See what others have said

Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.

Comments

1. #1
   On March 19th, 2009 at 11:00 pm, b-cat said:

   I’m not surprised anymore. There is just one political party now; it just pretends to be two.

2. #2
   On March 19th, 2009 at 11:07 pm, zyzzyg said:

   Yeah, but the the law will not stand. This is more of a political posturing vote. More importantly it will prove a waste of time. It is a retro-active action that is populism gone awry.

   The better thing to do was to say that we got snookered, and we will do better next time. We messed up. We blew it. This vote will violate fundamental principles that reject passing laws that single out individuals, or that close the barn door sfter the horse has left.

   Congress, it is time to man up and accept responsibility. The law is just wrong, and two wrongs (including the lack of bonus provisions) do not make it anything right.

3. #3
   On March 19th, 2009 at 11:08 pm, Jeff2161 said:

   CYA in full force.

4. #4
   On March 19th, 2009 at 11:10 pm, Jim M. said:

   While I find giving people a bonus for falure ridiculous, I find the actions of Congress even more so. This piece of legislation is outright confiscation. It has nothing to do with their powers to raise revenue, and in fact, is probably well beyond their powers under the Constitution.

   If they don’t like something, they’ll just take it away.

   The real issue this causes is in the future. All the bailouts have done is delay the inevitable failure of the institutions themselves. The same management that gotten them into the situation is now going to get them out of it?

   Before the era of corproate handouts, the tired and true method for coroprate screw ups has been to replace the screw ups that got the company into the situation. Turn around experts do exist, and they have a hell of a good track record.

   Once Boards of Directors discover that their companies are not recovering, they are going to need outside help. The problem is, with legislation such as that about to be passed in place, no one is going to take the risk and shed the blood, sweat and tears it takes to turn a company around for no compensation. The great risk associated with turning a company around merits a reward if in fact the company is turned around.

   In another example of the law of inintended consequences, Congress is about to doom these companies to ultimate failure.

   And one more thing – the fact that everyone was “surprised” at these bonuses at AIG shows how little Washington knows about private business. It would seem to me that before you forked over $150 billion, someone would have done some level of due diligence. And even a cursory due diiligence involves looking at all executive compensation plans. The fact that they were shocked tells us we have people in charge without a clue.

5. #5
   On March 19th, 2009 at 11:15 pm, theloneranger said:

   According to the constitution, the tax is illegal. Look up “Bill of Attainder”.

6. #6
   On March 19th, 2009 at 11:25 pm, smfoushee said:

   Barton is going to get an earful (or at least the poor soul who answers his phone tomorrow)!

7. #7
   On March 19th, 2009 at 11:34 pm, CJ said:

   Well, my Rep is on there. However, since he has voted against ALL bailouts, I don’t see this as necessarily inconsistent.

8. #8
   On March 19th, 2009 at 11:35 pm, SPCOlympics said:

   Is that McClintock the Tom McClintock of California. I hope not for my heart would be crushed.

   He sounded so much like the kind of Republican we need the last time I heard him interviewed on the radio.

9. #9
   On March 19th, 2009 at 11:37 pm, right_on said:

   According to the constitution, the tax is illegal. Look up “Bill of Attainder”.

   That’s right, it is unconstitutional. So if they can push this part of the Constitution aside during “this time of crisis,” what other rights or protections do you think they will put on hold in an effort to cover their assets? Will it all come crashing down when Obama declares martial law, and demands our guns?

   Be prepared…I’m afraid it’s coming sooner, rather than later, folks.

10. #10
    On March 19th, 2009 at 11:39 pm, faraway said:

    ALINSKY RULE 5: “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.” There is no defense. It’s irrational. It’s infuriating. It also works as a key pressure point to force the enemy into concessions. (create anger and fear)

11. #11
    On March 19th, 2009 at 11:40 pm, khan said:

    When will you people learn to vote Libertarian?

12. #12
    On March 19th, 2009 at 11:42 pm, popcornguy said:

    …what other rights or protections do you think they will put on hold…

    I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. Never before in the history of America have people so overwhelmingly voted to eliminate their own freedom. The masses will get exactly what they asked for.

13. #13
    On March 19th, 2009 at 11:49 pm, California Red said:

    I am surprised to see McClintock on there. I can usually count on him taking the right side.

    There must be something to this. Is it
    a vote to get back money that shouldn’t have been given in the firts place.

14. #14
    On March 20th, 2009 at 12:12 am, jencab said:

    Eric Cantor just took twenty steps back. What is his excuse?!

15. #15
    On March 20th, 2009 at 12:17 am, Gwillie said:

    If I got one of those bonuses I would take a copy of my contract and a copy of the bailout bill that allowed my bonus all the way to the Supreme Court.
    

    “It’s my money, AIG owed it to me, Dodd wrote the law that said I could keep it, so how can they make a law now to take it from me?”

16. #16
    On March 20th, 2009 at 12:19 am, Speakup said:

    the 85 Republicans (led by GOP Minority Whip Eric Cantor) who voted with Rangel and the Democrat demagogues.

    Just wrong, especially when I see Bilbray and McClintock.

17. #17
    On March 20th, 2009 at 1:01 am, ITookTheRedPill said:

    On March 20th, 2009 at 12:12 am, jencab said:

    Eric Cantor just took twenty steps back. What is his excuse?!

