Look beyond the bogus bonus smokescreen

By Michelle Malkin  •  March 20, 2009 10:56 AM

My syndicated column today tallies up all the craptacular spending that’s been going on while the AIG-bashing hypocrites on the Hill crow about $165 million in corporate bonuses none of them bothered to stop before they rushed to fork over billions to AIG in the first place. I mention the little-noticed $6 billion GIVE Act, which just passed the House — and which looks like the very kind of Soros Slush Fund I warned about last summer. Also note the rising cost of the $2 trillion cap-and-trade scheme, which vigilant GOP Sen. James Inhofe has been red-flagging.

Bonus issue = Kabuki theater of mass distraction. Keep your eye on the ball.

(And this just in, via HA Headlines: “U.S. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad said on Thursday he expects federal deficit spending will be about $1.6 trillion greater over the next ten years than President Barack Obama’s budget plan forecasts. Obama submitted his budget outline to Congress last month which forecast almost $7 trillion in deficits through 2019, however a worsening economic picture is expected to make the budget outlook darker. Conrad told reporters that the additional $1.6 trillion over the next decade was based on projections of the Democratic majority’s budget committee staff.”

***

Look beyond the bogus bonus smokescreen
by Michelle Malkin
Creators Syndicate
Copyright 2009

“We will hunt you down!” thundered Colorado Democrat Rep. Jared Polis during the AIG bonus demagogue-a-thon on the House floor Thursday. “If they’re not going to give [the bonuses] back, we’re going to take them back!” growled Alabama Dem. Artur Davis, who vowed to recover the taxpayers’ “ill-gotten gains” from rogue corporate executives. House Republicans pressed the Democrats on who knew what and when regarding the AIG bonus protections included in Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd’s now-infamous amendment to the stimulus bill. Rep. Barney Frank shrieked about the Bush administration’s culpability. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi smugly patted Democrats on the back for “protecting the national interest.”

I ask you now to turn away from the bogus bonus smokescreen over $165 million in taxpayer-backed compensation packages for AIG employees. It is a pittance compared to the gargantuan spending spree happening right under our noses. The AIG bonus price tag amounts to one-tenth of one percent of the total AIG giveaway ($85 billion in September, $37.8 billion in October; $40 billion in November; $30 billion in early March, which took place with the assent of a Republican administration, a Democrat administration, and the congressional leadership of both parties.

Taxpayers might be less skeptical of the born-again guardians of fiscal responsibility if these evangelists were actually practicing what they preached. While the Obama administration now issues impassioned calls to stop rewarding failure, they moved Thursday to dump another $5 billion into the failing auto industry. That’s on top of the Thursday announcement by the Federal Reserve to print up $1 trillion to buy up Treasury bonds and mortgage securities sold by the government — that no one else wants to buy.

Financial blogger Barry Ritholtz tallied up $8.5 trillion in bailout costs by December 2008 between the Federal Reserve, FDIC, Treasury, and Federal Housing Administration rescues (not including the $5.2 trillion in Fannie/Freddie portfolios that the US taxpayer is now also explicitly responsible for.) Then there’s the (at least) $50 billion proposed by Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner in February to bail out home owners and lenders who made bad home loan decisions, which would be just a small sliver of the $2.5 trillion he wants to spend on the next big banking bailout, which would draw on the second $350 billion of the TARP package over which an increasing number of Chicken Little lawmakers are having buyer’s remorse.

Phew. We’re not done yet. Also on Thursday: As AIG-bashing lawmakers inveighed against wasted taxpayer funds and lamented the lack of accountability and rush to judgment that led to passage of the porkulus bill that mysteriously protected the bonuses, the Senate quietly passed a $10 billion lands bill stuffed with earmarks and immunized from amendments. GOP Sen. Tom Coburn, fiscal conservative loner, pointed out that none of the provisions for special-interest pork projects — including $3.5 million in spending for a birthday bash celebrating the city of St. Augustine, Florida — were subject to public hearings. That’s on top of the pork-stuffed $410 billion spending bill passed two weeks ago.

Oh, and did I mention that the House passed a $6 billion volunteerism bill (the “GIVE Act”) on Wednesday to provide yet another pipeline to left-wing advocacy groups under the guise of encouraging national service? Also coming down the pike: The Obama administration’s “cap-and-trade” global warming plan, which Hill staffers learned this week could cost close to $2 trillion (nearly three times the White House’s initial estimate.) and the administration’s universal health care scheme, which health policy experts reported this week could cost about $1.5 trillion over the next decade.

It is no wonder that when earlier this week Vice President Joe Biden told local officials in Washington this week that he was “serious, absolutely serious” about policing wasteful porkulus spending in Washington (price tag: $800 billion not including interest), he was met with the only rational response his audience could muster:

Laughter.

