Posted on 10/04/2001 5:42:56 PM PDT by truthkeeper
Did anyone watch O'Reilly's opening segment? He's exposing an awful story concerning the shabby treatment of surviving family members of Cantor Fitzgerald, the firm that lost 700 of the 1,000 employees in the attack on the towers.
His guests were one of the widows, Linda Fiori, and a writer named MacDonald of Forbes Magazine. The firm CEO, Howard Luttman (not sure about the pronunciation/spelling, maybe someone can correct), has been all over the airwaves crying and carrying on the past couple of weeks about how he is desperately trying to help the stricken families. (I personally saw him on Larry King a couple of weeks ago sobbing away.) The man has been begging for business and donations, saying he's pledging 25% of future business for the families. He presented them as a close-knit, devoted, and caring group; "we're like a family here."
Mrs. Fiore, however, revealed that she has never been contacted by Luttman, even after she called his house and spoke to his wife (or possibly the maid; in any event she was told "I'll have him call you back."). She hasn't received a dime of money from Cantor Fitzgerald, and not one person from the firm came to her husband's funeral, even after she sent the obituary to them. Furthermore, O'Reilly revealed that all paychecks had been stopped four days after the attack. It doesn't look like any money is forthcoming, not even the bonuses these people already earned. Mrs. Fiore was desperate, and said she's been entirely dependent upon her family and neighbors who have been giving her money. She stated, "I don't want a handout from Cantor Fitzgerald...I just want a pamphlet or information stating what they will be doing about the money." (My paraphrasing.)
O'Reilly was plainly disgusted. He asked the writer what kind of man this Luttman was, and her response was not very flattering. She said he took control of the company while the previous owner, Bernie Cantor, was dying. She added that, as a result, he was banned from his funeral. O'Reilly: "Okay, I'm getting the picture about this guy."
I can't tell you how bad this story made this Cantor Fitzgerald CEO look. You'd have to see it for yourself...it's quite an eye-opener. (Watch the rerun.)
It says it all, really.
Who doubts the lawyers fee will quietly come out of O'Reilly's paycheck?
"The only other times I've ever seen O'Reilly as disgusted was when he talks about NAMBLA."
Luttnick is just a much larger version of some people here on FR, he is self centered, I have mine, you get yours type. There is not one person here that has not at one time or another, benefited from a helping hand from someone or the government at one time or another during their lifetime. Huge businesses such as the airlines come crying for tax dollars, yet we are asked to believe that the business and professional people here have never done the same. I doubt that very much. Somewhere along the line, someone or some government program helped them along.
Mortgage cancellation insurance would pay off the mortgage, irregardless of any life insurance.
You put yourself in an untenable position, you have to live with it. As to your own welfare, if you go back you will see that I said I hoped it continued. What your position is, or how you got there is of no interest to any of us here at FR. When you make statements regarding the lives of other people, it is crass to assume that you have the right to measure their life by your standards, especially when you do not even read carefully what the lady said...
You have a nice night and may prosperity always be with you.
Oh Good Grief .. you lost track .. me and you both .. I heard what you heard she said .. this thread is starting to get out of hand .. maybe I should just bow out of this one and leave quietly
I've been saying for months that the airline industry was due for a monumental collapse. What really got me was when I was watching the news last December and they had a story about the total bedlam at the three airports in the New York area. The delays were so bad (primarily because of weather and equipment problems in the Midwest that kept the planes scheduled to fly the trips out of New York from arriving on time) that there was a group of four total strangers that they interviewed who met in one of the terminals. These people determined that they were all flying to the Des Moines, Iowa area, so they agreed to split the cost to rent a minivan in New York and drive the 22 hours to Iowa.
As I watched this story unfold, I remember thinking to myself that the airline industry is doomed if it can't even compete with a 22-hour drive to a point halfway across the country.
It was starting to get out of hand a couple of hundred posts ago!
Seriously, this is without a doubt the most misinterpreted thread I have ever posted here on Free Republic. I promise to do better the next time. ;-)
(Hint: See #136)
Living in NJ about 30 miles west of Manhattan (my husband used to work in the city and take the Path train into the WTC terminal each morning), the cost of living is quite high, mortgages are ridiculous (my parents built a brand new 3 br, 2 1/2 bath colonial on an acre in PA for 25K less than what we paid for our 80 year old, postage stamp yard, "what's wrong this week" cape) and property taxes are some of the highest in the nation.
We don't go on vacation, we don't have new cars, but we do fine and are comfortable. Maybe not very wise, but we do what we feel is best for our kids, and that means living almost month to month - we do have a little savings. I thank God almost every day for being able to stay home like I do.
Based on what we have, I believe I could probably stretch it two months without my husband in our current situation. Seems like maybe I might have a few life details in common with this widow.
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