    +1

18. #18
    On March 20th, 2009 at 1:01 am, ITookTheRedPill said:

    If you want to see what a modern-day statesman looks like, in this case a stateswoman, look at Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC-5). She is a clear and consistent conservative voice, and had both the wisdom and courage to say the following a year ago:

    Rep. Foxx also defended comments she had made to a radio program that Democratic Sens. Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois “basically are socialists….”

    “I believe they are socialists, and if you look at their platforms you will see their plan is to take money from part of the population and give it to other people in the population… I don’t know the dictionary definition of socialism, but most people would see that as socialism.”

19. #19
    On March 20th, 2009 at 1:13 am, Lee Hazel said:

    “Through the Looking Glass” anyone? Nobody, but nobody could make this stuff up.

    As for the “Repugnants” that voted for this thing, does anyone really want to challenge the idea that we need Rush and Michelle and Ann and Sean to provide the missing leadership of our party.

    There is sure as hell no one in the Political Class that is capable

    PC is Thought Control
    LEE

20. #20
    On March 20th, 2009 at 1:14 am, karenhasfreedom said:

    Hoekstra represents the Lake Michigan shoreline area of Michigan, in the middle part of the state. He is not running for re-election. They just came out with MI’s unemployment numbers today – 12.7% for the state, and for the first time, 10% in this area of the state. He probably figured, F*CK IT regarding this vote.

    Congress will never explain that this whole debacle is this fault because those sorry asses never READ THE BILLS THEY VOTED ON!!!!!!!!!!!

    And to make it worse, they STILL exempted the Merril Lynch bonuses in this bill today. Their own inconsistency is as big of the problem as the whole constitutional issue of this bill.

    My rep, which is next to Hoesktra’s district apparently voted no, as his name is not on this list.

    Who are the people with the hyphenated names? Is that a husband and wife who life in adjacent districts? Or siblings? Strange.

21. #21
    On March 20th, 2009 at 1:18 am, ITookTheRedPill said:

    What’s So Scary About Socialism?
    Some exellent answers here.

    My addition:
    Socialism is not an endpoint; it is a passing through point on the way to Communism. But don’t take my word for it…read what the Communist Party itself has to say:

    Program of the Communist Party USA
    The Road to Socialism USA:
    Unity for Peace, Democracy, Jobs and Equality

    Communists advocate socialism as the first phase of a new stage of society, but we don’t think that social and economic development will end at socialism. We see socialist society eventually leading to a higher phase—communism—where the capitalist class and all classes will have disappeared, replaced by a commonwealth of all working people, and where national and racial enmity and prejudice will be things of the past. In communist society, the essentials of life will be plentiful and readily available to all, and the repressive apparatus of government will wither away leaving purely administrative functions. In the communist phase of society, social production and distribution of wealth would be according to the principals of the motto, “From each according to their ability, to each according to their need.” In the Communist Manifesto, Marx and Engels wrote, “In place of the old bourgeois [capitalist] society, with its classes and class antagonisms, we shall have an association in which the free development of each is the condition for the free development of all.”

    Name a single Communist country that worked.

    Name ONE.

    If Communist countries are better than Capitalist countries, why is it that Communist countries have to physically keep people from leaving (often shooting them when they try to leave), and we a hard time keeping tens of millions of illegal immigrants from coming into our country?

22. #22
    On March 20th, 2009 at 1:18 am, teke184 said:

    I already let my rep hear my opinion and the guy answering the phone, when he heard why I was calling, said I was far from the only one who’d called about that.

    I also took a quick look down the list and found that 4 of the 6 Republicans in my state’s delegation voted for the bill.

23. #23
    On March 20th, 2009 at 2:00 am, prendad said:

    Stupid decisions after stupid decisions. Comedy Congress trips all over themselves to serve up a bill to Prez Obama who farts around for several days before signing it. Now stupid Congress, again in a frenzy, rushes to pass legislation that will probably turn out to be unconstitutional or unenforceable. Meanwhile, Prez Obama is tending to the important tasks of going on Jay Leno and cracking jokes about people with handicaps. This is truly a comedy of the absurd. Keystone Cops move over and make room for the new comedy team, our Congress.

24. #24
    On March 20th, 2009 at 2:46 am, ITookTheRedPill said:

    All warfare is based primarily on the deception of an enemy. Fighting on a battlefield is the most primitive way of making war. There is no art higher than to destroy your enemy without a fight—by SUBVERTING anything of value in the enemy’s country.

    Sun Tzu
    Chinese philosopher
    500 B.C.

    We rarely use guns to kill people and take their country. The cleanest way is to blackmail, pervert, bribe, lie and intimidate the POLITICIANS and the MEDIA, and they will destabilize and disunify their own country for us. Then all we have left to do is to arm the procommunist or simply criminal factions and we have a coup and another “liberated” country. As neat as that.

    Yuri Bezmenov
    former agent of APN-KGB

25. #25
    On March 20th, 2009 at 3:04 am, ITookTheRedPill said:

    Tomas Schuman (formerly KGB agent Yuri Bezmenov) wrote
    Love Letter to America in 1984.

    It begins:

    Dear Americans,

    My name is Tomas David Schuman. I am what you may call a “defector” from the USSR, and I have a message for you: I love you very much. I love all of you– liberals and conservatives, “decadent capitalists” and “oppressed masses,” blacks and whites and browns and yellows, rednecks and intellectuals. For me you are the people who created a unique nation, country and society in the history of mankind,– by no means a perfect one, but, let’s face it– the most free, affluent and just in today’s world.

