Where were the Questions???

I know the stimulus package has passed but is it just me or does it sound like a "Crock of Bull-sh*t" when the same politicians who co-signed all of Bush's crap, now have the nerve, okay, the audacity, (no pun intended), to scrutinize every twist and turn that President Obama suggests? Where the hell were the questions when after 911, the worst attack on US soil since Pearl Harbor, we invaded a country who had nothing to do with the attack under the false pretenses that they had weapons of mass destruction, only to have the world find out that we were wrong and worse yet feel that we are bullies just out for money. Where were the questions when it was learned that after 911, during the "NO FLY" mandate, President Bush allowed members of Saddam Hussein's family to leave the USA without being questioned? Where were the questions when it was discovered that some of the hummers being used by our troops in combat were not bullet/bomb proof and therefore were inadequate protection for our troops? Where were the questions when it was discovered that the families of our soldiers in combat were using their personal money to buy bullet-proof vests and other protective equipment because their loved ones were in battle without it? Where were the questions when Vice-President Dick Cheney's old company, Haliburton, the biggest profiteer of the war moved its base of operations outside of the US to Dubai to avoid US taxes? It's amazing how these same folks who gave $700 billion, "No-strings-attached"dollars, to the banking industry can find every question in the book for President Obama but couldn't seem to find 1 question for President Bush before sanctioning his requests. Some may say they've learned from their past. I think it's more likely that they are trying to protect their personal pockets since President Obama's plan to jump-start America's economy will finally affect those who have benefited greatly financially. Lets face it America's wealthiest families all have ties to Capitol Hill via a family member who resides in the House or the Senate or friends who do. I can't say I wouldn't ask questions either if, like ex-Vice-President Dick Cheney, I had to pay more taxes on my estimated $30-100 million Haliburton fortune! Just one question what's the difference between former President Bush/VP Dick Cheney and former CEO Richard S. Fuld, of Lehman Brothers? ~d-the-VIP

Congress: Stop acting like Scrooge!!!

Does it seem like the government is being extra hard on the auto industry? Sure they deserve to be scrutinized, their poor planning, not just the poor economy got them in the predicament they're in, but the same could've been said for the banking industry. It seems that our government wrote a $700 billion dollar check with minimal fuss for the banking industry while picking apart every facet of the auto industry bailout. Is it a case of the importance or higher value placed on "white collar" workers versus "blue collar" workers? Is our government placing greater value on a banking community who preyed on the dreams of the ignorant by providing loans that they couldn't afford, essentially raping and pillaging millions, all for the benefit of their stockholders and corporate heads versus the car industry who were warned back in 1973, (after the oil embargo), that they should start investing in the research and production of more fuel efficient cars, but instead focused on building prettier more luxurious gas guzzlers? Maybe the governments’ hesitation is truly a case of learning from the banking bailout and wanting to ensure that the auto industry's CEO's don't walk away with $250 million dollars like Mr. Fuld of Lehman Brothers. I can't help but ask myself how many weeks will our government allow the families of auto workers to languish not knowing if their jobs will exist? How many Auto industry families have not bought holiday gifts because they are afraid to use money that they may need for necessities should the bailout not be approved, while our Congress and Senate members shop freely knowing that their jobs are secure? I agree that strict guidelines should be in place to ensure that the government is paid back and that no handful of people benefit royally from the bailout but I also agree that it's time for Congress to put aside the finger pointing and browbeating and roll up their sleeves to create a deal that both the government and the Auto Industry can live with! At least the government can be compassionate enough to come to an agreement by the end of this week so that families, holding their collective breath's until this deal goes through, can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that their job's are a little more secure. It will give them just enough time to finally get into the spirit of the Holidays!

~d-the-VIP

I've Been ROBBED!!!!

I had planned to save my ranting and raving for what I was gonna call "Furious Fridays" but I couldn't wait. Am I the only one pissed that the government bailed out the banking community to the tune of $700 Billion Dollars while not setting perimeters to keep the CEO's who got their respective companies in such dire straits from cashing in?

In other words WHY IN THE HELL is Richard S. Fuld, CEO of Lehman Brothers walking away with $500 MILLION DOLLARS, (his payout), after bankrupting a company that's been around for over 100 years????? Okay, so according to him the number is actually a little less than $250 MILLION DOLLARS. WTF!!!!! If that ain't the Heist of the century, I don't know what is!

Don't get me wrong I could care less about Lehman Brothers as a company after all it was started by cotton brokers, (we all know who picked the cotton they were brokering), and went on to lead the pack in sub-prime/prime mortgages, (this casted a larger net but we all know who got caught up in this mess), while relying on the "Repo" or repurchasing market to continue their big payday. In other words the founders brokered a product made off the backs of slaves, the company evolved into giving folk mortgages on houses they couldn't afford so they could eventually "Repo" and resale the property thus making a handsome ransom. So, let me just go on record as saying I could give less than two scratches on my dogs AZZ about the company but I sure as heck wonder how many other CEO's are enjoying substantial benefits now that they have the security of $700 BILLION U.S. dollars to keep them afloat. I hope you know that U.S. doesn't mean United States it means US, because we tax payers will be paying for it! That means we've made sure Mr. Fuld's $20 Million dollar NY apartment and his $15 Million dollar Florida Estate won't be "Repo'd". Do you think he'll invite us over for dinner? After all we helped save them!



~d-the-VIP