Hello Anderson, and welcome to Pacific Daylight Time; Hello AC360 "at home" in NYC and wherever you are tonight. The bloggers are ready to hit the Road with you.

Hellooo Anderson, Randi, David G, David in IN, Brandi, Esma, Bea, BettyAnn, Rikki, Michelle D, Glen, EJ, Sean, Soldier in IRAQ, Ashley, Isabel, Chris S, Vanessa TX, Vanessa DC, Pati, Gayle, and best bloggers!!!!!
Hope you have great weekend, Erica is taking off tonight...... Randi is here for Erica......... I am forward watch road to rescue right now.

Good evening Anderson, Randi, AC360 crew & producers..all my tweet/fb smartees...Happy monday! Happy Birthday, Casey

So does AIG not get it? I think "bailout" to AIG meant "bonus time". I hope POTUS makes them pay ALL of it back!

Opening tthe Staples center for 40 jobs? I took more than 40 building engineers and janitors to open that place!

I am thrilled to see Anderson in the field. This is when AC360 is at its best.

But...Dr. Phil? Is that necessary?

Hey, everyone: Anderson, Randi, David Gergen, all at AC360, the Tribe and all the other bloggers!
Happy Birthday Casey Jones!!! We love you!!!

As for AIG, I cannot write exactly what I'm thinking about them. I wouldn't trust them to take out my trash.

Hello Anderson, CNN team and bloggers;

Good evening in LA Anderson and wherever you are Erica, Randi and David G. and all Bloggers. Hope all are well tonight. How about that AIG.

Good evening Anderson, Randi, Ali and all my fellow evening conversationalists! Happy Monday! Hope you all had a great weekend!

AIG bonuses? Really? Do these companies never learn? Why would they think that it would be a good idea to take bonuses? Cuz it worked out so well for the other companies that gave bonuses to their top management?

Why can't AIG hand out pink slips instead of retention bonuses to people who don't deserve them?

Evening Anderson, Randi, David G, Kira, Gina, CNN and all you great bloggers out there. Insurance thieves getting bonuses? This is enough to make anyone else sick.

Much public outrage. But public anger should not be allowed to break a contractual obligation. A contract has to be honored, and unfortunately so in this case. Pay the bonuses, but have the recipients re-channel the money into something positive for the taxpayer and for the economy. Pay it forward.

Looking forward to your US tour this week, have fun and keep us informed...it's what you do best!

Hello all. Y'know, it would really go a long way if these financial folks would at least *pretend* that they cared about the American people who are keeping them from bankruptcy. I mean, how hard can it be?

AIG should be sued by the American government over misappropriation of funds. As facetious as my previous sentence sounds, there must be a way to make it sound right... and do it. AIG might be my car insurance company, but this is downright disgusting. Maybe they should be allowed to go bankrupt.

Hey ALL! Hey Anderson, Erica, Davud G., Twitter/Facebook buddies, and the rest of the best bloggers in the world.

This AIG thing is crazy!

Yes the bonuses can be cut off. FIRE the entire lot.

AIG was, and is the elephant in the room. Whatcha gonna do about it? That appears to be their attitude. If the Feds can't find out how to do this – including the Connecticut Legislature stepping up to the plate with emergency legislation, then I give up! Hari Kari? You bet!

Anderson, AIG can do it because those that voted for the stimulus package, including Obama, did not attach any conditons to the money. He shares the blame.

hi bloggers... Randi Kaye here in New York.. while AC is in LA..
Ready to hit the road with Anderson and the rest of us.. our road to recovery... when do you think this road will recover? and how 'bout AIG?? as one of our incredibly talented writers wrote earlier today in a script.. "A I Jeez-Louise!!" Get it? Ain't that the truth!
What do you think about AIG claiming it HAD to pay these bonuses, that it was a contract that was entered into before the bailout money came their way? What should happen to those executives at AIG? Speak your mind. Don't hold back. How outraged are YOU?

Hey Anderson,
I did not know you were going to be in my back yard. We are a popular spot this week the President's coming out this week as well. Too bad it's finals week for me or else I would try to go see him. Enjoy your stay in So Cal!

Good evening Anderson,

More and more it seems that Bernie Madoff is the ‘poster boy’ for the economic rape of America…AIG is now taking the next kick at that cat.

Good evening Anderson. Good to see you on the road again.
Good evening Randi, Ali, and AC 360 team.

Let's us go on the first day on the road to rescue.

I can't believe this!!!! AIG already bounce over to people..... GRRRR!!

Good evening everyone –

Looking forward to "Anderson on the road" this week - should be interesting.

Can't believe AIG bonus situation - I think they broke contractual obligations when they broke the world!

The AIG payouts are obscene, pure and simple. I don't know what else
to say. Weren't there any performance clauses in those contracts?

Meh, I'm disgusted with this stuff in general.

What have been seeing from this economic crisis and a president putting stipulations on our money is the greed, egos of those who for years and I mean 50+ years the mentality of those running the country. These people don't get it, because for all their lives the world revolved around them.

AIG needs to simplify, simplify just like everyone in the middle and lower classes have had to do all their lives...

Regarding AIG bonus payment:

Don't we the taxpayers own 80% of AIG? As owners, why can't we stop these payments?

Obama and his boys can say all what they want to say about AIG executives. Bottom line is it is the govt who owns the company and it is happening under their watch. So shame on the guys who did not put strings on the bail out money and I am not sure why is it such a surprise to them when they have paid bail out money so many times.

Raj

Why cant we take the money back end of story.

AIG makes Bernie Madoff look like a choir boy by comparison.

Not only do these executives need stripping of their bonuses, they also need firing for gross incompetence and the Federal Govt needs to pursue criminal charges.

Are you forgetting that it is ILLEGAL to sue the Federal Government, and now the Fed owns 80% of AIG, so who is going to sue and win??? HELLO!!!!

If your company is failing to the point that it needs taxpayer money and you go out on spa getaways and hand out massive bonuses with said taxpayer money, your company needs to be snuffed. You've not only failed your shareholders, but you've failed all of the taxpayers.

Pay them and then fire them. There are talented people that are waiting in line for a job. Our financial system obviously is broken. It needs to be fixed before it can become stable and solvent. We are throwing money at the outcome of our broken system. Common sense.

The question should be what would of had to happen for them not to receive a bonus and why are they still employed after bringing down the world economy. The fact that they where given all of this money without strings in the first place shows the amount of power that they wheeled

I can't wait for David G. to give his input on this AIG topic.

So, if they don't get these bonuses..they might loose their top executives?..umm, didn't top executive create this mess? If my company was failing, top executive would be the first to go

The government does need to put specific rules in place before any more money is handed over to AIG or any other organization.

AIG executives receive $ 165 million in bonuses.

If AIG can pay these bonuses – Why does the government need to help??
Not only the President was indignant ... Any reasonable person was too!

I think the public needs to know that the AIG money came from the Federal Reserve not TARP. Congress had no say in putting strings on this money. I really hope something can be done going forward.

AIG is a disgrace to the business world. Dbl Standards'; them vs. auto industry that had to rework their contracts. And $6M, to one person? Give me a darn break. Retention Bonus? Who wants any of those people to stay? I'll take the job for $100K. Also,I said, bail out only if new mgmt team put into effect. LISTEN TO ME.

They just doing this because America has decided they r to big to fail. BS..

My advice to all U.S. taxpayers. Find the AIG website, go to the contact tab and tell AIG Board of Directors how you feel about them paying out these huge bonuses. Maybe if we derail their website they will get the message.

Heeeeey! Bonuses are for executives who do well on the jobs not for executive who put the rest of us out of work with the economy like it is.

It really inflames my anger (and I'm not even American!) to realize how AIG will probably justify these bonuses as "These employees made it possible for us to get this money from the American government to keep us afloat, so of _course_ they deserve this money!" It really feels like there's a growing divide between the white collar and the blue collar, and in cases like these it seems neither understands the other (not to say both are making sense... I'm siding with the blue collar on this one).

Hello AC Team and Bloggers! Seems like a great week of reporting...

AIG needed federal money…to pay out bonuses to the exec… who ran the company in financial ruin….. which lead them to need to burrowing money in the first place. Wow. Who wrote those contracts….. Bernie Madoff?

Why is AIG afraid of potential lawsuits if they default on paying out the contracted bonuses? The company should be going to task with the execs that ran the company in the ground.

A “thinking AIG board” should realize any potential war with those parties would more than likely developed into a Senate hearing. Now I think a Senate probe should be conducted on the company as a whole.

I am thrilled to see Anderson in the field.

Lauren NY,
Yes, I am also happy that Anderson in the field tonight..... he is so great!

The government can't control what AIG does or wants to do because AIG is too big and is connected to too many institutions in too many countries.

Greetings Anderson and company...it's as if AIG took President's Obama words about the bonus caps and said "Whateva, you're not my daddy"

good evening! Hi Anderson, Erica, Randi, David and the AC360 crew! i've been looking forward to tonight's topic! I'm very impressed of what you guys at AC360 are doing–traveling to different cities. Wow!

Randi, I think to myself "Whatever". They seem to think we are stupid. They seem to not care one bit. You would think they would figure out by now that they are no longer completely hidden. I can't understand it. I really can't.

Good evening everyone! Sorry I am a bit late, my birthday party ended a bit later than expected!

I cannot believe AIG. They need to be cut off from receiving any more bailout money.

So ... US taxpayers dollares given to AIG have now been paid by AID to European banks like Societe Generale.

Did Paulson and crowd know about this when they gave them the money?

No winder the European governments don't want to add to their stimulus spending, we've "insured" their banks so they don't have to.

It can't be illegal to lay people off when the company is losing money? AIG are you listening...

AIG should not be giving out bonuses. Bonuses are given if you do good, not bad.

Happy B-Day Casey!

Here is a suggestion for the bogus bonus situations at AIG (and others). Just let them take the bonuses. Then enact a change in the tax laws at the very end of the year where bonuses from Companies that get major financial backing from the government get taxed at 99.99 %. They would get a surprise like the rest of us got in September and October 2008

Hello Anderson and bloggers!

Good evening everyone.

Oh talking about AIG! It gives me indigestion listening to what they are doing to us taxpayers.

Solution: Federalize AIG and fire all upper management! Send out applications to everyone. I think many of us in the blog could do a better job.

Why reward those who are failing. Sounds like the Peter Principle to me... where one is elevated to the height of their incompetence.

In competence and AIG are synonymous

It is a shame about AIG but there are no easy answers.

@Jo Ann: I could be wrong, but I believe this involves TARP, not the stimulus package.

Hello everyone - So what should we do about this outrage at AIG? Please let us know what option you would choose:

– (a) Accept the harsh reality, as the Obama administration said over the weekend, that we enforce contracts in this country and cannot - as much as it pains us - abrogate these bonuses privately contracted for long before AIG started going bust.

– (b) Raise hell with AIG, telling the AIG employees that we can't legally stop you from taking the money, but if you do, you are fired. Aftere all, we the taxpayers own 80 percent of your company in order to keep you out of bankruptcy.

– (c) Tell the President and Congress: no more bailouts for failed banks, auto companies or anyone else, even if that means a greater loss of jobs.

– (d) Here is a better idea.... (please fill in with your own thought).

Thanks.

I have no problem paying bonuses to people when the company makes a profit but to lose money and pay a bonus is stupid and to call it a retention bonus is even worse. Why would I want to retain an employee that caused a loss or rather did not make a profit. Even if I keep the employee there would be no reason to pay a bonus.

Randi....I think it is absolutely ridiculous! I don't care what 'contracts' were entered into by before the recession or the bailout. The fact is they used taxpayer money to give bonuses to employees that already make too much money...meanwhile us taxpayers are struggling just to get by! And we're funding these outrageous bonuses!

It should be simple: no profit, no bonuses.

Hello Anderson and everyone at AC360, I can't believe AIG would give bonuses away, the economy is suffering and this is their response..."let's waste the taxpayers money on ourselves."

Any place else besides AIG and at a lower level of the administration of AIG, the person would have gotten a pink slip. Sounds like to me of another "good ole boy" network holding together for the their own benefit. Will AIG ever even pay the government back for all this bailout money – I know they are suppose to but will they really??

On the bonuses. Despite all the arguments for going ahead and giving the bonuses ie double legal damages etc.....what people are saying and I think hoping for...is that the executives will voluntarily decline...when we start seeing more of that kind of conduct, we'll be on the road to recovery.

OK..I'm trying to understand why the UAW workers were essentially forced to renegotiate contracts , why can't that happen with AIG workers

What kind of bonus structure could AIG possibly have if you lose billions in a quarter, yet you are awarded for loses?
What would an executive have to do to not receive a bonus?

Why not pay the AIG bonuses with the toxic assests these guys peddled and put the company in the tank?

Anderson,

What type of salaries do the jobs being filled today have?

Where do they rate in relation to the current Median Income?

Randi,
I am against AIG bounces too much..... it made me sick to heard that... I am so outraged at AIG right now!

Can people that lose this money to Madoff and AGI write that off their taxes?

Good evening everyone at AC360!!!

Well for starters NO!!! is what I say to AIG and I don't care who or what they insure!!!
It is time to let them take responsibility and the woman Anderson intereviewed is correct in saying if AIG has so much money to give out so many bonuses why do they need any help?

Obviously they don't!!!

And as for Madoff NO!!!! His wife should go to jail with him!!!

She was in on it she knew and she herself was trying to transfer money the day they found out he was in trouble!!

So AIG is too big to fail and now they seem to be so powerful that they can actually hold taxpayers and the administration hostage. Either we let them fail like they theoretically should... but then chaos ensues, or we bail them out and they are free to profit from that and pay out bonuses knowing there is nothing we can do about it. There may be nothing we can do about it now but in the future, no company should ever be allowed to be so powerful and "too big to fail".

We keep hearing that these companies, like AIG, are too big to fail. At what point, does the federal government step in and break up these companies because of their monopolisitc size? It seems to me the balance of power has shifted to these extremely large companies.

Bridget, it is like they can't comprehend the world has changed.

Anderson,

Can you explain something to me? If the US gov't (and therefore, we the taxpayers), owns 80% of AIG because of the bailout money they have received; then don't we have a say in how the company handles bonuses? We are shareholders in the company I assume. Any shareholder with 80% of the stock should have a seat (if not control of) on the board of directors. How did the board representation fail us? If we do not have board representation, then why not? No one seems to have an answer.

Good Evening Anderson, et al, & fellow bloggersI

When i heard yesterday about AIG bonuses, i emailed the White House and suggested:

1. Take the money back
2. AIG payback the loans and then have bonuses
23 If any further money is given to them it needs to have strict terms for use.

I originally thought that terms and supervision had been "in place" as per the last congress' TARP program and most definitely Pres. Obama's administration i thought had put "terms and conditions" on any more loans going forward.

I am truly astounded about this situation!

My 401k where I work is with AIG, I think I need to take my money out & put it elsewhere. There are a bunch of crooks running AIG.

I believe in bonuses. Everyone is entitled to their bonuses. My understanding is that once you sign a contract to pay out a bonus you must keep to the contract.

My question is: Why on earth were these contracts handed out without a based on profit clause?

Thats a no brainer.

So when do the share holders revolt and demand a say in executive pay packages. It is afterall shareholders money first. These guys are just caretakers are they not?

Yes, small businesses create many jobs but they also destroy many, small business do not last long and are not as reliable as larger businesses, maybe President Obama should think his strategy over before "investing" into the smaller businesses.

Greetings to All! AC360 and all my Friends! Happy Birthday Casey! : )......I think AIG should give out IOU's for a 'Bonus'......

Why not offer AIG management (if you have to pay retention bonuses) stock options. That will be an incentive to stick around – pay them cash and they'll just leave since they are a huge embarrassment. If they are that valuable that you have to pay them a bonus – then they have to work for it!!

I don't buy AIG's excuse that they can't break the contracts because that is just what the government is trying to make the auto industry do.

The rich get millions in bailout, the rest of us get $13 per week. Doesn't seem fair to me.

I think that AIG should reinvest the bonus money to save them rather give it to greedy people.

If the state and people need something from some one they can get it by EMINENT DOMAN, then how come we the people and country can not get OUR money from AGI by eminent doman. In the name of those who can not find super or lunch because of what all of us go through, please answer me

AIG, no bonuses, we can not aford it.

