As banks falter and markets melt around the world, government officials are scrambling to stop the bleeding. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson worked feverishly to get his $700 billion rescue bill passed and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke gives his economic outlook later today.
We want to know if you would replace either official—and if you would, who would you want to take his place?
Every slimy CEO and CFO that needs a bailout should immediately be fired and be made to WALK THE PLANKS. They should also be tried and convicted and sent to prison.
Everybody should get the boot. Bush is leaving in a couple months anyways, but Barney Frank should resign, as should Cox, Dodd and Paulson. Heads need to roll, and anybody directly responsible, whether of government or otherwise, should be 86'd.
The voters are at fault. They consistentantly re-elect corrupt public officials not knowing anything about the person they are voting for. When an honest politician stands up and tells the truth the voters mock them and cast their vote for the liars.
Well, you get what you vote for . . . good luck with it.
If we had a REAL news media with REAL news reporters this would have not gotten this bad and these phony politicians would have been held accountable. What we have is a news media that is the mouth piece for the Democraic party.
We should clean house and send these Reps. and Sen. to jail for their part in deceiving the American public. I could not beieve that the first bailout bill was going to give 20 billion to that democratic created group, ACORN. That group has got to be one most dishonest oraganizations in the country, except for the House and the Senate. Everyone connected to ACORN past and present should be tried 7 convicted and sent away for a very long time.
The Democratic Congress should be indicted for fraud and negligance for ignoring the warnings and allowing the failure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and then our economy.
Barney Frank and Christopher Dodd need to hand over their asets to the American taxpayers.
Senator Harry Reid should be made to repay the $110 Billion worth of PORK added to the Bailout bill.
AMERICANS NEED TO REMEMBER ON NOVEMBER 4TH, THAT IT WAS A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS THAT OVER SAW THIS MESS AND A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS THAT CAME UP WITH THE "BAIL OUT" AND THAT THE DEMOCRATS TOOK THE DONATIONS.
God Help us all!!
THE PRESIDENT IS ONLY AS STRONG AS HIS PARTY IN CONGRESS, THAT IS ELEMENTARY HISTORY.
PUT REPUBLICANS BACK IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS AND LET THEM CLEAN IT UP, THE WAY REAGAN CLENAED IT UP IN THE 80'S.
So now we're back to business as usual - Republicans pointing at Democrats, Democrats pointing at Republicans, rich pointing at poor, congress pointing at President.
We're 5 weeks away from an election and all we have is chaos.
My question is thus: I'm a registered Republican, don't trust Obama, think Sarah Palin should be president of the NRA (and the USA), but given the current state of affairs, how can I possibly rationalize voting for another Republican (and better still, a Senator)?
As for W, congrats, Jimmy Carter, you're no longer the worst President in history!
Not a direct response to the question but: Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, Harry Reid, Charles Shumer, Maxine Waters The trustee of the social security administration should be replaced primairly by voters. I cannot fathom how these people are elected.
Government should not be in the bailout business. Get them out of the way.
Felix in Mempis
Vote out all incubants especially in house/ They should take those executives that have been appearing in the House Finance committee should be march right off to jail!!!
We need more people in Wahington that are from other than EAST COAST IVY League schools. Let's get greed and power mogers and those from that boys club out of Washington.
Frank, Dodd, Schumer, Pelosi, Reid -- all they want to do is blame Bush for everything. They never take responsiblity unless it is in their best interest. There is enough blame to go around. I hope people can see through their lies. Washington needs a good cleaning!!!
Does anyone have a clue with what is going on? Apparently not, due to the fact the way the world is responding to this 700 Billion dollar bailout plan. I have yet to see a cleary ariculated bailiout plan with timelines on how this will benefit the American people. For those companies who failed miserably, they should not be rescued by our government (remember our government - not Goldmans)and do not desrve to be in business afterall. Liquidate them all while rescuing the American people from paying for this disaster, our so called financial wizards created (isn't that a joke). Regarding Paulson and Bernanake, they're nothing more than smoke and mirrors while thinking we're all fools. Replace them both with Ron Paul who understands difficult economic times by using good sound judgement and basic economic 101 rules. Furthermore, if we were unable to pay our bills we be shutdown in a nano second. Think about it, this is not rocket science!
