They told me that if I voted for McCain we'd have an unpredictable madman in the White House who would do anything to get his way. And they are still telling me that!
One participant in [the Chrylser negotiations] said that the administration's tactic
was to present what one described as a "madman theory of the
presidency" in which the President is someone to be feared because he
was willing to do anything to get his way. The person said this threat
was taken very seriously by his firm.
C'mon, Obama is the only guy standing between them and the pitchforks.
Business Insider has more. I especially like their airing of the non-denial denial from Perella Weinberg that they were waterboarded coerced by Team Obama. This is also good:
It boggles the mind to see progressives deciding that because the White
House and a corporation deny a charge, that the charge must be false.
Imagine, for instance, these folks accepting a version of events simply
because it had been put forth by the Bush White House and Halliburton.
But this is exactly what Think Progress and Media Matters are doing.
It's as if their cognitive critical apparatus had simply stopped
functioning sometime in January.
Why is the White House denying the obvious - they took a hard line with the Chrysler creditors and threatened to bully them from the bully pulpit, which is just what Obama did when he announced the Chrysler bankruptcy?
So why lie now? It is not as if the poll numbers for hedge fund operators are looking up; this is a popularity contest, or shouting contest, that Obama will win easily.
A possible explanation - the original accusation was that "the full force of the White House Press Corps would destroy" the reputations of the holdouts. It is not a secret that most of the press will credulously report anything Obama utters, but maybe the White House is a bit embarrassed to be caught trumpeting their awareness of, and willingness to exploit, that fact.
So why lie now? It is not as if the poll numbers for hedge fund operators are looking up; this is a popularity contest, or shouting contest, that Obama will win easily.
A possible explanation - the original accusation was that "the full force of the White House Press Corps would destroy" the reputations of the holdouts. It is not a secret that most of the press will credulously report anything Obama utters, but maybe the White House is a bit embarrassed to be caught trumpeting their awareness of, and willingness to exploit, that fact.
Pithtolas?
Posted by: sbw | May 05, 2009 at 10:12 PM
in a "cramdown" where the debtor in possession indicates that the assets subject to secured liens are essential to the reorganization of the estate AND new money is being injected into the Estate.
Right. And FIAT is spinning off all of its car business into a new entity, which they hope will also include Opel.
The only new money in the deal is from the US Feds.
Chrysler has tried to sell anything and everything to others, and there were no takers. Honda turned them down in under 24 hours. Not even the Chinese bid for various powertrains. The only "bidder" was FIAT, who offered no cash.
The only cash I have seen from this putative deal is from Obama.
Posted by: DrJ | May 05, 2009 at 10:13 PM
Getting rid of Chrysler only costs us 7.5B? A bargain. Can we declare no give backs? They have to take Gettlefinger too though...
Posted by: Gmax | May 05, 2009 at 10:13 PM
but disbarment might keep lawyers from ever giving advice that the Administration might not like.
Worse yet is try to figure what advise this schizo admin wants. Their positions change on a whim... or a poll...
Posted by: bad | May 05, 2009 at 10:14 PM
OK I'll bite.
p3wnd?
Posted by: Old Lurker | May 05, 2009 at 10:16 PM
I like pithtolas,sbw.
GMax you have a point..let's throw in Specter, too. It appears the only bipartisan agreement on the Hill is that he's an S.O.B.
Posted by: clarice | May 05, 2009 at 10:18 PM
p3wnd = owned. A mostly slacker convention riffing off the miskeying and generally inability to spell or check anything they post onto the internet.
Posted by: Gmax | May 05, 2009 at 10:19 PM
glasater, you have really hurt Blago's reputation. He probably didn't want that association brought to light...
Posted by: bad | May 05, 2009 at 10:21 PM
where do you have room in your brain to store that definition?
Posted by: Old Lurker | May 05, 2009 at 10:22 PM
"...who knows its a Clinton appointee."