Hey Anderson over at L.A. and hello AC360 Crew here in NYC and my fellow bloogers.

Mr. Velshi can you compare AIG's operations with those of Lloyds of London?

I think AIG giving out bonuses after what I believe was not one, but two bailouts, is despicable. I think they are trying to make a mockery of the new rules and standards set by the Obama administration, and I hope President Obama manages to block further bonuses for the executives. AIG's character looks about as good as the substance in left in a port-a-pot that's been in a public park for a few days.

Obama's rant against AIG and other banks abusing the stimulus was reassuring and necessary...

Pay the AIG execs bonuses with stock options, not bailout cash!

I agree with Ali - "where are these people going to go?" -

Ali's in the "big chair" - Anderson better watch out, if he doesn't get back to the New York studio soon - he may find he has been replaced!! lol

@Barbara P. SC

What a wonderful Idea!!! I think I will do that!!! And more these people need to be brought to justice not handed more money!!!

if our President doesn't get the message we should boycott AIG!!!

JoAnn, which Stimulus package are we talking about: the 2008 TARP, or this year's? If we're speaking of this year's, I seemed to have understood there _were_ (or, rather, _are_) salary/bonus caps on CEOs and executives of businesses accepting Stimulus money... Can anyone confirm or refute?

Anderson – am I missing something here?
AIG is paying out these millions in "retention" bonuses to the people who caused much of the mess in the first place.
How about if they just don't retain them?

Why are they getting bonuses? We don't know and you're not helping us learn the answer. Could there be a compelling reason? Ask those questions and listen. I want to know.
SpeakerSue

Thanks Ali, but that didn't answer the question for me. Why, if AIG is NOT putting the money to company use, instead, company execs are putting it to personal use, how then can they claim to NEED the money to keep it from failing. To me, that would suggest that perhaps they have some other monies somewhere, or the govt is giving them more money than they actually need.

AIG – that shameful thing!

Yeah; the bonuses suck. Who but AIG doesn't already think so. It's not even worth discussing. What about the billions (not mere millions) that AIG paid to foreign banks from the bailout funds?!?!? That is MUCH more important. What we're doing is have American taxpayers pay money to foreign so that they can make profits or avoid losses, while AIG demands even more American taxpayer money! Let's not pick at nits while tripping over boulders.

Yay Ali Velshi, I love when he's on the show...

Hello Ali! i agree with you, we should focus on small businesses instead of AIG (again).

There are contracts in place. Either have the company file for bancruptcy or move on to the next subject. Its funny how many people are ok with the billions in waste contained in the spending program but complain about the 160 million in AIG compensation contracts. Whats the fundamental difference?

The idea that bonuses are necessary for "retention" of top people is total hogwash. These firms are all in the tank ... where the hell are these "top people" gonna find another (similar) job? They're thankful they even HAVE a job!

I personally think that Obama and the CEO(s) of AIG should square off in an epic cage match event. President Barack Obama will deliever elbow drops, leg drops, choke slams, power bombs, pile drivers, clothes lines, back breakers, low blows, and some good ol' hardcore chair ownage on behalf of the American people.

AIG belongs to the Dark Side of Capitalism.
Seriously, this is what happens when capitalism goes unchecked in a monster of a company.

"Too big to fail?" Then too big to exist. This should be the #1 criteria for anti-trust. Break AIG and all the other "too big to fails" up.

Oh talking about AIG gives me indigestion!!

(((Incompetence and AIG are synonymous)))

Good evening all! I am curios to know why know one is talking about how much the two banks in Europe got from AIG. Can anyone tell me how much they got and how that helps Americans?

So is Anderson coming back to NYC next Monday to his nice AC 360 set.

Hi from Montana,
This is all just sickening from AIG with the bonuses. What we have now is monday morning quarterbacking , the money is gone and now we respond. Who in there right mind would give that money to them without restrictions in the first place. Lets get real people we are being taken by all the politicians out there, It would be interesting to find out how much money they would lose if businessles like AIG would fail. Lets get this country back on track and think of the people who work, work work, making it possible for the rich and poliiticans to rip us off. Im sick of it. In case your interested I can no longer return. Thanks to all the greedy people.

Mary

I grew up in a time where a bonus / incentive / spiff , was paid based on performance ABOVE normal expectations, not BELOW. With that kind of contract philosopy, It's no wonder our whole economy is upside down.

We see the taxpayer’s money being used as a cleaning service for companies bankrupt and is unfair!

I too have heard of AIG. they were the workers comp insurance that treated my husband like a dog would rather have shot him than have paid for his treatments after he came back from Iraq sick and injuried. now i understand why they didn't want to pay him cause the bonus they receive if they get they would rather have and did bankrupt my husband and we had to sell our car to make ends meet for almost a year while they argued with him between them and the department of Labor told them he was due workers comp pay and they just didn't want to pay it to those insured just wanted to give themselves a bonus

@Jo Ann in Royalton Ohio- Obama did not give out this money it was part of the money given out by the Federal Reserve last Sept. Going forward the Obama administration is putting in rules to prevent this. That is also why last week you heard some banks wanting to give TARP money back and they are against the stress test the administration is performing. Transparency seems to scare them.

Oh Anderson: I believe this blame being placed onto ALL those at AIG who were provided with contracts including bonuses should not receive all it, for YOU know there are others with culpability. Just look at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac during the 2004 hearings about the ridiculous leniency to so-called borrowers. Those acts were far worse than AIG bonuses and the fact that wasn’t aired on the “news” shows raises much more concern!!

If AIG is insolvent, provide no more funding. When they file for bankruptcy, agree to slowly infuse money, if and only if, the bankruptcy trustee is a panel appointed by Congress. In Bankruptcy, contracts can be invalidated or settled for pennies on the dollar. The Code allows for income to be paid to the debtor. OR Legislate such that bonuses paid to employees at companies who received bailouts are taxed at 98%. Bonuses this year are taxable next year.

Hi Randi, I'm actually speechless. I'm normally realistic and learn from the past, but for some reason, I find myself constantly being knocked down with the behavior of those in charge. How can these executives be so clueless, self-involved and arrogant that after ruining the economy, believe they have the right to bonuses?

How do you reach the place in your life that you believe you are so entitled to other peoples money that you arrogantly take from the very people you have scammed, cause to lose their homes and jobs with no remorse?

AIG (or any other company) which is too large to fail is simply too large. They should be regulated so that this situation will not happen again.
Alice
Payson AZ

I have news for you all HENRY PAULSON!!! DIDN"T CARE!!!

He is rich this did not nor does it affect him!!! He gave AIG money to just make them happy and he scammed us, I did not vote for this as did MOST Americans we opposed giving these banks money!
But Paulson did it anyway!

Madoff's wife and children and any other relative on his payroll should loose the money in their account period.

Any other person, the spouse owes when debt due, same here. Good Karma says they all wind up poor and needy.

The last time I checked – bonuses were awarded only after having performed beyond the company's expectations! So I guess the expectations were that AIG would be driven underground by incompetent, dishonest and sleazy executives but they performed above and beyond by only hitting the ground!

So … US taxpayers dollares given to AIG have now been paid by AIG to European banks like Societe Generale.

Did Paulson and crowd know about this when they gave AIG the money initially?

No wonder the European governments don’t want to add to their stimulus spending, we’ve “insured” their banks so they don’t have to.

Ali, why can't the government take AIG to court like they did AT&T years ago and break them into smaller companies like the government broke up AT&T into the BABY BELLS.

Looking forward to the Road to Rescue Anderson, very interesting to read about on Evening Buzz post, so hi to you, Randi, Megan, Chris S. Isabel, everyone blogging.

I understand the outrage about bonuses, it's hard to understand how the very dept that got into trading? that surprises me mortgage backed securities is the dept. getting bonuses. Hard to believe to say the least. But I think the Troubled Asset Relief Program has helped to stabilize the financial markets, absorbed the impact of huge losses that might've undone the big banks, companies like AIG, and the markets in general

Mark, please take it easy... I didn't say I knew everything. If the Federal Government owns 80% of AIG, then it shouldn't have to sue: by right shouldn't it have 80% of the votes in the decision-making process, and therefore 80% of the power to stop these bonuses from being given? I believe I've heard of shareholders taking legal action against the company for which they have shares... or am I mistaken?

99% of businesses are Small businesses but only 45% of all wages.

2 stats no one seems to be connecting.

Haste makes Waste. Why was the President so fast to grant the "loans" for AIG without conditions.

All that got the loans should have been made accountable for every penny they were given in advance so we all could see where it was going.

Loans given should have been to support the failed loans and give a chance to those that had loans to repay without penalty.

If they did not get the bailout, what was AIG plan on how to pay for these contracted bonuses to executives who do not deserve them and who helped bring the corp. go down

I can not beleive that this result of the Credit default swaps that has happened to AIG was not pushed around the offices of AIG. The "Best and Brightest". They invented a product, lobbied some politician pushes the bill through & make it legal. They in turn are to big to fail and walk away with all the dough. Free and clear. Know one is going to jail, these guys are getting bonuses.

AIG Retention bonuses for 400 employees, what's the point? In this economy we can easily find 400 highly qualified replacements that will act responsibly with taxpayers money! Give these AIG employees an option, forego the balances or leave.

AIG is a disaster, plain and simple. Break it apart, support the pieces that are worth saving by restructuring them and putting in qualified management, and dump the rest of the useless parts. In the short term, take back a dollar for every dollar paid out to an executive that was on the team when the company was going belly up.

Hi Anderson...
Its about time the insurance industry is exposed for the way the people of this country are ripped off by them!
I'm a husband and father struggling to keep a roof over my families heads, and the cost of our insurance premiums continue to soar.
I wonder if this is part if not all of the reason.
Government needs to regulate these jokers and I applaud congress and President Obama for the efforts to stop these "bonuses" from being paid out. Not a moment too soon.

I work for a small business – two assistants and an attorney against the world. Most of our clients are small business employees or owners. I hope their future includes as much help as hey need to thrive.

Let the Government take over AIG and then sell off pieces of the company to reputable companies and fire AIG managers, not give them bonuses and reward criminal actions,stealing from the American people. Karen

@ David Gergen-I'm going to go with d) Unleash you upon them to do the job of b) raising hell. I'll gladly join you if you're at a loss for colorful language.

Congress can not allow AIG to fail because that's where all the pension plans for congressmen are invested. There's the reason we're pumping the taxpayer's money into AIG.

I don't mind if Bernie's wife keeps the $60M+, as long as I get to move in, which should be easy now that Bernie is out of the picture.

Why can't the President take over AIG . Get rid of the bonus people and put in others that were not responsible for the mess. LIke Reagon did the flight controllers

The President has his Angry Face on today. All the mis-adventures of the last few months with overspending, greedy, immoral, undisciplined, money-hungry corporations and executives, this is the face of America. This is what we have become. All of us are filled with righteous indignation, but it could very well be us up there, didn't we always try to keep up with the Joneses? Well those are the Joneses up there. didn't we want to be like them?

I understand that contracts were made prior to the bailout and misfortune of the company overall. However, would these contracts not be null and void with the company knocking at the door of bankruptcy? Would you not rather have a job then take a bonus? These people are what's wrong with the world and should be standing in line looking for a job with the rest of the people who have lost their jobs and did not get a bail out! Technically speaking, AIG should be answering to the US Government, not these people who ran the company into the ground with ridiculous contracts and "retention bonuses".

David Gergen, you said it!!
That is my opinion and has been To Hell With it!!!
Let AIG and all the rest of them fail!!!
They won't affect me!!

I understand that AIG insures a multitude of individuals and organizations worldwide.

What I don't understand is why those individuals and organizations didn't/don't simply cancel their policies, move to a different insurance company, and put AIG deservedly out of business. Perhaps someone could explain that.

We need to revise our legal system pertaining to these contracts....

Hi
Credit swaps were made on paper. To realize them, you need real money which is now coming through TARP and other bail-out funds, and specifically as payments through AIG.

I am enraged with the AIG bonuses. I think those who take their bonuses should be given the choice to return the bonus or turn in their resignation. I think their names should be published and let the public know who they are.
This is ridiculous. It’s time to clean up the system.

Bob Evans

Hi David! I'm gonna have to go with (B) as much as I would like to go with (C)...we need to do what we can to save middle class jobs and those that really are struggling right now!

@Ashley! Better late then never! Happy Birthday Girl!

Happy Birthday to Casey too!

David

I like choice B. Lets AIG nominally honor their contractual obligations but the employee saying no thanks removes the bonuses from the table. Shifting where the no comes from is a great idea.

David Gergen,

Have the Justice Dept. instigate litigation with and in behalf of AIG to legally preclude the bonusus.

So you mean AIG is too big to fail, as you said if they fail, we fail. That is why the executives get all that bonus??

AIG should not give bonuses out at all period.

Gergen- the amount of small businesses that make over a half a million is a very small portion. I wish I had the stats on hand but I remember this from the campaign.

Hey David G. I somewhat agree with B.

The AIG bonuses are worse than the BS they were reported to be! In my opinion it is just thieves sharing the proceeds of the ill-gotten gains with their partners!

Why can we not buy the other 20% of AIG and fire all involved. Break up the company over 5 to 10 years?

Let's be sure that we're clear on something: Bernanke and the Fed started the bailout of AIG, without strings apparently, back in September under the Bush Administration. Let's not blame the Obama administration by blurring the lines on this.

AIG should be broken up and made to stand on their own...no more taxpayer money..

if Pres Obama can' legally stop the bonuses... then no more bailout and break the company up into smaller companies so they won't be so dominate...

The problem at AIG is symptomatic of what ails american business in general, the reward for failure seems to be as profitable as that of succeeding. How or why are employment contracts allowed to be negotiated as such? The argument that it is the only means to attract and maintain the best and brightest is pure hogwash. That is ironically the same argument they use for H1B candidates, or to offshore jobs, etc.

What really is transpiring here is the propagation of dual standards, one for management and one for the ordinary worker, where the ordinary worker invariably loses. If AIG or corporate American management had to operate by the same rules the ordinary worker had to work by, they would not be so inclined to cut corners, off shore, play funny games.

Since the govt. owns the majority of AIG now, it should be able to hire and fire at will anyone at that company. I would think any company would not be held liable to any contract if it can be shown the employee in question was negligent in their duties. -165B in the hole is about as negligent as it gets.

Unfortunately, I think that Obama's economic plan is a house of cards.

Maybe David Herzog and Mr. Liddy should be fired to get the message across. Giving out bonuses using taxpayers money, are they out of their greedy minds?

Hi David G.! Good to see you here.I think I like your plan B the best. I feel that All of us are getting ripped off!!!!!

Thank you, Mr Gergen, I agree with you! Let's let these people go, see if they can get a contract like you have right now. See if you can make that much money..It just doesn't make sense...you can explain it so many ways, but in the end it the same, these people are greedy

@ David Gergen I agree with you whole heartedly, you,ve said exactly the way I feel, let AIG crash & burn, I'm really angry about this!!!!!!!!!!.

Doesn't AIG realize that they are jeopardizing their customer base by this irresponsible action?

My question is for the entire panel...

We hear a lot about banks, but what about Credit unions? How are they doing and do people consider them a safer bet?

Gergen – B and C, and also consider how to better create these bailouts and prepare them so we have more control over how the bailout money is used.

David Gergen -

I would vote for "B" - if the gov't actually fired these people maybe other companies would take notice. Basically say - "We're mad as hell and we are not going to take it anymore."

There should be a "take over" of AIG!

How can you have a contract for a bonus? If it's a contract isn't it than your pay?

I always thought they were "performance" bonuses...

These guys make the auto execs look like they get it. Tone deaf is not the word for them. If I ran a company into the ground, would I expect a large bonus, and who would write a contract that allowed this in the first place?

Why don't they let AIG go to bankrupt court and void these contracts? They were all talking about void auto union's contracts for auto company. I see double standards here.

Why did not Obama and Congress/H ouseof Rp know that these bonus contracts were in place before awarding AIG the bail out?

How disappointing. This seems to be just another social network where everyone pats everyone on the back (figuartively), but no one has much of substance to say on the purported topic ...

The 400 employees of AIG that will be receiving bonuses need to be named and publicly shamed into either rejecting or returning the money.

Retention bonus my foot! Those execs that AIG is afraid of losing shouldn't have the option to stay anyway. They should've been canned....they brought the company to its knees, literally.