Frank, Dodd, Reid, Conrad, Cuomo must go and Raines has face the music, for starters, then we need to make a list of the Republicans who let it happen and they gotta go too. Also, fire all those who attended the $440,000 AIG gala at the St. Regis Monarch Beach resort in LA the very NEXT week AFTER their $85B bailout...UTTERLY DISGUSTING. And lest we forget...a heads up to representatives who ever let the Democrats (or Republicans) stand in the way of doing right by the American people....you'll be in the unemployment line right along with us.
Thank heaven the elections are right around the corner. We get an opportunity to clean house. Are any of these guys, Frank, Dodd, Reid, Pelosi up for relection? Also, itmakes me think twice aoubt Sen. Obama.
Kick 'em all out! There is not a single politician from the House to the White House that has convinced me that they have a clue as to what is happening to my pension plan. Let's just start over!!
I agree with Richard Young. I am not voting for a single incumbent and I haven't decided on President. I have always voted GOP, but this year I'm not convinced. I am scared to death and I hear NO hope anywhere.
The American people should be fired for being stupid and voting for politicians who pushed to let stupid people borrow money when they couldn't and won't repay it. This is a big tax refund in the disguise of a bail-out of stupid people not banks. We should fire all the politicians who forced Fannie and Freddie to make loans to people who shouldn't have gotten them. We are also stupid for thinking all the blame should be put on Wall Street, when they did what they'd naturally do - make money on stupid people who took loans they couldn't afford. We need a new political party but chances are we'll continue to be stupid and vote for politicians who pander to our greed and continue to divide us. God please forgive us for being stupid!
Put the whole of congress in pit of snakes. The ones who don't die from the poison are the ones who deserve special attention. They should be hanged. How would a complete freshman congress look?
Barney Frank & Chris Dodd should be prosecuted and held to the highest standard of the law. The socialistic approach to seeing that everyone has a home has landed on the heads of law abiding, tax paying citizens who don't deserve the burden of bailing out failed programs backed by the tax and spend liberals elected by a bunch of the same types who now at all of our expense have been proven wrong. I say kick 90% of them out. By the way the difference between Las Vegas and Washington, D.C. ----- in Vegas, the drunks are gambling with their own money!!!!!!!
The whole system(Washington) is set up to spend, spend and spend more. This is why it is best to have one party in the white house and another in congress. This way nothing gets done, and that's better for America. We all have heard the word "Ear Marks" is that another word for pork? And now that all parties are working together the American Citizen is getting it the hard way. We have laws in place now that should not have let this happen. Are we going to just have hearings or are we going to see those that need to, go to Jail?
The taxpayer's new slogan should be "I'm Madder than Hell, I am not taking it anymore."
Or the first question a taxpayers should ask when addressing a lawmaker, "Can you say tax revolt, I knew that you could".
I was appauld when I read that Barney Frank and Herb Moses were living together for 8 years and said that their relationshiop would not be a conflict of interest? The fool that believes that, should be sent to jail along with Barney Frank.
If I were Sen. MaCain, I would use the above slogan for the new Republican's war cry.
Dodd, Franks, Pelosi,Reid and any other member of the house or senate that blocked the many attempts to put fannie and freddie in order as those two entities were the cornerstone that crumbled and led to a situation that allowed unfettered greed and insane credit rules to kill the system.
Additionally the leaders of those institutions including Barney franks ex that worked at fannie mae ( of course there is no conflict of interest-wink wink)should be pilloried, keel hauled and if they survive that stripped of every cent of financial gains they received just before they are tried and sent to jail for the rest of their natural born lives.