Posted in: AIG, Pork, fiscal stimulus

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Trackbacks

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  9. Add another $1.6 trillion in extra deficit, don’t be fooled by the acting on Capital Hill over the AIG bonuses | Fire Andrea Mitchell!
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  19. GayPatriot » The Lame Excuses of Democrats Who Voted for AIG Bonuses
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  22. Buget Office Gives the REAL Numbers « Vets On The Watch
  23. 35% of Voters Approve, 31% Disapproves Obama Performing his Role as President « Goodtimepolitics
  24. 19 States Launch Joint AIG Probe « Goodtimepolitics
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  30. Blame Obama, Dems, not AIG for Bonus Debacle | shyspeak.net
  31. Look beyond the bogus bonus smokescreen actors career criminal politicians distraction spin zone propaganda | AMERICAS WATCH DOGS
  32. The Next Dem Smokescreen: Fanny/Freddie Bonus Hype to Cloud Role in Financial Mess | The Great Illuminator
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Comments


  1. #654710
    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:02 am, Pasadena Phil said:

    On the one hand, these windbags were insisting on inserting language to specifically protect these bonuses (behind the scenes) because reneging on them would trigger law suits. Now they pass a blatant bill of retainder guaranteeing a landmark lawsuit. That’s our entrenched criminal class of windbags in full glory.

  2. #654711
    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:03 am, tiredofit08 said:
  3. #654714
    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:04 am, Oink said:

    It is just sickening.

    We need to march on DC with simple signs that say

    QUIT SPENDING MY MONEY!

    Good God! What will happen to us?

  4. #654715
    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:05 am, no2pcbs1 said:

    The more I read about what this congress does, the more I realize that the people who elected them need to pay attention. As the old saying goes, you can take crap out of the neighborhood, but no matter where you put it, it’ll always be just crap. This congress is overloaded with it, it’s now time to flush the toilet before the crap seeps out of dc.

  5. #654720
    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:08 am, backwoods conservative said:

    And yet there are people out there who believe the government should be put in charge of making sure corporations do not spend money frivolously. Congress has not shown itself to be anywhere close to trustworthy on fiscal matters, and indeed, has earned my contempt in such matters. And given a Marxist Chicago corruptocrat president to rubber stamp anything Congress passes, this country is really in trouble.

  6. #654721
    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:11 am, Pasadena Phil said:

    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:08 am, backwoods conservative said:

    And given a Marxist Chicago corruptocrat president to rubber stamp anything Congress passes, this country is really in trouble.

    I would add a clueless, spineless GOP to the rubber stamping crew. What we have is a one party system, I call it the United Establishment Party and voters are the opposition.

  7. #654728
    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:19 am, cabrerski said:

    Congress: thy name is pork

  8. #654729
    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:21 am, Rogue Cheddar said:

    The only way they can save face, is if they all commit “Seppuku”, then they will have redeemed themselves, in my eyes. Until then, “More cheese Gromit!” (munching popcorn).

  9. #654731
    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:22 am, Socky said:

    M2, you illustrate perfectly why you matter, and why the MSM is useless. They’re focusing all their attention on the smokescreen, and ignoring the fire.

  10. #654735
    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:25 am, HomeoftheBrave said:

    Thank you Michelle! We need to start scrutinizing and hammering on these bloviating windbags in D.C. about all the crap they’re shoving down our throats. The bonuses, while they raise an eyebrow, are a TOTAL smokescreen. What about the $$BILLIONS$$ they stole from us to give away to their cronies?We have to turn up the pressure a lot more because they are starting to crack! Look at all those weasels pointing fingers at each other! It’s hilarious. Next up: TAR, FEATHERS, RAILS – sounds like fun.

  11. #654736
    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:26 am, Patronedheart said:

    What concerns me is that I have a feeling the government programs they’re slipping under the rug through the earmarks associated with these bailouts will be neverending. Congress skillfully used an economic crisis against us unwittingly to expand it’s span of control, thus inching one step closer toward socialism. American tax dollars are funding the enemy of America, which is communism. How ironic is that?

  12. #654737
    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:26 am, Uplander said:

    The Kid Thinks Its About Him.
    He has told us what he intends to do and is doing it.

  13. #654741
    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:30 am, WarTip said:

    Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

    The Time to act is Now! So how do we start? Is there still any chance at all for we the people at the ballot box? Somehow, I rather doubt it!

