DISQUS

Amy Goodman wrote a piece yesterday after speaking with a former Bear Stearns player, the woman's analysis is telling:

"Nomi Prins used to run the European analytics group at Bear Stearns and also worked at Lehman Brothers. "AIG was acting not simply as an insurance company," she told me. "It was acting as a speculative investment bank/hedge fund, as was Bear Stearns, as was Lehman Brothers, as is what will become Bank of America/Merrill Lynch. So you have a situation where it's [the U.S. government] ... taking on the risk of items it cannot even begin to understand."

She went on: "It's about taking on too much leverage and borrowing to take on the risk and borrowing again and borrowing again, 25 to 30 times the amount of capital. ... They had to basically back the borrowing that they were doing. ... There was no transparency to the Fed, to the SEC, to the Treasury, to anyone who would have even bothered to look as to how much of a catastrophe was being created, so that when anything fell, whether it was the subprime mortgage or whether it was a credit complex security, it was all below a pile of immense interlocked, incestuous borrowing, and that's what is bringing down the entire banking system."

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080917_wa...

Thomasjames, there's a lot of people that agree with you. If you go to the NPR link referenced in the article, John Snow, Bush's former Treasure Secretary says:

"It is just not appropriate to have the tax-payers holding the bag for private managements."

"Our system doesn't work well, where the gains are privatized but the losses are born by you and me and John Q. Public as the tax-payers."

When discussing the bailout many people focus on the "they're too big to fail" issue, which refers to the present, and its true. If they were allowed to fail, you, me, every small business in the country would no longer be able to get a loan. Lenders would for all intents and purposes, stop lending money to the average person.

But of course it could have been avoided with proper oversight. For decades GSE's helped millions of Americans attain home ownership, the problem is that any financial institution allowed to run amok... will run amok.

The lack of oversight from the government to the lending institutions to the brokers all got greedy and failed to heed even their own internal policies for safeguards.

Dems and Republicans in Congress and at the state level are all culpable.

Thomasjames, there's a lot of people that agree with you. If you go to the NPR link referenced in the article, John Snow, Bush's former Treasure Secretary says:

"It is just not appropriate to have the tax-payers holding the bag for private managements."

"Our system doesn't work well, where the gains are privatized but the losses are born by you and me and John Q. Public as the tax-payers."

When discussing the bailout many people focus on the "they're too big to fail" issue, which refers to the present, and its true. If they were allowed to fail, you, me, every small business in the country would no longer be able to get a loan. Lenders would for all intents and purposes, stop lending money to the average person.

But of course it could have been avoided with proper oversight. For decades GSE's helped millions of Americans attain home ownership, the problem is that any financial institution allowed to run amok... will run amok.

The lack of oversight from the government to the lending institutions to the brokers all got greedy and failed to heed even their own internal policies for safeguards.

Dems and Republicans in Congress and at the state level are all culpable.

riteizrite, Obama was also elected by people of various political backgrounds as President of the Harvard Law Review. He was also a constitutional lawyer. That's the record and that's what he should be judged by.

Likewise, John McCain's been in political office something like 26 years and his record speaks for itself... more status quo Republican than maverick if you really look at. He should be judged by that rather than him being a pow because that doesn't really equate to what it takes to run a country.

Both candidates and parties are completely entrenched in corporate interests and I believe that is where the public on both sides of the political spectrum should be evaluating the opponents candidate as well as their own, and the system that allows such rampant collusion.

riteizrite, Obama was also elected by people of various political backgrounds as President of the Harvard Law Review. He was also a constitutional lawyer. That's the record and that's what he should be judged by.

Likewise, John McCain's been in political office something like 26 years and his record speaks for itself... more status quo Republican than maverick if you really look at. He should be judged by that rather than him being a pow because that doesn't really equate to what it takes to run a country.

Both candidates and parties are completely entrenched in corporate interests and I believe that is where the public on both sides of the political spectrum should be evaluating the opponents candidate as well as their own, and the system that allows such rampant collusion.