Aren't the BK judges appointed by the respective Circuit Courts of Appeals? I think some knowledgeable person said that here the other day. Anyhow, from what I've been able to read about this guy he doesn't seem political one way or the other.
Will we be starting a post-BK pool about when the NYT will run its first piece on "Chrysler Rises, Phoenix-like; Outlook, Performance Better Than Expected?"
Posted by: Danube of Thought | May 05, 2009 at 10:24 PM
bad~
I was thinking about the expression on Zero's face.
Is that the "chicago" expression?
Posted by: glasater | May 05, 2009 at 10:25 PM
That's "hacker" thank you very much. OL, that's what's called "3l337" (read "elite" via "eleet") and is an in-group lingo from the computer world. "pwn3d" -> "pwned" by mapping "3" to "e" -> "owned" via an obvious typo.
Pronounciation varies; I favor "pooned" because its obvious that "pwn" must rhyme with "cwm".
Which is a real English word. You can look it up.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | May 05, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Hey, I'm not a slacker! Well, hardly ever. Well, maybe sometimes. But, I'm not a slacker!
Posted by: Sue | May 05, 2009 at 10:27 PM
glasater, I thought hillary used to look mean in candid photos, but O beats her.
ha ha, I like the way that sounds, especially if she returns the favor.
Posted by: bad | May 05, 2009 at 10:28 PM
See? I "pwn3d" myself. A typo within a typo. Am I good or what?
Posted by: Sue | May 05, 2009 at 10:29 PM
I feel like I've dropped into a parallel universe! Friends I have been reading for months/years are speaking pig latin!
Posted by: Old Lurker | May 05, 2009 at 10:29 PM
DoT-
Will the New York Times still have a print edition by then?
ION-Seems that "someone familiar" with the stress test results is leaking them-BoA specifically-in time to catch Asian markets open.
Posted by: RichatUF | May 05, 2009 at 10:30 PM
See? I "pwn3d" myself. A typo within a typo. Am I good or what?
hey, that's part of the point: how far can you carry it and still be intelligable?
And OL, as the computer thing goes on, it gets worse: next you find yourself saying things like "Grothendieck topoi".
On purpose.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | May 05, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Since this a rather fluid thread, hope you don't mind if I change to another topic . . .
I saw Pam Geller was on Hannity as part of the "Great American Panel" tonight.
I think we need Clarice and DoT on there too! (Oh, and lots of others, but I would take too long to list everyone).
How do we pressure Sean to expand his blogging universe to include some of our very esteemed JOMers?
Posted by: centralcal | May 05, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Well, what could go wrong with this?
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama and Democratic lawmakers reached agreement on Tuesday on a legislative proposal designed to stimulate U.S. auto sales, which have fallen to near 30-year lows.
The one-year plan crafted by members of the U.S. House of Representatives would offer vouchers worth up to $4,500 for owners to replace their less fuel efficient vehicles for models that get better gas mileage.
The goal of the "cash for clunkers" legislation is to sell 1 million vehicles.
"By stimulating consumer demand for new vehicles, this proposal will directly benefit domestic autoworkers and automotive manufacturers, which have arguably been hardest hit by the current economic downturn," said Rep. John Dingell, a Michigan Democrat and staunch industry ally.
House Majority leader Steny Hoyer has embraced the proposal and said in an interview with Reuters in April that the measure would be acted upon quickly once proposed.
Posted by: Pofarmer | May 05, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Is that Indian?
Posted by: Old Lurker | May 05, 2009 at 10:37 PM
Hardly shocking that Harry Reid's word wouldn't be worth much.
More shocking that Specter would have believed him.
Posted by: PD | May 05, 2009 at 10:50 PM
"where do you have room in your brain to store that definition?"
Right next to "teh funny"
Posted by: PD | May 05, 2009 at 10:50 PM
The one-year plan crafted by members of the U.S. House of Representatives would offer vouchers worth up to $4,500 for owners to replace their less fuel efficient vehicles for models that get better gas mileage.