  14. #654746
    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:33 am, jkline23 said:

    Let’s face facts. Congress has been out of control for many years and this is the perfect storm, much needed storm, to cleanse Washington of the filth. We need the Big O because he will finally embolden the people to stand up and say enough is enough. He will give the left and the spendocrats what they want and not what the people want; there isn’t enough money to buy all the people they need for their agenda. The storm will cleanse the Big O and the career leftist down the toilet. Be angry, voice your opposition, and remember this is going to be a long battle in a war we must win for America.
    If you can get your concealed weapons permit, do so! If you can stash some cash, do so. It will be a battle of individual will, and we must prevail or the next generation will not stand a chance. In my mind it is already too late but in my heart we must fight this fight with passion, reason, and logic. We will be the last ones standing.
    God bless….. We will prevail….

  15. #654748
    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:34 am, Patronedheart said:

    It looks pretty bleak, WarTip when the majority of “we the people” are the type that support this current administration.

  16. #654749
    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:34 am, swede said:

    I find myself getting outrageously outraged over the outrageous outrage over bonuses, and the outrageous lack of outrage over pouring $200 billion into a failed company.

    AIG is not too big to fail, it is epic fail already. The CEO himself said yesterday the AIG brand is so tarnished, there is no hope it will ever be restored. History, dead meat, flushed, crushed and mushed.

    Government solution: Mo money.

    Mo maalox please.

  17. #654754
    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:40 am, CO2 Producer said:

    If Washington honestly expects to fix anything, they should start by looking inward, not outward.

  18. #654759
    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:43 am, planetgeo said:

    Watching Congress at work these days is a lot like watching “Ocean’s Eleven” pull off the heist of the century…but right out in the open, and with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid portraying what Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt would look and sound like if they spend the next few years on crystal meth and Obamunism 101.

  19. #654764
    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:45 am, TheEnergyAnalyst said:

    I am sick to death of this story. Who cares! First, we should not have bailed them out. But since we did we should allow them to run the business the way they see fit. If we do not like the way they run the business then we should replace management. But if managment thinks lighting a bonfire of $100 bills will fix the company’s problems who are we to say “no, you have to do it our way.” Especially when the principal complainers are the very idiots that spend similar sums of money on ideas like “why pig shit smells!!!”

  20. #654771
    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:49 am, lgm said:

    My syndicated column today tallies up all the craptacular spending that’s been going on while the AIG-bashing hypocrites on the Hill crow about $165 million in corporate bonuses none of them bothered to stop before they rushed to fork over billions to AIG in the first place.

    Said another way, our government has been working on a trillion dollar effort to rescue the US economy. They’ve been focusing on other things than million dollar bonuses.

    Where were all you born again bookkeepers when billions of dollars in cash simply went missing in Iraq? You were calling any critic of Bush mismanagement disloyal “hope American fails” traitors. What a difference elections make in your worldview.

  21. #654773
    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:50 am, WarTip said:

    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:34 am, Patronedheart said:

    It looks pretty bleak, WarTip when the majority of “we the people” are the type that support this current administration.

    I think that is why the Founding Fathers were so quick to adapt Jefferson’s Bill of Rights since Madison and Adams conveniently dismissed them. However, I am afraid there really is very little real hope for the future of our nation as it currently stands. So what do we do? Where do we begin and how do we unite?

  22. #654777
    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:53 am, cheapseat said:

    michelle, thanks for keeping the focus on the ball. why don’t you pitch a show to fox where you investigate our msm along the lines of 60 minutes. tell us who the people are who give us their views in the guise of news. recent events show it is a nest of mess, the philly anchors, the florida anchor etc. besides, we could see your smiling face each week at a regular time.

  23. #654779
    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:55 am, DBNinKY said:

    The AIG bonus price tag amounts to one-tenth of one percent of the total AIG giveaway… .

    Salient point!

    The Democrats would much rather have us focus on the safe issue of AIG’s wasteful spending – one where they can grandstand and express fiscal morality against the previous administration – rather than leave us to ruminate over the fact they just spent three TRILLION dollars and counting of our tax money (according to the CBO, which claims to have just uncovered an additional trillion dollars of previously unaccounted spending in Obama-Pelosi-Reid’s spending plan), and w/ little if any of it dedicated to actual job creation.

  24. #654784
    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:57 am, lgm said:

    WarTip said (#13):

    The Time to act is Now! So how do we start?

    You could start with the Pentagon. Talk to Bill Ayers to find out how its done.

    Disclaimer: this post is sarcasm. Neither lgm nor (hopefully!) MM advocates violence against the Pentagon or any other US government facility.

    Note to emjem24 and other members of the special right wing debate team: the point of the sarcasm is that you want to execute Bill Ayers but happily tolerate the same violence from the right.

  25. #654790
    On March 20th, 2009 at 12:00 pm, walterc said:

    jkline23 said:

    Be angry, voice your opposition, and remember this is going to be a long battle in a war we must win for America.
    If you can get your concealed weapons permit, do so! If you can stash some cash, do so.