Helloo David G....
I think we need our money back from AIG not to get bounce to people..... I am sure we can try fix up more problem too!

hi david gergen! i like option b.

RE: AIG They upper management that ran the company into the ground should go to jail and no more tax payers money, and everything they own seized and sold to recover debt. Also Why hasn't the government forced a break up of this company, our government has done it many times. Standard oil aka Getty, and American Tobacco to name a few.

No company should be too big to fail.

If a company gets that big it should be declared a monopoly and broken up.

Let them fail, and file for bankruptcy. The same way they wanted General Motors to file bankruptcy. The hell with AIG

So, AIG lost $61.7 billion last quarter and they want to give out bonuses to their executives for... ... huh?

@ Gergen: I'll go with plan D. Businesses like AIG break contracts all the time! Let a class action suit (for lack of bonus payments) come years later when AIG is 1. out of business or 2. more solid to handle and settle the case. No bonuses paid.

Yes why isn't the Government helping small business owners? They can only seem to help Big Banks who obviously don't need help?

I now realize that AIG stands for All Is Gone, give me another $170B

Seems a little ridiculous to blame AIG on this one. The contracts were in place, and personally the last thing I want to see is the Government coming in and changing contracts that they don't like, we do not want them having that kind of power, ever.

Congress had the chance to do this right by not speeding this bailout through with no strings attached as to where the money goes.

If you bail out a failing company and ask that no changes be made, you can't really be mad about that company continuing to fail, can you?

AIG makes some pretty poor decisions, but it seems like our own Congress is better at it than they are.

David G. I say, audit the heck out of any person taking a bonus. Get the IRS on those guys like ugly on a hog and audit their last 20 tax returns. If they choose to turn it down, no audit. How about that?

You are all missing the point. Obama's program misses the point. Small business owners already have SBA loans. They don't need new ones. They need the SBA to allow these loans to go to interest-only payments until the recovery finds them

Mad as hell doesn't even begin to describe my anger towards AIG...and I'm Canadian! Chrysler is threatening to pull out of Canada completely if labour doesn't take huge concessions and wage cuts. Yet companies like AIG are giving their executives 100's of millions in bonuses during a time when ALL of us should be tightening our belts. If this isn't enough to get the government on the attack against corporate greed than we might as well all let the ship sink!

Hello, everyone, pray that we don't loose our moral value over the amount of money people are talking from tax payers these days. Please, don't listen to those who suggest the executives to kill themselves.

I Think the AIG Bonuses’ should be paid.
They should receive the bonus iusing the derivatives, based at the price they were originally purchased .
A good way to get them off there books

Harry
Springfield, IL

Is it true that AIG's employees got a 10% raise right after they got the first bailout installment. A friend with connections to AIG told me in Feb but haven't heard anything about it.

I'm a salesman and I make a bonus based on my success of making my company money. My bonus will vary depending on my success. AIG tanked, on the verge of total collapse. What did the AIG executives do to be paid a bonus? They certainly didn't make the company any money, what did they do to be paid a bonus?

Congress ought to enact a law that any bonuses paid by companies recieving bailout money would be taxed at 100 %. Then all the politicians complaining but not DOING anything could vote pro or con. That seems like a sensible solution to me.

If over 98% of the economy is driven by small business, why are we giving money to the automakers? Seems we'd be better off to focus those dollars on insuring that the small business survive!

I am beyond frustrated – I am completely outraged. Geithner needs to go into AIG and Goldman and clean house starting with Paulson – I want to see someone taken out in cuffs – this is criminal. If the financial sector has become so arrogant and full greed its executives are guaranteed bonus whether they exceed expectations or fail miserably, of monumental historical porportions, I say let them fail – the system is so obviously broken and corrupt- let them crumble and rebuild. This is not only financial disaster, it speaks to the morality and ethics of our nation if they are allowed to get away with this-

David Gergen,

The government should not monitor more closely, companies that are being helped?

Should not have better control, not to have wasteful of public money?
How this should be done?
The opposition should not also assume that role controller?

@ David Gergen

– (b) Raise hell with AIG, telling the AIG employees that we can’t legally stop you from taking the money, but if you do, you are fired. Aftere all, we the taxpayers own 80 percent of your company in order to keep you out of bankruptcy.

I pick B because AIG employees are receiving money that we tax papers have gave to the company to keep it from failing. Those 80% is our and we help your company stay out of bankruptcy. If that money is not needed it can be spent better on other things.

Anderson,

Great to see you on the road. I love it when you get out there to do what you do best; bringing us real life.

Regarding AIG, I was just wondering how much they spent on insurance products advertisement. They ran ads all over the place (nowhere now). Also, what is happening at other insurance companies like Progressive, for instance. Are American's being taken advantage of by those corporations? ~ L.C.

If the union contracts can be altered to help out the auto companies, why cannot the employees' contracts with AIG? This is ridiculous! I just paid thousands in taxes and these yahoos are getting bonuses taken from my taxes!!! GIve me a break!!! Until this ship rights itself, it is liable to sink of its own imbalance and take the good ol' US with it!. Richard

we need fix the way Exec salaries and bonuses are set. Change law to require stockholders approval. ight now they set their own.

David G, I prefer a modification to b):

"We can't stop you from taking your bonus, but consider it your severance pay if you do take it." Lay off these people instead of firing them.

Mind you, I do like the "secret curve" Steve Jackson propose: tax bonuses given by companies accepting Stimulus package money. You can even establish a threshold (say, 10% of a person's salary) before taxing 99,99% on the remainder of the bonus atop that. They'll probably scramble to find tax shelters and tax-deductible donations. At least the latter will cause money to circulate within the US.

Oh my god!!!i'm from canada and believe me! we don't have the same banking system here!!! Thank god!...Bonussss...bonussss are paid if i make money...It's immoral for aig to pay bonussss

Trust is built one lie at a time. That one lie is the one you don't tell.

I am trying to understand how it is possible that since the new, more strict rules have been implemented by Obama and company are the BIG banks suddenly not in need of BAIL OUT money? BULL- they scammed the US taxpayer big time! How is it possible in this economy that suddenly they don't need money and some of them are giving back money? GM, same thing- new rules implemented and suddenly they don's need bail out money? WHAT is going on here and how do WE, the US Citizen get our money back

and AIG- BANKRUPTCY-let them go, they need to fall... let the free market work! thank you

It is going to take a long time to rebuild the trust.

I understand that this situation is disgusting and completely repulsive, but look at it from AIG'S perspective. They are legally bound to pay these bonuses. They could potentially lose business from other companies if they refuse to pay these bonuses because those companies will flee claiming they dont hold true to there contracts.

What is the regular compensation pay of each of the individuals that rec'd a bonus? Can the bonuses be deferred to be paid at a more economically sound time rather than when AIG is accepting bail out money?

I bet a lot of the smaller companies don't get bonus this year if they haven't had a good year.

Shouldn't the fed ask AIG to re-negotiate executive contracts BERORE they hand out the bailout money??? Isn't it a bit too late now?

Yay Gergen!

I am a member of the armed forces,and our bouns are being cut out,and when we reinlist,we get no bouns,so why should people like AIG,get bouns for failing?My commander and chief should take all this mony back and put people in jail for froud.

AIG says they need the bonuses for retention of employees. Let me ask this, if these employees do not receive their 'retention' bonus and they quit, where are they going to go to work?? Who's going to hire them??

IT is a shame. Americans are suffering and these executives (AIG) are getting over on us. This is not the way for our economy to recover. Wall Street has to stop with the bonuses with bail out money.

Rather than “outrageous” the bonus payment to AIG’s executives should be probably viewed as part of the necessary cost to stabilize the financial system.

Rather than referring to AIG’s executives as the bad guys, President Obama should be thankful and recognize that paying the bonuses that were contractually agreed to is fair. Derivative traders have the critical mathematical knowledge to assess the accuracy of payments that are due to each and every counterpart that the company is liable to including those that were mentioned by the media today.

Part of the bonuses is in fact going back to the government because AIG’s executives have to pay taxes on the bonus they received.

why not buy common stock with the bonus money, issue it in leiu of the money and see if that doesn't get them off their butts.

If we the tax payers own AIG than why worry about being sued if we do not give money for bonuses. You cannot sue yourself.

Why not make those fat cats give their bonus money to the government to help pay the debt they just incurred from the bailout?

Good Evening ac360...I read today thats AIG checks were sent in the mail on Friday..can't someone stop payment on those checks and put their officials in check or preferably in jail?

These execs to get these AIG bonuses are the very people that got their company in trouble. Do not allow them to receive these bonuses, and if they are unhappy let them go.

Why are we allowing these so called people needed to help AIG stay afloat hold us hostage? Heck, hold another job fair and see just how fast their positions are filled...

if you get a bonus, you take it, no questions. if the boss gives one, he has a reason. the Government lent the money, no strings, so IAG spent it the best way they saw fit. So blame the government, and don't buy IAG products, but don't ask the government to mess around with business, that will mess it all up

The President has his hands full trying to explain giving money to banks like AIG who are handing our money out, back in the day they would NEVER have gotten any Bailout money to begin with and guess what?
The country would not fail, it would not affect anyone as much as all these liars pretend it would!

This is all bogus BULL! Made up by the crooks who ruined our economy!

Anderson, these are both contractual commitments and required retention bonuses... what's the big deal!!?? It's not this company's fault that so many fraudulent people entered the mortgage industry...

Will someone please explain to Dick Cheney that he's no longer vice president?

Hello All:

Say, I wonder if Barney Frank could haul up each of these AIG bonusers in front of a Congressional Committee and answer two questions.

1. Do they deserve their bonus in light of the harm they have caused the nation and the world.

2. Do they deserve to keep their jobs in light of their monumental failures.

I would also remind them that in China they execute people of their ilk and in Japan, suicide is expected from those that commit such desgracefull conduct.

@ Carla

I completely agree with you...

Oh dear. Cheney... another person who gives me indigestion. Good grief. He is one of the reasons we are in this mess. I wonder how much his company is worth these days....

I think people are not fully understanding the AIG situation. This is a contract. It is like you go decide to make a contract with someone else to pay you. Like an insurance contract. You expect that if your home burns down, they will pay. What if the govt or someone could just invalidate that contract and say it is not fair. They could say they feel sorry for the insurance industry, they shouldn't have to pay. So they could cancel your contract. You have a contract with your landllord. Let's imagine they decide who cares about contracts, they can raise your rent 2000%! But the courts say, contracts don't matter. Just think about these things. If you sign a contract, you must honor it. Otherwise, it would be total anarchy. Anyone could do anything. Just ignore all laws and do whatever you want. Think about this.

While the economic downturn isn't as bad as what is it in the US we ar ejust starting to feel the pinch. A small business owner like myself is turning to consortium and instread of traditionall advertising on our own we are integrating other businesses and business owners into our marketing campaigns to share the expense.

AIG, Merril, Bank of America, Citibank executives should work for free to stay out of jail! This is a proposal: let them keep their bonus, but raise their taxes to 95% on all type of incomes they have. Ordinary and capital gains. If you cannot change their contract, change their taxes.
95% flat tax to Financial employee making more than $1M!
AND MAKE IT retroactive of a few year!
Just like it happened after the great depression!

INSPECTOR: Gambling in this establishment, I'm shocked!

EMPLOYEE AT RICK’S PLACE: Inspector, here are your winnings from last night.

Inspector: Thank you (as he puts them in his pocket)

Why are we surprised that they are getting big bonuses? Why? What did you think was going to happen when a bunch of politicians (Mr. Obama included) get together and conger up a relief package and put NO STRINGS ATTACHED to it. Then, they are shocked when they give out bonuses. The President, dems and the repubs are very fortunate that the average American is STUPID and doesn't know who is really to blame.

Why I shocked they are giving out bonuses with my money! Absolutely shocked!

With the government evidently having a large ownership stake in AIG, what control do we have over AIG actions?

The public is rightly enraged about AIG bonuses; the talk about legally honoring bonuses is so messed up, my question is would these executives be getting bonuses if the government had let AIG fail. We have a school superintendent who refused his contractual bonus because he knew the county school system could not afford it. What AIG is doing is IMMORAL.......I would like to know each and every name of the exec getting this bonus and publicly shame them!!!

If I had a company that the government thought was too big to fail and continued to tell the public that we can't let them fail, I would give out bonuses and do whatever else I wanted to do as well, knowing that I am bigger then they are. "I am the dictator", I have the power, therefore, I make the rules.

Those that don't like it, get you insurance elsewhere, invest your money elsewhere, and tell all of your friends, family, and co-workers to do the same. Only then will changes be made. "We the people" have the power if we just come together. Never forget that!

I'm DISGUSTED!! Those AIG execs should donate their bonuses to worthy charities. What SOB's!!

Here I am, Anderson and David Gergan, and yes, I say, to heck with them all. I have spent a lifetime doing the right thing (ok, I'm 52, not an entire lifetime, but close enough) and working hard for a living, not taking from the government or anyone else for that matter. Where's the love from the Obama administration for me? Oh, and I pay my mortgage, too. I'm part of the Left Out Majority. Sigh.

I support stopping these bonuses. What are they going to do? Sue the government? I say, "Tell it to the judge". I can't believe that they would find one judge in this country who would side with the AIG employees if they sued because their contracts for bonuses were broken. This is utterly ridiculous. AIG does not rule the world.

Short of hiring a collection agency to make a couple of calls to AIG, I'm not sure what the government can do to recoup the money. Somehow I think it will be a cold day in Phoenix before AIG gets another bailout soon.

Why is anyone interested in what Dick Cheney thinks? We didn't care when he was Vice President. In-fact most people thought the was a terrible Vice President. So, why is his opinion being sought?

We own 80% of AIG, why not fire everybody in the Financial Services Sector, sell off the derivatives, just save Insurance with new Regulations?

Bernie's wife should not keep the 3 million dollar bracelet because that is a rip off to the people he took advantage of .

I wonder what our ancestors who sacrificed so much for America would think. I don't think they could even wrap their minds around such a plethora of disgrace and recklessness by our so-called "best and brightest".

Scum is the only word that comes to mind.

Funny. I work for a small business that happens to be a bank. It is family owns and serves a small town. Yet our loan from the government is called a bailout and the SBA loans are called guaranteed and everyone is lining up to take them! The TARP funds come with a 7-9% interest rate and must be repaid! The SBA loans come with much lower rates and can be had by much larger companies than our bank!!

If there is anything good to be reported about the AIG deal, it's that the fed must "loan" against high value assets.. We do need to remember that the AIG deal is a fed loan, not a taxpayer gift...at least for now!

Other than that, AIG management from the top down should be fired. I wonder if their BOD has the guts to say "You're Fired" !

I don't understand why we keep bailing out greeded people why don't America let them fail...There is no one bailing us out with the finances that we have.....I think that this corporations ought to fail for the spending that is going on....America Wake up

Hello AC360, listening to the piece on small business and I'm frustrated because as a small business owner, I don't need another loan, especially from the SBA. I don't need to take on any more debt, so please tell me how Obama is helping out us small business owners? I need people to be able to spend money in my store, not take on more loans!!

I'd like to know where I can get a job like these goons at AIG. I go to work for someone...help their business go down the drain (I'm being nice) so that they need billions of dollars just to survive...and then get millions of dollars in bonuses to boot. Tell me where to sign?

These "executives" who ran this company into the ground should be given minimum wage jobs, crappy apartments and a bus pass so that they could see how it feels to be like real working people! Take away their penthouses, car services and let ethem live like other folKs live.
No one should be rewarded for being ABSOLUTE FAILURE as a corporate manager; shame on them!!

what does President Obama's plan do for business owners who's personal credit is tanished by the economy, but need credit to help their existing business, Now we are looked at as not being credit worthy, not fair bills are stilled paid just a little late.

"AIG is to big to fail"
It's a no brainer,,,,require a break up. It worked with Ma Bell. After the break up it will be more manageable and less of a risk for everyone.

Hi David, glad to see you around during what is another tsunami in our world of economics.

March 16th, 2009 10:09 pm ET

Hello everyone — So what should we do about this outrage at AIG? Please let us know what option you would choose:

– (b) Raise hell with AIG, telling the AIG employees that we can’t legally stop you from taking the money, but if you do, you are fired. Aftere all, we the taxpayers own 80 percent of your company in order to keep you out of bankruptcy.