I like the word "crafted" in that description, as if any proposal coming out of Congress these days has an ounce of forethought or consideration for whether it has any merit.
Posted by: PD | May 05, 2009 at 10:53 PM
Pofarmer-
And if you act now, you can get 0% financing with bad credit from Zombiegroup.
Posted by: RichatUF | May 05, 2009 at 10:57 PM
I'm still trying to decode Charlie's last!
Posted by: Old Lurker | May 05, 2009 at 11:03 PM
Pofarmer,
It's becoming rather amusing to watch the (D)irty Fascists flounder. Banks are tightening the Obum debt serf's FICO choke chains fairly firmly. Ogabe's reparations promises will remain just out of the reach of the fools who believed him, whether it's that 3BR 2BA or the new car - or extended credit. The average amount currently financed on a new car is $26,268. Take off the $4,500 Fascist Bribe and the standard Obum is still about a parsec away from driving off the lot in a rusty Widowmaker.
I wonder if trading a Hummer in on a Ford Navigator or Toyota Land Cruiser would qualify? That might make sense.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | May 05, 2009 at 11:11 PM
It's actually a Dutch name with a Greek word. "Topoi" is the plural of "topos", which is the same root as "topology". It started out as a generalization of geometry and topology, and then worked its way out to be a general model of logic.
This is why my bosses at work say things like "does everything have to be like a math class"?
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | May 05, 2009 at 11:12 PM
Explaining the relationship to cryptography hardly seems necessary.
Posted by: boris | May 05, 2009 at 11:23 PM
Niters,JOM.
Posted by: clarice | May 05, 2009 at 11:24 PM
Rich,
More on the Santos Basin deepwater plays. Exxom, BP and Chevron are still drilling away. How long can Goldman Sachs keep the oil price rigging going?
Posted by: Rick Ballard | May 05, 2009 at 11:25 PM
Hardly shocking that Harry Reid's word wouldn't be worth much.
More shocking that Specter would have believed him.
A fool and his seniority are soon......
I never thought I'd see the day when a disgusting worm like Harry Reid screwing over somebody would give me pleasure. Ya never can tell....
Posted by: Captain Hate | May 05, 2009 at 11:28 PM
OMG!! Rick, I am so proud to have a thought similar to yours!!! I just asked the rest of the bads what they would trade a Hummer in for.
I'm going to savor the moment.
Everyone, drink, please...
Posted by: bad | May 05, 2009 at 11:28 PM
Sweet Dreams, Clarice.
Posted by: bad | May 05, 2009 at 11:33 PM
Poetic justice for Specter! Who'd a thunk the Democrats would change the rulz in the middle of the game that way?
Posted by: JM Hanes | May 05, 2009 at 11:38 PM
'Night, Clarice. Forgot to thank you for the happiest story of the week, viz. Specter's new juniority.
Posted by: Danube of Thought | May 05, 2009 at 11:39 PM
Copied from RushLimbaugh.com
For Narciso... ♥s Ann
Posted by: Ann | May 05, 2009 at 11:40 PM
"Explaining the relationship to cryptography hardly seems necessary."
Guess not, since I have no idea what it meant!
Posted by: JM Hanes | May 05, 2009 at 11:47 PM
Specter really needs to be in the Demoncrat party. Over at Malkin she documents his new misleading “Specter for the Cure” website, which is a slimy front to raise campaign funds.
I understand that Specter in his early days defended Clarence Thomas. He seems to have forgotten all his principals. Maybe, he should be the picture boy for term limits. How sadly they fall with power.
Posted by: Ann | May 05, 2009 at 11:58 PM
Posted by: Dave | May 06, 2009 at 12:00 AM
I'm torn between pity for Ol' Arlen and laughing myself to sleep.
Yeah right..... I knew I couldn't keep a straight face.
