Comments on: AIG Scrutiny: Basic Questions For Media And Congress Alike

By: MarkH

MarkH — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:56:04 +0000

Yeah, we definitely need to retain those top-notch employees who ran the company into the ground. Makes sense to me…

If it hadn’t been for Grammonomics they might not have gotten into this jam. Without the Republicans playing politics with the economy this might not have happened at all.

Still, the arrogance of these people is incredible.

By: MarkH

MarkH — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:54:02 +0000

Are they going to fly there on their corporate jets?

Yeah, strap them onto the outside. Heh.

By: demi

demi — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:46:40 +0000

Christy -
I’m glad you aren’t worrying about running for an office right now. You have enough on your plate here at the Lake and tending to your loved ones at home. Family is what we can count on right now. You nurture so many. And, you do it well. As a wife and a mother, I’m speaking from experience.
I’m making a pot of potato leek soup and then going to the gym.
We are all different and get our jollies in different ways. *g*

By: selise

selise — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:54:47 +0000

i was just responding to demi’s questions/comments re my comment @83 on populism. that is all.

By: selise

selise — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:49:20 +0000

correction it is about 21 to 16 million.

details in the diary i just wrote for phred @100: $114 Million, $5.1 Billion

By: Christy Hardin Smith

Christy Hardin Smith — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:47:02 +0000

btw, I just popped up the Obama remarks on AIG from a few minutes ago at the small business meeting, in case anyone wants a perusal.

By: Mauimom

Mauimom — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:42:11 +0000

Thanks, Christy. You do so much, and I am appreciative. If I had even a thimbleful of knowledge on this subject, I’d offer to write.

Part of my point, though, was to say that there’s the complete & deep understanding that folks here try to gain [and impart] and then there’s the really basic questions that Joe & Jane Sixpack might have:

* who/what is AIG?
* why was there a belief that they had to be “rescued”?
* what was supposed to happened if they weren’t?
* to whom are bonuses being paid?
* why is this big hunk of money going to banks, etc. outside the US?

and so forth

Since I used to teach 7th & 8th grade, I tend to envision answers [and questions] at about that level. Even I get lost in “the weeds” here, and I consider myself pretty thorough and thoughtful.

I think the erudite writers here could be ESPECIALLY helpful if they paused and thought about explaining this mess to their children. [That would be about 7 years beyond the comprehension level of the average American voter.]

That’s what I was thinking about, but please, hear first my compliments and gratitude, not another request!!!!

((()))

By: Christy Hardin Smith

Christy Hardin Smith — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:38:43 +0000

I’m just trying to understand what it is you want out of this disagreement? Because it feels like you want something, I just can’t tell what it is. Maybe I’m wrong — but that’s what I’m trying to understand.

Since econ writing really isnt my strong suit anyway — I tend to hit more corruption that econ theory, for very good reasons — I’m just not getting what it is you were trying to get out of the intial comment?

By: selise

selise — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:32:47 +0000

i don’t know where you are coming from christy – i gave an example of what i saw as the different treatment summers/rubin vs gramm got. was my example incorrect or inaccurate? if so, i’m happy to be corrected. am i wrong about that motherjones article? if so, i’m happy to be corrected.

as for the balance of coverage – of course that is your call and not mine. but i still may, on occasion, have an honest difference of opinion with you. isn’t that to be expected? i don’t understand what the big deal is – am i not suppose to say anything when i disagree?

By: Mauimom

Mauimom — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:32:22 +0000

Thank you!

I think “so sue me” is a seriously under-utilized response to the AIG + AIG executives and their pleas.