– (c) Tell the President and Congress: no more bailouts for failed banks, auto companies or anyone else, even if that means a greater loss of jobs.

I say go with B. I wish we could do C, but I think the country and the folks whose livelihood depend on the auto industry would be hurt more than the executives.

Althoughk, I don't buy the argument, we have to give them the bonuses or face a lawsuit. I say give the entire group of incompetent thieves a pink slip rather than a bonus check. That'll solve the lawsuit problem and the country being stuck with incompetent employees.

Like everyone else I don't like $170+ million of our money wasted on bonuse to rich executives. But what bothers me even more is our politicians coming out today, jumping up and down mad about it when most of them just passed a bill with 8,000 plus earmarks totaling $8+ billion of our money on mostly wasted projected. I can say they are mostly wasted because they had to hide particulars about the projects, which are not subject to debate.

CAPITALISM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! have we forgotten wat lazze faire means? leave it alone if a company doesnt survive, it doesnt survive. survival of the fitest. The U.S. government was not instituted to be a bank, does anybody ever heard of the National Bank from the past and didnt work and Jackson got rid of it. It is no didnt from now, the government cannot be a form of a bank. I understand that Obama is trying to do something but learn from our past FDR tried to institute government spending during the depression and it prolonged the depression until we came out of it because of WWII.

Where is our self-responsibilty?

@Glen: They haven't passed TARP II yet, have they? What they passed this year was the stimulus and that's different.

The Government needs to step in, they do have the legal right and fight this! They can pursue this in court and they will win!!! Why don't they?

They waste our money on enough other Bull!

Why don't they take some of this money and invest in a surfactant number of qualified Auditors. that would put people to work and clean up the mess.

Another way to look at this – You have a contract with your employer, the government now tells your employer that the contract you are a part of under labor laws in no longer valid. What would you do?

I can see this going to the courts costing far more the the bonus payout ever would have.

Think twice about what you see as fair. Next time it might be you that the government wants to mess with.

Thought Obama was going to be fair to all people? Looks like more of the same old government bully boy games all over again.

as for the situation with AIG, it only shows that they just don't get it. I say "CHUCK 'EM ALL!" i know quite a few qualified people that could use a job right now.

Pay the bonusus in AIG stock valued at the market rate of one year ago.

We have lost about 60% of our 401k which has been in the market.
The money keeps disappearing every week.
At this point we are 20 years behind in our retirement plan. We have less than 20 to go. We are now OUT of the market since we do not trust anyone running the economy or the plan to improve it. Do we sit on our money and protect the little we have...how do we gauge what to do?Since AIG is using my tax money for bonuses we have no trust left in businessmen or politicians of integrity....where are they?!

If my memory serves me correctly, isn't bonuses paid from PROFITS and not Loans? Is AIG executives doing a diferrent type of accounting? Can Ali Velshi explains this to everyone.

@ Enany

You said: Please, don’t listen to those who suggest the executives to kill themselves.

I don't know about that... but they all should be fired is my feeling!

Sabrina, Isn't that the package Obama voted for?

@esma,

i like your option d sending david gergen in to do b! lol im changing my answer!

This is becoming absolutely ridiculous...companies like AIG are what proves that this country is headed in the wrong direction. This continues to enrage me because as a responsible taxpayer I need all the help I can get...to hear that someone who has clearly failed at doing their job, receives extensive bonuses, it makes me want to stop paying my taxes.

I think we can do it or we can get our money back ...... I like option B, what David Gergen offer us to choose which one are.
( Happy Birthday Ashley NY and Casey Jones!!!)

Too big to fail is relative to the general economic situation.

If the economy was ok they would let AIG fail

Also it has been shown by the release of information of who AIG paid with the bailout money that,

Credit defaults and derivatives are the reason AIG failed

derivatives derivatives derivatives

The 400 AIG employees recieving money need to be named and publicly shamed into rejecting or returning their tax-payer-funded bonuses.

I think my hair stylist and neigborhood Italian restaurant are the only small businesses that I patronize-sadly. Are gas stations and franchise businesses (Subways, Pizza Hut) considered small business? – L.C.

Why can't the SEC take the AIG Executives that got a bonus out into the public town square and give them a good flogging until the Executives are convienced that it would be better to return their bonus and agree not to take any bonus in the future unless the company is showing a profit?

Aw, thanks Megan...and I agree.

Mr. Gergen, I'm worried that the answer is A...outraged as I am by these bonuses, I am too ignorant of the legalese to understand whether there is any legal way to stop them.

Why are we surprised anymore by this "Let them eat cake" attitutde? The question is, why are we still serving it up on a silver platter for them?

Why is it that the 'people' can only get a $13.00 tax credit and the rest of the country gets Billions! What the hell can we buy or how much will $13,00 cover?!! If the 'people' were given a portion of a billion dollars, you can bet that the money would go back into the economy. We need money to pay bills NOT BONUSES....President Obama give the voters more than $13.00....give us $13,000.00...

So the AIG Execs have it built into their contract these huge bonuses doesn't the success of the company and the economy dictate whether they are paid or not. In my corportation we are haivng to forego bonuses, 401k matches and are being forced to take reduced work weeks or be laid off why would the same not apply to these large corporations why do they get to live by a much higher standard?

I was quite amazed to know that AIG owed so much money to foreign banks! My Canadian bank up here got $1.1 billion from them! That's what you should be looking at too as well as the bonus farce.

As a future business owner I can speak to the amount of time it takes to here from the SBA. If the changes that President Obama and his economic team are looking at. My question is how long would it take for that to take place. Great work and please keep it up.

Hi David,

I think the Govt should show tough love. I chose "C."

The AIG bonuses are "retention" bonuses. Why would anyone want to retain such incompetent nincompoops? Don't pay them the retention bonuses, just fire them!

I would like to know what the bonus criteria is for AIG. Do these people get a bonus just because they work there , is it merit based or just because?

Oh Anderson... you are really giving me indigestion. I live half way between L.A. and T.J. Mexico. Good Grief!! What a night

@ Joe The Unemployed

I agree with you

Dave, I like the train of thought you're pursuing with the "too big to fail" situations. Perhaps a little bit of monopoly-busting/antitrust (does the latter term even apply here?) is in order: when a business is too big to fail, then subdivide it into little businesses that can cover the territory lost should one fail.

Hi Anderson, Erica, David Gergen, Esma, Glen, Megan, Vaness, Chris! + Happy Birthday to Casey!

Anderson:

I don't think it is rite to apply stimulus money to resolve problems with the active gangs in LA- Isn't there a better way?

I'm interested to know who at AIG will be recieving these bonuses. How long have these poeple work for the company and what they do to deserve to get the bonus.

bonus for failure – NO more money for AIG !!

I hear a lot of talk but no action with these AIG executives. It is past time to do something!

Amazing! The same people who got AIG into this mess (based in AIG in Britain) are the ones that the AIG CEO is afraid he can't retain if he doesn't give them bonuses. When AIG was going to be bankrupted without taxpayer money bailout, why didn't Bush&Co make existing contracts null and void? None of the bailouts started by Bush had any restrictions or monitoring of the financial institutions to see what they did with the money. What a sweet deal!

I wish the media would stop asking the old regime for their opinions , they really put the screws on the US , better to focus on helping this new government on solving this MESS!!!

After-school and job training programs – this is what the couple needs, especially in comunicadades poor.
Excellent initiative of Thomas Gregory and Anderson Cooper.

The bonus issue is simple: when a bank lends to a company it restricts the payment of bonuses until all covenants, including the repayment, are satisfied. Who made this loan? Why can't the Treasury act like a real lender?

More to the point, what kind of execuitve would agree to take such a bonus – risking the company's future (no more financial support) and the stability of the nation's economy? Why not call these individuals out publicly?

Following one of the most basic principles of American capitalism, we the American taxpayers, who own 80% of A.I.G. have decided to spin off the company's derivatives unit, because our cost/benefit analysis tells us it simply isn't going well. It isn't a good fit for our business strategy going forward. Now, are there any takers out there (who, of course, aren't already receiving TARP bailout funds). Have no fear, AIG will still be too big to fail after we kick the derivatives unit to the curb!

I think this whole bail out has turned into a sham.
Look, I was a small business owner and had to close after only 8 months of being open. Why does the government think it's a good idea to give more money to companies that do not or cannot stand on their own. No one helped my family or me when we did not make enough money to stay open.
I think if a significant amount of money was given to all citizens outright, non taxed, you would see folks pay bills, purchase items and that would stimulate the economy. I also think that if the government and states would regulate Marijuana they could tax it just like they do cigarettes and alcohol. This would kick the economy to a new high.

Mr. Gergen,

I think the government should get some top attorneys on the job to break those contracts legally, more or less. I suspect there may be small clauses here and there that have probably been broken.

Is it completely right? Eeeh, perhaps not – no one likes a nit-picker, but it might solve the problem and a huge amount of money is involved.

As Ali stated regarding AIG not allowed to fail, wouldn't this be a warning flag that the mentality from AIG and these bonuses are "so what, we know you won't let us fail"? Are we ( the American Taxpayer ) over a barrel?

Gangs huh?
Well why didn't CA take care of this problem before it got out of hand?
Now suddenly like everyone else they need financial help?
Give me a break!
Why didn't you people do your job?

These problems did not just come up! They have been here for many years!

I think one point is being missed. There are hedge fund managers who made billions off the same derivatives that collapsed AIG.

At least one of them actually made $1 billion last year due to Credit Default Swaps aka derivitaves

@ Ricky Chi-Town

I agree with you. I bet most if not everyone in this blog is probably more qualified than the AIG executives. So yes, fire-em-all!!!

What would AIG do if they did not get the goverment money.....I guess there would have been NO bonus. Them people need to get real.

How much bonus the little employee get from aig(association inter gang).

How about any employee, of a company who owes the Treasury money, who got over $500 in bonuses gets taxed 150% on that bonus.

Well to tell the truth, I kinda feel like a dummy sayin something that Im sure EVERYONE is feeling. AIG exsecs should be thankful they HAVE a job. AIG could've gone out of buisness if it weren't for taxpayers like me and you. Where would they get those million dollar bonuses then.
Be thankful AIG you still have a income. GIVE BACK MY BONUS MONEY....

Because of AIG and the other "biggies" failure to manage their companies as they should have, I have lost the majority of my 401K and at age 75 I'm still working. I'm a widow. Where's my bailout? I say let AIG fail, and if the government permits AIG's bailout money go for huge bonuses, the regular tax payers should refuse to pay another dime of taxes. Bye the way, I'm a Democrat.

We are all learning how crooked these big name companies are being operated, by robbing the rest of us so they can get rich and then ruin the country and then expect the same people they robbed to bail them out.

The Reverend has an idea . . . .make those creeps at AIG give their bonuses to the poor! Yeah!

Yes, the gang is the family!!! for many kids. Pretty scary... kids ruling other kids.

Jana, Indiana, That is a good question. I wonder how much, if any of these losses can be written off of people's taxes.

I'm really applauded by the misuse of AGI with the taxes payer dollars.

I feel that the bonuses the employees received, were already pre-planned prior to the company accepting the funding from the Bailout monies.

This is totally manipulation and greed on the part of AIG company.
No employess should reveive a bonus for bad job performance. They should all be fired. So they got thier bonuses but I think that paycheck should be thier last and finally check from AIG. All those employees that received bonuses should be walk to the door with no serverance pay. They just received thier packages from the American people. so Good Bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

As a common person in America one problem that has been over looked is Median Wages in America are falling.

This is A BIG problem no one is talking about!!

I'm liking the idea in investing in Human Capital.

Aren't bonuses determined according to the financial profit a business earns, and aren't they paid with money from that profit? How can a business that has a negative balance consider money received as financial help to be eligible as funds for bonuses?

Stacy: I don't think they've passed TARP II yet either. But what was being discussed here was "stimulus spending", if I recall correctly, and that term seems to be used to describe both TARP's and the Stimulus bill Obama passed.

Hello David

I would have to choose B, hate to think of more people losing jobs.
Judge Judy said something interesting, especiallly for us in Calif, if the Governor can break the contracts of policeman, fireman, and all state workers and make them or take away their day of work and take less money by order, they are breaking a contract those workers have, so then why can't AIG contract be broken.
I also say don't give them any more money, they are still expecting money that hasn't been paid out, don't give it to them and I was glad to hear the President say try every legal action possible to stop AIG from giving these bonuses,

L.A does not need more Police Patrols for gangs, they need more police actually working instead of doing light weight duties like giving out traffic tickets, running their personal errands, and the like. Better work ethic.

We should use Stimulus money towards rebuliding our Schools (Infrastructure) so they are clean, safe, have computers/ Preparing our kids for the future. Providing up to date books. Parks, after school care., etc.

Saying the police need more money is the same old song, time after time. The police are doing fine financially.

From what I understand, people often join gangs because they don't have anywhere that they feel that they belong. If we create communities where there were more options other than gangs, I think we can reduce it bit by bit. People have to understand that long-term (ie an education and a career) greatly outweigh short-term (ie joining a gang) gains.
Props to Anderson for doing this story.

Come on, Dr. Phil! Can we really put any confidence in what he says?

AIG Bonus what a load of BS. When I got load off in January my company did not give bonuses because we were losing money. They should lay off some AIG executes and see how it feels to have no money coming in.

to the person who said that AIG were given the bailout with no strings attached....not exactly the truth. They knew taxpayers did not want them using money for resorts and bonuses...duh

AIG paid bonuses will my tax dollars because of contractual agreements?! Contracts are broken everyday!

I'm not outranged at all about AIG. Scapegoating run amuck. Says the mob:1st ur bonus, then ur salary. Take ur job if u take the bonus that u earned. If they do it to AIG, its the ticket to do it to everyone else. I don't see politicians giving back dough for voting for the war, or Cheney all of his salary for being wrong about everything. Congress sucks! Are they giving anything back?

Young people need these things, they must have a direction and goals that they can accomplish.

PS. Happy birthday, Casey Jones!

Hi CNN Guys, best of luck to Rick S,Wolf B,Campbell B,Anderson C. i am a daily watcher of all your shows and all of you are doing very very good work.

Ritesh, Toronto
ON,Canada

Oh, I forgot something in my previous message. Can the citizens of the US bring a class action lawsuit against AIG because it took our money to prevent collapse of the firm, but are using it for other, unauthorized expenses? Isn't that a bait and switch?

Great job, Anderson! This is one of the best, most positive program I have seen on TV in a long, long time. We have these problems, here are the possible solutions. Great. We need more of this. If I would just caution that Anderson modulate his voice to be a bit more calming and a little less urgent. It is a small thing but I find that too many on-air personalities are sounding too breathless and too hyped.

One question for David Gergen: Why does everything come back to how President Obama is doing? Why does Mr. Gergen continue to adopt a daily scorecard for the President? One that he did not adopt for either Bush or Clinton.

David,
I will take A, B, & C.
We need Fed Res. Board to put regulations into our failing system, NOW.
Why are we not treating the systems of failures? Mr. Bernanke is pumping money at the outcome of the major problem which is our financial system. Let's fix it with regulationas and then we can move forward towards rebuildiung solvency.

It takes money to help guide people to a better way of life.

Well Then Gang Life is going to look appealing to ALL of us After after the Government gives all our money away!
We May ALL be joining gangs just to survive!

maybe then we could take down crooks like AIG!

BOYCOTT THEM!

Madoff makes me sick...

David Gergen you nailed it again! AIG knows that because of the size of their company we can't afford to let them fail. But, that does not mean it is ok to abuse that fact. If I had money in AIG, I'd pull it all out right now and never invest in them again.

As far as Dick Cheney and his lovely comments (or lack there of) yesterday with John King-simply having him and Bush removed from office has made our country more safe. I can't believe he even had the balls to say our country is less safe now because of the steps Obama has taken so far, what an idiot.

I'm a small business owner in the housing construction market. We were 24 strong a year and a half ago and now all collecting unemployement. There is work in the maintance area ahead, but the lack of working capitol is going to slow us down. The down turn has drained any working capitol and good standings,A loan would help but would also be very hard to get . With spring coming, more positions will open but working capitol is a must.

Since the bonus agreement was completed before the crash it would be fair to the recipiants if their payments were made by purchasing shares of the value current at that time; now they would only cost us 83 cents in todays market. The bonus payments would be made and protected against lawsuits. They would thus be forced to share in the loss caused by thair own greed.