Posted by: bad | May 06, 2009 at 12:03 AM
Thanks for the article. I'm puzzled by the cost argument though as somehow limiting development in Brazil. Nigeria was developed with prices in the basement, way offshore, and some areas at 3000 meters. And given a better security environment and more local talent in Brazil, I'd think costs would be cheaper in Brazil than Nigeria. The Chervron project looks penciled in at $11/bbl (a 3 billion dollar project with an estimated recovery of 270 million bbls). But I suppose I'm leaving out quite a bit.
"How long can Goldman Sachs keep the oil price rigging going?"
We never did get an answer about Vitol having all those contracts or about the Iranians parking 15 ships full of oil off Kharg Island.
As for Goldman, maybe for as long as the choke collar remains. Obama needs to sell Dem Widowmakers and he needs $100/bbl oil to do it. With the retiring of single hulled tankers, there'll be plenty of storage space, then the argument will go to how difficult it is to transport to market.
Posted by: RichatUF | May 06, 2009 at 12:04 AM
karma's a bitch, Arlen.....
Posted by: matt | May 06, 2009 at 12:05 AM
Thanks Ann, I really appreciated that, Rush was on fire today, maybe better than his CPAC Speech, defending the conservatives and their greatest exemplar. Of Specter, that line from Animal House, when Bluto and co, wreck Flounders's car, . . .you trusted
us" seems to come to mind. In the LUN, a rather whimsical recasting of the Reagan bear ad with Romney
Posted by: narciso | May 06, 2009 at 12:10 AM
Pofarmer-
I'm too lazy to look up any of the legislation or the article, but my guess is that it will be written much like education "tax credits", which are only useful in a very tight income bracket, and raise the cost of tuition.
The car tax credit (interesting the Dems are for car vouchers for a year but not education vouchers for a child) would raise prices artificially on these "fuel efficient cars" as dealers and customers try to capture the maximum value of the tax credit and the artifical demand from the subsidy. DOubt they'll get a million takers for the next Obamamobile though.
Posted by: RichatUF | May 06, 2009 at 12:21 AM
I won't be shedding any tears for Specter at his treatment in the Dem party. But I do wonder what this gains them. What is the benefit of treating your new convert like dirt? Seems like that could backfire.
Posted by: PD | May 06, 2009 at 12:25 AM
Rich,
It looks like Chavez is taking Venezuela to cash in advance status. Kicking the props out from under that phony $53 price should put him under.
When I look at that 270 million barrel estimated recovery, my mind wanders to the early North Slope predictions which were surpassed some time (fifteen years?) ago and the North Sea fields "drying up" (as Norway just keeps leasing and drilling and pumping). The big boys show only the cards necessary to justify the initial investment, always keeping eight aces and four kings tucked away for use when necessary.
The Oil Drum propagandists have been babbling about deep water high costs ever since they began promoting the Peak Oil scam. They can even draw up very pretty charts proving that it's just impossible to turn a buck in deep water. If the fools at Chevron and Exxom and BP would just pay attention to the very well credentialed morons pimping for the fascists they would start building my SoLunar Windmills tomorrow.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | May 06, 2009 at 12:25 AM
Fox News:Chrysler Can Begin Selling Assets to Fiat
So it is all over for the dissident group?
Posted by: Alien | May 06, 2009 at 12:41 AM
Explaining the relationship to cryptography hardly seems necessary.
Well, yeah, but I agree with the general notion that coding theory and cryptography is handled adequately by traditional algebras over a finite field. I looked at that Notre Dame guy's stuff and at least at first glance didn't see where the topological approach told us anything new.
But then I am rather conservative abut this stuff.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | May 06, 2009 at 12:52 AM
You are welcome, Narciso. I think the best thing for the Republican party is for someone to drive a big scary FORD truck with hugh tires and a very large American flag and scream F.R.E.E.D.O.M.!!!
By the way, is anyone adding up the tax payer dollars that will be contributing to the Demoncrats. It appears that Michelle Obama just told us of another 50 million:
Michelle Obama Announces $50 Million Fund for Nonprofits
Where do you even begin to figure out what country she grew up in. I quess we should all be high on big bird. Right?
