. Unfortunately one aspect of Bush’s “legacy” will be how poorly served he was by his advisors and appointees (Paulson, Gonzalez, McClellan, and — yes — Powell).
Not only did Paulson’s incompetence exacerbate the stock market crash — and let’s face it, that’s what it was, albeit in slow motion — and general hysteria concerning the economy, it dealt McCain’s candidacy a death blow.
But what does Paulson care? He’ll go back to his gazillion-dollar fortune earned while at Goldman Sachs. The guy probably voted for Obama.
Here’s a list of criminals who should be indicted for fraud and brought to trial:
Hank Paulson
Christopher Dodd
Barney Frank
Franklin Raines
Jim Johnson
Jamie Gorelick
Maxine Waters
Barry Soetoro (AKA Barack Obama)
George Bush
Joseph Biden
and all members of Congress who voted for this massive con job to be named later
Are they kidding??? Didn’t they give him a blank check with no oversight? Did they completely miss the part that he can do whatever he wants with it???
A financial mogul playing con games with the public. Where have we seen this before?
I agree that Paulson should be fired, but I also think the President should feel a hell of a lot more than ‘recoil’.
We’re talking 7bil…..with an offer for more on the table.
I would. Bush won’t. Obama might give him a medal.
To think this was so important, so immediate, so vital to America that John What’s-His-Name suspended his campaign when all he did was roll over and play dead and feed the taxpayer-devouring beast AGAIN.
God save us from centrists.
Agreed!
But ‘W’ won’t do a damn thing.
This situation should be thoroughky investigated, and let the chips fall wherever.
He absolutely has the power to go after them.
But-he-won’t.
Wow. Haven’t we learned in the past couple years, say 5, that giving parts of the government free reign will end in disaster.
Hey Congress, CHECKS AND BALANCES WERE INCLUDED FOR A REASON.
Agreed!
But ‘W’ won’t do a damn thing.
This situation should be
thoroughkythoroughly investigated, and let the chips fall wherever.He absolutely has the power to go after them.
But-he-won’t.
Hey, I begged (literally) Burr’s (RINO-NC) office to tell him NOT to vote for this. I am laughing now although I feel odd about it.
Arrrggghhhh! How the Hell do we stop this madness? It’s obvious that Congress no longer gives a damn what we think. The same incompetent bunglers that created this mess are in charge of cleaning it up?
In other news, water is wet.
I saw a movie once where the outlaws broke away from the hanging, and all the men of the town went riding on their horses to catch tham.
Then, the hangman rode down to the bank and took all the money. It had Dean Martin in it, and I can not remember the the name of who played the hangman.
Maybe Paulson watched that movie too.
Those senators are right to craft that letter.
But here’s how I’d word it:
“Mr. Paulson, I think in all fairness, I should explain to you exactly what it is that I (plan to) do. For instance tomorrow morning I’ll get up nice and early, take a walk down over to your office and… walk in and see and, uh… if you don’t have my money for me, I’ll… crack your fuckin’ head wide-open in front of everybody in the place. And just about the time that I’m comin’ out of jail, hopefully, you’ll be coming out of your coma. And guess what? I’ll split your fuckin’ head open again. ‘Cause I’m fuckin’ stupid. I don’t give a fuck about jail. That’s my business. That’s what I do.”
Sincerely, Joe Six-Pack
(Kudos to Joe Pesci)
You mean like the oversight committee that has not even been staffed yet?
CS, I called my House Rep.’s office before the first House vote…which he did vote against. Then I called again to thank him and express same opinion of second bailout vote…was told that some constituents had called screaming that he should have voted FOR it…but he was still against it, and in fact voted against it twice.
I agree, we need to be heard. Civilly, but loudly. It will make a difference.
Torches, Pitchforks.
Stop by your local farm supply store, it may be time to start forming the mob.
When all is said and done, the American electorate will continue to put these evil people in office. The only thing that matters to most Americans is “What’s in it for me?” They certainly won’t be asking what they can do for their country.
As far as responsibility for the disaster, memories are short (political strategists know this) and the theives will only pause briefly before resuming the looting. It will only stop when the shelves are bare.
But hey! I hope the Left has a ball with that Socialism thing.
Ageeed guitarguy. The “only feel the recoil” was in the narrow context of firing Paulson.
Bush for 8 years never realized he was Charlie Brown and the Dems were Lucy holding the football.
Knock…knock…knock…
Homeowner: “Who’s there?”
Voice: “Pizza man!”