    I am not alone in this love. People all over the Earth, whether they praise America or bitterly criticize her, look upon you as the only hope for mankind’s survival and the last stronghold of freedom. Some may not think in these idealistic terms, but they certainly enjoy the fruits of your civilization, often forgetting to be grateful for them. Millions of people in the so-called “socialist camp” or in the “Third World” literally owe their lives to America.

    As a war-time child, I survived partly thanks to such “decadent capitalist’” (as the Soviets say) things as “Spam” meat, condensed milk and egg powder that were supplied to my country by the USA through the lend-lease program of World War II. In the Soviet Union we secretly but proudly called ourselves “the Spam generation.” Too prosaic? Who cares about “Spam” in today’s USA, apart from “underprivileged” welfare recipients? Well, for me these foods are not merely the nostalgic delight of my troubled childhood, but rather, a symbol of love from a friend when I was in need. No amount of communist propaganda against America has ever been able to convince me that the United States out to “colonize and exploit.” I will tell you– many people have been more than willing to be “exploited” the American way. For what other reason have thousands risked their lives, gone to unimaginable troubles, left behind their families, their motherland and traditional ways of life to come to America? Have you ever heard of “illegal aliens” risking their lives crossing the border at midnight into Socialist USSR? Or the “boat people” swimming oceans and drowning by the thousands just to reach the shores of Communist China? Or defectors like me, leaving behind relative affluence and risking bullets in the back in order to join the “progressive workers paradise” in Russia? No, we all come here to America, obviously willing to be “exploited by capitalists” and enjoy “oppression” together with you. Because we believe and KNOW– America IS A BETTER place.

    I am writing this not to please you with words you want to hear.

    The rest of my message may be more unpleasant to you than even Communist propaganda, or more offensive than the speeches of “leaders” in Kremlin. But as a true friend of America, I want to help.

    My dear friends, I think you are in big trouble. Whether you believe it or not, YOU ARE AT WAR. And you may lose this war very soon, together with all your affluence and freedoms, unless you start defending yourselves. I hope you have noticed on your color televisions that there is in fact war going on right now all over this planet. This war has many faces, but it’s all the same– it’s war. Some call it “national liberation,” some title it “class struggle” or “political terrorism.” Others call it “anticolonialism” or “struggle for majority rule.” Some even come up with such fancy names as “war of patriotic forces” or “peace movement.” I call it World Communist Aggression.

    I know what I am talking about, because I was on the side of the aggressor before I decided to take YOUR side. I do not believe– I KNOW that in this war no one is being “liberated, decolonised or made equal,” as Soviet doctrine proclaims. You may notice, if you give yourselves the trouble to observe, that the only “equality” and “liberation” this war produces is the equality of death and the “liberation” from freedom. Look at Russia, Poland, Hungary, Afghanistan– would you say the people of those countries celebrated and rejoiced when the Soviets brought them equality and liberation? Of course not. We must take a clear and honest look at what Soviet “liberation” actually means.

    This war of Communist World Aggression is not fought against some mythological “capitalists” as Communist propaganda claims. No, my dear friends, this war is fought against YOU– personally.

    Communist wars of world aggression are not fought for liberty and equality. We have thousands of unequivocal examples of the horrendous human suffering, torture and mass death that occur after a Soviet “liberation.” The final stage of Communist aggression– military confrontation– has very little to do with rivalry for territorial or geopolitical gains in order to free and liberate. Communist world aggression is a total war against humanity and human civilization. In Communist propaganda terms, this is “the final struggle for the victory of Communism.”

    The driving force of this war has very little to do with natural aspirations of people for better lives and greater freedoms. If at all, these aspirations are being used and taken advantage of by the manipulators and progenitors of the war. The real driving force of this war of aggression is IDEOLOGY– something you cannot eat, wear or store for a “rainy day.” An integral part of this war of ideology is IDEOLOGICAL SUBVERSION– the process of changing the perception of reality in the minds of millions of peoples all over the world. The late comrade Andropov, the former head of the Soviet KGB, called this war of Communist aggression, “the final struggle for the MINDS and hearts of the people.”

    The reason that I am so certain of the real goal of Communist aggression is that I was actually a part and an unwilling instrument of Soviet subversion tactics. Having been trained and used by the KGB for their global ideological subversion campaign, I have some first¬hand knowledge about the people behind this war and the methods they use. I know very well the way the Communists, whom the Western media call “freedom fighters” and “rebels,” operate. I know their mentality and their methods, I know their ultimate goals, which are very far from the liberty, equality and freedom they verbally espouse. Because I have seen the tragic consequences of this war of ideological subversion, I would like to offer some suggestions as to how we in the United States can DEFEND ourselves against this deadly war and how we can SURVIVE in this “final struggle for minds and hearts.”

    “What’s in it for Tomas Schuman,” you may ask. Well, I’ve asked myself. What do I get for defecting from the winning side (the Soviets)… and joining the losers? (I hope I don’t have to tell you, that at least a dozen countries have succumbed to the Communists since my defection.) In reality, dear friends, I have gained nothing materially from my defection. What I have gained is a firm commitment to the United States as the last real frontier of freedom. This is it, dear Americans, your country (and mine now) will be the last to be “liberated” by Marxists, socialists, and domestic “do-gooders.” If the “liberationists” succeed in bringing their “New Order” to America, chances are you and I will meet in front of a firing squad– or worse in a “re-education” forced labor camp in the Alaskan Peoples Democratic Republic.

