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Cheap Political Theater (Thomas Sowell)
Jewish World Review ^ | March 24, 2009 | Thomas Sowell

Posted on 03/23/2009 6:57:21 PM PDT by jazusamo

Death threats to executives at AIG, because of the bonuses they received, are one more sign of the utter degeneration of politics in our time.

Congressman Barney Frank has threatened to summon these executives before his committee and force them to reveal their home addresses— which would of course put their wives and children at the mercy of whatever kooks might want to literally take a shot at them.

Whatever the political or economic issues involved, this is not the way such issues should be resolved in America. We are not yet a banana republic, though that is the direction in which some of our politicians are taking us— especially those politicians who make a lot of noise about "compassion" and "social justice."

What makes this all the more painfully ironic is that it is precisely those members of Congress who have had the most to do with creating the risks that led to the current economic crisis who are making the most noise against others, and summoning people before their committee to be browbeaten and humiliated on nationwide television.

No one pushed harder than Congressman Barney Frank to force banks and other financial institutions to reduce their mortgage lending standards, in order to meet government-set goals for more home ownership. Those lower mortgage lending standards are at the heart of the increased riskiness of the mortgage market and of the collapse of Wall Street securities based on those risky mortgages.

(Excerpt) Read more at jewishworldreview.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Front Page News; Government
KEYWORDS: 111th; aig; bonus; democratbrownshirts; democratcongress; democrats; dodd; frank; sowell; thomassowell
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To: clamper1797
We really should drag Barney Frank before the American people and horse whip him. Every member of Congress that mosey’s up to a microphone and advocates unconstitutional actions against private citizens should be put on display on the national mall in stockades. DemoRATs and Republicans alike have descended to the level of heretics.
21 posted on 03/23/2009 7:23:14 PM PDT by bitterohiogunclinger (America held hostage - day 156)
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To: jazusamo

Glad to read Thomas Sowell keeping this front and center. The politicians who played a role in bringing about this debacle need to be exposed and held accountable asap.


22 posted on 03/23/2009 7:23:25 PM PDT by corvus
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To: jazusamo

Mr. Sowell understands.
We, the nation, are at great peril.
Even though the “change” will eventually chew up
those who wrought it, millions will pay a terrible price
for their hubris.
The Red Guard? The Cultural Revolution?
They will have nothing on what is coming.
t.


23 posted on 03/23/2009 7:23:55 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: george76
"Many of the bonus were paid to non-Americans?"

I heard somewhere today that it was the LONDON office of AIG that caused them all the problems....

24 posted on 03/23/2009 7:28:06 PM PDT by goodnesswins (Conservative and fighting for freedom and liberty....whether you like it or not.)
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To: jazusamo
Dr. Sowell had better get a bodyguard or 5.

I am beginning to suspect that we have drastically misunderestimated these people.

25 posted on 03/23/2009 7:31:06 PM PDT by elkfersupper (Member of the Original Defiant Class)
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To: jazusamo
We've been doing this for a couple of decades now. Of course, then it was home addresses of registered sex offenders. And no matter that some have been murdered (at home) due to the publication of this information.

Any "right" (and IS this a "privacy" right under the constitution? I don't think so) you take away from anyone without due process of law is a right you never had (or no longer have).

26 posted on 03/23/2009 7:32:09 PM PDT by Clint Williams (Read Roto-Reuters -- we're the spinmeisters | America -- a great idea, didn't last.)
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To: goodnesswins

Apparently, much of the $170 Billion bailout AIG money has gone to Europe and beyond.


27 posted on 03/23/2009 7:40:54 PM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: clamper1797

“Barney Frank is a despicable POS”

I agree and yet this POS keeps getting elected so he can push his hetero-phobic, socialist agenda. Just who in MA keeps punching his chad to get him elected into office time after time?


28 posted on 03/23/2009 7:51:57 PM PDT by repubpub
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Comment #29 Removed by Moderator

To: Clint Williams
Agreed...I think Dr. Sowell sums it up perfectly in the last sentence of his piece.

But to put the lives of the wives and children of executives at risk for the sake of Beltway grandstanding shows how low our political saviors have sunk.

