As Seen in the Wall Street Journal – A Public Apology To The Harassed AIG Employees
Posted by the912project on March 31, 2009 · 268 Comments
But the apology was NOT from the GOVT, this was an AD!
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268 Responses to “As Seen in the Wall Street Journal – A Public Apology To The Harassed AIG Employees”The Restoring Honor Rally August 28, 2010
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With all this talk of congress ruining our country, did you stop and think the maybe they are doing all that is in their power to get us out of this mess? HMMMM? Maybe, just maybe they are going to extremes(obviously the opposite end of the bush spectrum) to keep this country from going down? To the jokers on TV talking about how we should make a law and let them break it after the fact. Well, if it weren't for good ol' boy Sen. Phil Gramm, they would have been breaking laws at the time. Considering Gramm was certainly the spearhead of the super republican led deregulation of the late nineties, doing such things as getting rid of the Glass-Steagall Act, which was passed during the great depression. Aig, amognst others, would not have gotten into this mess, considering Joe Cassano's dealings would have been illegal at the time.
So if you want to blame politicians, look at the people you voted for 11-13 years ago. WQhen they deregulated everything, that's when corporate power took over, you're just now seeing it. Go ahead respond to this with fire and brimestone, and keep living in denial that alot of YOU are to blame for this. Considering YOU vote republican, and YOU voted people into the government which YOU are now blaming(Of course not the people who did it, but the people who are trying to clean it up). So when you start point fingers, point them at yourselves, look in the mirror, and give the middle finger. It is whosoever voted these people into office 11-13 years ago that are to blame.
They are going to run small businesses into the ground with taxes? Most small businesses don't profit over $250,000 a year. So please explain how they going to run small business into the ground with new tax policies that aren't even going to affect them. Some of which will actually have better tax breaks. Well I guess I should have voted for McLame, who wanted to give another $3 billion in tax cuts to oil companies. We all know $40.6 billion a year just isn't enough for Exxon, right? Spitzer(who I agree is a piece of crap) had a good point though, he saw what AIG was trying to do, and tried to put a stop to it. Too bad, so sad, right?
It's so funny how people are tring to blame "Liberals" for this mess. HA! Learn your history people, the majority of our recessions were caused by the republican party, or parties that eventually became the republican party. The same can be said for our wars. The republicans don't want to take power away from the government to give it to the people, but to give it to big industry. Also, Liberalsrajoke, I recall the same problem of no checks and balances for the first 6 years of the Bush administration. They did not have to answer for anything they did, let alone give any reason to do it. It is also funny how the republicans gave out this "bail-out". Hmmmm, perhaps conservatives are a joke? Perhaps you sir, are a joke.
Also, alot of the people you voted for(including Bush) gave this bail-out, with no thought of over-sight. So people are mad at Obama for firing the CEO who took GM's stock down 96% since he took over? Yes, if my boss was doing a horrible job, I would hope Obama would fire him and we could replace him with someone better fit. About the UAW, uhhh hello idiot, they all took HUGE paycuts a loooong time ago. The Chrysler employees pay were cut to nearly half of what they made in 2000. Along with many benefits they had. Did the executives lose any pay? NO! Did they lose their right to fly private jets? NO! So don't talk down on the union. They took ridiculous pay cuts, and cuts from their benefits, while the executives continued to benefit.
Also, the guys who ran AIG into the ground are long gone? Perhaps you need to pay attention, not tell me to do so. The first sign that shows how brainless you are is the fact you follow a grotesque man like Glenn Beck. The man mainly responsible for the downfall of AIG, actually the branch of AIG, AIGFP (AIG Financial Products), which led the whole company into this, is Joe Cassano. He still works for AIG, at the salary of $1 million dollars PER MONTH!!! So who's paying attention? Maybe it is you who needs to pay more attention, since most of you don't have the slightest clue of what you are speaking of. I'm sure half of you defending these people are people of the same mind-set as those like Joe Cassano. If people are willing to let me screw them out of money, then so be it. That's what I hate about alot of my fellow Americans. It's the if you're open, I'm screwing you as much and as hard as possible way of thinking.
The AIG bus tour to homes and the demonstration in front of the AIG building had an organizational connection to SEIU and were not just any randomly assembled collection of citizens.
I agree they were unruly on their own, but the person who put together the non-apology was making no mention of the SEIU connection and , in my interpretation of their work, was hoping to be vague enough to possibly discredit any gathering of citizens who would protest fiscal irresponsibility.