    You have too many concrete examples of what Communist “liberation” has done for other countries to believe that I am wrong when I warn you that we are on the brink of disaster. From one that has lived, worked and seen first-hand the realities of day to day life in a communist/ socialist state– you must wake up now and start defending the rights and freedoms you now have. No matter how many problems you think the U.S. may have, believe me when I say that they are nothing in comparison to the troubles you will experience if the U.S. continues to agree and sympathize with communist/ socialist doctrines.

    I have made my choice to be with YOU, the nation I love. I have risked my life like many others, to tell you of my life and experiences within a Communist state. You have nothing to risk by listening to me and making up your mind as to whether I am a “cold war paranoiac,” as your media calls me, or whether my message makes sense. The choice is yours.

26. #26
    On March 20th, 2009 at 5:40 am, graysonret said:

    Divert the public’s attention away from your grab for power and money, and focus it on some company’s bonuses, like AIG. Get the public upset over this, and pass more laws, grabbing more power and money, in the public’s “interest”, of course. Stalin and Hitler would be most impressed. That was a strategy they used to get total power.

27. #27
    On March 20th, 2009 at 5:46 am, graysonret said:

    Name a single Communist country that worked.

    Depends on whose side you’re on. Now, if you’re part of the party in control, communism has always worked fine. Take Cuba and N. Korea for example. Sure a great place to live when you’re the one in control. Of course, if you’re part of the “average Joes”…well…not too successful.

28. #28
    On March 20th, 2009 at 6:06 am, WarTip said:

    There is no concern about these laws being retroactive or unconstitutional. We already allowed our buddy Lautenberg in NJ to pass the Lautenberg Act and it has never successfully been challenged despite being retroactive and highly unconstitutional. Any decision by the SCOTUS that is not strictly based on the Constitution is by its very nature, unconstitutional but that does not stop them or even slow them down at all does it?

    This administration is just the next step in the process. Unfortunately, it seems they are making an all out run for the end zone rather than taking one step at a time. The only question now is whether enough of America will see where he is leading us before it is too late or whether they will celebrate the demise of our Constitutional Republic with thunderous applause and aplomb.

    Scary times indeed!

29. #29
    On March 20th, 2009 at 6:38 am, jjmurphy said:

    Congress, it is time to man up and accept responsibility.

    Does anyone have any, ANY confidence that our Congress has the ability to do anything right?

    They truly are destroying our country.

30. #30
    On March 20th, 2009 at 6:44 am, EdDantes said:

    The US government has just passed a tax designed to punish specific individuals and make amends for a mistake the governement made.

    The bar has been set.

    I can’t wait until they pass a special tax that takes my bonus away because a butterfly flapped its wings in Africa and caused a ripple in the treasury bills which indirectly allowed me to have success in my job. Of course, I owe my entire existence and success to the US government. That’s why I get a 6:30 AM wake-up call from Barack Obama himself asking me to get out of bed, telling me to go to work, work hard, motivate other people I manage, and ensure that I don’t get home until after 7:30 PM.

    How do these clowns get elected?

31. #31
    On March 20th, 2009 at 7:14 am, CapitalistPig said:

    et tu, Cantor?

32. #32
    On March 20th, 2009 at 7:25 am, SalsaNChips said:

    Great. The company I work for just gave me a modest fiscal year end bonus which I’m putting back in the economy (by having my house re-painted). Is “Grabby Hands” gonna penalize me for that?

    What is the matter with these people? What is it about becoming a congress critter that causes sudden, irreparable brain death?

33. #33
    On March 20th, 2009 at 7:25 am, CJ said:

    California Red said:
    There must be something to this. Is it
    a vote to get back money that shouldn’t have been given in the firts place.

    That’s what I was thinking.

    Here’s the statement from my Rep. He nails Congress harder than AIG.

34. #34
    On March 20th, 2009 at 7:43 am, conservativesRus said:

    This is just the first step people. Now congress is setting themselves up so they can (and will) decide how much you can make. Not your boss, not you – them.
    I hope one of the affected people immediately take this to court. AND immediately get out and explain that it’s not “BONUS” – it’s deferred compensation.

    Any congress person who voted for the additional tax, is a congress person who deserves to have their pay retroactively changed.

35. #35
    On March 20th, 2009 at 7:44 am, conservativesRus said:

    If these idiots wanted to rewrite the contracts in a legal way (that would stand up in court), why didn’t they just let AIG go belly up?

36. #36
    On March 20th, 2009 at 7:52 am, conservativesRus said:

    On March 19th, 2009 at 11:40 pm, khan said:
    When will you people learn to vote Libertarian?

    Libertarian while sounding attractive, places far too much faith in people doing the right thing. Whatever I do, always affects others and therefore requires responsibility. Libertarianism leaves off the responsiblity aspect.
    Conservatism balances liberty and responsibility.

37. #37
    On March 20th, 2009 at 8:02 am, Veretax said:

    And to think my family didn’t believe me when I said that Shelly Moore Capito was not a true conservative.

    Sighs.

38. #38
    On March 20th, 2009 at 8:15 am, Oink said:

    I can always count on Mike Pence to do the right thing.

39. #39
    On March 20th, 2009 at 8:28 am, CO2 Producer said:

    This action amounts to disingenuous outrage and righteousness. It’s still obvious they didn’t read the original bill if they voted for this bill and that one. Worse than useless, they’re wasting time correcting their own mistakes. Do it right the first time. Read the damn stuff you’re voting on, all of you.

