Afternoon fun. Michael Moore wants your help with “Financial Collapse – The Movie”:
I am in the middle of shooting my next movie and I am looking for a few brave people who work on Wall Street or in the financial industry to come forward and share with me what they know. Based on those who have already contacted me, I believe there are a number of you who know “the real deal” about the abuses that have been happening. You have information that the American people need to hear. I am humbly asking you for a moment of courage, to be a hero and help me expose the biggest swindle in American history.
I will be interested if and only if he obtains footage of the still-apocryphal Dick-Fuld-punch-to-the-face. Really hope he does.
Also, h/t to Jim Swift for sending me this 7-minute video of Maxine Waters’ random rantings at the Congressional hearings yesterday, where she roasts, er, the “Captains of the Universe”:
You guys know I want to see these CEOs raked over the coals as much as anyone, but I truly wonder how the hell Maxine Waters ever got sufficient rank to be in a position to do it. TigerHawk’s characterization cracked me up really hard:
Her questions to the bankers are so bizarre that they don’t know what to do. Ken Lewis looks like a deer in the headlights as Waters asks her about offshore loss mitigation efforts. He can’t even figure out what she’s talking about, and neither can I. She also asks the bankers, few of whom are in the credit card business, how many of them have cut credit limits to people on the basis of where they shop. It’s like watching your crazy aunt challenge your boyfriend to prove that fairies aren’t real.
It is starting look like standards are not so high for being an elected official. I think I should run for Congress, and I’m throwing the name of LoLo, Esq., into the hat for Sec’y of Commerce.
Bootvis // Feb 12, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Am I drunk already or is she totally crazy?
The Reformed Broker Josh Brown // Feb 12, 2009 at 9:54 pm
M Waters is indeed scary-stupid
and it only took her 30 seconds to turn this whole thing into a race issue, major surprise
lucky for her, her constituents dont really care if she makes sense, as long as she yell something at the fat cats
TRB
Weston // Feb 13, 2009 at 12:03 am
That is hilarious. wow, yea, Bank CEO’s don’t speak crazy lady. It was fun to hear what the Bandit sounds like.
RobT // Feb 13, 2009 at 12:18 am
Perhaps our rep’s and senators should be grilled rather than ceo’s?
CEO’s have a reason to be defiant in the face of adversity – profit potential. What is the reason for congressman?
Oh, wait. Profit potential.
Sorry.
Gobus // Feb 13, 2009 at 2:29 am
Personally, I think congress needs more crazy bag ladies…somehow I think all the crazy will balance out into common sense. There’s no way it could get any worse!
…and as for Moore;
http://www.imao.us/archives/000583.html#000583
Damien // Feb 13, 2009 at 6:47 am
Ken Lewis loves lamp.
Damien // Feb 13, 2009 at 6:53 am
Actually I get it but it makes it crazier, she’s complaining *in congress* that her constituents are being put through to Indian call centers.
BlueMonkey // Feb 13, 2009 at 8:16 am
Yes! Now the rest of the world knows how I feel when I have to listen to some GOP douchenozzle wax on about morality and terrrrrsts and munneez in some windbag speech about nothing.
That is just fucking funny. More Maxine! I think congress has finally come up with the appropriate punishment for the CEOs on the dole. I mean, hell, if it gets a few more of them to say “fuck it – i’ll just pay our loot back and be done with it”, well, GOOD.
Jason // Feb 13, 2009 at 8:21 am
I think the best possible outcome here would be if, after two hours of listening to Spencer Bachus and Barney Frank argue like the world’s most passive-aggressive mom and dad, one or more of the CEOs tendered his resignation on the spot.
Ben // Feb 13, 2009 at 12:14 pm
I like the way Jonah Goldberg summarized her remarks:
“Rep. Maxine Waters (D., Calif.), who last May vowed to nationalize the oil industry if it didn’t cut gas prices, spent her interrogation time sounding like the sort of person who waits in line at the DMV while having a conversation with her handbag, only to finally ask the clerk why he’s wasting her time.”
http://article.nationalreview.com/print/?q=MTA3ZWIyNjFiZmY2OWI4Y2IxZTJhYjgzNGQzYTcyMmI=
Mark Dowling // Feb 13, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Yeah but Goldberg also said: “Under normal circumstances, the financial inferno would cause a lot of pain, but it would also burn away a lot of deadwood. The strongest firms would survive, and newer, healthier businesses would sprout from the ashes. Plummeting housing prices would make homes affordable for first-time buyers again, particularly those with good credit who live within their means.”
Well, yeah sure, except this isn’t NORMAL circumstances, where savings rates DID matter and wealth had not been disproportionately tied up in an asset which could flip from liquid to illiquid in a dizzyingly short time (i.e. your house) and the Government (Rep) didn’t this situation was a GOOD thing.
marie // Feb 13, 2009 at 1:54 pm
You get what you vote for, folks. Maxine Waters’ behavior and ignorance should be a wake-up call to all Americans. Every one of these Congressional clowns must be voted out of office next election.
Hot Links: Maxine Waters, Bailout Nation and A-Rod « // Feb 14, 2009 at 10:26 am
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