Why not publish the names of the people at AIG and how much they are receiving as a bonus? I think we have the right to know who they are.

Evening everyone –

The key message for us all – focus and invest (time/money/etc) equally in the people of America, particularly the poor communities..instead of blindly feeding predatory Corporations.

This is great to get some gang prevention programs. There's to many gangs this days and many of them or should i say all of them are up to no good. These people in gangs should realized that there throwing away there life and hopeful future career away.

@Esma...I like it! Can I change my answer to that too? I think the Gergenator would put them in their place!

Could someone please explain to me how you pay bonuses from a bankrupt company ?? So if my company filed for bankruptcy I could still pay myself a bonus?? I don't think so...

Ah, David Gergen and Dr. Phil - two calming voices with common sense - glad both are on the show tonight.

I am anti-gang violence to prevention to taxpayers on crime...... keep out way of gangs!

I think Obama will do a good job. What I can not understand is this big stimulas plan to bail out these companies. I understand they are in a fix but so are a lot of Americans. If Obama really wants to help the American people generate a stmulas plan to help us. I was collecting unemployment and my benefits ran out. I have lost my job, car and home recently. I have a MBA and can not find a job, the only way I see getting myself out of this is to go back to school for a master's in education. I do not mind going back but this is just going to create more debt on my student loans that I already can not pay.

Florida / Denver

I like plan B David, and we can post the pictures of every single person that claims they have earned these bonuses. Bring out the hungry tigers...sic'em!!

Stacy, Sorry, you are right I meant TARP.

The word to describe the AIG bonuses is SAD and UNJUST. What is the punishment for people playing with the lively hood of inocent people? There are people in jail for fraud such as stolen identity but there has been NO punishment for the BIGGEST fraud in history. Not only have these people run the country into shambles, they have gambled with the everyday lives of hard working people without a consciencs. When will the rich pay for their crimes just like the average or poor do? We need justice!

My husband worked for AIG and quit 3 years ago because he saw the writing on the wall. They started cutting back HIS bonuses, paying late, changing quotas mid-stream. We are thankful he got out, while angry that our stock, that he worked for, is now worth .19 cents.

Hi,

If they want the bonus, give it to them with a mandatory 3 month vacation in a very secure resort in the Caribbean, Guantanamo Bay

Treating white collar crime should be the same as treating drug dealers. You seize all their assets. Bernie Madoff should have all his assets seized!

The requirment of having 51% of a condo building in contract before we are able to close one sale is making it impossible in this economy. When will Fannie, Freddie and FHA will realize this is one of the resons why so many buildings are standing empty. Any sugestion how to go about this rule?

Isn't it illegal for AIG to use the bailout money for bonuses-maybe they could be indicted for fraud.

If they're the best and the brightest..I'll take the worst and the dumbest any day

If AIG does not compensate the producers they will jump ship and AIG will be left with the average/non-performers. If this happens the tax payers will continue to pour money into a sinking ship. Let them run the company as they see fit, and if that means they fail, let it be. The people in D.C. have no idea how to run a business only how to run their pie holes. Please, never think a politcian can run anything. Just look at the city they are responsible for running...Washington, D.C. The schools are a mess. Let's be real, politicians are the best used car salespeople this country has to offer.

Anderson how much would their bonus be if we hadn't bailed them out? We are the majority stock holders of AIG, we want it put to a vote of the stockholders, the right to vote is ours!

How nice would it be if we can get those bonuses from AIG and put it to some other good uses like this gang preventions??

With regard to AIG and many other companies that have received bailout funds we all seem to allocate the blame on the "greedy" Wall Street moguls. In fact they do deserve some of the blame but how much of the problem resulted from lack of government regulations and proper oversight by the regulatory bodies and how much more blame should be allocated to us, the people that bought into all of the "go go" real estate and investment opportunities that these "greedy" moguls presented to us?

i believe the government should go ahead and open up it's own bank and give loans to homeowners and small businesses at 3% of interest for atleast five years for those who did or are still hanging on to their homes or businesses and haven't default on their payments and let the banks go down

Hello All!
Bonuses’ of our money for doing what? AIG must stand for "Ain't It Good" They should be thankful to have a Job. These bail out bills should be written with government control, don't "We" the people own interest in these company's now. That was my first impression. You know Mr. Anderson sometime I truly believe that basicly the 500 +/- people that run this country, the House and Senate do not have a clue, you honestly would have to wonder at times. Thanks for your hard work and the information you give us.
Bobbya

You are asking these gang bangers that are use to making $100's a day to work for $6-$10 jobs and compete against undocumented workers that will work for less regaurdless of conditions while also compressing wages. Good Luck

Anderson Cooper ,
You should ask Dick cheney if it was respectful to ask the president of the United State to go and debate his new lover , Rush Limbaugh
I think the press secretary hit him appropriately today because Cheney is evil and is hated for his diabolic role over the last 8 yrs.

I think I have the perfect solution. Award all of the AIG CEO's a one-day hunting trip with Dick Cheney. That will solve the worry over lawsuits due to broken bonus contracts.

AIG says it is giving out bonus's to help keep the talent they have, If the talent was that good to begin with, Aig would not be in the trouble it is in! Also, why would executives quit a job when half of the country is out of work? And, if they do, let them! I'll bet thier are several thousand executives who could do thier job, maybe better! So AIG, Stop trying to snow the American public! We are smarter then you think!

Why didn't the government specify how this money was to be used BEFORE giving it to AIG! You don't just write these people a check made out to CASH, to be used as they wish!

The Cheney interview was certainly good for CNN - everyone's talking about it - but as far as I can see CNN is the only benefactor. I don't think our nation benefits from his point of view. Former Vice President Cheney has a skewed view of the American Constitution and I am sick and tired of it. I really like John King but I didn't watch his show yesterday because I will not watch any more of Mr. Cheney.

Just walked back to the set when I saw the young man about the gang say I had NO Mama or Father. I could have put the words in his mouth. I hope that Obama will have time to promote his "service initiative" and about people getting back to volunteering and helping others. Think about how many young people teens and young adults go to bed each night with no one. Volunteers and mentors can really, really help these kids.

I was hoping Anderson didn't say Dr. Phil but now he said it twice so I guess so. After what Dr. Phil did to Britney Spears (I am not a fan of hers btw but still) he tried to use use her mental instability to boost his career. By trying to invade her personal space and exploit her because she is famous. As someone who has suffered from severe depression and anxiety I know that when a person is in such a severe mental state this betrayal could further destroy them.
Well I guess the economic state worked in his favor because he is live on 360 – what a disappointment.

President Obama is trying a lot of interesting to thing to aid small business, streamlining application process, tax rebate, reducing fee's, trying everything he can to make it work. Good.

Interesting advice about standing out, and keeping trust, partnering with successful business to leap frog over difficulties.

David Gergen, seems like contract has to honored, companies, govt, have to take the heat, but President is right to use the bully pulpit on this.

I am sick of hearing about AIG as well as everyone else, and their partying, and large bonuses. I had my homeowners insurance through AIG and a few years ago when my renewal came up, they upped my insurance by $500.00!!! When questioning them, they couldn't give me an appropriate answer. I went to our State Insurance Dept. and they wrote them, and all they came back with for an answer was, if I gave them my social security number, they (AIG) would look into it. Needless to say, I cancelled my policy. Has this happened to anyone else? A big difference when you are paying approx. $400, and they up the policy to approx. $900.00 a year.....

If our government allows AIG to use our tax dollars to pay executives for their failed performance then every single one us should let our representatives know this is the last straw. They should know that we will use this one event to judge their terms performance. Perhaps we should all pay them a visit or even march on Washington.

With $ 165 million can be done much and can to help many people ... this is absurd!

Maybe it is good to invest in the kids in L.A. if they are serious about turning their lives around, even if it comes from Federal Aid, It can impact the Economy , and decrease crime–A gift that can keep on givving, a postitive investment in humans as resources.

I think those executives @ AIG should all go to jail for theft, fraud whatever other charges that would keep them in jail for a long time.

The real story behind AIG, is the credit default swaps, which is what caused the meltdown of AIG and others.

The reason Paulson was so ancious to shore them up and dump 170 billion in them, is the Bush administration did not want the American public to know over 70 trillion dollars of this derivative contract were sold and re-insured by AIG and others.

Problem is, they were never any rules or regulations of the road on derifatives. Whatever regulations were there were removed by the Bush administration.

When the reg.'s were removed Wall Street behaved like the greedy little fellows they are, and packaged tons of bad mortages and bad loans, insuied them with CDS and resold trillions of dollars of them.

Oh yeah, @ David Gergen, my choice with be (B)... unless AIG employees and executives are finally punished for pulling this crap it's only going to continue

a job fair for 40 jobs? did i misunderstand something?

Giving money to AIG is putting off the inevitable. Its throwing good money after bad. Eventually it will have to sell off its profitable parts. People already are not renewing their insurance policies and going to other insurance companies. Who is going to do business with a company that in trouble. When the time comes for policy renewal, they will go to more financially stable insurance companies. The public perception is that the company is in trouble. It would cost a lot more to turn the public perception around. Have they made any big changes in the management? Their crediblity is gone. People are going to be much more careful in the future who they do business with. Companies will have to be tried and true!

To award bonuses to executives of a company that is a wreck and kept afloat by tax payers money is an outrage. If they are the best and brightest as acclaimed, how did the company end up in its present state? If retention is the concern, that is a laugh. Just show them the door. If it is because of legal contracts, then the company should go into letigation against these employees to have the contracts void for failure at their jobs. Either way, no bonus should be given out until the money is returned in full with interests to the US treasury. Legal expertise appointed by the State should also go through each individual contracts to determine if AIG lawyers have acted appropriately in the interests of the company when putting those contracts together.

Yes the AIG bonuses are outrageous, but there is a much larger problem in our country and it does not end at AIG. No Ethics and decreasing morality. No one is responsible for their actions anymore. And this is coming from someone who does not go to church every Sunday.

Anderson!
It's cool to see you with the people!

Don't you think we should find out why they are getting bonuses before we condemn them? AIG stock was up 66% today. Perhaps the management figured out how to make a profit after writting off all their bad debt last qtr.

The best way for people to guide themselves into better life is take your education seriously and be involved in your local government!!!

Government can not do it all!!!!!!!

You need to take care of yourself!!!

How can contracts be contractual? I mean, they are usually based on performance– which in this case they should owe their company money not the other way around... Besides the CT law that says that they can be sued for 2x the amount is about Wages– aren't bonuses on top of wages? The 400 names and the amounts to each should be made public since we will be paying for those bonuses for years.

Despite the optimism of Ben Bernanke saying that the recession ends in 2009, the picture outlined by Fed indicates other things. Anyway, the declaration brought the spirit back, and that is always very good!

Well I suppose if AIG got no more bailout money they would stop giving out bonuses and maybe lose employees and fold!!
Something they should have done in the first place!!!

The Government whining and crying telling us our economy would fail without CROOKS like AIG!?? Give me a break!!!

No the only thing that would fail is these loser greedy B$%%$# getting more money they DON"T deserve!

Well, the Democrats have now even screwed up giving free money away to fledgling companies. How in the world can the Congress (yes, I am looking at you Pelosi and Reid) bailout these companies and not have any strings attached. How could they allow this money to go out without somekind of guarantee that there would be no raises or bonuses to these companies. It is not going to take long to see that Pelosi and Reid are way over their heads and in 2 years there should be some major changes.

If A.I.G. did not use bailout money to pay the bonuses... it is simple... then fine..
They should simply return the 160 million, obviously they did not need that amount.....

I'm so glad congress will be holding hearings on AIG's bonus situation. Since gov can't control their spending perhaps taxpayers should just send IOU's on 4/15.

@Tim, I had a contract with my company and when the company started hitting hard times; we were lucky to keep our jobs, all the perks we had for years were taken with a simple letter from the CEO, xyz will no longer be given effective immediately. And you know what, we were all lucky to have our jobs, so believe me know one was asking if we were going to get our annual bonus.

The president is being fair to the masses, fit wouldn't be fair for AIG incompetent staff to take home bonuses from our money when their incompetence played a major role in the current economy crisis we find ourselves in.

The president is very different from the old administration, he's looking out for the majority of Americans unlike the previous who looked out for rhe minority rich.

AIG should fire these people and make their name public so that noone else hires them in future. Its outrageous that they get to keep this job after bringing the company down and now they want bonuses.

Gloria, I agree with you, but we have to make sure that money is well invested: if it goes into the back pocket (or bank account) of someone who is not at all interested in bettering life for everyone, then that's money well wasted.

@ Marcy.

I'm with you Marcy.

Where is the line for those kinds of jobs? I"ll camp out for weeks to land a job like that!

When are we going to start hearing about changes in corporate governance rules and the responsibilities of the Boards of Directors who solely are responsible for this toxic attitude of greed.

Strip Madoff & his wife down to their skivvies & make them walk the plank! ARGG!

As far as money goes for Mrs. Madoff, when your bank accounts are funded with other people's money, you aren't entitled to a thing......give the money back to the familes that were robbed....

The 160 million , subtract from what they want Now ,and still charge them for the full amount , on the repayment , If they want the other Billions , This way all is made whole , no court , no law suit for the takers and the givers . AIG will then eat what they cook and crooked, with not tax brakes, move up the tax rate on the bonus to get the money back from the companies that took the bail out.

Moors,

Anderson, this is another example of how Congress has no idea what it is doing with this bailout or to whom they are supporting. There is no reason for this type of fiscal behavior from AIG or any other business begging for bailout in today's market. The company is losing massive amounts of money and yet the people think they are owed bonuses. I would suggest that by not giving bonuses the people would get the idea that bad performance is not condoned. Of a greater concern is the billions of our tax dollars AIG is sending to their foreign business subsidiaries where the US has no legal oversight or audit rights. I fail to understand how our billions of dollars going overseas can help the US economy and it would seem the Obama regime has not thought that one through yet either. Thanks for the opportunity to post my opinion.

I was watching the commentary on how to help small businesses. I believe that in order to help them, the businesses should have a right to run their business as they see fit, as our for-fathers did when America was the land of the free. A lot of small business have lost business through this recent smoking law. I believe it should be to the right of the owner who his/her customers should be and who they want to cater too. This way the smoker can go to the smoking restaurant, and the non-smoker can go to the non-smoking restaurant. I also feel if they want to help small businesses, all insurance costs should be lowered and be set at the price quoted as well as taxes so that people can afford them.

My question to the experts with regards to AIG contract agreement for paying out bonuses to their executives. Generally it is said that once you make a profit then a bonus can be paid out, where do you hear or read that a company in the red, or let me say it this way a company that requires Government bail out (tax payers money) is still obligated to pay large sums out to their failing management team? I really just do not get it. More like their contract should have in it that once the company comes to a state like what it is in at present, the management team should all be fired.... Moral ethics seem to be a thing of the past in the world today. The government should have a contract drawn up for those bail out companies where their executives must sign to not receiving any increases or bonuses until the company is back on it's feet and have paid back their debt. They are to be treated like the average individual who is in debt. Until you pay off your credit card, car loan, house loan etc. you are considered to be in debt.

How about this as a ripple effect...

If all those AIG executives sacrificed their bonuses and said we will give each person that lost their job a percentage of the money lets say $10,000.00 each, then they would be able to pay their bills in turn, the mortgage would be paid, banks would get their money, credit cards would get paid, groceries would be bought, in turn the supermarkets would benefit etc... Get my point?

Glen up North, I mis-wrote, I meant TARP. I hope that clears things up.

I wonder if our politicians even know why we have congress sometimes because passing bills that GIVE out billions of dollars to companys is no where in the constitution, but hey politicians dont listen to the American people anyways so it really doesnt even matter. Anderson if u read this please just give the facts about how corrupt the people our in our government with their fancy cars when 8% of Americans dont know where the money is going to come from to pay the house bill.

If we can't stop the bonuses due to contractual agreements, then we need full disclosure. Who are you, how much is your bonus and what did you do to warrant the bonus. My tax dollars bailed you out, I have a stake in your company and deserve to know.