40. #40
    On March 20th, 2009 at 8:46 am, dominigan said:

    Weasels… [sigh]

    I wrote my Rep (Tiberi, OH)…

    Ignore for a moment that AIG bonuses were specifically allowed by changes introduced by Chris Dodd, and that these bonuses were provided to retain knowledgeable employees to help unravel the damage in the financial markets…

    HR 1586 violates both parts of Article I, section 9, clause 3 of our United States Constitution. HR 1586 is both a Bill of Attainder (targeting specific groups as guilty without benefit of a trial) and Ex Post Facto (by going into effect retroactively).

    I am interested in your take on what should be done with a Representative who knowingly violates their oath of office to uphold the Constitution.”

41. #41
    On March 20th, 2009 at 8:51 am, On-my-soap-box said:

    Roll call vote breakdown: The 85 House Republicans Idiots* who supported Rangel’s 90 percent bonus tax

    * If I called them what I really think of them not only would I get banned, YHWH will send me right to hell.

    Young – Florida. That idiot has not missed a chance to vote with the liberals.

    HEY!!! Republicans, clue:

    Rangel means run form anything having to do with him.

    The RNC elected a moderate – Steele.

    We are so screwed 2012.

42. #42
    On March 20th, 2009 at 8:52 am, RobM1981 said:

    My congressman, Scott Garrett, didn’t vote for it.

    Keep an eye on this guy. Even though he is from NEW JERSEY, as liberal a bastion as exists anywhere, this guy is the real deal. A true conservative, and a really great guy.

    He’s the reason many of us here in the Garden State retain the Will to Live…

    

43. #43
    On March 20th, 2009 at 8:53 am, Send_Me said:

    When the Nazis came for the communists,
    I remained silent;
    I was not a communist.
    When they locked up the social democrats,
    I remained silent;
    I was not a social democrat.
    When they came for the trade unionists,
    I did not speak out;
    I was not a trade unionist.
    When they came for the Jews,
    I remained silent;
    I wasn’t a Jew.
    When they came for me,
    there was no one left to speak out.
    ~Martin Niemöller

    If the government can change the deal after the fact with a company you may not like, how then will you feel if it were with a company you do like? Or with a company you own? Or with yourself as an individual.
    I must also wonder; what of this passage from that long forgotten document: “No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.”?

44. #44
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:00 am, kylos said:

    Nope, not a bill of attainder. It does not target an individual by name and it does not label anyone a criminal (taint them), therefore, it does not fit the definition of a bill of attainder.

    Cowardly, yes, and a troubling precedent for those wishing to engage in legal contracts, but this appears to be a legal loophole. The bonuses were not confiscated directly, nor were contracts broken, but were rather taxed in a one-time bracketed system similar to our current tax system. In my opinion, maybe it will remind corporations across America of the heavy chains that come with government aid. Hopefully, it will make the road to socialism much less appealing, so we’ll see less of these corporations with their hands out. As conservatives, we complain when the poor beg for government assistance, why shouldn’t we feel the same when the rich beg for government assistance. I think they’re getting what’s coming to them.

45. #45
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:05 am, WarTip said:

    “I, Ward Tipton, do solemnly swear and or affirm that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; … “

46. #46
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:05 am, torabora said:

    GAAAAAAAAAG!!!!

    My guy, McClintock is on that list!!!

    Heller, from my adjacent Nevada district is on that list!!!!

    WTH?????!!!!!!

47. #47
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:07 am, Valiant said:

    Cantor, WTF? Way to engineer a permanent minority party.

48. #48
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:09 am, kylos said:

    Additionally, while I agree it has all the effect of and was written with the intent of being an ex post facto law, check out the wording. It simply reads as a tax on certain individuals. Now maybe the courts will consider intent, but this was worded extremely cautiously so that no contracts were nullified and no crimes were attributed to the targeted bracket of individuals. It works because it is simply a targeted tax bill.

49. #49
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:15 am, marsouin said:

    Putin’s Russia, here we come!

50. #50
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:16 am, stillontheroad said:

    The terrible truth behind this is, a group of people have been selectively chosen for punishment for something they were legally entitled to do and happen to be targets of the latest demonization craze. The same thing happened in Germany in the 1920’s. This act from our so called representatives’ is astounding in its implications. It flies in the face of our Constitution and Article 1 of that Constitution. Can this be allowed to continue?

51. #51
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:18 am, mytake said:

    Eric, what have you done!!!!!!

52. #52
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:19 am, mytake said:

    Cantor was my last hope. Now we head back into the desert.

53. #53
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:20 am, Mach1Duck said:

    Congress signed the bailout without reading it! The bailout stands like any contract. Let the bonuses come out of the signers pockets, i.e. congressional salary.

54. #54
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:24 am, jjmurphy said:

    Kylos – I have heard the same argument in more than a few places. They may not be violating the actual wording, but they certainly are violating the intent. And they will get a way with it, particularly given the SCOTUS makeup.

    This whole thing sticks. No individual is safe in the USA from the power of the mob rule currently residing in D.C.

55. #55
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:26 am, jjmurphy said:

    Cantor was my last hope. Now we head back into the desert.

    Sickening, isn’t it. The Republicans are screwing up an unbelievable opportunity.