Homeowner: “No you’re not. You are the IRS land shark looking to take all my money to bailout everyone who asks a Congressman for money. I know they are going to use some of those funds to “repay” their Congressman as well. In addition, the businesses are going to frolic and spend the money on bonuses and such. I am not going to open the door!”
(Pause)
Voice: “Girl Scout GM cookies…”
Homeowner: “Well, that’s different.”
(Opens door, attacked by shark)
Homeowner: “NO! NO! N…”
Oooh – a sternly worded letter! Golly!
You missed one.
Rahm Emanuel — served on the board of directors of Freddie Mac (he made around $16 million) when the scandal was first brewing — around 2000 – 2001 timeframe.
According to the SEC:
He was there right smack in the middle of it, and he comes out unscathed.
Reality check.
Let’s start building the guillotines now. We need a leader (non-gov) of the people who will show the petitions signed by the people of America to unseat these bastards, a leader who will take it to these scumbags, a leader to organize us. I will follow if someone comes forth. I don’t mean “that one’ either.
that’s 7 HUNDRED billion GG.
Yeah…..THAT’ll show ‘em!
Here’s what I would’ve written:
Mr. Paulson,
I think in all fairness, I should explain to you exactly what it is that I do. For instance tomorrow morning I’ll get up nice and early, take a walk down over to your office and… walk in and see and, uh… if you don’t have my money for me, I’ll… crack your f***in’ head wide-open in front of everybody in the room. And just about the time that I’m comin’ out of jail, hopefully, you’ll be coming out of your coma. And guess what? I’ll split your f***in’ head open again. ‘Cause I’m f***in’ stupid. I don’t give a f*** about jail. That’s my business. That’s what I do.
(Kudos to Joe Pesci)
I stand corrected.
…..but what’s a few billion anywho…?
Bandolero was the movie and James Stewart was the hangman.
torches, pitchforks, check.
Add: tar, feathers, rails, thousands of angry taxpayers.
Some things should have never gone out of style : )!!!
GuitarGuy.. LOL
yeah… Billion Schmillion… Paulson loses it in the rounding….
Funny. AIG’s website shows a white paper dated 11/10/08 stating that:
If TARP has now been abandonned, or never implemented where did the $40B come from?
AIG said it came from TARP.
Knee-jerk legislation results in bad law. Whenever there’s a crisis, Congress should adjourn for 30 days.
Unfortunately, a few of us saw this coming, but, you know what? Doesn’t feel good at all. This isn’t a gloating moment is it, Michelle? Well, I’ve got to take money out of my depleted retirement funds so i can pay bills. Thanks a lot, Congress, Thanks a lot to those who supported this crap.
Wow, a sternly worded letter..how about they stop writing letters and start working to get the oversight in place that was written into this fiasco??
So. Am I to understand that the Treasury Secretary is just now figuring out what many people already knew? These “toxic assets” were just worthless monopoly money that was being dumped on the American taxpayer. Glad to know you’re on top of things Mr. Paulsen.
We, the people warned congress not to do this idiotic package. Congress created this mess by failing to oversee the mortgages because they would rather pander for votes. They are still pandering for votes by suggesting that the automaker should get money. Every time there is a problem, congress wants to solve it with more money; our money. What is wrong with these people? What will it take to get through to them? They might as well put the money through a shredding machine for all the good it will do for the economy. Giving money to stupid people won’t produce successful ideas.
I have a simple response to those in Washington. Quite filing tax returns..
Am I being to simplistic?
Jeeze – overs!
“I have a simple response to those in Washington. Quit filing tax returns…
Am I being too simplistic?
there!
It seems that I’ve been politically active since the ‘crust of the earth cooled’
walking precinct-writing letters- calling— elite— OH- I mean elected officials..
the last few years I have voted for the ISSUES but not for the L_O_T_E____
I voted for the LOTE this election because the LOTE chose PALIN as his running mate….
Republican party GOP-RNC-NRSC-SLICK —-
putting a GREAT woman to run w/ the LOTE…fooled us US citizens again!!
AND the RRRRRssss ‘LEAKED’ dissing points to the media…
I’ve FINALLY LEARNED MY LESSON….
C-CS
We have the government we deserve and we’ve just authorized another 2 to 4 years of the same. We could have had Hunter, Tancredo or Thompson and we could have had many Congressional conservatives, but we the people won’t get our collective heads out of our arses to know anything about who we’re electing. I guess that haven’t suffered enough yet. You know what they say about the definition of insanity…
“PAY NO ATTENTION TO THAT MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN”…………
Well, hopefully this will be the start of a ‘Conservative Awakening’ in the Republican Party.
Yeah, I know. A guy can dream though.