Some propaganda pieces are very carefully crafted to provoke popular reaction and disregard some of the facts. The ad follows some of the same methods applied to e-mail hoaxes.
I'd like to think that anyone involved in the 9-12 project would study the bait pieces as earnestly as we apply ourselves to understanding the founding fathers purposes.
By having an opinion on this one topic, I am accepting quite a few thumbs down from the board in general.
It's not my intention to stir discontent, but to promote a critical eye to the 'news', cartoons and bloggers that would try to detract from whatever progress we are making here.
I'd say those segments of our citizenry did a fine job of framing themselves as an unruly mob.
Must give props to politicians like Barney Frank, Chris Dodd and the messiah himself Obama at their ability to use smoke and mirrors to deflect anger away from the real criminals…themselves
Some of these people were working for nothing, the bonus was their only compensation for their efforts. I can't say that I agree with the amount of the bonuses, but that isn't for me to say. I say that they shouldn't have been bailed out to begin with, but they were. They bailout money was to keep their company afloat until they can make it on their own, this includes the salaries of the employees. If you all want to be pissed about something, be pissed about the money that they have sent overseas. Don't let OUR smooth talking politicians get away with what they are trying to do. They are directing our focus away from themselves. They should be the ones that we are all raising hell at. Not the private individual folks that are working at these companies in question. Is there anyone out there, that if offered a job making 1 mil plus, that would refuse it. It's not their fault. Place the blame where it belongs…..
Jrock …I agree, pay performance for our government and we the people control there payout! also someone said something about UAW and they should have to take a pay cut in salary, My husband just had his pension cut in half they never got any bailout! and the UAW feels they shouldnt .give me a break…
Obama and his henchmen are absolutely shameless. They sign into law that AIG execs get a bonus, then act outraged and try to be on the side of the taxpayers by making them look bad. Talk about hypocrites.
Meanwhile we find out that Tim Geitner and chief Whitehouse henchman Emmanuel ASKED for AIG bonuses. For what purposes do you imagine such a demand was made? And why has the press not covered it much less chased that story?
It works out just peachy-keen that when the treasury was off to print a trillion new $$ and Congress is spending it faster than the treasury can print it, that Obama (first one out the gate on the AIG bonuses could tell the country – - "Look at the shiney really bad thing", and the country said, "Wow, yes, it is shiney", and forgot all about what Obama and Congress is REALLY up to.
I personally don't care who wrote it. Satan himself could have written the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence and it wouldn't have changed the brilliance and absolute truths of those documents.
GO TO MSNBC [Today ] AT http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29493093/ [Obama] VOTE TO TELL, [ MSNBC ] WHAT GRADE OBAMA ,HAS EARNED SO FAR. Thanks RJK [11:40 he is still at 50/50]
All blame for the AIG mess rests on Congress' shoulders. No way they're getting out of this one!
What kind of employees (congressmen/women) have we allowed to serve us (the American citizens)? They beg to be hired (elected) and the next thing you know, they make themselves into little royals and have the nerve to treat the employers (US!) as dimwitted, uncaring idiots.
I will emphatically repeat Neil Cavuto's statement to a congressman yesterday on Fox – "We pay your salary!" — and I think it's high time our "employees" realize who the "boss" is! I also recommend that Obama et. al. study the constitution thoroughly before making another move. It's obvious they haven't a clue what's written in it!
Our new Stimulus Plan
Recently acorn was hired to hire street urchins to go to these peoples homes to protest their retention bonuses. So to better stimulate the economy how about we find people that have been made jobless by these yahoos and hire them to protest twenty four seven in front of Barny Frank, Chris Dodd , Tim Gietner, and Nancy Pelosi's home. We will be benefiting the economy and doing a public service both at the same time:)
Now that contracts may no longer be relevent. I believe I will just go and break all the ones I've signed. If I could actually afford to I'd leave this place, er, If Icould find one to go to. Sick, angry and really pi$$ed.