56. #56
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:27 am, MarkD said:

    This won’t stand, being unconstitutional, but it will serve as a warning. You cooperate with this government at your peril.

    Since the current Congress is incapable of responsibility or reason, and evidently incapable of even reading what they are passing, why do we need them?

    It’s time for them to go.

57. #57
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:32 am, fighterDC said:

    Sorry, I disagree. If the Repubs had stood against this the Dems would have pushed all the blame for the AIG bonuses on them. I think the Republicans were smart to vote for this because it doesn’t allow blame to be shifted from the Dems and it will probably be struck down in court anyway.

58. #58
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:36 am, NJ-Aviator said:

    ITookTheRedPill said: #24

    Yes… that’s exactly the war we’re fighting now. Is it terrorism? I think so.

    And the leader of the war against the USA is the President of the United States.

    My how things have changed.

59. #59
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:38 am, Paul-Cincy said:

    You tell an employee, I’ll pay you extra to stay, they stay, then you don’t pay them. Who would do that? Congress, that’s who. So, the public is outraged. Most of them probably don’t even know the situation. Catering to anger and passion. Not living up to a valid ocntract. My gosh. So wrong.

    AIG has argued that retention bonuses are crucial to pulling the company out of its crisis. Without the bonuses, the company says, top employees who best understand AIG’s business would quit — an assertion that critics of the payments quickly rejected.

60. #60
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:41 am, Send_Me said:

    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:00 am, kylos said:

    It was the ex post facto aspect that caught my eye. I’m reading through the bill now (the principle of the bill seemed to violate this concept). You’re right, the Bill of Attainder applies to criminal cases.
    What about the 4th and 14th Amendments though: 1) For the government to pry into a business’s inner workings to see who received bonuses and who did not. 2) Do we now consider this due process of law in order to deprive people of property? This is, in effect, what the government is doing, regardless of whether they are calling it a new tax or not.

61. #61
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:45 am, mytake said:

    Just realized my very conservative representative also voted for the whacky bill. Randy Forbes, I now hold you suspect, in addition to that other Virginian, Eric Cantor.

62. #62
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:47 am, NJ-Aviator said:

    Paul-Cincy. Yes, all the “outraged” people have not a clue as to what the people at AIG even do.

    The ignorance of the facts is something to behold.

    And this won’t stand up. At least, it shouldn’t. Where’s the ACLU screaming about Equal Protection?????

63. #63
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:48 am, mytake said:

    I wish at least one of the receivers of these bonuses had the nerve to stand up to these jerks. They would be a new cult hero of the right. A very rich Joe the Plumber! Congress is way way out of control.

64. #64
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:49 am, sonofdy said:

    I understand both sides of this issue. It is a cluster F of epic proportions. Congress should not have passed this law on legal and moral grounds. But given the media driven outcry, I don’t see how they couldn’t have done something. I mean it is over 150 million dollars after all.

    oh and on the side, not that it is a big deal, and just in case you are interested, obama just promised to spend 3 trillion more dollars and printed 1 trillion dollars to cover it. BUT back to your bread and circuses. Ignore the man behind the curtian, smoke your dope, and watch family guy.

65. #65
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:50 am, sonofdy said:

    I told you they should have all moved to brazil.

    BTW watch this tax get expanded.

66. #66
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:52 am, Paul-Cincy said:

    Congress is perpetrating a massive fraud, with this 90% tax. At least they’re doing what they do best. Do what you know.

67. #67
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:53 am, mytake said:

    Every time I think it can’t get any worse, it does. And Obama thinks Leno is the way to lead us out of this mess. It’s astounding! I understand Michelle is planting a garden.

68. #68
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:53 am, right4life said:

    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:15 am, marsouin said:
    Putin’s Russia, here we come!

    actually Russia has a flat tax. and no one is going to screw with PUTIN….better to be feared than held in contempt like our dear leader is…

    might as well join the winning side!!

69. #69
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:54 am, right4life said:

    I just hope most of these people who got the bonuses voted for OBAMA!!

    most of the rich and the young did…hopefully they’ll suffer the most!!!

70. #70
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:55 am, mytake said:

    I had that same thought right4life

71. #71
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:56 am, GladzKravtz said:

    Well, my Rep is on there. However, since he has voted against ALL bailouts, I don’t see this as necessarily inconsistent.

    Maybe my coffee hasn’t kicked in yet but I’m not sure I can agree with you here, CJ. If your rep voted against all bailouts but voted for this then he has decided to slide down the slippery slope. To me it’s inconsistent.

    Blunt is on there too – my rep. Blunt plans to run for the Senate seat that will be vacated by Kit Bond. I just sent his office an email that he won’t get my vote. Blunt has a son that was a darn good Missouri governor. He did his job and didn’t run for re-election.

72. #72
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:56 am, mytake said:

    Democrats feeding on Democrats

73. #73
    On March 20th, 2009 at 10:01 am, mytake said:

    I heard Maria Bartiromo(sp.) say that she thinks some of the outrage is against the government and not at wallstreet….. yesterday. Do you think these people are finally getting a clue????

74. #74
    On March 20th, 2009 at 10:02 am, SPCOlympics said:

    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:27 am, MarkD said:

    This won’t stand, being unconstitutional, but it will serve as a warning. You cooperate with this government at your peril.

    Since the current Congress is incapable of responsibility or reason, and evidently incapable of even reading what they are passing, why do we need them?

    It’s time for them to go.