The Democratic Congress should get the boot for ignoring the warnings that Republicans tried to give for the past 10 year plus allowing the failure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and then next our economy.
we need to pull all the CEO's who's companys have gone Bankrupt on Trial and if found guilty they shold forfit all their assets and be sent to jail for the crimes against the people of the United States of Amertica.
3 steps need to be taken
1. Term limits
2 Federal indictments and serious jail time for Frank, Dodd, Schumer, Cox, Pelosi
3. Take away the cushy retirement plans that our elected officials in Washington now have and start making them pay into social security like us. Make them participate in the same retirement plans that the rest of the country has to. Make them hurt like we are hurting. Only then will you see change.
I want our government to make the CEO's and other executives that wrecked Wall Street pay back the billions in their bonuses and salaries. You don't get rewarded for destroying businesses and bringing America to its financial knees, all in the name of unbelievable greed.
The Best Reaction - PULL THE LEVER FOR REPUBLICANS THIS ELECTION!!
THROW OUT THE DEMOCRAT BUMS THAT CAUSED THIS!!!!!!!!!
Starting with OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just keep thinking about elderly homeowners who got dazzled into "Reverse Mortgages" allowing them to draw down equity established in their homes. Now, their home values are lower due to the housing market. Is this a ticking timebomb? When will that shoe drop?
I just keep asking this question. What is considered legal tender in the good ol' USA?
They only want us to keep getting "credit". I PAY MY BILLS! and I'm being penalized.
The bailout is horrible, despicable. But don't blame the ones trying to get us out of this mess even if they are misguided. Blame the ones who got us here. To put it plainly without a bailout there would be no banks open to make our pay checks good on Friday. We all would be hunting squirrel for dinner by Sunday night. Bush & McCain both tried to send up warning flares. Their fault lies in not yelling loud enough. Franks, Dodd, Maxine Waters and the rest shot the warnings down. The same elected officials that caused the problem blew the less than desirable solution by turning it into a circus. Good job with that confidence thing! Yet the Presidential candidate with an even more liberal record is ahead in the polls. Go figure!
And while I’m standing on my soap box: Drop a Government backed Socialist program into the middle of a bunch of capitalist and what do you think is going to happen? A tea party?
Abolishing Business Tax & Capital Gains Tax would be a better bailout. Try and get that past the vote buyers and liberal media.
The Democrats in Congress for crating this mess in the first place. The are complaining about CEO pay when they are the one who got us into this mess in the first place. Secon Obama, his economic plan of tax and spend is a recipe for recession if not depression.
I have been working 35 years to build a business and now that I am ready to sell it and retire, the boys in Washington and the Banks with lier loans on their books are destroying the value of my business by drying up credit. I say we need to get rid of the whole group of political fat cats that encouraged excess lending such as Barny Frank and Dodd and yes Bennett from Utah. Follow the money! Replace them with small business owners.
first bush should remove paulson for not being up front with him.then frank,dodd,schumer,cox,pelosi removed from office with a complete investigation leading back to franklin raines and others.it also seems obama has left a smell on this that needs to be exposed and shame should be brought later to the main stream media for hiding with their collective heads in the sand because it is there friends behind all of this.and last if it is proven that these politicians and ceos knew this and let people lose their savings class action suits should be done with them losing what assets they have or stole as the case might be. they should also be held criminally responsable.remember enron where are the politicians now.this is the biggest bunch of crap ever laid on the american public!
Buy, Buy and Buy somemore. I only wish I had more resources to take advantage of the fire sale in the stock market. I'm an investor note a trader. Now if the Gov't would just put a moratorium on Capital Gains tax for a 3 to 5 year period, you'd see money flowing into the Capital Markets like a flood. The Tax payers wouldn't have to foot the bill for what could only be discribed as bad business decisions of the Capital Markets. Be the kid in the candy store and BUY!
