NY PROBE MAY HAVE STALLED RATTNER (ratcheting up Obama admin scandals)

NY POST ^ | 7/14/09 | KAJA WHITEHOUSE

[Liz]

.........as a NY state probe into his hedge fund intensifies, Obama appointee Steve Rattner, co-founder of Quadrangle Group, is stepping down as head of WH auto task force after 5 months, replaced by No 2, Ron Bloom. Rattner's Quadrangle faces allegations of kickbacks to secure state pension fund business..... and Rattner's role in influence-peddling scheme.....Quadrangle also manages Mayor Bloomberg's $16B fortune. Rattner's departure is being painted as a personal decision......"With GM's restructuring complete, Steven Rattner, whose leadership and vision were invaluable to the auto task force's efforts, has decided to transition back to private life and his family in NYC, " Treasury Secy Geithner said.

[Liz]

EXCERPT--NY POST--4/26/09--AG Cuomo and the SEC last month indicted political adviser Hank Morris for allegedly steering state pension-fund business to investment firms in exchange for kickbacks. The NY Post revealed that Morris had pocketed a placement fee on an $85M deal between NYCERS and Quadrangle, an investment firm headed by Steven Rattner (chief of Pres Obama's auto-bailout task force). Wolf-Powers, Thompson's former managing director for private markets, was quoted as telling Rattner that any investment firm doing business with the city needs a "placement agent," a middleman who charges a finder's fee. Wolf-Powers has said he never told Rattner to hire Morris. But Blue Wolf did not use a placement agent in 2008, when it landed contracts to invest $63M of city pension money, the Comptroller's Office confirmed. Thompson's spokesman said the Blue Wolf investment was "reviewed and recommended" by two private equity consultants hired by the pension funds. Blue Wolf donated $4,950 to Thompson's campaign for mayor in July 2007. At the same time, Blumenthal, Thompson's former first deputy comptroller and chief financial officer, gave $4,050. By susan.edelman@nypost.com SOURCE http://www.nypost.com/seven/04262009/news/regionalnews/bill__aides_are_penion_pals_166299.htm

[Liz]

Scorecard On Obama Scandals (updated) :

Gov Richardson-pay to play scandal (withdraws)
Geithner-Tax cheat (confirmed)
Daschle-Tax cheat (withdraws)
Killefer-Tax cheat (withdraws)
Solis (husband)-Tax Cheat (confirmed)
Sen Burris lied about "pay to play" contacts
VP Biden's daughter in cocaine bust
Rahn Emanuel (too numerous to mention)
Obama prez campaign accepted AIG donations
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (being there)
Cong Barney Frank, Freddie Mac scandals
Sen Chris Dodd, AIG bonuses, sweetheart deals with Countrywide
No. 2 at HUD Ron Sims (blatant violations of Public Records Act as Seattle area County exec)
Auto rescuer appointee Steven Rattner (massive pay-to-play NY pension scandal) )(stepped down)
Louis Caldera, White House Military Office (ousted for $357,000 flyover NYC)
Obama’s 3 places of birth and questionable natural born citizenship.
John Coyner’s wife Monica Conyers, Detroit City Council President implicated in Detroit bribery case.

Other Dem Scandals:

Rangel-Tax cheat (under investigation)
Franken-Tax cheat (in US Senate recount)
VP candidate John Edwards under scrutiny for love child payoff w/ campaign funds
Governor Blagojevich-pay to play scandal (impeached)
Baltimore Mayor Dixon- indicted on perjury, theft charges
Racine Mayor Becker-arrested for child porn & soliciting minors
Hartford Mayor Perez- arrested for bribery
Birmingham Mayor Langford- arrested on federal charges
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick-served 99 days jailtime
Portland Mayor Adams- admitted he had gay sex with teen intern
Chicago Alderwoman Troutman-plead guilty to tax fraud and mail fraud
Monica Conyers John Coyner’s wife, Detroit City Council President implicated in Detroit bribery case
Tim Mahoney (D-FL) - Offered $121,000 payoff and $50,000 a year job for two years to quiet former mistress/staffer
Rep William J. Jefferson (D-LA) tried on 6 counts including bribery (hid $90,000 cash in freezer)
NY Gov Spitzer - fed's wiretaps out involvement in prostitution ring.
Cong Alcee Hastings ex-judge, impeached/convicted for bribery (elected to House)
US Rep. Carnahan (D-MO) lien filed on home for $17,364 unpaid roofer bill
State Sen Dianne Wilkerson (D-MA) resigned; arrested on federal bribery charges (stuffed bribes in bra)
Carol Moseley Braun nailed for stealing $249,000 from her campaign treasury
State Sen J. James Marzilli(D-MA) indicted for accosting four women (resigned)
Rep Jan Schakowsky (Dem/Socialist--ILL) husband’s bank fraud
Ex-leader of Young Democrats sentenced in Child Porn case
North Carolina Dem activist sentenced in child porn case-involving kids as young as 6
Kerry's Band of Brothers member on-stage at DNC Convention (convicted for child porn)
Aide to Sen Barbara Boxer received/distributed child porn (convicted)
Child molester back working for Democrat in Hawaii Legislature
Wisconsin Dem mayor charged with child-sex crimes
Left-wing radio personality Bernie Ward (possession/distribution of child porn conviction)
Bwaney's boyfriend ran prostitution ring at residence

[Diogenesis]

ALL DEMOCRATS ARE ABOVE THE LAW

[Psycho_Bunny]

Lol. GMs restructuring is complete?

[FroggyTheGremlim]

Yeah, but you forgot about all those ethics complaints against Gov. Palin /s

[Islander7]

Bookmarked for this list.

There are a few additions, the HI senator who got TARP funds for a bank he founded.

Diane Finstein steering money to her husbands businesses.

John Murtha - massive fraud and corruption.

Chuckles Schumer - crashed IndyMac by causing a run on assets.

[Liz]

Thanks-—we are going to run out of bandwidth very soon, as the list lengthens. LOL.

[Liz]

Obama's message of "reason" is designed to bring people together.....his way.

"We haf ways to deal with people who do not listen to reason."

[Dr. Ursus]

Now,now,Rattner wants to spend some time with his family before his prison sentence begins.

[Liz]

As one FReeper posted: Gov Palin’s experiencing “Death by a Thousand FOIA Requests.”

[Liz]

(Sniffle) That’s so sweet (sob).

[SueRae]

well well well. A piece of good news.

[Oldpuppymax]

As a Hussein appointee it is a GIVEN that the guy is a thug of some sort. But to resign like this? He must truly be a crook.

[MediaMole]

The bigger government gets, the more corrupt it gets.

[Liz]

Heh-—nice take.