Population of Arkansas: 2,810,872
Population of Alaska: 670,053

Unless Palin has been single-handedly governing grizzlies and trout, I don't really think that the size of Alaska is as important as the tiny handful of people that live there.

Population of Arkansas: 2,810,872
Population of Alaska: 670,053

Unless Palin has been single-handedly governing grizzlies and trout, I don't really think that the size of Alaska is as important as the tiny handful of people that live there.

Oh Dan... your righteous indignation at the scrutiny Palin is receiving is amusing. Who told this whopper, "Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno." John McCain said that... in front of an audience. What kind of person would call a political opponents teen daughter ugly, for giggles with his base? This was after his 1986 joke about a woman being raped by an ape and liking it, which was before his "bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" joke, which was before his joke about perhaps cigarettes being the best way to kill Iranians.

"I mean, come on, this lady has run a small business, been mayor of a small town and now is governor of the largest state in the union." Sorry but this sounds as desperate as pointing out her proximity to Russia as the embodiment of her foreign policy experience.

As far as "average Americans" go, ask an average American if they're feeling the benefits of the Republicans tax-cuts for the wealthy... perhaps you're definition of average equates to wealthy.

Sorry to break it to you but McCain didn't choose anyone and according to his own advisers he wanted Joe Lieberman... possibly because Lieberman's very good at catching McCain's public gaffes and explaining to him that Iranians aren't training Al Queda and that Pakistan and Iraq do not share a common border.

Dan, if you would get over your fascination with Clinton and the partisan hackery, you might find that there are some very logical criticisms to be aimed at Obama. Focusing on his community organizing is not one of them. In fact most "average Americans", I believe, can relate to a community organizer far more than a career politician who was funded by his rich wife... after dumping his first for political gain.

You may want to look at that fact that Obama has surrounded himself with the hawks of the Clinton administration for his foreign policy advisers, with the knowledge of this information you could say that he is mistakingly heading towards some of the same foreign policy blunders that the Clinton administration made... and then your critique would sound rational and hence, people might give it more weight.

Oh Dan... your righteous indignation at the scrutiny Palin is receiving is amusing. Who told this whopper, "Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno." John McCain said that... in front of an audience. What kind of person would call a political opponents teen daughter ugly, for giggles with his base? This was after his 1986 joke about a woman being raped by an ape and liking it, which was before his "bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" joke, which was before his joke about perhaps cigarettes being the best way to kill Iranians.

"I mean, come on, this lady has run a small business, been mayor of a small town and now is governor of the largest state in the union." Sorry but this sounds as desperate as pointing out her proximity to Russia as the embodiment of her foreign policy experience.

As far as "average Americans" go, ask an average American if they're feeling the benefits of the Republicans tax-cuts for the wealthy... perhaps you're definition of average equates to wealthy.

Sorry to break it to you but McCain didn't choose anyone and according to his own advisers he wanted Joe Lieberman... possibly because Lieberman's very good at catching McCain's public gaffes and explaining to him that Iranians aren't training Al Queda and that Pakistan and Iraq do not share a common border.

Dan, if you would get over your fascination with Clinton and the partisan hackery, you might find that there are some very logical criticisms to be aimed at Obama. Focusing on his community organizing is not one of them. In fact most "average Americans", I believe, can relate to a community organizer far more than a career politician who was funded by his rich wife... after dumping his first for political gain.

You may want to look at that fact that Obama has surrounded himself with the hawks of the Clinton administration for his foreign policy advisers, with the knowledge of this information you could say that he is mistakingly heading towards some of the same foreign policy blunders that the Clinton administration made... and then your critique would sound rational and hence, people might give it more weight.

thomasjames, good point, but take a look at this video. Seems like McCain's was more regurgitated than plagiarized...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqy2LnE4jDU

thomasjames, good point, but take a look at this video. Seems like McCain's was more regurgitated than plagiarized...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqy2LnE4jDU

Tracy, apparently you're not the only one who's taking note of the obvious. Bob Schieffer, not exactly a fringe voice, on Face The Nation this morning asks McCain:

"There were 36 African American delegates out of 2300 plus delegates there. How can you survive as a party if you become just the party of white people?"