30 posted on 03/23/2009 8:16:54 PM PDT by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo

The Soros-funded Working Families Party and ACORN showed up at the homes of AIG executives over the weekend:

http://www.courant.com/news/local/fc/hc-aig-tour-bus-0322.artmar22202310,0,1283060.story

From Working Families Website:

We’re all mad at AIG. Their executives bear a large share of the responsibility for bringing the economy to it’s knees, and now the same folks are getting hundreds of millions of dollars in bonuses — at our expense. Join us for a field trip to bring them the message.

Schedule:

10AM: Pick up in Hartford
(Working Families Headquarters - 30 Arbor St.)

11AM: Pick up in Bridgeport
(ACORN Offices 2320 Main St.)

Tour and Protest
AIG Financial Products headquarters, executives’ houses.

2:30: Return to Bridgeport
3:30: Return to Hartford

http://action.workingfamiliesparty.org/t/4020/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=551


31 posted on 03/23/2009 8:18:19 PM PDT by Brad from Tennessee ("A politician can't give you anything he hasn't first stolen from you.")
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To: jazusamo

BTTT!


32 posted on 03/23/2009 8:19:19 PM PDT by Earthdweller (Socialism makes you feel better about oppressing people.....)
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To: AdmSmith; Berosus; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; george76; ...
Death threats to executives at AIG, because of the bonuses they received, are one more sign of the utter degeneration of politics in our time. Congressman Barney Frank has threatened to summon these executives before his committee and force them to reveal their home addresses -- which would of course put their wives and children at the mercy of whatever kooks might want to literally take a shot at them... What makes this all the more painfully ironic is that it is precisely those members of Congress who have had the most to do with creating the risks that led to the current economic crisis who are making the most noise against others, and summoning people before their committee to be browbeaten and humiliated on nationwide television. No one pushed harder than Congressman Barney Frank to force banks and other financial institutions to reduce their mortgage lending standards, in order to meet government-set goals for more home ownership.

33 posted on 03/23/2009 8:24:37 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/____________________ Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: tet68

I agree that Mr. Sowell understands that our nation is in danger. I wonder what he thinks we should do about it. I wish he would write about that. I feel helpless.


34 posted on 03/23/2009 8:31:16 PM PDT by cookiedough
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To: jazusamo
"No one pushed harder than Congressman Barney Frank to force banks and other financial institutions to reduce their mortgage lending standards, in order to meet government-set goals for more home ownership. Those lower mortgage lending standards are at the heart of the increased riskiness of the mortgage market and of the collapse of Wall Street securities based on those risky mortgages.

Senator Christopher Dodd has played the same role in the Senate as Barney Frank played in the House of Representatives."

That's why I place these two at the top of the list of culprits. Their role in this should be further investigated, and they should be called in to answer embarrassing and humiliating questions by Congress.

35 posted on 03/23/2009 8:45:11 PM PDT by TAdams8591 (Bush's recession, Obama's depression.)
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To: jazusamo

I had to send Mr. Sowell a note and thank him, he is one the greats!


36 posted on 03/23/2009 8:49:04 PM PDT by gidget7 (Duncan Hunter-Valley Forge Republican!)
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To: TAdams8591

AMEN TA!! BUMP!


37 posted on 03/23/2009 8:50:16 PM PDT by gidget7 (Duncan Hunter-Valley Forge Republican!)
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To: TAdams8591

Exactly right but with the Rats controlling Congress and Pelosi and Reid as the leadership it isn’t going to happen, IMO. Frank and Dodd should be gone, period!


38 posted on 03/23/2009 8:54:17 PM PDT by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: gidget7
"I had to send Mr. Sowell a note and thank him, he is one the greats!'

Bump back at ya. That he is! : )

39 posted on 03/23/2009 8:55:38 PM PDT by TAdams8591 (Bush's recession, Obama's depression.)
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To: jazusamo

Who the hell is Barney Frank that he has such authority?

All joking and insults aside, is he such an incredible expert on these matters that he should be tossing around his considerable weight on these subjects?

If he were not a congressman, would he have the portfolio to get an important job in the banking industry, connections aside, based on merit?


40 posted on 03/23/2009 8:56:21 PM PDT by Darkwolf377 (Obama Fatigue sufferer)
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