    I wonder… perhaps the Republicans that voted for this did so with the idea that this stimulus, and future ones, come with so many strings, so many broken promises, so much red tape, that noone would want them. Maybe they are hoping this bill will be a poison pill.

    I mean, what CEO would take Federal money if they thought there’s a chance you’d get a tongue lashing from Barney Frank and on top of that loose all your compensation? Ugh.

75. #75
    On March 20th, 2009 at 10:04 am, sonofdy said:

    This won’t stand, being unconstitutional, but it will serve as a warning. You cooperate with this government at your peril.

    You are funny, you think they care about the constitution…

76. #76
    On March 20th, 2009 at 10:04 am, GladzKravtz said:

    I just hope most of these people who got the bonuses voted for OBAMA!!

    right4life and mytake, that goes through my head every time I hear of someone else getting hosed by all this..

77. #77
    On March 20th, 2009 at 10:06 am, Dave Turson said:

    The NYPost editorial has the right take on this–it places the ball and the blame in Obama’s court.

78. #78
    On March 20th, 2009 at 10:06 am, jjmurphy said:

    if they thought there’s a chance you’d get a tongue lashing from Barney Frank

    STOP! Dang it, too late to stop the mental image! Ugh.

79. #79
    On March 20th, 2009 at 10:07 am, cubbiegal said:

    I’m saddened that Cantor voted for it. As for Aaron Schock(R. Peoria)he’s young.
    He’ll learn.

80. #80
    On March 20th, 2009 at 10:08 am, GladzKravtz said:

    .. perhaps the Republicans that voted for this did so with the idea that this stimulus, and future ones, come with so many strings, so many broken promises, so much red tape, that noone would want them. Maybe they are hoping this bill will be a poison pill.

    Well, I hope they mentioned that on the record before they voted because many may not come back after the next election.

81. #81
    On March 20th, 2009 at 10:12 am, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    OK folks, let’s RUSH those checks to the RNC and show solidarity with the Weakling, the Coward, the RINO.

    Yes Good People lets pay for the rope they use to hang us!

    Good bye America, you will be missed.

    —
    Keep the change-I’ll keep my guns

82. #82
    On March 20th, 2009 at 10:18 am, Pasadena Phil said:

    I’ve had it with Eric Cantor. Another half-pregnant RINO. The real disappointment on that list is Tom McClintock. That guy is usually a certified conservative stud. What gives Tom?

83. #83
    On March 20th, 2009 at 10:20 am, corona said:

    OK, now I know we shouldn’t have high expectations for politicians, but I’m still disappointed, give that the Republicans stood firm against Shamulus.

84. #84
    On March 20th, 2009 at 10:22 am, cheapseat said:

    i trust the push to get back the franklin 90m and the gorelick 28m (118 million for 2 people who bankrupted the world with fannie and freddie bundling of subprime mortgages). YO BAWNEY, GET THIS DOUGH BACK, BECAUSE FANNIE AND FREDDIE WERE BOTH GUBMINT FINANCED SLUMLORDS.

85. #85
    On March 20th, 2009 at 10:25 am, On-my-soap-box said:

    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:50 am, sonofdy said:
    I told you they should have all moved to brazil.

    BTW watch this tax get expanded.

    Redundant.

86. #86
    On March 20th, 2009 at 10:30 am, WarTip said:

    Fannie and Freddie both have a spokeswoman in front of them offering them the protection of our “representative” government … though they certainly are not representing me in any sense of the word!

87. #87
    On March 20th, 2009 at 10:35 am, pueblo1032 said:

    Again a bunch of REPUBLICANS afraid for their F*@#ING JOBS, instead of doing the right thing… How sad for the AMERICAN PEOPLE!!!

88. #88
    On March 20th, 2009 at 10:38 am, KCK said:

    I simply want to add that bonuses are compensation. A form of pay. The Obamination are anti-capitol, anti-compensation and anti-profit.

    Are you even a little bit miffed at AIG for paying out bonuses? Stop that stupid thinking! You are being played like a violin by the forces of outright evil – esp. the democrat party. Shame to see republicans in the same boat – can they save themselves or is it becoming too late?

89. #89
    On March 20th, 2009 at 10:40 am, zenmastertaz said:

    Hello Senator Alexander, I am writing to you today in an effort to understand why you would vote to usurp the contractual obligations AIG had to it’s employees regarding their bonuses. My view is that though we do not like to see others profit from our work. As I see it, the hard cold fact is that through whatever manipulations their company did not fail the United States Government GAVE them money just as any investor buying into an company. Admittedly, these bonuses for what was obviously was a failing company, seems irresponsible. However, they were contractually owed. This seems to signal a more ominous shift from a free economy with private contracts between parties to an economy where if the politicians didn’t do their homework or don’t like you, they can tax and take. If this company was allowed to fail like so many other business, we would not have had this scandal, and other businesses would have bought the profitable pieces of AIG. Can you help me understand why you would vote big nanny government style meddling? Respectfully,

90. #90
    On March 20th, 2009 at 10:44 am, tpitman said:

    I think the whole lot of Congress are so self-centered and utterly without a shred of integrity that they should ALL be thrown out. These Republicans who voted to pass this bill were only jumping on the “me, too!” bandwagon of anger to deflect any criticism from their constituents. They should have stood up and defended the concept that the contract was entered into legally and that the government had no right to selectively tax a group of people just because they were claiming money that was part of the contract they entered, regardless of how unpopular it might be now that it’s been made public.