Yeah we are sorry we let them have bonus But it OK to send 58 billion of taxpayer money to Overseas. Lets find the real issues
What is Funny No one even cares that 58 billion of the money AIG received from Taxpayers went to Overseas portions of the bank. WOW yeah i guess leagal contract are really the issue. Wake up
Actually, a bonus is part of their contract which is something that they signed when they were hired. A contract is a contract. If they can cancel AIG contracts, they can cancel anyones. That also means that they can confiscate your home, your business or do what they want. Just look at what happened in Venezuela. Chavez took many corporations, many residences over and gave the nicest ones to his buddies or supporters. The people who worked hard for their homes, lost everything. I bet most of the poor in Venezuela were happy that the rich lost it too, but that didn't put any money in their pockets. It's a very slippery slope so be careful of what you wish for. Concentrate on negotiating your own deals because other peoples bonuses are none of your businesses.
If you want to get angry at something, Congress Bailed out AIG, Chriss Dodd slips in language to approved their bonuses so AIG execs could have money to donate to his campaign. Chriss Dodd took the money back and AIG management was forced to donate to Chris Dodd's campaign and required copies of their checks to prove it. Why he isn't in Jail is beyond me.
we need to vote for all new sentors and congress than cancel their retirement and health care, they are going to run small business in the ground with taxes
If union contracts and bonuses were not honored there would be an uproar accross the nation. But Apparently, honoring contractual bonuses in the Private sector is another thing. Now the government would like to control salaries, bonus and inflict Retroactive Taxation on the private sector. Where is the Public uproar? Geitner, Dodd and Obama all were aware of the protection clauses in the Stimulous, they put them there. So to act shocked and outrages is a FARCE. They set up this situation for there benefits, then acted completely naive and victimized. Give me a break. What President Ever would admit to such a monumental Mistake ? Unless of course it never was a mistake in the first place but simply strategy.
I hope everyone is reaching out to their friends, family, neighbors, waiters, dry cleaner, accountant, etc.. and promoting this sight. I have and will continue to enlist people!
This movement is important and if we are not growing in numbers we will lose momentum. Momentum is a funny thing, while it is hard to obtain it is very easily lost.
Please tell everyone you know to visit this thie site, together we can change the future of our country!
God Bless America!!!
This Apology should have come from the President himself but it is clear that is a hopeless dream. My Mom (74) shared with me today that she saw this coming with the Seat Belt Law. I know it has nothing to do with this, but….hear me out…
The more we give to the Government, albeit personal behavior like the Seat Belt Law or Corporate behavior (like this debacle they haven't even outlined) is giving away our freedom, one ounce or a pound at a time, and letting these loons rob us of the very thing that makes America great. Freedom to screw up. Freedom to succeed.
How dare they select a small few to ferment public anger. They are using our Peoples as tools and I almost gaga at the behavior.
I've never really thought about the seat belt laws like this, but you and your mother make a really good point.
Were any laws broken? No. Move on. Bravo to the writer of that ad in the WSJ.
Their are things we need to focus more on right now. The fact that our government is out of control. The tea parties are great, and I will be attending my local one on April 15, but for some reason I feel as if things are happening too fast and we are reacting too slow and with not enough force.
Just one man's opinion, and I take criticism well, but if this is truly as bad as we are all saying, then drastic times call for drastic measures. As I look to the right of my screen, I see currently their are 344,011 members of the 912project. We need to get to Washington and MAKE them listen to us. We need to SURROUND them. How? I have a few ideas, but may seem extreme, so I will refrain from typing them, however I am open to suggestions.
You, fellow 912er, are brilliant!
Thanks!
What if ALL of us 'withheld' our tax payment? That might just get their attention.
If enough of us did it there is no way they could come after all of us.
If they did we could all plead 'stupid' like the members of the Obama cabinet who 'forgot' to pay their taxes……….we can blame Turbo-Tax!
Everyone knows that you cant stand a triangle on it's tip. That's what overgrown goverment, or ANYTHING is like. It's top heavy and unstable. We 912ers can build it from the bottom and give it a solid foundation again if we work on it.
A good swift kick in the ~~~!
AIG certainly appeared to be a successful insurence company and then [idiot] Elliot Spitzer [remember him? N.Y. Attorney General who went all over the country trying to destroy people who were successful?] started one of his vendettas against Hank Greenberg [CEO of AIG]………….nasty inuendo, no charges, public uneasyness about AIG.
Spitzer tried to ruin several successful people who remain considerably well off while the people who worked for them LOST THEIR JOBS!
And where is Idiot Elliot today?…………………no longer Gov of N.Y. due to his penchant for pricey hookers!
STOP FOCUSING ON THE PRIVATE COMPANIES AND LOOK AT WHAT THESE POWER HUNGRY PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO DO TO ALL OF US!