AIG Bonuses

[Guest nraforlife]

Isn't there something inherently wrong with the whores in DC going after AIG like they have? I'm not at all po'ed about the bonus's AS a contract is a contract, and its not like the whores didn't know about it in advance. Christ, we being screwed for 100 million to study why pig poop stinks NOW thats an outrage. If the government starts down the path of selective punitive income taxes then where does it stop?

You now have sheeple in buses coming to the houses of AIG executives and haraunging them.

God, what would you do if the government set you and your family up for bodily injury or worse?

[Guest jackdog]

they already have and it never stops.

[Guest tnmale46]

agreed

[Guest jackdog]

you know calling these congressmen whores is very insulting to young ladies just trying to make a living.

[clipslinger]

The Democrats worded the package to keep the retention bonuses, now they are screaming about them. DIVERSION, now is when we should be watching the other hand.

[Guest jackdog]

Damn right we should. They have America crying over 1% of what AIG has spent, what about the other 99%.

[ukerduker]

Glenn Beck has made the best statement: never pay attention to what the left hand is screaming about, but rather watch watch the right hand is doing. They make a huge deal out of one insignificant thing, while bending us over with another.

Sad part is they did this to themselves. Their haste to pass that bill (ego NOT READ THE D&MN THING), led to this. Now they are screaming its un-american what AIG did. I support giving the bonuses back to AIG. The gov't signed up for it, made the contract and screwed us all. I also think our elected officials should pay for the 165M (and growing) mistake. Now I think we should vote everyone out of office who voted for the bill. Bottom line, you guys screwed us, now pay the piper.

[Guest bkelm18]

Yeah they cry over how horrible the bonuses are and yet they pass an unconstitutional 90% tax against those bonuses. Guess its a do as I say not as I do type thing. Who cares if it says not to do it in the constitution as long as its for the children, right?

[Guest mustangdave]

IF AIG is smart they'll take it to court....

[Guest bkelm18]

IF AIG is smart they'll take it to court....

Yeah I hope they do, however with as much sensationalism over this I doubt it would end up well for them. Its just a mess. They may have been contractually obligated to do what they did but thats not the way the country sees it. They want blood and they don't care what laws have to be broken to get it. Afterall, Obama can do no wrong.

[G27]

We need to keep our eyes on the ball - the AIG bonuses and the resulting 'outrage' by the President and Congress are happening in order to keep our focus off the fact that Obama and Congress have spent (or committed to spending) almost $2.5 trillion (that's 15,000x the AIG bonuses) in deficit spending alone...

[Guest jackdog]

Good point crimson

[Guest EasilyObsessed]

Damn right we should. They have America crying over 1% of what AIG has spent, what about the other 99%.

More like .01%.

[Guest mustangdave]

We need to keep our eyes on the ball - the AIG bonuses and the resulting 'outrage' by the President and Congress are happening in order to keep our focus off the fact that Obama and Congress have spent (or committed to spending) almost $2.5 trillion (that's 15,000x the AIG bonuses) in deficit spending alone...

ABSOLUTELY...its a diversion...and a deception

[Guest Galba]

Yeah they cry over how horrible the bonuses are and yet they pass an unconstitutional 90% tax against those bonuses. Guess its a do as I say not as I do type thing. Who cares if it says not to do it in the constitution as long as its for the children, right?

Just out of curiosity, could you point to the relevant part of the Constitution for me?

[Guest bkelm18]

Just out of curiosity, could you point to the relevant part of the Constitution for me?

Article 1 Section 9 (Section 9 is the "Limits on Congress"): "No bill of attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed." Basically it means that congress cannot pass legislation penalizing a group or individual without a trial.

[Guest Galba]

Cool, thanks.

[TGO David]

Do you guys ever really stop and think about where you're getting the information that outrages you?

The media! And why the hell do you trust what they are telling you? It doesn't matter if it's coming from the Left, the Right or even a supposedly disinterested third party like the BBC. You're still getting told the story the way that the media wants to paint it.

I am not near as infuriated with the fact that AIG paid out contractual bonuses to their executives as much as I am with the fact that the Government didn't impose exact stipulations on how the money could be used by AIG in the first place. Clearly our elected officials allowed this to happen and weren't caught unaware. It is them who should be held accountable as AIG has shown poor management from the start, otherwise they wouldn't be in this mess to begin with.

Giving money to these companies and expecting them to be self-policing with it is like giving an alcoholic a bottle of wiskey and telling them not to open it while you're not looking.

[Guest bkelm18]

I am not outraged with AIG, not in the least, what they did was pretty stupid, but it was the gov's fault for not putting in rules like they should have as to how the money could be spent. Now they realize their mistake and are hanging AIG out to dry just to draw attention away from their mistake.

[creeky]

Article 1 Section 9 (Section 9 is the "Limits on Congress"): "No bill of attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed." Basically it means that congress cannot pass legislation penalizing a group or individual without a trial.

As well as you can't pass retro-actively laws. If this sticks, you'll see the same thing used against the oil executives, pharmaceutical companies, etc. A great way to shake down and find funding.

Just remember...

1. Obama screamed "The sky is falling! The sky is falling! Pass the bill! So I can sign it as soon as I can!"

2. Dems didn't even take time to read it.

3. Signed sent to pres.

4. Obama takes three day vacation to chicago,... then signs it with fan fair when he returns.

"A leader is responsible for everything his people do or fail to do."

Full stop. No excuses. If it goes bad, as the leader you own it. Either you were not smart enough or present enough as a leader to see the problem developing or you were too weak as a leader to fix when it did develop. If disaster struck it was because you either failed to provide the foresight or the oversight.

I didn't elect the CEO's at AIG. I have no responsibility for their actions... but the elected officials (Harvard and Yale, highly educated men) I do hold responsible for their actions. They were charged to oversee this situation... they either lacked foresight or oversight. Any any event, don't twist the Constitution to quiet the mob that they have created.

The government is going to end up (by allowing and supporting this demonizing of AIG workers) getting innocent people to get hurt. These employees have families, wives, children. Seems like they just want to whip of a frenzy against capitalism in general.

If the politicians are soooo outraged... how about they give the Treasury all the campaign money AIG gave them over the past two years? How about stepping up and making a stand on their new found convictions.

[Guest nraforlife]

Better watch it y'all. You may get the old tinfoil hat slam for blaming the poor old government. I FRICKIN LOVE OUT GOVERNMENT, THEY CAN DO NO FRICKIN WRONG. OBAMA IS THE GREATEST THING TO COME ALONG SINCE SLICED BREAD. And I still wouldn't cross the street to piss on most of them if they were on fire...

[TGO David]

Better watch it y'all. You may get the old tinfoil hat slam for blaming the poor old government. I FRICKIN LOVE OUT GOVERNMENT, THEY CAN DO NO FRICKIN WRONG. OBAMA IS THE GREATEST THING TO COME ALONG SINCE SLICED BREAD. And I still wouldn't cross the street to piss on most of them if they were on fire...

There's a difference between reasonable debate and discussion of what the government is doing wrong and chasing black helicopters like some of you have done in other threads.