    They’re ALL spineless!

    Time for Term Limits!

    The argument that some in Congress have special expertise based on their length of service can usually be shot down by pointing out the moronic statements and decisions made by those same “public servants”. Joe Biden is supposed to be the foreign relations expert, but he can hardly open his mouth without saying something stupid. I watched two of them go at each other last night while Laura Ingraham hosted the Factor, and they were both idiots, grinning all the while! Made me sick.

91. #91
    On March 20th, 2009 at 10:46 am, rplatt said:

    It’s absolutely clear that essentially none of these wormy politicians have any core values. Any nation where it’s so-called leaders serve nothing greater than themselves cannot long endure.

92. #92
    On March 20th, 2009 at 10:49 am, GladzKravtz said:

    The argument that some in Congress have special expertise based on their length of service can usually be shot down by pointing out the moronic statements and decisions made by those same “public servants”.

    Hit the nail on the head! and Dodd too!

93. #93
    On March 20th, 2009 at 1:05 pm, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    Well put zenmastertaz, and that integrity business tpitman ? Not in the cards I suppose-they are without honor, self-centered whores selling their souls, our country and childrens’ heritage for 30 pieces of silver. They are not without precedent this Easter season.
    These Republican Go Along Get Alongs are very much playing Judas to Barney Franks Caiaphas. Now they hang themselves without knowing it–yet.

    —
    Keep the change-I’ll keep my guns

94. #94
    On March 20th, 2009 at 8:35 pm, simon77047 said:

    I think I said this last year: It doesn’t matter what we say. The bleeps in Washington are going to do what they want to do. When people are allowed to vote who cannot find Texas on a map of the United States, who do not know even one congressman from the state in which they live, who cannot name one member of the Supreme Court, what can one expect? I’m sorry to say, but I think the end of the USA as we know it is upon us.

95. #95
    On March 20th, 2009 at 10:23 pm, TimLenox said:

    Okay,
    this might not be popular,
    but think about it anyway.

    I first heard this idea
    when Rush discussed it.

    Perhaps there are members of Congress
    who voted for this for a different
    reason: To Wake People theHell UP !!!

    Follow me on this:

    Most people with intellect agree that
    the best way to save the economy is to
    let the bad companies Fail.

    What if the best way to save a country
    is to let a bad Government fail?

    Think about it.

    If this bill is passed:

    Name one company stupid enough
    to ask for a bailout.

    Name one board of directors
    willing to put their bonuses
    and salaries on the line and
    ask for a bailout?

    Think about this:

    Why did Dodd have put that clause in?

    The Tresury asked him to.

    Why would Treasury do that?

    Because President B.O. had them add a
    clause to retro-actively cap salaries
    of all employees of any company that received or will receive federal money
    money so that nobody earns more salary
    than the President and the only way to
    get any company to accept federal help
    was to give them SOME way to profit.

    Get this?

    Nobody can earn more SALARY than the
    Beloved Leader if the company takes
    Bailout/Stimulus funds.

    How do you get the corporate bigwigs
    to take Stimulus funds from the Fed
    so that the Fed can take them over?

    Let them get a big freakin’ BONUS !!!

    Now, how do WE

96. #96
    On March 20th, 2009 at 10:32 pm, TimLenox said:

    Damn, hit the wrong key.

    Where was I? Oh, yeah!

    How do WE get companies run by
    greedy bastards to stop taking
    money from the Fed and selling
    their companies to the Government?

    Tax those big freakin’ BONUSES !!!

    Maybe the majority of Reps (and Dems)
    in the Congress who voted AGAINST the
    Stimulus are voting FOR this bill to
    thwack those greedy corporate bastards
    over the head and make them WAKE UP !!!

    Meantime, Tens of Millions of People
    in this country have been trained by
    “American Idol” to vote for the most
    popular/chic/cool contestant.

    So how do we wake up the American
    people to the disaster they made?

    Make the face of that disaster as
    BIG as possible so that even the
    MORONS will say, “Hey, wait, HUH?”

    Before we condemn all the members
    of Congress for their votes, maybe
    we should think a little about the
    rammifications and say, “Hmmmmmm.”

    Anyway, that’s my take on it.

97. #97
    On March 21st, 2009 at 12:11 am, secondsight said:

    Michelle,

    Tabulation error:

    Dent (Pa rino), voted for this as well.

98. #98
    On March 21st, 2009 at 12:14 am, secondsight said:

    ps, I really look forward to when this tax gets extended to professional sports players and television and film stars. That’s populism that is worth buying popcorn for.

99. #99
    On March 21st, 2009 at 10:03 am, tnmartin said:

    Ref ”Bill of Attainder”
    Yes, it certainly appears to be that. So what? We have learned to our sorrow that the dolts that squat on our judicial benches are quite capable of ignoring the plain language and inventing hints of penumbras of shadows of inferences in order to arrive at the results that they want to get. See, for example, Kelo, the disgraceful damage done to the Commerce Clause for more than 70 years now, McCain-Feingold, the de facto rejection of the 10th Amendments, and ten thousand more examples. So, regrettably, this may stand.
    This is all right out of the playbook that Stalin, Lenin, Mussolini, Castor, Danny Ortega, and many others have used. Successfully, I might add. The people in power in D.C. these days have more than trivial similarity to those people, they would fit right in.
    The objective is not the stated one: the real objective is POWER. More and more and more of it. And it is working.