The entire executive branch should be replaced. The republicans are at fault because they only spout thier principals when conveinient. The free market principles would work if people were honest. The lack of regulation by the bush administration and his deficit spending has put the financial future of this country in jepardy. I am not a democrat but at least under Clinton we operated under a pay as you go economy and didnt put the burden of the deficit on our children. The small goverment Republicans have pretty much created a monster. This administration is as bad as the private sector CEOs and are just as criminal.
It is the timing that amazes me. True, Congress was warned two years ago but having the situation explode 45 days before a presidential election...Sounds like the Dems have orchestrated another "October Surprise."
I don't understand why McCain hasn't pressed home an "I'm only one with a proven committment to stop it" attack regarding the economic price we're paying for the undue influence of lobbyists on a corruptible and unethical Congress.
I love the comment by TOM and it's worth reposting:
Comment by Tom
Oct 7th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
The American people should be fired for being stupid and voting for politicians who pushed to let stupid people borrow money when they couldn’t and won’t repay it. This is a big tax refund in the disguise of a bail-out of stupid people not banks. We should fire all the politicians who forced Fannie and Freddie to make loans to people who shouldn’t have gotten them. We are also stupid for thinking all the blame should be put on Wall Street, when they did what they’d naturally do - make money on stupid people who took loans they couldn’t afford. We need a new political party but chances are we’ll continue to be stupid and vote for politicians who pander to our greed and continue to divide us. God please forgive us for being stupid!
We are the ones with the power to pull the lever on election day. The reason why certain "groups" were not allowed to vote was simply because they were uneducated, not because of their race or gender. Our founding fathers knew the dangers of putting power in the hands of people who don't have all the facts.
Now fast forward to modern-day times. Shame on us for remaining uneducated. Everyone in this country knows how to read and research the candidates. It's just that we're too lazy to do it. We blindly trust the media to tell us who these people are (or worse, rely on celebrity endorsements-yikes!)
This whole thing boils down to a question of character. If a person lies to your face about having dinner with a domestic terrorist, or not been influenced when sitting in a pew for 20 years listening to a radical preacher who hates America, how can we believe that he has the best interest of the American people at heart? That is why CHARACTER is the number 1 reason I base my voting decisions on. You will hear the campaigns say that's not really important and those issues are private matters. Based on what I'm reading above, our country is a mess because of thieves and liars who are driven by greed and corruption. If we continue to vote in office people who are MORALLY BANKRUPT, then shame on us. We deserve it.
Tim..you are oh os wrong...pay as you go slick willie pushed this Freddie and Fannie thing to the hilt...Want to talk daisy chain...Started with slick willie and exacerbated by the Democratic Congress over the pas 2.5 years...
I do agree that there should be a balanced budget ammendment..You and I can NOT run our house at a negative...why should we allow our government to
Robert....I have to agree...moritorium on capital gains or at least significantly reduce it..You would see a tidal wave of invetments back into the market...HUGE
This excess has been brewing for many years. Indeed, deregulation added to the ferocity of the meltdown. Members of congress and the senate pressed an egalitarian social agenda through the loan policies of Fannie and Freddie; millions of bad home loans were cut and then traded as legitimate paper. At the same time, consumer spending was spurred by very low interest rates and artificially high home values; American oil and energy needs became a near-total import, we bled cash. When the bubble blew, there was no bottom. We're still in free fall. Yes, Bush's hands-off tendencies and feckless policy-spinning Democrat banking committee members are partially responsible, but so is a laundry list of elected officials who span backwards 25 years or more. Let's give credit where credit is do, we ALL share in this one.
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Peter Osredkar
Every slimy CEO and CFO that needs a bailout should immediately be fired and be made to WALK THE PLANKS. They should also be tried and convicted and sent to prison.
Flap Jackson
Everybody should get the boot. Bush is leaving in a couple months anyways, but Barney Frank should resign, as should Cox, Dodd and Paulson. Heads need to roll, and anybody directly responsible, whether of government or otherwise, should be 86'd.