Posted by: Ann | May 06, 2009 at 01:19 AM
“Rarely do we urge them to stop and think about what their passion is, what kind of life they want to live, what kind of neighbors and colleagues and parents they want to be. In doing so, we, as a society, often miss out on their creativity, their inventiveness, their resourcefulness– and some really good ideas!
Why must the Obamas constantly speak of their parenting faults?
HELLOOOOOOOO!!! You don't miss out on so much if you don't outsource the job......
Posted by: bad | May 06, 2009 at 01:26 AM
“We push our young people to strive for things, an advanced degree, a job title, a big salary," she says, according to prepared remarks released by the White House.
“Rarely do we urge them to stop and think about what their passion is, what kind of life they want to live, what kind of neighbors and colleagues and parents they want to be.
Uh, maybe they thought the degree, the title, the salary would help them achieve their dreams?
I guess living your own life the way you want doesn't count. You must do The Obama Way. Sheesh. What control freaks.
Posted by: PD | May 06, 2009 at 01:44 AM
You'd think someone who wears $540 sneakers and $775 gardening boots would be more appreciative and respectful of big salaries.
Those puppies don't grow on trees....
Posted by: bad | May 06, 2009 at 01:54 AM
Dave~
Nice "piece" there on Zero. You fixed the picture. I'll never get over the expression on his face. Window to his character.
And Bad--keep beating the MO as Imelda drum. I love it and she deserves the whacks;)
Posted by: glasater | May 06, 2009 at 02:49 AM
LUN
Posted by: bad | May 06, 2009 at 03:10 AM
Once upon a time when Jap car import threatened to BK Detroit Ronny persuaded Japs to “voluntarily” limit their car import. Detroit survived and flourished, for a while.
Japs (plus Hyundai, DB, VW, BMW) build uninionised transplant car assembly plants in right-to-work states, and again are driving Detroit to BK.
What is rational thing to government to do? Persuade transplants to limit their US production. Sure thing, trans will have windfall profits, but Detroit will survive (we need cars, right? And Detroit is making about 50%). Naturally, US consumers will pay premium for UAW and reorganization of Detroit for pay-as-you-go pension system.
But noooo, OB predictably choose the worst and most damaging to whole economy option.
Posted by: AL | May 06, 2009 at 06:18 AM
Arlen Specter,"Sold his birthright for a mess of pottage".
Posted by: PeterUK | May 06, 2009 at 06:31 AM
The picture of the O Man could have come straight from "American Gangster".
Posted by: PeterUK | May 06, 2009 at 06:34 AM
American Gangster
Posted by: PeterUK | May 06, 2009 at 07:26 AM
The car tax credit (interesting the Dems are for car vouchers for a year but not education vouchers for a child)
I don't read it as a tax credit, but, hell, who knows, it's just another 10 billion or so(with administration) in spending. Oh, and it's all, every bit of it, deficit spending. It's like they polled socialist high schoolers for economic policy.
Posted by: Pofarmer | May 06, 2009 at 07:53 AM
Oh, and I'm heartened by Limbaughs support for Sarah Palin.
Posted by: Pofarmer | May 06, 2009 at 07:56 AM
I think you're right about Anastasia's sister, bad.
Posted by: The Spy Who Sverdlovsk's Me | May 06, 2009 at 07:59 AM
Well he is a Missourian through and through,
and despite all wealth and success, he hasn't forgotten where he comes from.
Although somebody explain Claire McKaskill and Harriet Woods, to me, they don't seem to be from the same 'state of mind' He's made it quite clear, I believe it was on a Barbara Walters interview' He 'loves Sarah Palin' the deity of Hot Air dinged him for that, because that's what cynical atheists
are won't to do,
Posted by: narciso | May 06, 2009 at 08:22 AM
Claire McCaskill has obviously spent too many years around the crazy moonbat liberals in our own prog heavens.
Posted by: Pofarmer | May 06, 2009 at 08:25 AM
Oh, and I'm heartened by Limbaughs support for Sarah Palin.
