Free Republic

Goldman Sachs has a lot of friends in high places, including many former Goldman execs. But the company has also made a few enemies along the way to becoming arguably the most powerful firm on Wall Street, including the Chairman and Ranking Republican on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. "In my judgment, Goldman clearly misled their clients and they misled the Congress," Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) said yesterday as he and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK.) released a two-year study on the financial crisis and its cause. Generally speaking, Sen. Levin has accused Goldman of selling clients mortgage-backed securities (MBS)...

Changes in the security situation on the ground in Iraq have become noticeable even to The New York Times, so they are noticed on Capitol Hill. Critics of the war have changed their tune from wanting to leave Iraq because too many American soldiers are being killed in a hopeless military quagmire to wanting to leave Iraq because the Iraqi government isn't doing a good enough job to suit the Senate. Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), a vocal proponent of a quick exit, was probably blunter than he meant to be: They have made no progress... on the political side of...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 — Some key Senate Democrats say they could consider supporting a short-term increase in American troop levels in Iraq, a stance that reflects division within the party and could provide an opening for President Bush as he prepares to announce his revised plan for Iraq as early as next week. Mr. Bush is expected to outline a strategy that would include adding to American forces, but would link that increase to a plan for economic development in Iraq. He has vowed to consult Congressional leaders before delivering his speech to the nation, and he began that process...

CONCERN OVER RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN IRAQ (Senate - October 09, 1998) HON. CARL LEVIN in the Senate October 9, 1998 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, today, along with Senators McCain, Lieberman, Hutchison and twenty-three other Senators, I am sending a letter to the President to express our concern over Iraq's actions and urging the President `after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs.' At...