Dave NY
The voters are at fault. They consistentantly re-elect corrupt public officials not knowing anything about the person they are voting for. When an honest politician stands up and tells the truth the voters mock them and cast their vote for the liars. Well, you get what you vote for . . . good luck with it.
Don
If we had a REAL news media with REAL news reporters this would have not gotten this bad and these phony politicians would have been held accountable. What we have is a news media that is the mouth piece for the Democraic party. We should clean house and send these Reps. and Sen. to jail for their part in deceiving the American public. I could not beieve that the first bailout bill was going to give 20 billion to that democratic created group, ACORN. That group has got to be one most dishonest oraganizations in the country, except for the House and the Senate. Everyone connected to ACORN past and present should be tried 7 convicted and sent away for a very long time.
Moonvine57
The Democratic Congress should be indicted for fraud and negligance for ignoring the warnings and allowing the failure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and then our economy. Barney Frank and Christopher Dodd need to hand over their asets to the American taxpayers. Senator Harry Reid should be made to repay the $110 Billion worth of PORK added to the Bailout bill. AMERICANS NEED TO REMEMBER ON NOVEMBER 4TH, THAT IT WAS A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS THAT OVER SAW THIS MESS AND A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS THAT CAME UP WITH THE "BAIL OUT" AND THAT THE DEMOCRATS TOOK THE DONATIONS. God Help us all!! THE PRESIDENT IS ONLY AS STRONG AS HIS PARTY IN CONGRESS, THAT IS ELEMENTARY HISTORY. PUT REPUBLICANS BACK IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS AND LET THEM CLEAN IT UP, THE WAY REAGAN CLENAED IT UP IN THE 80'S.
Richard Young
No incumbents in congress until they get it right
John D
So now we're back to business as usual - Republicans pointing at Democrats, Democrats pointing at Republicans, rich pointing at poor, congress pointing at President. We're 5 weeks away from an election and all we have is chaos. My question is thus: I'm a registered Republican, don't trust Obama, think Sarah Palin should be president of the NRA (and the USA), but given the current state of affairs, how can I possibly rationalize voting for another Republican (and better still, a Senator)? As for W, congrats, Jimmy Carter, you're no longer the worst President in history!
Felix
Not a direct response to the question but: Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, Harry Reid, Charles Shumer, Maxine Waters The trustee of the social security administration should be replaced primairly by voters. I cannot fathom how these people are elected. Government should not be in the bailout business. Get them out of the way. Felix in Mempis
Dan Petruchik
Vote out all incubants especially in house/ They should take those executives that have been appearing in the House Finance committee should be march right off to jail!!! We need more people in Wahington that are from other than EAST COAST IVY League schools. Let's get greed and power mogers and those from that boys club out of Washington.
Barbara
Frank, Dodd, Schumer, Pelosi, Reid -- all they want to do is blame Bush for everything. They never take responsiblity unless it is in their best interest. There is enough blame to go around. I hope people can see through their lies. Washington needs a good cleaning!!!
Mark
Does anyone have a clue with what is going on? Apparently not, due to the fact the way the world is responding to this 700 Billion dollar bailout plan. I have yet to see a cleary ariculated bailiout plan with timelines on how this will benefit the American people. For those companies who failed miserably, they should not be rescued by our government (remember our government - not Goldmans)and do not desrve to be in business afterall. Liquidate them all while rescuing the American people from paying for this disaster, our so called financial wizards created (isn't that a joke). Regarding Paulson and Bernanake, they're nothing more than smoke and mirrors while thinking we're all fools. Replace them both with Ron Paul who understands difficult economic times by using good sound judgement and basic economic 101 rules. Furthermore, if we were unable to pay our bills we be shutdown in a nano second. Think about it, this is not rocket science!
