Senator McCaskill is on high dudgeon over on Twitter, saying she is beyond mad, and is sending a letter to the AIG CEO. As is usual, when Obama needs someone leading the charge, Claire is out in front. She's posting a note that she and the other Democratic Senators are fed up and want to do something about it. While the media (new and old) praises her for using Twitter and Tumblr, the rest of us are left scratching our heads at her statements.
Claire McCaskill and her Senate colleagues (all Democrats and 3 Republicans) voted for the stimulus package, which had language in it guaranteeing these bonuses. If she's going to get angry, shouldn't she be getting angry at Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi, who wrote the stimulus and rushed it through? Shouldn't she be complaining that she didn't have time enough to read it? She was on Twitter the night before bragging that she and her staff had a full 14 hours to read the full bill before voting on it the next day. Did she not know what she was voting for? At the very least, shouldn't she be out complaining about her fellow senator Chris Dodd, who inserted the language in the bill?
This whole thing stinks of manufactured outrage. From Obama's cringeworthy performance on the Tonight Show to Claire's faux letter campaign, the Democrats are looking to demonize Wall Street execs yet again to give them more leeway to pass more statist legislation. The truth is the Democrats bought their way into the White House and the Congress on the backs of companies like AIG, and now they're pretending to be outraged.
Don't buy it. The Democrats and "Tax Cheat Tim," knew about the AIG bonuses weeks ago. Hot Air uncovered this juicy bit of C-Span video showing Joseph Crowley, (D-NY) asking Geithner about the $163 million in bonuses to be paid March 3rd. In other words, the Democrats knew about it, did nothing to stop it, and only now are acting outraged as a bit of political theater.
I tell you, at some point, this administration and their enables are going to have to get serious about the financial crisis. Attacking AIG when they need AIG to stay afloat is a bit like a doctor yelling at a patient while operating on them. The Democrats made this mess - used legislation to power it, and now are acting shocked because they fear the public won't like just how cozy they are with financial donors.
And while they focus on Rush Limbaugh, bowling, and AIG - the $350 billion in TARP II money goes unmonitored, with not a single meeting about it since January 15th. Geithner doesn't have anyone running the shop at Treasury. The British can't even get Treasury on the phone when they need to. And Senator McCaskill thinks a letter is the way to go about it?
How about she actually stand up for good governance, instead of lamely tweeting that she has a moderate record?
I have been in the Senate for 2 years. I have a moderate record, which reflects my principals, positions I campaigned on, and my state.7:33 AM Mar 19th from webFirst, it's principles. Second, Claire has yet to make a moderate vote without the tacit approval of Harry Reid. And third, if AIG goes under, losing executives who fear for their safety, failing to attract or retain employees, and leading to yet another round of bailouts, will Senator McCaskill stand up and admit her populist street theater contributed to the problem? Or will she meekly vote to print and borrow another trillion dollars? I could care less at this point about moderate or liberal or conservative. I'd settle for barely competent from this bunch of jokers.
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Posted by: Butch Porter | 03/23/2009 at 05:13 AM