The agenda: About that $700 billion...

jodi, central jersey — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:27:27 GMT

I was never fully in favor of this bailout to begin with. Now it seems as if it is turning into a big waste of taxpayer's money. Not only has Paulson backed out on his word to help recover rotting mortgages, companies who claim they needed it such as AIG are still spending money frivilously! I don't understand why Bush isn't all over those AIG execs! They should be fired immediately via a government investigation. Now Amex wants in. I mean give me a break! This bailout was a joke!!

The agenda: About that $700 billion...

the Pajama Pundit — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:28:05 GMT

Does anyone else get the funny feeling that we're going to discover very soon that the $700 billion has been spent and no one is quite sure what it got spent on?
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Ugh. You would think that some transparency might have been written into the bailout bill. I'd like to know exactly where my tax dollars are headed...

http://thepajamapundit.com/

The agenda: About that $700 billion...

Ron Indiana — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:28:51 GMT

Maybe I don't understand this complex problem, but I thought there would be strings attached to giving this money. There would be government oversight. This is not happening and Bush is no longer involved!!!

If Paulson is giving this money out with out strings, so banks can balance their books and give corporte raises, without helping Main Street, Paulson should be tarred and feathered.

The agenda: About that $700 billion...

Nashville_fan — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:30:10 GMT

So does this change of plans for the use of the bailout money mean that those claims that the taxpayers would eventually recoup our investment was a bunch of bull too?

Is there no end to the lies?

But of course, as long as no individual person is helped, all is right with America - that's what "bootstraps" are for, right?

So ridiculous it hurts.

The agenda: About that $700 billion...

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:31:12 GMT

FR: "Does anyone else get the funny feeling that we're going to discover very soon that the $700 billion has been spent and no one is quite sure what it got spent on?"

Why we ever allowed the Bush Administration to talk us into giving it this kind of spending authority is suddenly looking like the question of the moment.

The Bush tally - he doubled the national debt to over $10 trillion, thereby putting the solvency of the nation at risk, if not ensuring the nation's inability to service those debts.

This so-called national security focused administration has created arguably the most daunting threat to our national survival since the Brits burned the capital city.

Thanks Republicans. Hope you can live off your gardens. I'm off to buy seeds, while our currency can still fulfill that function.

The agenda: About that $700 billion...

cindy, Las Vegas, Nvc — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:32:01 GMT

Yes we are the most influential special interest group in America!!!

Why is no one overseeing this $700 gazillion dollar plan? WTF - ENOUGH - we have lived with this crap for 7 3/4 years. I say get rid of Paulsen, Bernake, GWBJR, NOW! 68 days can't come soon ENOUGH!!!

The agenda: About that $700 billion...

Eric, Salinas, CA — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:32:27 GMT

"Robber" Paulson is the most disgusting jerk we could have given that $700 billion blank check to as he now has reneged on the original purpose of the big bailout, to bailout troubled homeowners with troubled mortgages. Nope he's just gone rogue and is giving charity to his big banking pals so they can give themselves $70 billion in bonuses they do not deserve after their incompetent criminal failure that has caused the worst financial crisis since teh GReat DEpression. This jerky boy belongs in prison. One of the first things Obama has to do is send this thief packing.

Plus the thieves at the White House have failed to provide any of the required oversight and missed their first oversight report. Once again more secret behind the back criminal activity from the crooks in the WH.

Ofcourse he doesn't want to bailout the auto industry because they weren't his pals. He only wants to help his thieving banker pals. Millions will lose jobs if the auto industry goes under and it will be all "Robberbaron" Paulson's fault.

Yes We Did!

The agenda: About that $700 billion...

FULL MOON — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:35:48 GMT

George W. Bush is the biggest disaster to ever hit this nation. What a disgrace. What a fraud. Any intelligent Republican should know to shamefully bow their head and avert their gaze whenever his name is mentioned.

The agenda: About that $700 billion...

Cindy Lou, TX — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:37:44 GMT

I'm all for Obama bypassing the MSM. They seem to be antagonists, not neutral bodies that help inform the public. Obama proved many of the pundits false, so I'm more apt to listen to Obama than the MSM now.

As for the bailout, it doesn't seem to be working. Why give the CREDIT companies more money? We (and they) should be cutting back on spending, for Pete's sake. Credit is a house of cards that's already fallen; let's not throw good money after bad.

The agenda: About that $700 billion...

pat huntington ny — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:37:51 GMT

Let the badly run businesses fail, so that only healthy ones survive - that's the mantra of capitalism, isn't it?

The agenda: About that $700 billion...

Pam in Missouri — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:39:40 GMT

Who is driving this bus??? Where the heck is BUSH? Either he needs to step up and fullfil his obligations as President, or he needs to resign now and we have Innaguration on MONDAY.

This whole situation reeks. I'm reminded of people who didn't pay their bills, they're losing their house so they trash it before the move out. This is criminal. Where is the transparency? Where is the ACCOUNTABILITY?????? Come on Congress... grow some and start driving this process. Somebody needs to!

The agenda: About that $700 billion...

Bad Chihuahua — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:46:10 GMT

No more bailouts. Let American Express fail. Let GM fail. Let Circuit City fail. If no one buys your product, you go under. That's the way it's been since the beginning of society. There's no reason for it to change now.

The agenda: About that $700 billion...

thats a fact jack — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:47:10 GMT

paulson is still trying to figure out how to screw America out of this $700 billion so his buddies can get it all without getting caught.

The agenda: About that $700 billion...

Diane from Illinois — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:49:24 GMT

So far, the Bush Administration has committed nearly $300 billion of the $700 billion. And the Washington Post notes there's no oversight.
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And all you idiot Republicans who blog here, don't have a problem with this? Geesh! Fiscally conservative is only a Republican talking point, isn't it? Regan TRIPLED the deficit and Bush is right on board to do the same. It takes a Democrat to clean things up after a Rep holds the office. Fortunately, America is waking up to this realization.

The agenda: About that $700 billion...

Dem No More — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:50:19 GMT

Thanks Republicans. Hope you can live off your gardens. I'm off to buy seeds, while our currency can still fulfill that function.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA

This is actually funny. Last I looked, most every Democrat supported this bail out including the Messiah. You left wingers need to start taking a little responsibility for the Democratic actions.

The agenda: About that $700 billion...

Phil, Federal Way, WA — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:55:53 GMT

While I am sympathetic to the auto industry workers; I am much less sympothetic to the management of the Big 3 auto makers. They have been fighting against Federal regulations for higher fuel economy for the last 25 years.

As such, Toyota and Honda are way ahead in the hybrid game.

While I think the top executives of the big 3 US auto-makers are idiots, with no long-term vision; it is important to save manufacturing jobs in the United States. (Particularly, the auto industry, which, due to the multiplier affect, directly or indirectly employees perhaps 2.5 million.)

I think the Federal government should help out the Big 3 US auto manufacturers; but with big strings attached. Namely; I would fire the top executives and insist on making higher mileage cars, including hybrids and electric cars.

The point is; the auto industry plays the most important role in lessening our dependence on foreign oil we have to import. If our US cars averaged 40 mpg rather than 20 mpg they currently get; we have to import much less oil and countries like Saudia Arabia have much less power against us. (Sorry George, I know they're your buddies!)

When are our so-called corporate leaders actually going to lead? (Rather than think short-term only; such as "we make a much higher profit margin on SUVs, which will help our stock price and investors!")