Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 3/19/09
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I'm waiting to see how fast the latest angry mob assembles to go after Obama for his politically incorrect comment about the special olympics.
Think, think, think, before you speak Mr. President.
Sharon, do you REALLy think that the president can do his job SOLELY from Washington? ARe you KIDDING?!?! They have Airforce 1 (and have for YEARS) because the country and the office of president can and needs to be run from more than one location.
Study civics more, and you would understand that the President's Primary job is to direct the country. LEGISLATORS write the legislation, Presidents either wield, direct or create popular demands which pushes congress if he's effective. THe President's trip is to garner a support for his PLAN which, in case you didnt know, is HIS JOB.
Hi Anderson,
I voted for President Obama and I'm sticking by him. What we all need to do is continue to keep our President, his family and this country in prayer. I believe and have faith in the God that I serve that we will get out of this. We have to have patience. This mess didn't happen over night.
Keep the Faith!!!!!
We have a president who seems to think of himself as more a movie star than a leader. All he does is try to get in front of the camera. He loves to hear himself talk, that is obvious, but we are sick of it! He is throwing our Constitution out the window, all the while talking out of both sides of his mouth. No wonder America is fast becoming the laughing stock of the world!
Hello,
It is my firm belief that rather than making cuts at the president for breaking out of the shell and reaching out to the American people, lawmakers should be working together and thinking of ways to fix the mess created by the AIG bonuses. Yet another disappointing attempt by the Republicans to backtrack and cover up the mess they created.
The Federal Reserve knew about these bonuses more than a year ago and Geithner was president of the Federal Reserve Bank of NY. It was his job to know about these things and he failed.
I don't know what is worse that he knew about these bonuses and didn't say anything or that he didn't know and is incompetent. Either way it is troubling.
Tim Geither SHOULD NOT – NOT Resign. Who is going to take his place? Come on you all, grab a clue. Change can not happen overnight.
Tim did not hold a gun to any one's head. Senator's Dobbs, McCain, and all other sitting senators, Republican or Democrat were voted in to protect us, they are all to blame, and they better fix it. To hell with why it happened. FIX IT, and make sure it does not happen in the future.
Wow 2 months on the job and they are trying to hang this man. Some Senator's sitting for 12+ years , abusing power, and job not even threatned.
AIG was wrong, but congress has a share of the blame. The witch-hunt must stop. People fail to realize AIG is larger than most countries. If the USA were AIG , yesterday's $1.3 trillion dollar "print fest" would be like giving each employee a $50 million dollar bonus.
What's the difference between what AIG did and what the Federal Reserve is doing – taxing everyone via inflation?
If we're this divisive now, wait until apples are $8 each.
No one is asked to explain their use of the word "handicap" with regard to golf, why try to incite Americans because of our President's joke regarding his inability to bowl well? How about a little more support and a lot less scrutiny?
Why blame the Treasury Dept???? They don't make the laws. Obama is now acting just like a celebrity....he should be running our country instead of going out to the "VOTERS", the election is OVER....Also how can Congress come up with a law (taxing these bonusus) in one day? They should have taken care of this BEFORE it got this far instead of blaming each other.
Ali did a wonderful job with the interview he did with Geithner!
Someone should keep track of (count) the number of positive vs negative comments our congressmen & women make in a day....and break it down by party.
It would be interesting to see which party's glass is half full or half empty. Unfortunately, for some.....the glass is simply too big!
The question is how many other loopholes are there? Anyone checking that out?
While angry with AIG executives, I agree that the fault lies with those who crafted and approved the bailout of AIG, including Mr. Geithner. If the company had a contractual obligation to pay the bonuses, they faced litigation were they not paid. The administration is accountable and needs to accept responsibility, not allow congress to enact legislation whereby the government exacts retribution on private individuals.
Both Geithner and Dodd need to resign now.
Look I for one do not what the President or
Treasury Sec interfering with the Fed.
