Posted on 03/28/2009 1:57:43 AM PDT by Scanian
Death threats to executives at American International Group Inc. because of the bonuses they received are one more sign of the utter degeneration of politics in our time.
Rep. Barney Frank, Massachusetts Democrat, has threatened to summon these executives before his committee and force them to reveal their home addresses - which would, of course, put their wives and children at the mercy of whatever kooks might want to literally take a shot at them.
Whatever the political or economic issues involved, this is not the way such issues should be resolved in America. We are not yet a banana republic, although that is the direction in which some of our politicians are taking us - especially those politicians who make a lot of noise about "compassion" and "social justice."
What makes this all the more painfully ironic is that it is precisely those members of Congress who have had the most to do with creating the risks that led to the current economic crisis who are making the most noise against others, and summoning people before their committee to be browbeaten and humiliated on nationwide television.
No one pushed harder than Mr. Frank to force banks and other financial institutions to reduce their mortgage-lending standards in order to meet government-set goals for more homeownership. Those lower mortgage-lending standards are at the heart of the increased riskiness of the mortgage market and of the collapse of Wall Street securities based on those risky mortgages.
Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, Connecticut Democrat, has played the same role in the Senate as Mr. Frank played in the House. Now both are summoning government employees and the officials of financial institutions to face their committees and be lambasted in front of the media.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Sowell is not only one of the most brilliant living economists, he is also a constant breath of fresh air on the editorial page.
Where are the Republicans in all of this? When are they going to stand up to the bullies?
Cowards, all.
This kind of stirring up of the mob is why reasonable people should heavily arm themselves. This country is being run by thugs and is a powder keg ready to blow. There is no room for rational debate or civil discussion anymore.
Please, God, Let Thomas Sowell run for president
If you notice over the past seven days....every heated thing said a week ago...is pretty chilled now. You could almost go up as a AIG executive and demand a double-raise...and get almost no attention whatsoever.
Sad but exactly true on the first. I hope you are completely wrong on the second. The last is more true than I wished were the case.
AIG was just last week’s Group Hate. Barry moves his targets from one group to another. When his targets start to defend themselves, the way the AIG exec did in the NY Times article, he moves on because the hatred does not stand up to rational examination and it’s time to keep the emotions running high with a new target.
At some point, Barry will select a villain group that will be his version of the Jews under Hitler or whites under an African dictator. In other words, the hatred against them will be sustained, the populist frenzy will be kept at high boil, and nobody will even notice what Barry is up to. If people start to notice his failures, he will blame them on the villain group. It’s been done before.
That's because, in Kabuki theater politics such as this, what served last week's purpose would hurt this week's purpose -- the sale of toxic assets through Geithner's bank bailout. Why would anyone buy them if they're going to be hauled before Congress if they happen to make money in the deal?
So Reid made a statement that he was "putting the bill aside" -- for now, with the implied threat that they could always drag it out again if it suits their purpose to mobilize the rent-a-mobs.
You are correct, Kimosabe.
“The real point is to pander to envy and resentment against people who make a lot of money. Envy is always referred to by its political alias, “social justice.”
“Please, God, Let Thomas Sowell run for president”
I’m with you on this, FRiend.
I wish someone would stand up to the idiots in congress and tell them to go to hell!
Both of these politicians are extremely flawed examples of the rot which has taken over our Government.
There are many more corrupt pols who should be out out of office as quickly as possible..
Barney Frank is one of the worst smelling pieces of Garbage on the Hill. Only a state such as Massachusetts, who gave us Kennedy and Kerry, could dump this foul smelling chunk of excement on our nation.
I live in Maryland and watch as my states garbage Democrats try to reach the same low’s as Massachusetts.
Just tell Barney that all the Homes are Homosexual Prostitution parlors ,Case solved
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