Oh-I-AM-P!SSED
Frank, Dodd, Reid, Conrad, Cuomo must go and Raines has face the music, for starters, then we need to make a list of the Republicans who let it happen and they gotta go too. Also, fire all those who attended the $440,000 AIG gala at the St. Regis Monarch Beach resort in LA the very NEXT week AFTER their $85B bailout...UTTERLY DISGUSTING. And lest we forget...a heads up to representatives who ever let the Democrats (or Republicans) stand in the way of doing right by the American people....you'll be in the unemployment line right along with us.
Frank A
Thank heaven the elections are right around the corner. We get an opportunity to clean house. Are any of these guys, Frank, Dodd, Reid, Pelosi up for relection? Also, itmakes me think twice aoubt Sen. Obama.
Ray Norris
Kick 'em all out! There is not a single politician from the House to the White House that has convinced me that they have a clue as to what is happening to my pension plan. Let's just start over!!
Ray Norris
I agree with Richard Young. I am not voting for a single incumbent and I haven't decided on President. I have always voted GOP, but this year I'm not convinced. I am scared to death and I hear NO hope anywhere.
Tom
The American people should be fired for being stupid and voting for politicians who pushed to let stupid people borrow money when they couldn't and won't repay it. This is a big tax refund in the disguise of a bail-out of stupid people not banks. We should fire all the politicians who forced Fannie and Freddie to make loans to people who shouldn't have gotten them. We are also stupid for thinking all the blame should be put on Wall Street, when they did what they'd naturally do - make money on stupid people who took loans they couldn't afford. We need a new political party but chances are we'll continue to be stupid and vote for politicians who pander to our greed and continue to divide us. God please forgive us for being stupid!
Ron S
Put the whole of congress in pit of snakes. The ones who don't die from the poison are the ones who deserve special attention. They should be hanged. How would a complete freshman congress look?
caryn nm
Barney Frank & Chris Dodd should be prosecuted and held to the highest standard of the law. The socialistic approach to seeing that everyone has a home has landed on the heads of law abiding, tax paying citizens who don't deserve the burden of bailing out failed programs backed by the tax and spend liberals elected by a bunch of the same types who now at all of our expense have been proven wrong. I say kick 90% of them out. By the way the difference between Las Vegas and Washington, D.C. ----- in Vegas, the drunks are gambling with their own money!!!!!!!
John
The whole system(Washington) is set up to spend, spend and spend more. This is why it is best to have one party in the white house and another in congress. This way nothing gets done, and that's better for America. We all have heard the word "Ear Marks" is that another word for pork? And now that all parties are working together the American Citizen is getting it the hard way. We have laws in place now that should not have let this happen. Are we going to just have hearings or are we going to see those that need to, go to Jail?
Richard
The taxpayer's new slogan should be "I'm Madder than Hell, I am not taking it anymore." Or the first question a taxpayers should ask when addressing a lawmaker, "Can you say tax revolt, I knew that you could". I was appauld when I read that Barney Frank and Herb Moses were living together for 8 years and said that their relationshiop would not be a conflict of interest? The fool that believes that, should be sent to jail along with Barney Frank. If I were Sen. MaCain, I would use the above slogan for the new Republican's war cry.
David
Dodd, Franks, Pelosi,Reid and any other member of the house or senate that blocked the many attempts to put fannie and freddie in order as those two entities were the cornerstone that crumbled and led to a situation that allowed unfettered greed and insane credit rules to kill the system. Additionally the leaders of those institutions including Barney franks ex that worked at fannie mae ( of course there is no conflict of interest-wink wink)should be pilloried, keel hauled and if they survive that stripped of every cent of financial gains they received just before they are tried and sent to jail for the rest of their natural born lives.
James Peffall
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid for starters. The Dems have some truly bright, articulate, leaders who present their views in a positive manner.
david
BARNY NANCY HARRY CHRIS
RC
The Democratic Congress should get the boot for ignoring the warnings that Republicans tried to give for the past 10 year plus allowing the failure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and then next our economy.
Herbie G
GIBBET ALL OF THEM WHO GAVE US THIS MESS!
david
KINDERGARTENERS' TO REPLACE CONGRESS!!