I think Geithner is a major liability to the new administration, right now. Someone explain to me why it wouldn't be good for him to disappear at this point? I would want to cut the strings and cut my losses, but I'm not a politician.
Good evening Anderson,
Why doesn't AIG give it's bonus 'deserving' employees a bond that matures when the regular stock reaches a target mark that represents total recovery. That way they will be invested in the recovery, none of the funds given them for 'recovery' would be used as bonus, and they would actually deserve the bonus they would be able to access at that point, restoring the health of the business and wisely postponing the bonus until then.
While I agree that the AIG execs do not deserve the bonus, it makes me feel uneasy that Congress could just step and impose such high taxes on a certain group of people. I understand what they're trying to do but this somehow seems wrong.
Is this change in legislation really a "mistake" or is Geithner right? Will trying to take the bonuses back cost more in legal battles and the loss of time to deal with "fixing" our economy.
Too bad the "angry mob" has turned this into a much bigger issue than it really is -
@ Randi Kaye... I think the Treasury department needs More staff! It seemed more of needing more staff as it was never completely read.
Geitner will stay. I think he's getting the hang of things.
He's so effective that the GOP wants him out–but he won't go.
President doing the right thing standing by him and furthering his agenda !!
Go Obama!
I don't like the AIG bonuses, either, but I like even less that Congress is now in this vindictive viper mode when they let the mess exist in the first place.
Regarding Joe's comment about perspective: I think one reason this has received so much focus is that it's a lot easier to wrap your mind around what $165 million means than $1 trillion. People gravitate to what's more comprehensible than what's most relevant.
What shocks me is the fact that after all of this, those that received the bonuses have not had a turn around. You would think that after they see the outrage they would have donated the money to charity or back to the government. They have not.
There is no place for an acting president, of (arguably) the most powerful country in the world, to take some sort of narcisstic-driven stance on a late night comedy show. If he chooses to do so, he should be careful about comments about mentally challenged individuals. Meantime, I'd like to know how he finds the time to up his bowling score and such while putting himself in harms way and increasing the onus on taxpayers with the audacity of increased secret security guard measures. Get to business, please, and step out of the limelight. I can't imagine George Washington acting like this.
Congress talks about a 90% tax on their bonuses. I agree they should have never been paid, but how many congress man this year have not paid taxes? We had 7 this year in Georgia and 3 in the current administration
Raw Politics. Cable cost and gas monopolies also cause small business to fail. Health care is as important as Insurance but shouldn't the largest insurance companies' bailout lead to a discussion about high insurance cost and premiums?
@Reinald, Obama ran almost solely on being different and change. He's been acting the same, or worse. He tries to point fingers himself by repeatedly saying he inherited the problem. He deserves all the scrutiny he's getting and more. It's about time that he has to do more than make speaches.
Although I do not think AIG should be distributing bonuses with tax payers dollars I am outraged at Barney Frank for having the nerve to criticize anyone. Let's not forget that he has had a tremendous part in causing the financial difficulties our country is in. He should shut his mouth and get out of Washington!
Anderson, let's remind the American people of what he has done. He should not get away with it.
Wow there are some bitter people on this blog. I am amazed at how people want the President hidden away in his office and not talking to real people, listening to real issues, and not just focusing on the stories that the media deem important or critical. In neither of his town halls did he get even one question about the bank bailouts or AIG.
Why is everyone afraid about losing these "Big Talents" from Wall Street and big banking bussines? the only talent they have shown is how to destroy the world economy and the lifes of millions of people.
Let them go! Their replacements can only be better, and surelly more honest.
I am outraged by the robbery of the execs at AIG! I am a school teacher with a family of two, live an honest life, love my job and my husband! How can I vote to have a 5% cost of living increase so my colleagues can still wake up to a job and my husband's company in Dulles, VA just cut his salary by 75% w/ no notice–effective immediately! How are we supposded to survive. These crooks get to walk away with a bonus? For what? It would be totally fair to shove them all in the cell w/ Bernie Madoff and have them woerk in soup kitchens or classrooms for the rest of their lives. Better yet, they shoul dbe expected to give their bonus money to fix Dc public schools and have to work real jobs for the rest of their lives for less than minimum wage! They don't care about the American people at all. Obama is doing more for the country at this time that Bush ever did...he deserves to shake off some stress by picking teams and being on J. Leno! He shows he's human!