    I have to take exception to getting a concealed carry permit. This is giving them a name and address of someone that owns a gun. If I’m going to have to fight with guns, I think it best that my enemy not know in advance that I have one.

    That’s why I don’t buy guns through a licensed dealer either, only private individuals. No background check.

  26. #654791
    On March 20th, 2009 at 12:01 pm, happyscrapper said:

    NOW can we question their patriotism?? These traitors to our Constitution need to be in jail…now!

  27. #654792
    On March 20th, 2009 at 12:03 pm, okiedokie said:

    “We will hunt you down!” works both ways. Haw can we get term limits on each and every last one of these bastards?!?!? Oh, and get them retroactively so if ANYONE has served longer than two terms they are out of work tomorrow and we have emergency elections, not appointments by governors?

  28. #654800
    On March 20th, 2009 at 12:09 pm, WarTip said:

    LOL LGM, I think that is actually the first time you have made me laugh … and yes I can see the sarcasm. But thank you for the laugh!

    However …

    I would say there is a major difference between a radical activist bombing government institutions and elected and supposedly “representative” government officials willfully undermining the Constitution and the very principles of government that this nation was founded upon … all while striving diligently to “relieve us” of our rights that the Constitution specifically prohibits them from messing with! Throw in the fact that they have all taken an oath to uphold and defend that Constitution and it makes it even more different.

    Add to that the little caveat that our Founding Fathers did put into our Declaration of Independence specifically stating that we have a Patriotic obligation to insure that our government does not do what they are doing … and I must say that it does seem as if the actions are apples and oranges and truly incomparable.

  29. #654810
    On March 20th, 2009 at 12:19 pm, CO2 Producer said:

    The AIG bonus price tag amounts to one-tenth of one percent of the total AIG giveaway ($85 billion in September, $37.8 billion in October; $40 billion in November; $30 billion in early March

    Finally. Thank you for showing some perspective of the bigger picture. Much bigger.

  30. #654816
    On March 20th, 2009 at 12:21 pm, Send_Me said:

    1. 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: is this not an “unreasonable search”? I don’t recall any judges giving Congress any warrants. What crime has AIG committed? 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.
    2. 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.

  31. #654825
    On March 20th, 2009 at 12:25 pm, Patronedheart said:

    WarTip, you’re wasting your breath. The instant you mentioned the word “Constitution”, lgm’s eyes started glazing over. It’s just a guideline held to scrutiny as far as he’s concerned.

  32. #654840
    On March 20th, 2009 at 12:34 pm, Flyoverman said:

    Where were all you born again bookkeepers when billions of dollars in cash simply went missing in Iraq? You were calling any critic of Bush mismanagement disloyal “hope American fails” traitors. What a difference elections make in your worldview.

    Having spent a quarter century in the military, I can tell you with certainty that when dollars or equipment go missing, they really are not missing as much as they are improperly documented. The assets ended up where they needed to be, however they are unrecorded.

    The difference here is that our tax dollars that went to this scheme are not “missing.” We know exactly how they were misused. As stated in earlier posts, had we allowed AIG to go Chapter 11, $58 BILLION would have not gone to foreign banks. The bonuses would have had to have been approved by the bankruptcy process.

    The free market does work. However, as Rahm Emmanuel said, “Never fail to take advantage of a crisis.” They haven’t.

  33. #654842
    On March 20th, 2009 at 12:36 pm, WarTip said:

    On March 20th, 2009 at 12:25 pm, Patronedheart said:

    WarTip, you’re wasting your breath. The instant you mentioned the word “Constitution”, lgm’s eyes started glazing over. It’s just a guideline held to scrutiny as far as he’s concerned.

    And subject to interpretation according to its correlations (or lack thereof) with international law according to our Scotus … siiiiiiiiigh!

    So sad

  34. #654851
    On March 20th, 2009 at 12:43 pm, Misscheryl said:

    I’m not so sure there won’t be a time when Odumbo becomes such a toxic liability to the dems that even congress will want him gone!

  35. #654861
    On March 20th, 2009 at 12:49 pm, WarTip said:

    On March 20th, 2009 at 12:43 pm, Misscheryl said:

    I’m not so sure there won’t be a time when Odumbo becomes such a toxic liability to the dems that even congress will want him gone!

    He could never have gotten where he is today without their complacency and worse … their help. I am afraid that the Senate and the Executive branch that were supposed to protect us from the Legislature (The House) have been turned against us as well.

  36. #654862
    On March 20th, 2009 at 12:50 pm, happyscrapper said:

    I have an idea. If the Constitution is a “living, breating document that should be constantly changing and evolving”, let’s re-write it to include a provision for tarring and feathering traitors in Congress. Then let’s do it. That is change I can believe in!