Darin
The Fed, The Congress, The Executive Branch, they are all clueless...
Dick
we need to pull all the CEO's who's companys have gone Bankrupt on Trial and if found guilty they shold forfit all their assets and be sent to jail for the crimes against the people of the United States of Amertica.
Luloper
3 steps need to be taken 1. Term limits 2 Federal indictments and serious jail time for Frank, Dodd, Schumer, Cox, Pelosi 3. Take away the cushy retirement plans that our elected officials in Washington now have and start making them pay into social security like us. Make them participate in the same retirement plans that the rest of the country has to. Make them hurt like we are hurting. Only then will you see change.
Bill in Texas
I want our government to make the CEO's and other executives that wrecked Wall Street pay back the billions in their bonuses and salaries. You don't get rewarded for destroying businesses and bringing America to its financial knees, all in the name of unbelievable greed.
Len
The Best Reaction - PULL THE LEVER FOR REPUBLICANS THIS ELECTION!! THROW OUT THE DEMOCRAT BUMS THAT CAUSED THIS!!!!!!!!! Starting with OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Proud to be an American
I just keep thinking about elderly homeowners who got dazzled into "Reverse Mortgages" allowing them to draw down equity established in their homes. Now, their home values are lower due to the housing market. Is this a ticking timebomb? When will that shoe drop? I just keep asking this question. What is considered legal tender in the good ol' USA? They only want us to keep getting "credit". I PAY MY BILLS! and I'm being penalized.
Tom
The bailout is horrible, despicable. But don't blame the ones trying to get us out of this mess even if they are misguided. Blame the ones who got us here. To put it plainly without a bailout there would be no banks open to make our pay checks good on Friday. We all would be hunting squirrel for dinner by Sunday night. Bush & McCain both tried to send up warning flares. Their fault lies in not yelling loud enough. Franks, Dodd, Maxine Waters and the rest shot the warnings down. The same elected officials that caused the problem blew the less than desirable solution by turning it into a circus. Good job with that confidence thing! Yet the Presidential candidate with an even more liberal record is ahead in the polls. Go figure! And while I’m standing on my soap box: Drop a Government backed Socialist program into the middle of a bunch of capitalist and what do you think is going to happen? A tea party? Abolishing Business Tax & Capital Gains Tax would be a better bailout. Try and get that past the vote buyers and liberal media.
Richard Brown
The Democrats in Congress for crating this mess in the first place. The are complaining about CEO pay when they are the one who got us into this mess in the first place. Secon Obama, his economic plan of tax and spend is a recipe for recession if not depression.
Brent Wood
I have been working 35 years to build a business and now that I am ready to sell it and retire, the boys in Washington and the Banks with lier loans on their books are destroying the value of my business by drying up credit. I say we need to get rid of the whole group of political fat cats that encouraged excess lending such as Barny Frank and Dodd and yes Bennett from Utah. Follow the money! Replace them with small business owners.
keith kennedy
first bush should remove paulson for not being up front with him.then frank,dodd,schumer,cox,pelosi removed from office with a complete investigation leading back to franklin raines and others.it also seems obama has left a smell on this that needs to be exposed and shame should be brought later to the main stream media for hiding with their collective heads in the sand because it is there friends behind all of this.and last if it is proven that these politicians and ceos knew this and let people lose their savings class action suits should be done with them losing what assets they have or stole as the case might be. they should also be held criminally responsable.remember enron where are the politicians now.this is the biggest bunch of crap ever laid on the american public!
Robert
Buy, Buy and Buy somemore. I only wish I had more resources to take advantage of the fire sale in the stock market. I'm an investor note a trader. Now if the Gov't would just put a moratorium on Capital Gains tax for a 3 to 5 year period, you'd see money flowing into the Capital Markets like a flood. The Tax payers wouldn't have to foot the bill for what could only be discribed as bad business decisions of the Capital Markets. Be the kid in the candy store and BUY!