Make up laws as we go along.
Congress needs to come up with someway to get the tax payers money back from the greedy people at AIG
Hey
Anderson, quick question for you. How many people would have known about the bailouts if they didn't go public. I don't think anyone actually can say that they see money out of there pocket because of the bailout. The economy is tanking, things would still look bad if we didn't give them the money and maybe worse.My family and I have been struggling prior to any of this happening.
The congress is the mess. They are deflecting attention from their own inaction and incompetence. I proposed 12 year term limits for each house and we go back to the original proportional representation in the house of representatives (500,000 citizens / representative).
Both Geithner and Dodd need to resign now. Dodd and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and now AIG. Where are the term limits when you need them.
Hi, Anderson,
Why doesn't Congress tax **100%** of AIG bonuses??
Under the current 90% tax plan, the AIG exec who got a $6 mill bonus
will now still get $600,000 – that's surely a lot of $ to most Americans!!!
Thanks!
Nan in Boulder
Good grief Obama knew they all knew it was in there! How obsurd to think that NO ONE KNEW!!!
Really? someone wrote it and all of them signed it!
Good evening Anderson, Randi, Kelly and AC360 team, Panel members, and all bloggers.
It is the fourth day on the road already. I really enjoy your show on the road. Can't believe tomorrow will be the last day on the road.
AIG bonus is a really hot potato. Interesting how it is going to end. I am looking forward to it.
With this AIG mess it seems that President Obama has picked the wrong time to go on.the tonight show to me it sends the wrong message, he should be in Wahington getting to the bottom of what went wrong with this bonus fiasco I'am really dissapointed in this administration so far.
this tax on the bonuses is unbelievable it's too little to late and i'n not sure if it's even legal
TARP money was mandatory for original recipients, even if firms were profitable. Now you are telling those profitable firms that you are capping staff pay. Hedge funds (partly responsible, along with politicians) and foreign firms are rubbing their hands in glee. Working in finance is a dirty word at the moment. Thankfully, policiticans are usurping us in that department. Intelligent people take intelligent jobs, the rest become politicians.
I agree with those who think the president is spending too much time campaigning and not enough time focusing and working on the economic problems this country is facing right now. Get back to Washington and do the work you were chosen to do.
Hi, Anderson, Kelly, bloggers and friends!
Evening for everyone…
i think the press is putting Obama under too much scrutiny. where was all this examination when Bush was attacking a soveriegn country.
All the President has to do is invite the Special Olympics Bowling Team to the White House for a day of bowling fun. Invite alot of bowlers, don't leave anyone out. It would show an honest open hand to the country. When has that ever happened. Michele and the girls will be excellent hosts.
Now we know why Obama wanted the Bill pushed through without giving anyone time to read it. He the clause was in the Bill, Geitner knew it, Dodd knew it. This is one snafu that falls squarely on the Dems shoulders as no Repubs were even allowed in the creation of the Bill. Love to see them scrambling to see who will take the bullet, my guess is Dodd will be the fall guy for the Prez.
Sen. Chris Dodd should resign after lying to the American people about the AIG bonuses provision!!!
The bonuses are just a distraction. AIG has paid 100s of Billions of dollars to banks all over the world. This leads me to believe that AIG was going down 5 or even 10 years ago. How could this happen?
I find it interesting that the Republican members of the Senate are being highly critical of the new administration. If not for them, the country would not have had the failing in the economy that we now experience.
Where was that outrage when Wall Street was fleecing America?
I am outraged at the bonuses paid to executives. I am out of work because of the economy, yet the Republicans are not helping me to get and keep a job.
I think the Republicans are using the bonuses as a diversion to keep the public from focusing on the economy that they screwed up!