  37. #654865
    On March 20th, 2009 at 12:52 pm, rooster said:

    Isn’t it true that many of these bonuses were sent to people overseas? Therefore, said bonuses are taxed by country of residence and exempt from our taxes? I know I heard this factoid somewhere, but with the Kabuki Theatrics distracting the ignorant masses we may never know the full scope of the; “AIG Foreign Overseas Banks Money Laundering Scheme ala Obama/Democraps”! Even though the morons have decided to retro-actively tax AIG bonuses, will it be reported that most of the bonuses can’t be taxed?

  38. #654871
    On March 20th, 2009 at 12:56 pm, jkline23 said:

    walterc:

    The purpose of the concealed weapons permit is so you can be armed away from home. Most Americans, except cities that outlawed them, have guns at home but how many have them on themselves legally?

    I do not care if they know I have a gun or guns, I do care that I have it available away from home.

    Otherwise, all they have to do is wait for someone like you to go to work, gotcha not armed.

    My view on concealed weapon is the opposite of liberals. My belief…

    Everyone who chooses to give up their right to carry a gun should have to purchase a permit to do so. You should not have to get a permit to exercise your constitutional right but get a permit to give it up.

    Therefore, if the liberals put their money where their mouth is they would all go buy a permit and give up there right and flush the system with cash for doing so. They would have their name on a list giving up their rights not those who choose to exercise them.

  39. #654873
    On March 20th, 2009 at 12:59 pm, cheapseat said:

    i know i heard a t.v. talking head show last year where these aig bonusses were discussed. the consensus was they were necessary to keep these people in order to hopefully pay the money back. people with lexus nexus should look for that conversation. for some reason i think it may have been paulson speaking.

  40. #654875
    On March 20th, 2009 at 12:59 pm, swede said:

    happyscrapper said:
    let’s re-write it to include a provision for tarring and feathering traitors in Congress. Then let’s do it. That is change I can believe in!

    Outstanding thought. But, an ammendment to the constitution requires a 2/3 vote from the tar and featheree’s. Sigh.

  41. #654887
    On March 20th, 2009 at 1:16 pm, faraway said:
  42. #654888
    On March 20th, 2009 at 1:17 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On March 20th, 2009 at 12:59 pm, swede said:

    happyscrapper said:
    let’s re-write it to include a provision for tarring and feathering traitors in Congress. Then let’s do it. That is change I can believe in!

    Outstanding thought. But, an ammendment to the constitution requires a 2/3 vote from the tar and featheree’s. Sigh.

    Sigh indeed! We may have to do it “unconstitutionally”. You know, like they are doing to us!

  43. #654897
    On March 20th, 2009 at 1:24 pm, Elm Creek Smith said:

    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:57 am, lgm said:

    Note to emjem24 and other members of the special right wing debate team: the point of the sarcasm is that you want to execute Bill Ayers but happily tolerate the same violence from the right.

    What violence from the “right,” moron? Ayers made bombs, planted bombs, and encouraged/assisted others to build bombs which exploded, killing police officers, innocents, and his own cronies. Have you seen anything on the news about bombings committed by the “right” on the news recently? I didn’t think so.

    Hope is not a plan; not all change is good. The resistance is here; the resistance is now. RESIST!!!!!

    ECS

  44. #654899
    On March 20th, 2009 at 1:25 pm, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    “We will hunt you down!” thundered Colorado Democrat Rep. Jared Polis

    The AIG bonus folks won’t be the only people Reich Fuhrer Jared Polis, Barney Frank, Dodd, Shumer hunt down. This Revolution In Place will consume and destroy and turn on it’s self–they always do. With no effective resistance from the Republican Party-indeed open collaboration- there is nothing to even slow it down.

    Can we stop it in 2010? I don’t know, will we have an honest election in 2010, 2012? Will ACORN, the Justice Department, the Federal Election Commission and MSM ALLOW a fair election? Not if they can help it. And William Ayres dreams of his Night of the Long Knives. Reich Fuhrer Jared Polis is as much prophet as fool.

    Good Bye America-you will be missed.


    Keep the change-I’ll keep my guns

  45. #654906
    On March 20th, 2009 at 1:31 pm, ArizonaNeanderthal said:

    Oh well there is some good news:


    CNN’s March Ratings So Far: More Lamb than Lion

    In the month of March so far, the Time Warner-owned network has come in fourth place in prime time among adults 25 to 54, the key demographic for advertisers, more often than not.

    Through March 17, CNN trailed not only Fox News and MSNBC but also its own sister network, Headline News, on nine out of 17 days.

    MSNBC next :-) We shall hope–leg/thrill and such.