It was Barzinni all along.Don Corleone
Senator Richard Burr is one of the three signatories of this letter.
Before the senate vote, I called Burr’s Washington, D.C. office and spoke at some length with one of his staffers. I did everything I could to explain why Burr should not trust Paulson and should not vote in favor of the bailout. The staffer was polite and explained why Burr felt it was necessary to ease the “frozen” credit markets.
Of course, the markets weren’t really “frozen”, now were they? The action that we were told must have “immediate implementation” was never implemented.
Lord, how I wish the Republicans had called Paulson’s bluff and filibustered the bailout!
Paulson has been behind everything from the Bear Sterns fire sale to JP Morgan Chase (JPMC got a great deal on Bear’s assets, while taxpayers got stuck with $30B in debt) to this current fiasco.
Paulson is a Democratic Socialist Trojan Horse! I don’t know all the details of how former Treasury Secretary Snow was forced out, but I am convinced it was done intentionally to bring Paulson to power.
The Democrats created the Fannie/Freddie destabilization, fought off Republican attempts at greater regulation, manufactured a crisis in mid-September, (Pelosi) blamed it all on Republicans, still got the Republicans to pass it, and sailed to victory in the elections.
Republicans had momentum in August, due to the courage of House Republicans and their “Texas Tea Party”.
All of that momentum was blown when the Senate Republicans supported the bailout, and House Republicans were powerless to stop it.
Senator Burr, you were a useful idiot.
When the Democrats have gutted the USA, what fun will it be to govern a crippled, dependent, whinny, obnoxious and violent population?
PS, I will not cooperate!
You rush into something without proper hearings, research, etc., give a single person a blank check and then you are shocked, SHOCKED to find out that it’s not going the way that you expected and intended????
Senators, please shake your heads. Ah, yes, there is rattling in there since you apparently have ROCKS in place of BRAINS! You don’t rush into something this big, this urgent, and this “different” for lack of a better word and then expect it’s all going to be okay just because you passed a bill so you could go home and campaign and say that you did something to stop the crisis.
Yes, you did something alright – too bad it wasn’t the right thing!
In a nutshell, yes! Not filing taxes is against the law and the IRS will come after you..as you are working your case through the courts, they will get their money from you one way or another…In the end, the IRS, and not you will prevail. I understand why you said what you said, and yes, it seems like it would only be fair, but the IRS is not a government entity that you want to try and prove a point with!
The current plan to buy an interest in banks to provide working capital sounds like a better plan than buying their “toxic assets.” The problem with the original plan is that judges would be setting mortgage valuation. Lib judges would be evaluating the homes of lib constituents for pennies on the dollar. We would get screwed. This way, the banks have an interest in managing those assets, and the people working for the banks will be more honest than lib politicians or judges. When the markets recover, the gov’t can sell it’s shares–hopefully at a profit.
Incompetent jackasses, one and all.
So… in other words you can wait until they control your healthcare, right?
Here’s something that will curl yer hair…or make you pull what’s left of it out:
http://thelibertyzone.com/2008/11/08/arent-you-glad-you-gave-the-democrats-all-that-power.aspx
Looks like Peggy the Moocher and her ilk just might have to pay her mortgage after all.
Works for me.
On November 13th, 2008 at 5:27 pm, orlandocajun said:
Please stop thinking that Fred Thompson is on our side. He’s not.
Fred Thompson played a HUGE role in helping secure the Republican nomination for his “good friend John McCain”.
Thompson got in the race late, had no “fire in his belly”, and got out early. He was not in it to win it. He was in it to be McCain’s stalking horse.
Thompson’s mission was to ensure that McCain didn’t lose SC to an evangelical like he did in 2000 to George W. Bush.
Thompson pulled just enough votes away from Huckabee to ensure that McCain, not Huckabee, won SC.
Mission accomplished, Fred Thompson quit the race three days later.
Please stop trusting Fred Thompson. He’s not who you think he is.
If you weren’t happy with McCain as the nominee, you shouldn’t be happy with Thompson’s role in ensuring his “Good friend John McCain” got the nomination.
By the way, Mike Huckabee was adamantly and vocally against the bailout. If Huckabee had been the Republican nominee, perhaps enough Senators would have followed his lead and stood against the bailout. Instead, enough Senators followed McCain’s lead in supporting the bailout.
And remember that McCain has been taking money from George Soros and Theresa Heinz Kerry since 2001.
The Communist Goals of 1963 included:
I’d say they’ve been successful.
Sorry, Joy.
As a member of a special minority (and therefore, disadvantaged), Peggy the Moocher will still get away without paying and will probably have her payments and/or tax breaks increased.