Hey 360 Gang: Glad you’re also getting into the need for more attention on small business. I’m a small business owner and would love to grow our business towards new green energy infrastructure. We need more attention on the abilities that tax breaks for small business creates, if I had help in that area it would be worth the agenda to hire more employees. A tax credit for each new hire off unemployment could work. BTW, I’ve hired those from the “hood” and from jail living amongst the drugs; I made that my goal additionally, to see that I helped change their lives!!

hello,
good morning please i'm a nigerian , living as a refugee in morocco , i want to use this very opportunity to add to the ongoing debate about the finacial crisis affecting the united state of america and the whole entire world , i think it's better to give bailout money to those small businesses to create jobs for the less privellege ones and to limit crime onthe street n't just the the united state , this issue of global meltdown affect everybody on this earth,
let the government give out bailout this small businesses.

thank you
otega

AIG is simply a distraction for the other major corruption currently taking place in the housing market. Short sellers who previously rolled equity into savings and brokerage accounts are successfully negotiating deals, short sellers selling to family members are successfully negotiating deals; the mortgage bailout is not helping the largest class (the middle class)... once again, it is helping those who have the lawyers and the agents and the connections. The country, in every corner, is corrupt... we've 2 ways to clean it up: 1) survive a depression and arise stronger, more thoughtful, and morally stalwart 2) survive a revolution against the corruption - the legal system, the financial system, the government system with all of its irrational distractions doesn't work - it is time to flip it on its head... completely. I voted for him, and I continue to give full support to Obama and the administration - except for the financial bailouts which need to stop immediately.... maybe McCain was correct; perhaps the hatchet would be the better approach. Flip it on its head.

I don't understand why we can't tell AIG executives that either they can forfeit the bonus or the company (AIG) is on its own. No bailout for bonuses: i.e. no bonus- you still have a job; bonus-you have no job and you take down a world economy with you. WWYD?

When we as sub contractors worked for a builder that went broke ,we were lucky to get pennies on the dollar of the money that was owed to us. Why should the people that drove AIG into the ground get their full "bonus" pay?

AIG is a lesson to us all. No corporation should be as large as this. Divide up AIG fire all management employees! After all, there are many qualified people searching for jobs.

I am tired of the "fear tactics" If AIG is so large that it could take us down, then we should Never allow any corporation to be that large! We need to limit their size and impact!

If a company goes bankrupt then nobody gets bonuses. AIG was going bankrupt until the taxpayers stepped in to help it reorganize. While it is reorganizing nobody should get bonuses: that's the normal business model. Why do AIG execs think they deserve special treatment?

@ Jacqui and Jo Ann: I agree with both of you on the Dr. Phil thing! Where's Dr. Drew?

@ David,I chose "C" because I haven't any faith in the bailed-out companies to do the right thing, which means that ultimately the companies will fail. The billions of dollars would have gone to waste; therefore, we'll all have to start all over again from scratch, anyway. So then we'll have choice 'D', which will probably be better. Get rid of the greedy bums and replace them with... umm, probably new ones. LOL!

This outrage about 160million in bonus is a way to distract us from the real issue about the billions that went to banks and investment companies from AIG. John Stewart will make a joke about the millions, but stay quiet about the billions. Tell me more about the BILLIONS!

Mr Gergen,

Have to go with option B. What has happened to this society that we reward failure! Every single person who had anything to do with AIG's failure should be terminated inmediately. I have agreed with our president on most things, but there is no way I believe that our government can't force this company to eliminate these horrid bonuses. Fact is, this is one thiing the American people are not going to tolerate.

The graphics for the Losers are making me giggle and now I feel horrible. Thanks, guys, all I can think of is "Ace Ventura".
As much as I'd like to help the wine companies out, I quit drinking back in 2005. I'm helping in spirit(s)!

Nancy Pelosi must be getting rich considering her husband owns one of the largest winerys in the US.

Foreman, another industry that is up is the physical therapy and physical therapy assistant area. Over half of the want ads in my area are for PT/PTA positions.

Oh, and was that boxed wine or the good stuff? Haha

I have one word for AIG. RICO.

The fact that Cheney has caused me to de-tivo the State of the Union.

well its about time they try to recover some of the money from Madoff!

why werent his assets frozen when all of this first surfaced?

Brandi... actually, I've seen call centres do "job fairs" for much less jobs at a time than that. Basically it's a "bring your resume" call en masse.

@Jo Ann – Royalston, Ohio – No Obama nor any congress member had a vote on the Federal Reserve money that was Paulson. Obama however did vote for TARP.

Randi, Madoff is reaping what he planted!

Please explain to me how a closed economic system works. To get any of the trade deficit we have from China back we must export to them. If we are an island unto ourselves we need to just keep printing money and making more internal service related jobs.

So people are drinking more? Because its cheaper or because they are attempting to drown their sorrows?

Cheney is so arrogant, and I really can't stand him!

Cheney needs to go back to his cave with Limbaugh-humbug! and that poor raccoon they caught at the White House. I'm sure they've eaten it by now...

Madoff's family and all their hidden assets they've been busily sending overseas should be seized immediately, nothing left behind. Give them all an enemployment debit card. That would be especially appropriate punishment.

I have a friend that owns a wine cellar in a very small town outside Chicago and he says sales are great this year. However, 3 restaurants in the area have closed.

Madoffs makes me sick, to but justice is half served (it will when all his relatives wealth will be confiscated). What about serving justice to the culprits of the collapse? As far as I know they are enjoying their billions they walked away with.

Is there any truth in what AIG says? That they're legally obliged to pay out these bonuses?

I agree with Judy Hansen. If they're gonna get my money, I'd like to know who they are and exactly how much each individual gets.

Is there any truth in what AIG says? That they're legally obliged to pay out these bonuses?

This is one of the biggest frauds that our nation has witnessed. Obama, whom I voted for, THREATENS that they should "return the money". If he is really willing to stand behind that ... these CEO's should be held accountable before congress. Congress refused funds to the automobile industry ... WHY are we allowing bonuses to FAILURES?

I have different experience about restaurant as a loser. My friend has a small Thai restaurant that her business is going really good and even better than before. She changed her restaurant to offer less expensive food and appeal to more people who can not afford fancy food now.

Can we please silence DIck Cheney he is throwing as much bull as he did as VP.

Cheney was out of line when he decided to undermine our current President by using scare tactics about us not being safe. Since when is it appropriate for a former VP to spout off like this. As for Gibbs responding, he was answering a question from Ed Henry. I loved his response. If Cheney is attacking the current President, the Whitehouse has a right to respond.

Cheney needs to go back to his undisclosed location and let the adults continue to clean uo the mess he left.

Hi AC, AC 360 casts in studio, on field and bloggers,

AIG has posted 60 billion for its final quarter of 2008 and that was financed with TARP ( from the first TARP )..so the fund didn't effectively rescue the toxic AIG business.

Also, with the recession, I think individual, groups, organization or companies would shift their budgets to increase productive revenues operation rather than insuring. So with those mentioned, let AIG fly on auto-pilot without government assistance and, at the same time,gauge how the recent small-business save or create jobs and stimulate grass-root microeconomy.

words escape me to describe the total and absolute nerve of AIG I hope the government will be more scrupulous next time it lends a helping hand with American taxpayers money!

@ Barbara in Boston, I'm with you I didn't watch the John King interview with Cheney either. I've had enough of him & there isn't anything he says that I want to hear.

re Bernie Madoff. When his investors got their so-called profits from him, they paid taxes on these profits that were not really profits. (someone on NPR pointed this out) what happens to those taxes that were paid on the invisible profits? The tax money was real money, but the profits were not real profits.

What did the AIG executives do to earn a bonus? AIG tanked, on the verge of total collapse. They certainly didn’t make the company any money, what did they do to be paid a bonus? Aren't bonuses based on the success of the company?

Good for Mr Gibbs!! Is anyone out here really listening to anything Cheney has to say?

Oh Thank You Dick Cheney, you know your not in office anymore, right?

Hi Randi! Great to see you!

I am so thrilled that Bernie Madoff is stay in jail for 150 year now including 20 years....... Whew!!!

As much as I get sick of this whole thing, I think people need to consider here. These were written in contracts and contracts are the backbone of business. If you just start nulling contracts, where does that leave the integrity of all other major contracts. This is why there is such slow movement to "throw people in jail" and "let them rot" like some would say. Work around the contract, or tax the bonus, but you can't just null it.

It is nearly impossible to separate the man from the office, in the case of Dick Cheney. It is, therefore, nearly impossible to be disrespectful (enough) on the occasion of hearing anything that he might have to say about anything he's not involved in – like the current Administration!

Here is another option, give them their bonus based on the profit AIG had in house prior to receiving the bailout money.

Lynn Cheyney probably fainted after hearing all the bs her husband was spouting on John King's show yesterday.

Gov't should create & implement an emergency "failure to produce tax"
(extremely high) on aig execs (and anyone else) who accepted tarp money and accepts bonuses for a job badly done. Give em their bonus – and then tax the hell out of them!

@ David G.

I vote B. If the taxpayer is the majority stockholder, they should listen to us. Isn't that how it goes in the stock holders meetings. Let everyone within a short distance from the AIG CT headquarters picket out in front of AIG. Let every homeowner who has lost their home camp out in their lobby. They need to start listening, this is a different time then when that contract was signed. Contracts usually have an out clause they just won't tell us there is one.

Let me get this straight. If a contractor who built a house finds himself upside down and can't meet his obligations the bank forecloses. Well, AIG is that contractor and the federal government just foreclosed with upwards of $170 Billion in bail out money. In the contractor situation the subcontractors don't get paid cause the bank foreclosed. In AIG's situation, the same should be true...the bonuses don't get paid. Ethics or Insanity?

@ Lisa
You said:
Strip Madoff & his wife down to their skivvies & make them walk the plank! ARGG!

I completely agree!!! They should be treated the same as drug dealers... we seize all their assets!

Here's the problem with denying *all* bonuses. You don't pay top dollar to your best talent and it leaves, like one wife here said whose husband left AIG.

I'm all for denying bonuses for those responsible for AIG's exposure to the subprime market but Obama sounds like he's pandering to populism aka they make so much salt of the earth nobody should make this much etc. Good politics, bad policy if you ever want AIG to be solvent again. It obviously needs better talent and to get the best you've got to reward those who perform.

WOW 40 jobs and over 500 applicants. That's crazy

You'd think I'd be used to Dick Cheney's idiocy by now, but I'm still not.

anyone remember roughly when these executive bonuses and salaries started to exponentially/astronomically exceed workers salaries? wasn't it around the same time (late 80's) that big business started downsizing and eliminating benefits? and also when stock issues became a primary profit driver...even for businesses (like radio for one example) that had no business building their house with that deck of flimsy cards? all the while to make up for losing ground on real wages, the middle class learned to, and was encouraged to make up that difference on credit (boosting those finance stock coffers further). ladies and gents, Capitalism is due for an overhaul, and that middle finger pointing out largely ignores the three pointing back at each of us. time to take out the trash, and wash those dirty dishes. the silver lining is that the things we should have been doing (addressing environmental issues/bolstering the middle class/addressing the excesses & abuses at both extreme ends of the economic scale) are also the things that will (slowly) lead to recovery and healthy balance.

Mr. President,
Re: AIG Bonuses.
With all due respect:
Those people are hopeless.
If you have what it takes to bring those people to legal accountability, please have the appropriate authorities (police, DA, etc.) do so ASAP.
If you cannot follow on your word, then please stop calling'em names. Soon they will sue you for libel.
Our sad prayers go with you.
Michawel from Ontario

1. Can the participants in this bonus plan substantiate their worth: what did they do (or are doing) for the worth of the company being bailed out and did they do anything to contribute to the downfall of AIG?

2. Contractual obligation: bring it on...how many of these people can justify (or want to justify) themselves in the court system, let alone the media.

3. There has to be a lot of backdoor protection going on, no company in their right mind would throw out $165 million in bonuses for the world to see at this time in economic turmoil. AIG is totally mismanaged or has a great deal to hide.

Sue D.

I say make every corporate criminal a servant at the whitehouse and make them work ten hour days for 3.00 per hr.

The more I think about it now, the more I think that AIG should be treated the way Enron was-indict them for fraud and seize their assets.

Silver linings maybe for those that had billions and now have millions,

The middle class and poor are poorer , largely unemployed, getting screwed by the credit card companies, and all around seeing no light at the end of the tunnel.

Oh, Why , Why, Why would u all talk to that fool Cheney, let alone repeat his ignorance on air? Please put a ban on Cheney, Rush, Steel, and any other ignorant person . I boycotted this Sunday because that man was going to be on the show. I did not watch CNN all day, and I have not missed a Sunday in a year plus.

AIG needs to be held accountable. I can not see how anyone in their right mind can think they are entitled to a bounus when they have ran AIG into the ground. All those who received the bonus needs to be held responsible and paying back whatever they received and audits need to be done on these individuals. I am sure support staff didn't see much if anything at all. Those are not the ones I have a problem with, but those who ae receiving millions of a bonus.

Worrying about Madoff's wife is like worrying about Imelda Marcos's shoes.

I think you should give the nice young lady a shirt. She was so polite!

Max the trade deficit you are right we need to export to them to bring that to equal but

for our national debt

they have bought bonds from our govt and we will pay those bonds back. essentially they are the same as the war bonds sold to American citizens during WWII

Hi Anderson and all.

Let's stop giving banks and other corporations direct cash! They can't handle the responsibility! If they have bills to pay, so to speak, we will handle those details for them. That way their hands never touch a nickel, and we know where everything goes.

Nobody cares what advice Dick Cheney has or what he says. In my opoinion he needs to just go away.

I hope his wife is okay after she fainted.
Also hope that Joe Biden's mother has a speedy recovery from surgery.

Why Dr. Phil? I could have come on the show. Probably would not have much of great importance to say but he surely will not either. With all these important issues to discuss, why do you subject us to Dr. Phil? Not cool!

Beat 360 T-Shirts for everyone! Anderson have something to give the onlookers!

Tom Foreman is awesome!!! Lovin' that Dr. Phil impression!!!

Good to see Anderson outside the studio and interacting with those in the audience. Wish 360 has chosen some small towns as well as big cities for this week's tour. Maybe not logistically possible –

If Madoff had been busted for drugs the authorities would already have all of his possesions and there would be no question of what his wife could keep. Why does a millionaire thief get to keep soo much, but the family of a small time street criminal loses everything?

President Obama approved a a package for unemployment. The unemployed are being told that if they are already receiving unemployment, they don't qualify for the stimilus. Is this true. Do I, or don't I qualify for the 25.00 a week increase and the 13 week extension because I received unemployment before the package was approved?

Tom Foreman...I loved that Dr. Phil impersonation! It was dead on!

Only one argument is being played over and over again for bailing out AIG, GM etc. – if they fail, we fail – precisely the weakness these big wigs are exploiting. Why the government is succumbing to this fiscal terrorism?

Did anyone ask about this yet?

If those banks figured they had to buy unusual insurance policies on these...TRIPLE A rated (by AIG) securitized packages, they must have realized how risky they are.
And is AIG the only one that offered these policies? – a Bet on whether they fail?
Again, allowed to create a situation where the bankers make trillions and take no risk... obviously, they got free money all year from the Fed last year, and even were...."wise" enough to buy an unusual and new insurance policy on investments that were only created for the first time in recent years, since Phil Gramm's deregulation bill.
Why would they do that? oh yeah, they planned the whole darn thing.

Paying the AIG bonuses would be a total abuse of our financial system...I as a business owner have cut staff payroll and my salary 50% in order to keep my company going and these guys not only take our money as tax payers but think it's justified to pay out bonuses as well?? This makes me sick

To answer David G and to echo the sentiments of Patty from Pennsylvania, we should force AIG to renegotiate their contracts, much as many others witnessed the disappearance of formerly iron-clad pensions and jobs, obstensibly because "unprecedented circumstances necessitated radical changes."

I agree with Dr. Phil. It's the same thing I have been saying.

If the AIG executives are so good and are contractually owed these bonuses, why does AIG not sweeten their pot further and pay the bonuses in restricted stock.

Give them the 165 million bonuses in restricted stock, and another 100 million in free trading stock, IF they hit the budgeted numbers for the next 2 quarters. Let these so called talented executives work for their money.

How the mighty have fallen since the "Personal Responsibility Act of 1996". And how important it was to balance the budget then, even if it was on the backs of the poor. Now we're handing billions to crooks, and swindlers just to keep them in their executive positions.