Me, too. I think he's sorry for the way he played it last time, never getting behind a primary candidate until it was too late. He could have helped Fred, for example, but chose not to, even though there wasn't anyone else closer to Rush's own views. I bet he has already re-thought that strategy and doesn't want to make the same mistake again.
Posted by: Extraneus | May 06, 2009 at 08:47 AM
This is my favorite thing so far today at Real politics talking about the growing rift at the CIA about the WON:
The novelist Charles McCarry was a deep cover CIA operative for ten years. "I never met a stupid person in the agency," he said in a 2004 interview. "Or an assassin. Or a Republican."
The CIA's war against President Bush was motivated by ass covering, or by political partisanship. But with President Obama, it's personal.
LUN
Posted by: Jane | May 06, 2009 at 08:48 AM
He could have helped Fred, for example, but chose not to, even though there wasn't anyone else closer to Rush's own views. I bet he has already re-thought that strategy and doesn't want to make the same mistake again.
Eh, I'd have rather had Fred than the backstabber we got but Fred was his worst enemy when it came to generating any positive inertia in the primaries. We got Reagan and GWB without Rush being a "kingmaker" and I'd prefer to keep it that way. Let the morons on the other side have Olberdunce and Tweety making abject fools of themselves drooling over Il Douche and how they're so emotionally invested in a stammering imbecile.
Don't get me wrong though; I'm glad he's supporting Palin at this stage only because she needs support in view of the unhinged attacks against her, led by the two quislings mentioned above and her former running-mate's ignorant daughter.
Posted by: Captain Hate | May 06, 2009 at 09:12 AM
AL-
Blaming the US automakers problems on foreign competition misses the mark. GM can build and sell, profitably, cars all around the world-except in the US. Ford can too. Chrysler should be liquidated but it looks like the bankruptcy "sale" to Fiat is going to proceed and the judge is going to force the release of the holdouts names so the Obamathugs can protest (or burn down) their houses. The US automakers problem is the UAW-and the welfare state culture the UAW has infused in the US automakers workforce.
The late-90's to mid-00's when gas was dirt cheap and credit flowed easily just papered over the structural problems to another day.
Posted by: RichatUF | May 06, 2009 at 09:13 AM
Jane, this was interesting in your linked article: Other Western intelligence services regard the Obama administration with contempt and rising concern, an officer of the DGSE, France's military intelligence agency, told my friend Jack Wheeler (the real life Indiana
Jones) last week.
"All of us in our little community are worried -- us, our friends in Berlin, London, Tel Aviv," the DGSE officer told Jack. "It is not like the barbarians at the gates. It is every barbarian horde in the world being told there are no gates."
Too bad this is so important international security-wise because there are plenty of CIA people who should fall on their swords for their part in getting BammerChavez elected. Contrary to what McCarry believes, I think there are some really stupid people there.
Posted by: Captain Hate | May 06, 2009 at 09:23 AM
Is there any way for Ford to deunionize, Rich?
Jane, I think the CIA will get Obama one way or another. He's too much like them for them to tolerate.
Posted by: What? Me, Work? | May 06, 2009 at 09:24 AM
I think by his own definition, and that of every moonbat in America, President Obama is torturing the secured creditors in the Chrysler matter. Let the prosecutions begin!
Posted by: Jane | May 06, 2009 at 09:24 AM
It's like they polled socialist high schoolers for economic policy
Here are some of the names you never hear about who are writing the communist policy Obama is installing.
Trevor Loudon and RBO have written about or mentioned the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) numerous times in relation to any number of individuals associated with or connected to the Communist Party USA or other “socialist” organizations — and Barack Obama.
There is a lot more than one name in the Article. At some point, IMO, Americans will begin to notice just how many of the people writing the policies Obama is implementing are pure, long time, Communists.