Just as women are their own worst enemy, the government is their own worst enemy of the governed.
I have spoke!
On another blog the issue of sending tea bags to Congress as a form of a present day Boston Tea Party to stop more bailouts. Any one interested.
Here is the first draft of a letter…. any changes / edits / additions are welcome……
We are tossing our tea over as you are no longer representing US.
We have seen the past few months of quick laws to BailOut companies only to find the purpose of the money has been changed.
We are letting you know that your disregard for our interests has not gone unnoticed. We are now demanding you STOP all BailOuts and proceed with caution.
We are demanding that you immediately revisit our tax structure and make the “Bush Tax Cuts” PERMANENT.
We demand you immediately cut taxes on ALL BUSINESSES to ensure they can use what little revenue they have left to maintain their business and employees.
Awww, crap. I mean, I’m delighted with the letter, but who didn’t think it would come to this?
Time to fire Paulson et. al. They’re obviously incompetent, and we don’t need incompetent boobs in charge of our $700 or so BILLION FRICKIN’ DOLLARS! Jeez guys, if you’re going to ask for that kind of money in such an unseemly hurry, you’d better be F’n sure of yourselves and get it the F right!
THROW THE BUMS OUT NOW!
Another Bush gift that keeps on giving.
we need to march to DC and make our voices count!
‘End-of-the-Empire’ tone
Agreed. If Paulson is fired now, then Obama would have to re-nominate him and get him re-confirmed if Obama wants him as Treasury Secretary.
If Bush doesn’t fire Paulson, isn’t it true that Obama could keep Paulson on without having to have him be confirmed by the Senate?
Paulson Lied, dreams died and we shall see more of the same. Socialism is coming in the FRONT door to my surprise. We can’t let Big 3 die–too many people will lose the jobs they don’t do in the first place. We can’t let the Banks die even though they committed suicide.
But America they let die.
Substitute Paulson and Congress for British :
Michelle Malkin for Paul Revere:
Best Bush nominations: Roberts and Alito to the Supreme Court.
Worst Bush nominations: Paulson, Gonzalez, McClellan, Powell.
President Bush is a good man, with a good heart, but he is gullible…
he trusts people who should not be trusted.
I believe that Paulson is a wolf in sheep’s clothing…a Communist that President Bush and many Republican members of Congress have foolishly trusted.
Senator Joe McCarthy was proven right – our government had been infiltrated by Communists – and the problem is worse today than it was then.
Lord help us if the Democrats get 60 Senate seats and control enough State legislatures to start successfully passing and ratifying Constitutional amendments.
The Vast LEFT-Wing Conspiracy believes that now is their time…
“gonna change it…rearrange it…”
S-u-c-k-e-rs!
Maybe some Republican Congressmen never intended this, nor saw it coming, but I doubt it. What better way to fleece the public trough, than passing spending authorization? The Democrats cashed out on Federal guarantees through Fannie and Freddie, and these guys “never intended?” Gimmie a break!
I am glad they sent this letter. When something looks to be going wrong, talk about it. I’m reminded of the republican efforts to reform troubled Fannie Mae four years ago. John McCain and other R senators alerted of problems at Fannie. Republican house members held hearing about it, only to be accused of (hold onto your hats) “Lynching”, for bringing all the troubles out in a hearing with regulatory officials. Republicans TRIED to get something done, only to be thwarted by democrats on it. No democrats would vote for cleaning up Fannie. Look what it got us. The Rs should have pressed harder, ignoring the immature accusations of ‘lynching’. Serious problems loomed; the Ds wanted to hear nothing of it. Now they are still in charge. Those who wouldn’t reform, and enabled it, are expected to deal with it now. Don’t hold your breath.
They should rename TARP to CRAP: Coordinated Raping of the American People.
“Calm down”
Barney Frank
“Print the money!,
Print more money!,
More!”
“Move along, nothing to see here!”
“Keep those presses going!”
Paulson and Bernanke need to be told to sit down, shut up and do nothing! They are going to bankrupt the nation before the inauguration!
I don’t see how Bush or Obama benefit by allowing these two morons to carry on this way!
This is insanity!
In english that means you didn’t vote. When I voted the choice was Socialism-Lite, Socialism-Heavy, or The-Nobody-is-going-to-vote-for-us party which doesn’t count.
Second funniest line goes to “Bush should fire Paulson.” Bush is not going fire anybody or do anything. He has done far too much as it is. Bush has gone bye-bye and I don’t mean physically. The only service he can perform for his country now is to help so screw up the congressional investigations of his administration that the democrats may not be able to do as much damage as they hope in 2009.