Why doesn't anyone mention going after any of these losers with the same voracity that we went after Bill Clinton for his personal indescretions? Why can't we start with the pair who lied us into a war that has cost us trillions of dollars, and has made many of their associates wealthier? Let's get some of that money back. These people aren't royalty. They are crooks. And, they owe us a lot of money.

Then stop throwing good money after bad. Close AIG down, and use the money to start another bank. And, start depositing the money recouped from the scammers, and crooks.

I am a registered republican who voted for Obama. Mr. President you said there wold be control....where is it? Take back the bonus money from the crapy employees that have already been paid, have the attorney general issue the appropriate warnings to AIG execs voiding all contracts and freezing all pay increases, and outline the criminal repercussions if they don't comply. Then spend the next 60 day's interviewing their replacements and fire them all.

While Pres Obama's "inheritance" is from a Republican Executive, it is also from a Democratic House and Democratic Senate (of which he was a member). Additionally, the TARP package was written by the Democratically controlled Congress and fully supported by the then Senator Obama. One should also consider that the now Sec Geithner was instrumental in the AIG deal when he was Pres of FRB New York. So, while I think the Bush Administration deserves the "blame" for a lot, the Democratic Congress shares a big portion of that "blame". It's time to stop the blame rhetoric and get on with coming up with a plan that will work without sending this country into total bankruptcy for generations to come.

When V-President Cheney goes to jail for war crimes..the judge should tell him......."Stuff Happens"

AIG: sure those binding contracts are legally correct since the company didn't go into bankruptcy (yet) because the taxpayer's money avoided that. But all recipients of these bonuses have certainly the right to refuse them or donate them back. If they choose not to, they should be publically executed!

We need to send Cheney to another undisclosed location and then forget that he's there and not call him back. His term is over; I for one don't want to hear him brag about how he and Bush subverted the Constitution with their policies.

I don't feel at all bad for Madoff and his family. For a fraud that went on for about 20 years how could they not know what was going on?

Concerning AIG employees with contracts, lots of people sign contracts when they get hired, but due to the economy many have had to give up raises, bonuses, wage cuts, or were laid-off and not by choice. Due to the economy these contracts should be set aside and these people can tough it out like the rest of us who didn't have choices.

Anderson looks great.

the real rules (laws) to live by, was the 10 commandments, and only 1 man lived up to them and this world killed him. So, how does this bonus contract hold up?

Sabrina, The first TARP, the one Obama voted on, is the issue here right?

Selling derivatives was not illegal and it is not illegal.

The problem was no one was regulating it so AIG took on more than it could pay out.

Why are we still having to listen to Cheney. He had nothing to say before and less now!

The people own 80% of the company and we should have the option of firing the top 24 executives and getting rid of the board of directors. They obviously haven't been doing much of a job anyway. Hence the bailout.

Mr. Anderson, looks like, once again regulators, government (owner of AIG) and American public has been taken by surprise by AIG. Frankly speaking I am not at all enraged by AIG executives but by the folks who were suppose to watch or regulate there actions.

I hate to say this but i have to agree with Dr. Phil. This economy has made many of use canceled our trips to places like Disney World, but instead make us stay at home by going to the park and or spending time with family.This recession has brought many of us back to the simple time where all we do was spend time with family instead of going to highly expensive trips and to take the simple way.

Where's Donald Trump, he know's how to say "Your're fired"!

Those incompetents at AIG deserve a pay cut rather than a bonus. It's the most disgusting display of arrogance and gall to for these inept swine to give themselves a bonus after they had to be bailed out of complete failure with taxpayer's money. They would not only have no bonuses, they wouldn't even have a company if their worthless hides had not been bailed out.

No, I'm serious, let's get them from another direction since they have too much pull for direct action, apparently. Start auditing and dogging their every write off and expense.

Hi Anderson,

If you give her a T-shirt, then you will have to give me one, too. Why? Because I am a former winner, but you weren't giving out T-shirts then.

By all means let's be outraged by the greed and behavior of execs. Let's also not be diverted by this anger and ignore the failure of many government agencies to detect anything wrong, the willingness of politicians to dive in and put their snouts in the TARP trough and our own individual live now pay later attitude. Their is blame aplenty to go round

If you want to know who are the AIG executives... google it. I did and I have all the names.

Culprits of the collapse belong to jail

I am curios to know how if we cant pay our teachers now how is Obama expecting to us to pay them when he extends the school day and the school year?

Has anyone requested to see the actual language in these contracts; to protect privacy names can be redacted. We should know the specific reasons for the bonuses!

I increased sales for my company by 30% this season.

No bonus for me... AIG can suck it. Jelly of the month club for these failures.

I love/respect the idea of capitalism but what AIG is doing is an extremist version. It's Capitalistic Jihad.

Oh, happy birthday, Ashley!

I'm with John Burns. I'm saddened if it's true that drug problems are increasing due to these trying times, but I definitely do not want Dr. Phil's advice and I doubt he'll be able to help those people.

Jo Ann, thanks for the explanation re: TARP, I understand better now.

How is it that AIG is "contractually" obligated to pay these bonuses when their business went completely belly up? Shouldn't the fact that taxpayer dollars rescued them render a bonus agreement null and void? It's obscene that this is even an issue. I am afraid for the future of this country if there are people so devoid of conscience that they would accept bonuses for helping to crash our economy. While they live high on the hog, there are increasing numbers of their fellow citizens who are now living in shelters, in their cars and in tent cities because they've lost their homes and can't afford to feed their families. Every single American should voice their outrage and shame these people into refusing luxurious bonus packages at the expense of the rest of us who are simply making ends meet.

@ Dodie: Great idea! In my town, the police ride around in Hummers and Corvettes seized by drug dealers. They had a drug dealer auction in my town. It was a jumbo tag sale that you had to be medal detected for before you got in. The bargains were something.

I would love to go to the Madoff's tag sale!

I am not sure on this but,

AIG derivative division were probably sales based people. They got paid for total packages sold. As a employee of AIG they were getting paid for selling the product. It is not their fault the product was faulty.

Oh, Dr. Phil - how true - people may actually have to spend time with each other - I'm sure this terrifies some - My family has been doing this for years, and guess what - we actually like each other and aren't stressing over the economy. We are all fortunate to be employed and realize that people are more important than acquiring "things."

Anderson, just a comment on the silver lining on obtaining free counselling. I think people have to do their homework on this to be sure it is a reputable institution providing this service. In tough times this is where the scams start and those too good to be true ideas come into play.

Do we bail out AIG beicause our senators and congressmen's retirement is with this company, but to heck with the auto workers and their retirement, let the big 3 go bust and the working man loses his job and retirement. Same old double standards, we pay for the rich but get nothing in return.

When the Bush/Obama administrations agreed to bail out AIG, I think they wrongly expected the company to grow a moral backbone. Absolutely not so. AIG was run into the ground by corrupt and greedy individuals – now those same individuals are laughing all the way to the bank with the taxpayers' money!!?? Why can't we call the AIG executives past practices fraud and refuse to fulfill the contractual agreements on that basis as some websites have suggested? Also, I think that the government, with an 80% stake in AIG, should be able to get rid of all the top executives who created this mess. Why are we being bullied by AIG to put up with anything they propose? Get rid of the execs that did this – don't reward them! And then take them to court to account for what they have done.

Other countries allow more vacations to have a normal life... north america works you into the ground until you loose your job, then you spend time with your family like Dr. Phil says... on a picnic... because now you are fired and have plenty of time, just no money. And everyone knows picnics are more fun with today's youth than having any type of vacation and seeing the world. (not that I've ever had a nice vacation)

If AIG's contracts can be voided, where does it stop? Would your employer then be able to pay you whatever they feel like because the contract you signed when you started isn't worth the paper it's printed on?

ac,360, i dont mind dr phil buti think he is out of touch just a little,i live 80 miles from la,i lost my jof on feb 27, my wifes birthday, after 4 yearsat an electrial wearhouse,construction has pretty stopped out here in sab bernardino,dr phil you cant tell me how to sleep better at night, when i cant pay my bills thanks anderson paul from southern cal

Do you remember when tips in a restaurant were given for exceptional service and not just expected no matter what kind of service you get? The mindset that exists from the service sector all the way up to corporate America whereby tips and bonuses are no longer tied to performance is a problem.

Sure give them the bonuses.When they reach out to get the check,slap some handcuffs on their wrist.Charge them with Conspiracy to Fraud!Rico Racketering for their circumventing the Gov't regulations.Then spoon feed them from prison with their brand new Cell mates.HARD time only,for all them!

Dr. Phil????? What an incredibly stupid thing to say. He says those who have been "living large" can now slow down, etc. That is his "silver lining?" Most of us haven't been living large, nor will we ever.

I think the AIG bonuses are appalling. I have worked in the auto industry for over 31 years and it’s the same old story. Put employees out on the street to cut cost and reward executives with ludicrous bonuses that could have kept these laid off workers in there positions for 30 years. The same laid off employees that would continue to be viable consumers that allow business to grow instead of shrinking our economy. Now they want to complain about breaking contracts promising these bonuses! Yet they have no problem breaking contracts with labor and reducing their pay & benefits.
Pat In Michigan

@ Brian, AIG was failing & they wouldn't be surviving if it wasn't for bailout money, those same people ran the company into the ground & now want bonuses for what?

Tom Foreman is awesome!!! Lovin’ that Dr. Phil impression!!!
I agree!!! Esma and Rikki!!!

If I don't take pills to sleep – like Unisom or Ambien – my bedtime averages around 5am.

AIG, Madoff, Octo-Mom - seems like every day there's something new to create an angry mob.

Goodnight Anderson, Randi, Mr Gergen, My fellow tweet smartees.
Happy Birthday Ashley

Good discussion, hope tomorrow is a better day.. Goodnite everyone!

If the AIG bonuses are legally contracted and the company has not filed bankruptcy, how can you suggest they should break the law and not pay these bonuses? This still is America after all.. Furthermore, relatively speaking the press is wasting time on this topic – it's like complaining after you give someone $1,000.00, they paid out $0.97... We've got too many problems to have our attention diverted to a matter like as mimimal as this... It's headling grabbing – at it's worst.

I heard tonight that AIG feels it needs to give the bonuses in able to keep their quality employees. Other than AIG, I do not believe the rest of the world believes they are "quality" employees. Maybe they should let their quality employees go and see how many other companies are lining up to hire them....

hi Anderson i am so mad i could screem if we were smart it's been said that aig is to big to fail simple break up the company it what it was intended to be an insurance company as for these bonus's this company lost millions so who in the whole company deserves a bonus you know who should get a bonus the janitor and the cleaning staff and no one else as for the contracts the ownership has changed they want a bonus do something to deserve it aig keeps doing one stupid thing after another fire all the so called management because they are worthless when are we going to stop letting these sob's come with excuse after excuse we should put hard working American's that need a job in place and with some good leadership watch how fast this company get's cleaned up

VP Cheney says that US intelligence gathering during the Bush Administration was legal and constitutional, and to abandon their policies is a mistake. The statement is based on facts and opinions which may be right or wrong. The response from the Obama Administration, which is supposed to put an end to partisan bickering based on Republican versus Democrat gamesmanship, set out no facts or opinions at all. It wass "Rush Limbaugh was busy so they trotted out some other Republican".

This is a move towards ending partisanship?

Who is not stressed and afraid of losing your job? It is he who has the job

Give AIG an option, forego the bonus, or file for bankruptcy! And, give these AIG executives an option, forego the bonus or resign!

taking drugs or pills will do more harm then help. It does NOT do any good. Then not only are you in a financial mess, you are now addicted to drugs too.

Do deep breathing. I do Taiji and Chi-gong to relax.

I don't think anybody gets the concept of the creation of wealth. The United States has to make a product or technology that is exported to another country and they send us their money. If this is not the case, we should just all constantly vacation in the United States. Somebody explain to me how this isn't the situation.

I think I need some of that Xanax too.

I dislike AIG as much as I dislike the GOP, Pelosi and Reid playing political games with our lives, but I don't think the president can afford to let them go out of business.

If they close their doors tomorrow, what happens to all those who are insured by AIG? Is it feasible for AIG to go under and all the policy holders not suffer from the closing? What do the insurers do about coverage if AIG goes bottom up?

Why is anyone surprised by this? The ransacking of the American treasury by Godless corporate goons has been in the works for years. This is the period at the end of the sentence I've been trying to warn people about since the installation of Prince George.

Heaven forfend this should get people to watch less Celebrity Apprentice and start paying attention to real life.

With the statement from the CEO of AIG's remark indicating the bonuses are to keep the employees – He should fire the whole crew if they have no other reason to be an employee!

Why is Cheney still running his mouth his done already he did his 8 years of time. Why talk negative of our new president who has only about 2 months in office and has been making few improvemnets slowly.

Am I the only one straining to hear Anderson speak? If I turn up the volume to listen to him, everything else on the program is too loud.

I've seen this in my own little world...friends are taking mood stabilizers and sleeping pills...just so they can get through a normal day at work. It is very sad and almost a bit disturbing to see this trend.

How much more outraged would the taxpayers be if they knew AIG had already been taking us to the cleaners from their War Profiteering in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars?

Publish the names of those individuals taking the undeserved bonuses forged of public funds; the details will work themselves out.

It is amazing to see the extent of the greed at AIG. It is a cop out to say the bonus a contractual obligation. However, I am surprised that the media is just attacking AIG. Other bailed out companies like Citigroup are still paying bonuses to non-executive professionals and middle managers. How can they spend millions our our dollars giving bonuses when their stock value has dropped to such a low amount? I wish CNN would do an investigation and call all companies out for this insane behavior.

I understand both sides of the argument. There are contractual obligations that are protected from government intervention that were overlooked during A.I.G.'s bailout. However, if the Federal Government didn't step in A.I.G. would have gone bankrupt and they would have been protected against these rediculous bonus payments. A.I.G. wasn't propped up because we like them they recieved bailout money because they were tied into to many different other business enteties that they wrecklessly endagered.

Medicines for sleep is a loss ... after beginning to use, it is difficult to stop using

Now I know what AIG stands for...Accepts Indecent Greed!

Hi Anderson,

Aside from the normal blow up i had this morning im wondering what leg does AIG actually have to stand on in relation to these bonuses? Do they really have to pay the execs? What power does the pres have in this matter???

Poor Thom Krauss, might lose his apartment in NYC, thank goodness he still has the house.. sorry kids, no trip to Africa this year!

What about real people?

Ask Dr. Phil to tell Fox News commentators the next time he is on their show(s) that money spent to get people out of gangs is a good idea. They call that "pork" and make fun of it constantly.

Sorry, but I find it hard to feel sorry for the guy with three houses not being able to sleep. Gosh maybe he will have to sell one of his three houses.

I don't understand why the president is in a twist over the AIG bonuses. 50% of those million dollar bonuses goes back to the federal government as income tax. I don't expect IRS will have any problem accepting their share of the AIG bonuses. Isn't that a thief calling another thief a thief?

Hope he finds a job to stop taking pills, not because he could not afford it.

AIG knew it was in trouble LONG before receiving any financial help.

They should not have promised signing bonuses in the 1st place (knowing what they knew) and most definitely should not be handing them out now. Perhaps they should ask these people if they still want a job! There are MANY unemployed from this industry, who would, I'm sure, be more that happy just to get back to work, without a signing bonus.
How do you earn any kind of a bonus when the company is failing? I thought your got one, only, when you were profitably!!!
Just wondering: Marilyn, Hfx, NS

IAIG executives should resign immediately...

OK, how much of the talk against bonuses is true indignation vs. anti-semitism?

Way to go AIG!! You really took the American taxpayer to the cleaners. Why did you give bonuses to those who took you down and why did you send our dollars overseas? Charity starts at home!!

AIG did not have a problem with letting me and many associates fend for ourselves by laying us off. I say, do not retain a bunch of losers who clearly did not have a clue about what they were doing.

If they get those bonus the IRS should come up with a tax of 99.99% on those bonuses. While they are it they should conduct audits of the last 5 years of each of those bozos.

AIG "may" be legally obligated to pay out the bonuses but it would take careful dissecting of the contracts to see if there is a way to avoid it. Remember that AIG is now essentially owned by the US government. The legal ramifications of that may be very complicated indeed.

