Free Republic

NEW YORK -- The Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday filed civil charges against Quadrangle Group, the New York-based private equity firm co-founded by the Obama administration's former car czar. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, alleges that Quadrangle improperly secured a $100 million investment from the New York state pension fund after improper "quid pro quo" arrangements. At the same time, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced that his office has reached a $7 million settlement with Quadrangle. The agreement does not include Steven Rattner, who left Quadrangle last year to join the Treasury Department...

<p>DES PLAINES — Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias is threatening to pull state business from Wells Fargo & Co. unless the bank stops trying to liquidate a company that makes suits for President Barack Obama.</p> <p>Giannoulias made the ultimatum outside a Hartmarx Corp. factory in Des Plaines Thursday. Chicago-based Hartmarx is the nation's largest maker of men's tailored clothing.</p>

Pop By Barack Obama Sitting in his seat, a seat broad and broken In, sprinkled with ashes, Pop switches channels, takes another Shot of Seagrams, neat, and asks What to do with me, a green young man Who fails to consider the Flim and flam of the world, since Things have been easy for me; I stare hard at his face, a stare That deflects off his brow; I'm sure he's unaware of his Dark, watery eyes, that Glance in different directions, And his slow, unwelcome twitches, Fail to pass. I listen, nod, Listen, open, till I cling to his...