  46. #654913
    On March 20th, 2009 at 1:36 pm, conservativesRus said:

    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:49 am, lgm said:
    Said another way, our government has been working on a trillion dollar effort to rescue the US economy. They’ve been focusing on other things than million dollar bonuses.

    A) Who says the economy needs rescuing? Rescuing from who? Rescuing from what?
    B) They (congress) have been focusing on what? Last I checked, almost every congressperson spent the entire week finding any open microphone they could to talk about deferred compensation. Didn’t look like much focus on anything other than so called “bonuses”.
    I marvel at your faith in elected officials to do what is right and what is best.
    Do you not see that most are at best self serving crooks through and through? Why do you place your faith in them?

  47. #654921
    On March 20th, 2009 at 1:47 pm, conservativesRus said:

    On March 20th, 2009 at 1:16 pm, faraway said:

    Congress knew Dec 16, 2008

    I would argue they should have known long before Dec 16, 2008.
    I think almost every company has “retention bonus” compensation of some sort. For almost every employee as a matter of fact. When you start working for a company you get 2 weeks of paid vacation. After being there some number of years, you get 3 weeks. Paid time off is in fact compensation. The additional weeks are a “bonus” for staying longer. Is congress going to start claiming that any additional weeks of vacation are bonus payments subject to the 90% tax rate?

  48. #654932
    On March 20th, 2009 at 1:53 pm, swede said:

    Sigh indeed! We may have to do it “unconstitutionally”. You know, like they are doing to us!

    Happyscrapper, Better yet, add an earmark to the Economic Recovery Act:

    $6 billion for research into using a mixture of tar and poultry pluckings to cover divots in the “road to recovery”, i.e. congressmen. They’ll never even read it. Aye!

  49. #654940
    On March 20th, 2009 at 2:03 pm, happyscrapper said:

    On March 20th, 2009 at 1:53 pm, swede said:

    Excellent suggestion! I love it! Now, my grandson just arrived and I have to sign off for a while. The computer is in “his” room and he is going down for a nap.

  50. #654971
    On March 20th, 2009 at 2:26 pm, John Deaux said:

    On March 20th, 2009 at 11:57 am, lgm said:

    Disclaimer: this post is sarcasm. Neither lgm nor (hopefully!) MM advocates violence against the Pentagon or any other US government facility.

    You know, you don’t have to write out the whole disclaimer. All you need is a /lgm tag at the bottom.

  51. #654972
    On March 20th, 2009 at 2:27 pm, CrazyFool said:

    The web comic xkcd (which BTW I think is very good) has even made a comic on this.

    Keep your eye on the ball indeed.

  52. #654991
    On March 20th, 2009 at 2:41 pm, cheapseat said:

    OT another two people were killed by another illegal alien in hannibal mo. the wet had 3 restraining orders taken out against him and ticketted and arrested several times, but gee, no one knew he was illegal because he had a ss card and spoke english. didn’t i read somewhere that you could check on ss numbers through something like e-verify. but i guess our police are too busy ticketting speeders and collecting revenue for the city to do that e verify thing.

  53. #655006
    On March 20th, 2009 at 2:51 pm, WarTip said:

    On March 20th, 2009 at 2:41 pm, cheapseat said: but i guess our police are too busy ticketing speeders and collecting revenue for the city to do that e verify thing.

    I am not supporting what happened, but when I hooked up E-Verify for one of the Airline groups in Northern Nevada when it first came out, it was very restricted and limited and only available for companies, not for local law enforcement. That was a long time ago so it may have changed by now, but with our government so he!!bent on amnesty, I rather doubt it.

    It does make me wonder how so many illegals still seem to be employed at airports and other “secure” facilities though.

  54. #655020
    On March 20th, 2009 at 2:58 pm, sonofdy said:

    Obamas budget not expected to increase the defict by 9.3 TRILLION dollars. That puts the defict over 20 trillion.

    The only question is how much borrowed and how much printed. National bankruptcy is here, hyperinflation is coming.

  55. #655029
    On March 20th, 2009 at 3:03 pm, tiredofit08 said:

    On March 20th, 2009 at 2:58 pm, sonofdy said:

    Obamas budget not expected to increase the defict by 9.3 TRILLION dollars. That puts the defict over 20 trillion.

    The only question is how much borrowed and how much printed. National bankruptcy is here, hyperinflation is coming.

    yep read my post (#2)

  56. #655036
    On March 20th, 2009 at 3:06 pm, WarTip said:

    On March 20th, 2009 at 2:58 pm, sonofdy said: The only question is how much borrowed and how much printed. National bankruptcy is here, hyperinflation is coming.