In all likelihood they will be honored but the employees involved should be terminated forthwith and perhaps sued by the new owners of AIG (the taxpayers) for negligent business practices. This is a good test case for how much influence the government will exercise to protect the taxpayer investment. Some very stiff penalties could be imposed in the way of taxes, or other sanctions on companies that use the rescue money unwisely.

shouldnt contracts and agreement spellout reasons why something is given ? what should each party have to do before to for an ironclad
agreement is finalized. . let theprofitteers chew on that'

i earned a bonus this year based on MY accomplishments. would it be fair to take my earned pay away?
i do not believe they just hand out money, i think these people met their quotas, or and met the criteria for their earned compensation.

Yes, some AIG executives should resign. Commiting suicide is not the answer.

Good show everyone...till tomorrow

The Government decided to lend $163 billion dollars to a company that today President Obama said is in trouble due to "recklessness and greed." Why did we expect a reckless and greedy company to suddenly be responsible with a blank check? Shame on us...again.

Pay my bills, always have. Was an honest corporate executive, for which I was ousted. My husband is a "salt of the earth" gentlemen who has reared a wonderful, responsible family. He's retired and now we're both losing sleep because we are on the verge of not being able to meet our obligations. I am younger and still working and working all the financials because I don't want nor think it's fair for my husband to have to at this stage of his life. I worry about him! He has a Masters Degree in Horticulture and is doing landscaping to brin gin extra maoney. We're making sacrifices and cutting back on every front.

I suggest the AIG bonus recipients do the right thing and volunteer NOT TO TAKE their bonuses. I'm sure there's a legal way around their contracts – take it and fire them! There are other people who can do their jobs.

If legally impossible to stop giving out those bonuses to AIG execs, what keeps the US Govt from retrieving the equivalent bail-out money already granted to compensate??!

Dr.. Phil,

I work 3 jobs 1 full time 2 part time teaching positions and do community service................. We need to slow down.

Drew

I can honestly say "I DON"T CARE" about anyone from AIG offing themselves!!! Cry me a river! Really!

That is the worst blood sucking company I have heard of they are just as bad as Madoff and you don' t see him killing himself unfortunately!

Anderson – What is with our Congress??? Did they just turn over a check to corrupt and totally incompetent AIG and assume they would spend it appropriately? Were there no conditions or written agreements attached to the bailout money??? What kind of morons do we have orchestrating these bailouts??? I am shocked at the level of incompetence all the way around. The whole world must be laughing.

Hot chocolate, warm milk, chamomille tea, a peppermint candie to soothe the tummy – it all works! Shame on doctors who prescribe prescription strength sleeping pills to 20-somehtings!

lets see how many of out congress and sentors have feathers on there legs now aboutis bonus that AIG is passing out

@ Renee

Yes, we have auctions from property seized from drug dealers. My advise is that you take a k-9 dog around the car to make sure nothing was left in it.

Yep, lets fly back east and see what they might have in auction. Maybe a home at a very reasonable price

What a bunch of arrogant, elitist crooks!

Good night!

I think that Anderson should visit Ohio. He can't just skip Ohio.

2 homes and a apartment in NY, and 11 months savings? OMG. Thats doing good.

I am single, renting, no savings, and am afraid that I will not be able to afford my $700 mthly rent and car note should I loose my $50k a year job, or my creditors start lowering my limits.

Also if my credit is bad, I will not be able to obtain a new job with employers running credit reports to disqualify potential employees.

I would give AIG a cold decision. You only get the money if the clowns at the top get the boot. And no-one at AIG gets bonus's this year. And if you (AIG) don't like those rules....find someone else to bail your sorry a..... out ! Kapiche?

Hey Anderson...Great show.. Just not sure how a failing company can be legally obligated to pay "bonuses". If you don't have the cash you don't have the cash.

Okay, now that I've seen the story...that was a little incendiary. Having a legitimate prescription for sleeping pills and even sedatives does not constitute addictive behavior, nor does it constitute "popping pills just to get through the day." I'm sure some people have turned to addictive behavior due to these tough times, but I'm not thrilled with the way that piece was worded because it isn't true for everybody with a Xanax or Ambien prescription.

If all of the union automotive workers are expected to renegotiate their contracts prior to their expiration why in the heck can't AIG do the same with their "contracted bonus employees"? Oh wait, they're white collar and work "real" jobs.

Bonuses are pay for performance. The first mesure of performance is increasing shareholder wealth. The measure of increasing shareholder wealth is profit. Another measure of increasing shareholder wealth is stock price increase. If both of these are not met, then a bonus is not to be paid.

Simple logic, simple rules.

After all, these are rules applied to non executive employees.

Bonuses are pay for performance. The first mesure of performance is increasing shareholder wealth. The measure of increasing shareholder wealth is profit. Another measure of increasing shareholder wealth is stock price increase. If both of these are not met, then a bonus is not to be paid.

Simple logic, simple rules.

After all, these are rules applied to non executive employees.

Why would you give a bonus when the company is going down? Are we as middle class americans so stupid and unimportant that the people (I use that term loosely!) at AIG can do what they want without fear? Why would you still do business with AIG if they don't care any more than that? WOW! Fire them all and give the lobs to some of the people without.

@Bill, NJ, maybe my friends and me are in the wrong business, but you bet, our companies changed, salaries, stopped bonuses, ended perks and minimimzed vacation time without blinking an eye. We had two choices take the changes or quit. The lawyers like the rest of us were thankful they still had their jobs.

As a former ceo of a public company, I am outraged. It's time for some tough leadership and love. I know there are some who will say the bonuses cannot be withheld (or taken back) for legal reasons, but that is simply an excuse for a lack of leadership. Here's what I would do:
1. Fire the board of directors. They approved a bonus plan that wasn't aligned with the Company's goals and shareholder interests.
2. Fire the ceo. He is demonstrating a total lack of leadership.
3. Tell the AIG organization that bonuses will not be paid due to the poor performance of the Company. Any employee that doesn't like the decision is free to quit.
4. Deal with any lawsuit individually. Don't be afraid to exert leadership or act decisively because of a threat of a lawsuit.
5. Ask the new board to structure future bonus programs tied to performance and meeting the Company's goals, Implement a "gatekeeper" feature to ensure that bonuses are paid only if the Company meets it's profit targets.

It's time to deal with these issues through leadership and action and not through regulations and government bureaucracy.

Everyone is soooo Mad at AIG, and yet... The Value of the company nearly doubled today. I wonder why???

AIG exec bailout bonuses? What a sad, cruel, disgusting, ironic joke on the taxpayers of this country. Is there no end to the shame and greed exhibited by executives in the private sector. How do I explain our situation to my children when they are having to pay back AIG's bailout? All AIG execs should have been canned long before the bailout. The lack of accountability is so deafening I can't stand it. I have never been more disappointed in my fellow Americans than in AIG execs. Give me just one that will do the honorable thing and forego a bonus on moral principle....then we have a potential leader.

Anna, I completely agree with you about CNN calling out ALL the companies taking "retention" bonuses! CNN should find out who they all are and publish their names; and, even the names of the people directly in receipt of these "retention" bonuses. They should ALL be held accountable.

The self-serving rationalization, greed and irresponsibility of AIG makes me embarrased and confused about how to explain free enterprise to my children and grandchildren .

We finally have the right person leading our country. He takes issues head on and cares about everyday citizens. I have confidence, especially today, that we are on the road to recovery.

@David Gergen:

My vote is for AIG to pay out their contractual obligations (i.e. bonuses) by issuing out their own stock. This way those valued people who they want to stop from leaving will have ownership in the company which would stop the greed that got them in trouble to begin with.

this isnt all of aig's fault i blame it more on the gov. for not taking time to set some rules. i think we should get used to it there can only be more of it to come w/ everybody just signing things without reading them.

You know you are in Hollyweird when you see Dr. Phil. My neighbor could have given me the same advice.

The greed at AIG is not above avg in corporate America.

Good evening Anderson, Randi, Ali, David and all my fellow bloggers! Hope you all have a great evening and a fantastic tomorrow! Great show tonight! I am definitely really looking forward to the shows this week and the different cities! Happy Birthday Ashley and Casey!

@ Marilyn Squires

Yes, I completely agree they knew a long time ago they were in trouble. That is why the signed the contract for bonuses to ensure they would continue to get our money! Argggggg... Incompetence and AIG are synonymous.... This is giving me indigestion.

I completely understand that AIG has contracts with their employees, as well as the language of those contracts.
BUT – these are extra-ordinary times, and this company has done incredible damage to the global economy.
If these aren't grounds to revise those contracts, and add language that states – "if AIG is receiving taxpayer funded government loans, all bonuses are null and void" – then I don't know what is...

Dave in GA

Sadly enough, this AIG bonus debacle doesn't surprise me in the least. I'm stuck here in Texas, watching our governor call those of us who are unemployed, "junkies" and refusing the UI portion of the stimulus package. In other words, "we're hung out to dry" unless we can find a job at a fast food establishment. Many people call us "whiners" because there are plenty of jobs in Dallas and Houston. Since when are there only two cities in Texas? There is no human kindness or compassion left. Only decisions made for political reasons and no one to police those decisions. When my UI runs out, we'll lose everything. So, while AIG is handing out the big bonuses, I'm trying to decide what I'll do when I have no income. It's not a singular story; it's happening everywhere. But, at least some state governments are making their stimulus decisions based on the people of their state and not how they'll fair come their next bid for re-election. God help us all.

Wow! Time flies when your on the 360blog.

Terrific discussions and ideas tonight, from my fellow bloggers.

Wnat to thank CNN for the Road to Recovery program all week. It makes glad that my favorite news network is interested in helping all of us who watch.....guinely appreciated.

Goodnight Anderson, et al, & fellow bloggers. Let's hope tomorrow has positive news!

Where is all the money that was supposed to help the California
school system thru the lottery and Indian gaming gone? The lottery and casino's are raking huge profits. " It's sickining"

Wow – a fast hour. Good mix of topics - looking forward to the rest of the week.

Good evening fellow chatters - until tomorrow.

This is why us little people didnt want big Govt to bail them out. Because all they were gonna do is do something stupid and self serving just like this. All that "monopoly money" could have been used for the "little guys" in america- every day citizens, who work hard for the little they have and dont flaunt it. Who needs to have big homes and fancy cars? nobody.

Good Night Everyone!

great advice from Dr. Phil! we do need to stay positive.

goodnight everyone! it was a very interesting and busy night! goodnight Anderson, Randi and David...see you all tomorrow. be safe!

Well Good Night AC360 and Anderson and my fellow bloogers.

Great show tonight Anderson,
Love you going out to visit with people affected. Also enjoyed your format which provides solutions to the current situation.

Goodnight everyone, I'm pulling my money out of AIG tomorrow. I agree with you SAM I feel teel the same way about the guy with 3 houses.

Let AIG Fail. Request the taxpayer funding be returned. Make a Government funded replica of AIG without their greedy workers. At first I agreed with the bailout......but, now I'm thinking they didn't need the money if they can afford bonus payouts.

AIG should shorten it's name to AG as for American Greed.

Goodnight ALL. Talk to yall tomorrow.

I am outraged about AIG's disgraceful action with these so called "bonuses" My husband has been quite an asset for AIG over the years (he is no way involved in what is going on at the moment). Not only are these million dollar bonuses outrageous – my husband & his office were informed last year there will be no raises for he & all the employees that report to him & he also is not able to be re-imbursed anymore for the "little things" he does for his employees such as coffee & donuts & bagels he brought in for them as a way of saying "thanks for a job well done" They were also informed they would not have a Christmas party. There is more – please also make sure to mention AIG also has good hard-working dedicated employees such as my husband. A very disgruntled AIG wife & taxpayer.

I'm hearing that AIG is too big and important to fail, that it would affect too many different areas of the economy. I'm thinking that no one corporation should be that big and important – it's part of the reason they feel they can do whatever they want I think.

Good night everyone... Now I need to go and get something for my indigestion!

Anderson Cooper,

Today your rest is deserved. Do the show, live, and in the streets, is legal but should be much more tiring.

Great show today! Congratularions! And thanks!

Good sleep!
See you tomorrow!

I live to hear about real problems people are having struggling to keep their homes and they families feed, not a guy who has a big house, and apt in NYC and paying for his wife/ex-wife place. So the kids won't have a vacation or be able to have their afterschool goodys, no hockey/soccer trips, boo hoo. I was a little insulted that CNN actually had this guy on.

@John, you said it based on "my accomplishment' what accomplishments can the execs at AIG lay claim to?

@ Dr. Phil: School pictures are $42. Not $11.25.

Good night, Anderson!

Good night, David (Indiana), Megan, Casey, Gayle, Esma, Rikki, Brandi, Betty Ann, Vanessa, …

Happy birthday, Casey!

I think if AIG employees decide to quit because they don't get their bonuses, I'm not going to loose sleep over it. I'm sure there's enough people out there looking for work where they could be replaced in a matter of days. If the government had never given AIG a bail out, not only would those employees not be getting a bonus but they would probably be out of a job too. At my job even though we didn't get raises this year we did get bonuses but they were based on our performance. It would be interesting to hear one of these employees explain why they deserve a bonus.

Is the president giving a stimulus check to people with Social Security as their only income???? I would appreciate an answer. I have tried every way I know of to find out. Thanks a Lot

Thanks Dr.Phil for your advices.

Good night Anderson. Stay safe on your travel.
Good night Randi, Ali, David Gergen and AC 360 team.

Good start of the week!

Have a good Tuesday everyone.
Sweet dreams!!

As small business owner who's struggling to jump start an exciting idea, how do we specifically tap into this money? There are so many websites and emails offering ways to get grant money. How do we tell which ones are legit?

Thanks

Great Show! Terrific energy! This is the right Road to be on. Good night Anderson, goodnight AC 360.

Great advice from Dr Phil! He's uses what we all need to, common sense, Hope everyone has a great night and day tomorrow!

Great show, AC360 team. Thanks for taking us on the road this week, especially to NOLA. I wish Anderson continued safe travel. Best to everyone, and I'll see you tomorrow night!

I myself do not have the best way to get out of the poop that we ALL are in but what these CEOs of AIG are taking my money to feed their family while I have to lose my job and wonder how I am going to feed my daughters would the CEOs please explain to me how they think they are able to get the bonuses they are recieving because I don't under stand. Alex Giles thank you ac360

I enjoyed the conservation tips from Dr. Phil + Anderson looks Great!!

Well, it's that time... Evening Anderson, Randi, David G, and all you bloggers/Facebookers out there. And Happy Birthday Casey Jones!

Isnt there a way to reposess the money ?

Thanks AIG. What you've done is essentially like '911'. You've committed financial terrorism, not just in the US but across the global as well. A very clever scheme run by a few very bad guys causing hundreds of millions of good, hard-working people to pay for your sins.

Hey Anderson! Come and visit us here in CHICAGO! Bring Randi, Erica and Mr. Gergen with you

Let AIG fail. Stop the madness and the $$. I feel like they are holding us hostage and just rubbing all of this bonus/bad behavior in our faces. The economy is still in big trouble and its still business as usual for AIG. This will not change until they are made to realize that the ride is over, no more brazen and reckless behavior will be tolerated. Say bye bye to them!

Dr. Phil's advice have the kids feed the neighbors cat? Time for a reality check...

Anderson,
One side, ordinary people are struggling to pay for their food.
Other side, government is feeding ordinary people's hard dollar to the losers who are responsible for all this mess!
Government is making my stomach sick.

Who is charge at AIG? Places where I got bonuses was determined on your work performance. With that said, I believe the employees of AIG owes the company money, not them receiving the bonuses. AIG, your employees ruined your name, the American Taxpayers bail you out, giving the US government 80%, and you have the nerve to give our money to the employees that put you in this mess. What's wrong with this picture?

Hello again - Time did not permit a close read of all of your many great comments about AIG. By my rough count, there was a strong majority for option (b) above - tell anyone from AIG who accepts a bonus that we can't stop you from taking the money, but we can stop you from working here anymore - you are fired!

Some of you felt that the govt could not breach the contracts, even if it wanted; others felt that corporate contracts are regularly renegotiated (e.g., UAW). But the vast majority of you are really, really angry –and as hardworking taxpayers, you are right!

To Judy Hansen and a couple of others: Attorney General Andrew Cuomo of NY is pushing AIG hard to get the names of those on the bonus list.

Thanks again.