Posted by: pagar | May 06, 2009 at 09:29 AM
McCarry was writing of the 50s and 60s, in his Paul Christopher series, when even the Brahmin class wasn't consumed with self hatred. Their track record wasn't great what worked in Iran, Guatemala and Indonesia
didn't work so well in Cuba, Albania, or East Germany. In the late 70s, with Better Angels, he was able to capture the zietgiest
of this new general of repentant liberal, as well as this dark force of Islamic nihilim, which he called the Eye of Gaza, but recognize as AQ. He also picked up on it's Western counterpart, as a contempt for self made men and women, in the political world by part of the intellectual class
Posted by: narciso | May 06, 2009 at 09:44 AM
"Jane, I think the CIA will get Obama one way or another."
We don't need no steenkin' conspiracy theories. We don't need no steenkin' "Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest."
State the case clearly, consistently, repeatedly, and the foolish house of cards will implode.
Posted by: sbw | May 06, 2009 at 09:46 AM
It's been about 40 years since McCarry left the CIA.
Posted by: Elliott | May 06, 2009 at 09:47 AM
pagar,
Americans will begin to notice just how many of the people writing the policies Obama is implementing are pure, long time, Communists.
I wish I thought so too. I don't. The only way some of these people will find out is if they do what we have done. Find out on our own. The MSM will not willingly sell this tool out. And our republican party is strangely silent when they should be shouting some of this stuff.
Posted by: Sue | May 06, 2009 at 09:52 AM
sbw, I wish you were right, but in this media environment your plan will not work. It'll take something blockbuster. Someone has the goods on Obama and is just waiting for this excess of adulation to wane.
Look, this thuggishness about Chrysler is criminal, and where's the outrage? Stating your case clearly, repeatedly and consistently will get you a visit from ACORN thugs.
Posted by: What? Me, Worry? | May 06, 2009 at 10:05 AM
our republican party is strangely silent
IMO it's cultural not political.
That's why better PR and fighting back wouldn't have worked any better for W.
Posted by: boris | May 06, 2009 at 10:08 AM
I think one of the most frightening things I've read recently is that the secured debtor targets of Obama's threats wanted to keep their identities secret. From the President of the United States, mind you.
Posted by: What? Me, Weep? | May 06, 2009 at 10:08 AM
"Stating your case clearly, repeatedly and consistently will get you a visit from ACORN thugs."
It is not my wish to get that visit, but if they visit, I will deal with it. I stood up editorially when newspapers were threatened for running cartoons some zealots found offensive. I stand up now, along with anyone wise enough to know what principles are important and why.
To use any alternative means to bring down this administration is to bring down along with it the system we wish to preserve.
Posted by: sbw | May 06, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Frankly, threatening SEC, and IRS investigations, is far worse than bugging a political opponent's phone. The one is individual criminality, the other, institutionalized criminality. So, where's the outrage. I grant you, a few are outraged. And impotent, too, I might add.
Posted by: What? Me, Wring my Hands? | May 06, 2009 at 10:12 AM
The only way some of these people will find out is if they do what we have done.
The vehicle for this, and just about everything else, is the Tea Parties.
Posted by: Jane | May 06, 2009 at 10:15 AM
You misunderstand me, sbw; I don't expect whoever has the blockbuster stuff to try to backstab Obama in the manner in which Bush was backstabbed. Bush had to be the victim of a manufactured case because, in fact, his hands were clean. But Obama's are as dirty as Lady Macbeth's and just as impossible for him to cleanse.
BTW, Scary has another conniption about Valerie in his latest column. It's pretty amusing to read.
Posted by: What? Me, Whisper? | May 06, 2009 at 10:15 AM
The vehicle for this, and just about everything else, is the Tea Parties.
Absolutely.
Posted by: Sue | May 06, 2009 at 10:17 AM
This seems like a good place to drop this link from HA about the madman Obama Administration deciding that, since the Iranian nuclear program is too hard to tackle, it is Israel's nuclear program which is the real problem.