    China sells off our debt that they own, further decreasing the value of the dollar. The dollar ceases to be a viable trading commodity. Russia moving troops into Cuba and Venezuela. Politicians openly defying the Constitution. And the list goes on.

    It’s a Pretty Picture! Pretty ugly, pretty messed up and pretty apt to get a lot worse before it gets better … if it ever does … Awful pretty huh?

  57. #655040
    On March 20th, 2009 at 3:07 pm, wighttrasch said:

    guess our police are too busy ticketting speeders and collecting revenue

    cheapseat–I’m in MO too, and I think the po-po are too busy making sure that you’re wearing your seatbelt.

  58. #655049
    On March 20th, 2009 at 3:11 pm, sonofdy said:

    How long before us troops are forced to come home due to budget problems.

  59. #655089
    On March 20th, 2009 at 3:38 pm, sims said:

    At 1:36 & 1:47 conservativesRus said:

    Our economy needs saving from Congress.
    Your point that they should have known about the bonuses-Yes, they should have.
    I can’t believe no on asked about employee contracts before making a deal to give them billion$ in cash. I can’t believe it and I don’t believe it. This is all, as MM says, Kabuki theater. Their constituents are calling them and they realize they need tcover.
    Put no faith in any politician of any stripe. Watch their actions to judge whether they do right for their country.

  60. #655104
    On March 20th, 2009 at 3:49 pm, Papa Louie said:

    “If they’re not going to give [the bonuses] back, we’re going to take them back!” growled Alabama Dem. Artur Davis.

    “We will hunt you down!” thundered Colorado Democrat Rep. Jared Polis.

    “I don’t want to quell anger – I think people are right to be angry. I am angry!” said President Obama about AIG bonuses. “I’m choked up with anger.”

    All this anger is driving Democratic policy less than a month after the President’s first speech to Congress where he said this:

    “In a time of crisis, we cannot afford to govern out of anger, or yield to the politics of the moment.

    This is just another example of the “politics of the moment” overriding the wisdom of the First Teleprompter.

  61. #655113
    On March 20th, 2009 at 3:57 pm, Misscheryl said:

    New York Democrats Indicted in Alleged $30 Million ‘Pay-to-Play’ Scheme
    A Democratic consultant and state official were indicted Thursday for allegedly receiving $30 million in kickbacks, as New York’s attorney general accused them of using the state’s pension fund investments as a “piggy bank.”

    Oh, it’s just another day in the land of the democrats.

  62. #655116
    On March 20th, 2009 at 3:58 pm, Member-VRWC said:

    How hard would these members of AIG (that’s A-holes In Government) try to get this $165 million of the taxpayers’ money back if they had to actually give it back to the taxpayers instead of keeping it under their control and spending it on one of their other boondoggles next week?

    Please, congressional a-holes, spare me the righteous indignation. I’d much rather the people at AIG (the insurance company) have the money than you.

    They may spend it on fancy cars, boats, jewelry, lavish vacations, and pricey meals at five-star restaurants, things I’ve never had, never will, and can live just fine without. Better that than you lying crapweasels pissing it away on a global warming conference or some other such socialist nonsense.

  63. #655200
    On March 20th, 2009 at 4:50 pm, WarTip said:

    On March 20th, 2009 at 3:58 pm, Member-VRWC said: They may spend it on fancy cars, boats, jewelry, lavish vacations, and pricey meals at five-star restaurants, things I’ve never had, never will, and can live just fine without. Better that than you lying crapweasels pissing it away on a global warming conference or some other such socialist nonsense.

    HEAR HEAR! AMEN!

  64. #655208
    On March 20th, 2009 at 4:58 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

    On March 20th, 2009 at 4:50 pm, WarTip said:

    On March 20th, 2009 at 3:58 pm, Member-VRWC said: They may spend it on fancy cars, boats, jewelry, lavish vacations, and pricey meals at five-star restaurants, things I’ve never had, never will, and can live just fine without. Better that than you lying crapweasels pissing it away on a global warming conference or some other such socialist nonsense.

    HEAR HEAR! AMEN!

    x’s 2

  65. #655237
    On March 20th, 2009 at 5:37 pm, conservativesRus said:

    On March 20th, 2009 at 3:38 pm, sims said:
    Our economy needs saving from Congress

    Good point sims – I was responding though to lgm’s that congress was busy working to save the economy.

  66. #655239
    On March 20th, 2009 at 5:38 pm, mike.musculus said:

    #57
    On March 20th, 2009 at 3:11 pm, sonofdy said:
    How long before us troops are forced to come home due to budget problems.

    Thats why President Lamech wants a Civilian “Security” Force!

    What I worry abt is those overseas, in all capacities, and in the case of PCSes to extra-CONUS bases, their families.