Patricia
Anyone who sponsored, co-sponsored or voted FOR the BAILOUT BILL! "Off with their heads!"
Tim
The entire executive branch should be replaced. The republicans are at fault because they only spout thier principals when conveinient. The free market principles would work if people were honest. The lack of regulation by the bush administration and his deficit spending has put the financial future of this country in jepardy. I am not a democrat but at least under Clinton we operated under a pay as you go economy and didnt put the burden of the deficit on our children. The small goverment Republicans have pretty much created a monster. This administration is as bad as the private sector CEOs and are just as criminal.
Ken
It is the timing that amazes me. True, Congress was warned two years ago but having the situation explode 45 days before a presidential election...Sounds like the Dems have orchestrated another "October Surprise."
Scott
I don't understand why McCain hasn't pressed home an "I'm only one with a proven committment to stop it" attack regarding the economic price we're paying for the undue influence of lobbyists on a corruptible and unethical Congress.
Joan
I love the comment by TOM and it's worth reposting: Comment by Tom Oct 7th, 2008 at 4:39 pm The American people should be fired for being stupid and voting for politicians who pushed to let stupid people borrow money when they couldn’t and won’t repay it. This is a big tax refund in the disguise of a bail-out of stupid people not banks. We should fire all the politicians who forced Fannie and Freddie to make loans to people who shouldn’t have gotten them. We are also stupid for thinking all the blame should be put on Wall Street, when they did what they’d naturally do - make money on stupid people who took loans they couldn’t afford. We need a new political party but chances are we’ll continue to be stupid and vote for politicians who pander to our greed and continue to divide us. God please forgive us for being stupid! We are the ones with the power to pull the lever on election day. The reason why certain "groups" were not allowed to vote was simply because they were uneducated, not because of their race or gender. Our founding fathers knew the dangers of putting power in the hands of people who don't have all the facts. Now fast forward to modern-day times. Shame on us for remaining uneducated. Everyone in this country knows how to read and research the candidates. It's just that we're too lazy to do it. We blindly trust the media to tell us who these people are (or worse, rely on celebrity endorsements-yikes!) This whole thing boils down to a question of character. If a person lies to your face about having dinner with a domestic terrorist, or not been influenced when sitting in a pew for 20 years listening to a radical preacher who hates America, how can we believe that he has the best interest of the American people at heart? That is why CHARACTER is the number 1 reason I base my voting decisions on. You will hear the campaigns say that's not really important and those issues are private matters. Based on what I'm reading above, our country is a mess because of thieves and liars who are driven by greed and corruption. If we continue to vote in office people who are MORALLY BANKRUPT, then shame on us. We deserve it.
Chris
Ben Bernanke should get the boot! Bring back Alan Greenspan!!!!!!!
Crooked Folks
Tim..you are oh os wrong...pay as you go slick willie pushed this Freddie and Fannie thing to the hilt...Want to talk daisy chain...Started with slick willie and exacerbated by the Democratic Congress over the pas 2.5 years... I do agree that there should be a balanced budget ammendment..You and I can NOT run our house at a negative...why should we allow our government to
Crooked Folks
Robert....I have to agree...moritorium on capital gains or at least significantly reduce it..You would see a tidal wave of invetments back into the market...HUGE
Don M
This excess has been brewing for many years. Indeed, deregulation added to the ferocity of the meltdown. Members of congress and the senate pressed an egalitarian social agenda through the loan policies of Fannie and Freddie; millions of bad home loans were cut and then traded as legitimate paper. At the same time, consumer spending was spurred by very low interest rates and artificially high home values; American oil and energy needs became a near-total import, we bled cash. When the bubble blew, there was no bottom. We're still in free fall. Yes, Bush's hands-off tendencies and feckless policy-spinning Democrat banking committee members are partially responsible, but so is a laundry list of elected officials who span backwards 25 years or more. Let's give credit where credit is do, we ALL share in this one.