As always, the American Thinker has an old article of a previous disarmerment (though the straight line is to Pakistan) but with a little work could be expanded to include the leftover lefts attempts (very curious that we haven't gotten any backstory on the Columbia student Obama and what he might have done for the "anti-apartheid" movement when there) to turn Israel into apartheid South Africa.
Never thought the world would get this dangerous this fast.
Posted by: RichatUF | May 06, 2009 at 10:18 AM
AL, if you wouldn't say "nigger", don't say "jap."
And if you would say "nigger", get out.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | May 06, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Pagar,
Interesting how many of those mentioned in your link never had a proper day job.
Posted by: PeterUK | May 06, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Never thought the world would get this dangerous this fast.
He was the one our enemies have been waiting for.
Posted by: Captain Hate | May 06, 2009 at 10:27 AM
SBW, Barone today might hearten you:
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | May 06, 2009 at 10:32 AM
The only possible limit on the White House’s power is the bankruptcy judge, who might not go along.
Let's hope he hasn't studied Kenyan bankruptcy law.
Posted by: Pofarmer | May 06, 2009 at 10:42 AM
OT--
See this: US Temperatures Driven by U.S. Postal Charges
Where is Kim when you need her?
Posted by: Fresh Air | May 06, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Is FIAT going to finance the purchase of Chrysler assets with US government money?
Posted by: davod | May 06, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Yes.
Posted by: DrJ | May 06, 2009 at 10:57 AM
" The White House, presumably car czar Steven Rattner and deputy Ron Bloom, is seeking to transfer the property of one group of people to another group that is politically favored. In the process, it is setting aside basic property rights in favor of rewarding the United Auto Workers for the support the union has given the Democratic Party. "
All seems rather feudal and third world.
Posted by: PeterUK | May 06, 2009 at 10:59 AM
Good stuff from Barone, Charlie, esp. this: "We have just seen an episode of Gangster Government. It is likely to be part of a continuing series".
At this point though, if the judge isn't going to seperate out the Chrysler secured TARP creditors and non-TARP creditors, I'm not sure there is much of anything that Lauria can do. One curious thing is that there still isn't a protocal published at the ISDA for Chrysler reference entities?
And for the legal eagles here, in re: Chrysler, would Yougstown apply for the holdouts and Kelo apply for the government?
Posted by: RichatUF | May 06, 2009 at 11:00 AM
This thing is going to be a disaster for the U.S. taxpayer. Think like a banker for a minute. Most bankers would say "Auto? Yick...but at least they have assets." The only attractive financing element of auto is it's hard assets. One of these assets is finished goods, which, thanks to Congress is about to be devalued by $4,500 per car. On top of that, even if the company is hypothetically put into bankruptcy in the future, Zero has already demonstrated secured creditors will be screwed through that, too.
After what Congress and Zero have done here, no serious banker will touch this industry without major incentives. That means the U.S. taxpayer will be guaranteeing, fronting for and otherwise establishing credit for Government Motors and Crapsler pretty much indefinitely. Just add that little multi-billion dollar liability to our negative equity.
Posted by: Fresh Air | May 06, 2009 at 11:08 AM
Jack and Suzy Welch have an interesting article in Businessweek.
LUN just in case typepad acts up once again
Posted by: glasater | May 06, 2009 at 11:09 AM
Wasn't Putin's Russia pulling this kind of stunt? It hit investment very badly IIRC>
Posted by: PeterUK | May 06, 2009 at 11:12 AM
When there are two bosses, you can often get two messages, and that's too bad.
Why are the Welches such proponents of single parenthood...
Posted by: bad | May 06, 2009 at 11:13 AM
"One curious thing is that there still isn't a protocal published at the ISDA for Chrysler reference entities?"
Rich,
I really can't give you a satisfactory answer but I believe it has something to do with Daimler having exchanged all "old" Chrysler debt for "new" Daimler-Chrysler debt. Daimler-Chrysler (Daimler Finance) issues continue to trade close to par AFAICT via FINRA.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | May 06, 2009 at 11:27 AM