    I can easily visualize this PUZToTUS stranding them there…

    For the people w/their families, I admit depending on where they’re stationed, they might be better off.

  67. #655243
    On March 20th, 2009 at 5:47 pm, rktkr said:

    finally!

    hearing it from this guy has restored some of my sanity.

    now.. if this point could just be hammered home with a sledgehammer, there may – just may – be a chance for this country.

    i would like to begin with Congress, then the Executive branch, and finally move swiftly to the Federal Reserve.

    personally… i want justice.

    i have lost everything but what i own outright.

    i may never get my house back or my job back but knowing these bastards are in jail will help me sleep better at night in my cardboard box.

  68. #655245
    On March 20th, 2009 at 5:54 pm, corona said:

    S&P 500 down 1.98% thanks to these demagogues.

  69. #655253
    On March 20th, 2009 at 6:03 pm, davidcaskey said:

    What no one is saying is that the ones who received a bonus actually deserved one. Only 4 people at AIG caused the financial destruction of the company.
    Those that have received a bonus have been doing a good job and are needed by the company to recover. The bonus is to keep them there.

    Again, the real enemy is our politicians on both sides of the political spectrum.

  70. #655268
    On March 20th, 2009 at 6:32 pm, shooter said:

    the bogus bonus smokescreen over $165 million … a pittance compared to the gargantuan spending spree happening right under our noses.

    And most of the Republicans were somehow dragged around like ducks on a string, feet flapping down with each turn of the wheel, silent on importance but loud on faux-rage.
    What have you become, Washington DC?

  71. #655284
    On March 20th, 2009 at 7:01 pm, Socky said:
  72. #655289
    On March 20th, 2009 at 7:06 pm, Ilovemycountry said:

    So you people support giving tax dollars to incompetent folks in the form of bonuses?

    I thought you “tea party’ types would have a problem with wasteful spending?

    So much for principles.

  73. #655294
    On March 20th, 2009 at 7:34 pm, ScottyDog said:

    The government has no right to eliminate the bonuses of these employees. In fact, I hope they all sue Uncle Sam for violating their contracts.

    Our current Congress is ruling the nation as a mob. The are basically violating all of the laws in our Constitution while playing to the mob to cover up their incompetence.

    I wonder how many of you would like Nancy Pelosi to come to your employer and eliminate your job contract in the name of Uncle Sam.

    The very bedrock of the Country is Private Property rights and Contract Law. What you are seeing on a daily basis is the Barry Soetoro adminstration systematically eliminating our Constitutional Republic.

  74. #655311
    On March 20th, 2009 at 8:21 pm, corona said:

    Suppose the bonuses totalled $165 billion and went to the fools who ran AIG into the ground.
    According to Barry O, so what?
    Remember, it didn’t matter how much wasteful spending was in Shamulus.

    “Spending is stimulus.”

    How does that petard feel, D’ohbama?

  75. #655332
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:26 pm, Surveyor said:

    Is it time yet?

    Let me know….cause I’m ready to go.

  76. #655335
    On March 20th, 2009 at 9:49 pm, lottadawg said:

    I just don’t get it. I understand the alensky chaos so they can grab money and power. however, is this the typical overreach that hungry liberals always do?
    They clearly overspent , which is not surprising. Nobody even wrote the damm bills before they were voted on and no one had the time before they were signed. What else is in these bills?
    Now caught in an obvious lie as demonstrated by the overacting Elmer Fudd and his soul mate in the Senate. It seems the industry they are trashing are fighting back. I saw lots of reaction of banking and financial employees both overseas and here going where they are loved just a little bit more. How in the world are they going to get us out of this mess if the people who do the work are pissed. Seems to be Government clearly don’t know what they’re doing.
    I don’t think I have ever seen our government be so damm mean and down right happy to download on private citizens and punish them by putting their families at risk.
    Absolutely shameful.
    David its time to put the brass down and check the edge on the KA BAR.

  77. #655339
    On March 20th, 2009 at 10:13 pm, Leatherneck said:

    Great read. The government has gone insane.

  78. #655351
    On March 20th, 2009 at 10:53 pm, Patronedheart said:

    On March 20th, 2009 at 7:06 pm, Ilovemycountry said:
    So you people support giving tax dollars to incompetent folks in the form of bonuses?

    I thought you “tea party’ types would have a problem with wasteful spending?

    So much for principles.

    Absolutely not! That’s why we want these bastard congressmen thrown in jail!
    …oh. you meant the AIG execs?
    Do you even read the comments on this blog? Or do you just catch the headline on your way to kos and then swoop in and drop a big fat steamy one for everyone to ignore? It’s for people like you that the phrase “libtard” was coined.
    /respond to trolls = “off”

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