Kenny Boy Indicted

Drudge ^ | 7/7/04 | Drudge

[OneTimeLurker]

Ken Lay indicted.

[snopercod]

What's the charge? Or is that necessary these days...

[snopercod]

I might also add that now the Martha Stewart whiners can't say, "how come she got busted and the Enron Execs got away with it?"

How precious. You don't even have a clue what Marth was "busted" for, do you?

[Ann Archy]

THANK YOU!!!

[ChuteTheMall GawdSortaMount]

My head is spinning. Can anyone provide a one page summary of the Enron scandal, including undeniable Clinton administration involvement, which could serve as talking points?
Footnotes and links would be cool, as well as admitting any obvious Bush involvement or contributions which will certainly come out.
I'd like to be able to discuss this with independent voters, without becoming obsessed with details or unprovable allegations.
Is this more complicated than Whitewater/Casa Grande, which is now considered to be "old news" and is relatively unfamiliar to most people?
I just want to be able to counter the media's spin with some co-workers.

[ChuteTheMall GawdSortaMount]

In other words, how about the Cliff Notes to Enron For Dummies?

[Robert357]

What's the charge? Or is that necessary these days...

Maybe we should just sit beside the court doors with knitting saying.... Guillotine! Guilllotine! (/sarcasm lots on most)

"....Prosecutors from the Justice Department's Enron Task Force presented an indictment to U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Milloy in Houston on Wednesday. At their request, the judge sealed both the indictment and an arrest warrant."

That's odd! But now for the media hit piece

"It was unclear specifically what charges Lay would face. But the sources said they probably would allege he participated in hiding Enron's dire financial condition from investors, analysts and the public in the weeks before the energy company crumbled into bankruptcy in December 2001."

I wonder if this is from an un-named source exclusive to the Washiongton Post? (/sarcasm)

As we have discussed before, if they have evidence that he hid information from stockholders, throw the book at him. However, I expect the media to point out his connection with Bill Clinton and for someone to lament that Clinton couldn't have provided Ken with a Presidential Pardon in the closing days of Bill Clinton's Presidency. (/sarcasm)

It's the end of the day and I am in a silly mood. Guillotine! Guilllotine!

[b4its2late]

Oh no?

[Carry_Okie]

I have little doubt that most of what Enron did that led to the asset bubble was legal. I also have little doubt that the way it became legal was not. I have serious doubt that we'll ever find a paper trail on the latter. I don't like an indictment on unspecified charges, at all.

[AF68]

"Wasn't it the Clinton administration that helped Enron land a huge contract in India?

Yep. It was a 2 billion dollar deal that went bust. After Lay greased Clinton's palm, the U.S. government (Clinton Administration) backed it with U.S. taxpayer money, and we got taken to the cleaners. Of course, Clinton walked away without a peep from the mainstream media and Andy Rooney. They waited until Bush was elected and then blamed him for the Clinton mess.

[nopardons]

What a plethora of info! :-)

[Robert357]

That "deal" just about bankrupted one of the major combustion turbine manufactures. As with so much of the energy crisis, everything Enron touched lost money. It is hard for me to figure out "where the money went."

I don't think that Key Lay has billions. I don't think Enron has billions. I don't think that Aurthur Anderson has billions. I do think that politicians, plus power plant workers, plus air polution agencies, investment bankers, plus environmental groups, plus companies that manufactured air pollution equipment, plus lawers and lobbyists all shared billions, but considered them valid expenses associated with trying expedite and facilitate what Enron was attempting to accomplish.

I go back to the Wendy's Commercial with a twist....Where's the Money? I would really like someone to tell me where the money went rather than just say Enron stole it, when it is clear that Enron now doesn't have the money.

[nopardons]

WOW...you really ARE the MISTRESS of scut work! :-)

[Edit35]

It's interesting that Enron committed fraud under Clinton, but Bush is prosecuting him. Of course, the MSM will ignore this fact.

Nearly all the corporate fraud which rocked Wall Street in 2001 and 2002 occurred in the late 1990s when the Clintoon administration's Securities & Exchange Commission stuck their head in the sand out of fear of hurting the stock market.

With President GWB's election, the adults were back in charge and as a result we are seeing the prosecutions we should have been seeing throughout the stock market bubble from 1996-2000.

For once, JUST ONCE, I want President Bush or one of his cabinet or aids to STAND UP during a press conference and tell the world that IT IS HE who is cleaning up the mess which occurred during Clinton, but is now being rooted out by the Bush Justice Department.

Sometimes I think GWB has a problem taking credit for things out of fear it would be boasting.

Sure he talks about the great economy but he must grow some balls if he expects to break through the partisan noise currently being slimmed around by the partisan media and the Democrat flackies.

It is really frustrating.

[Edit35]

Of course, Clinton walked away without a peep from the mainstream media and Andy Rooney. They waited until Bush was elected and then blamed him for the Clinton mess.

Exactly.

And if President GWB (or VP Cheney or one of his spokesmen) is too afraid to stand up and tell the media and the world exactly that, that Bush is cleaning up the crimes of the Clinton Administration, then GWB has no one to blame but himself.

As I said in another post, the Prez needs to grow some balls if he expects to cut through the partisan blather that is currently being dumped on the public by the lamestream media and their Democrat flackies.

[Joe Hadenuf]

I can't help but wonder if Lay, while being marched to the joint for 10 years, won't start singing......Loud....

[hoosiermama]

The way it seemed to me is he had a good thing going in the Clinton years and desired to continue it in the Bush WH...Bush caught on and said "NO".

[Joe Hadenuf]

Is it true that Lay let Bush borrow his jet when he was campaigning....I heard today on some off the wall radio station. Not even sure I heard it right. But I wouldn't be surprised if it's BS.

I was only saying that when people are faced with years behind bars, they have a slight tendency to strike out in anger. Regardless of who he may rat out, there is no honor among thieves.

[hummingbird]

Those were all Enron employees with the exception of the British bankers who were in cahoots with Enron. I can't give you the specific dates of the crimes alleged, but it was an ongoing pattern of criminal behavior extending over several years.

Weren't a few Enron employees formerly employed by Arthur Andersen, Enron's auditing team?

[hummingbird]

For once, JUST ONCE, I want President Bush or one of his cabinet or aids to STAND UP during a press conference and tell the world that IT IS HE who is cleaning up the mess which occurred during Clinton, but is now being rooted out by the Bush Justice Department.

I nominate Vice President Cheney! After the Cheney/Leahy dustup, V.P. Cheney just might enjoy the opportunity to deliver a few words! Go, Cheney, go!

[hummingbird]

Is it true that Lay let Bush borrow his jet when he was campaigning

I recall hearing that, too, when ENRON broke the news but I don't know if its true & don't have any handy sources. I do remember it being said that Lay loaned Bush the jet because I thought at the time, what a chickensh*t thing to focus on when so much had transpired during the Clinton years.