After McCain agrees that the party can't survive without diversity, Scheiffer asks, "So what are you going to do about that?"

McCain then gets philosophical without ever answering the question.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/09/07/face-t...

Tracy, apparently you're not the only one who's taking note of the obvious. Bob Schieffer, not exactly a fringe voice, on Face The Nation this morning asks McCain:

"There were 36 African American delegates out of 2300 plus delegates there. How can you survive as a party if you become just the party of white people?"

After McCain agrees that the party can't survive without diversity, Scheiffer asks, "So what are you going to do about that?"

McCain then gets philosophical without ever answering the question.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/09/07/face-t...

And in mentioning Bill Kristol, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Kristol, I think it only fair to readers to point out that this gentleman, a member of our mainstream media, had a tangible stake in the Iraq war... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_for_a_new_...

And in mentioning Bill Kristol, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Kristol, I think it only fair to readers to point out that this gentleman, a member of our mainstream media, had a tangible stake in the Iraq war... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_for_a_new_...

Proudrepublican, I don't think the Republican party needs any help in destroying itself. For that matter, the Democratic Party is pretty good at that also. Your response is akin to screaming and pointing in someones face. If you have something smart or witty to say, please say it without the written "SCREAMING" and personal attacking nature. And if you are unable to do that, please use your real name so that people get a sense of who is really communicating in this manner... and what particular affiliations and background you may have.

If I remember correctly from one of your earlier comments, that "Obama is merely a candidate because he's black." I'm sure he was elected president of the Harvard Law Review because he was black right? That statement is the definition of bigotry my friend.

Proudrepublican, I don't think the Republican party needs any help in destroying itself. For that matter, the Democratic Party is pretty good at that also. Your response is akin to screaming and pointing in someones face. If you have something smart or witty to say, please say it without the written "SCREAMING" and personal attacking nature. And if you are unable to do that, please use your real name so that people get a sense of who is really communicating in this manner... and what particular affiliations and background you may have.

If I remember correctly from one of your earlier comments, that "Obama is merely a candidate because he's black." I'm sure he was elected president of the Harvard Law Review because he was black right? That statement is the definition of bigotry my friend.

thomasjames, reason would state that credible tax reform can only come after there's been appropriate election/campaign finance reform.

thomasjames, reason would state that credible tax reform can only come after there's been appropriate election/campaign finance reform.

Just wanted to add a little bit to this civil dialogue that's taking place here. I believe the left's criticism of Palin's experience is a direct counter to the ongoing talking points of the right, including Mr. McCain, that Obama is a weak candidate because of his lack of foreign policy experience... and then picking someone out of the blue, with absolutely zero experience in that regard... would be akin to Marty Chavez attaining the Governor's seat and then being picked for VP.

And lets be honest with ourselves, John McCaine did not choose anybody... nor did Obama for VP, the consultants that the DNC and the GOP force the candidates to use and the elites of the parties are the one's who make those choices and it should be the media's obligation to point out how the process really works.

Let's also be honest when discussing abortion that neither the Republican party nor the Democratic party participate in any concerted effort to lower the abortion rate in this country, yet both parties cling to it as a hot button topic during election time.

As far as the "red scare" talking points about wanting to give corporate profits to welfare and immigrants, are you aware that the most successful corporations in this country report paying zero taxes... that's even after receiving millions of "tax-incentives" from tax payers like you and me. I'm not for stealing profits but I think its the tax-payers right to expect a successful company to abide by the same tax-laws that the average person does.

Its also should be pointed out that if it is communism you fear, this administration is responsible for accruing trillions of dollars in debt, the majority of which is owned by China, Russia and Saudi Arabia... not exactly bastions of democracy.

At this time in American history, would it not be more prudent for its citizens to examine the workings of its own political system and the subversions therein? Both parties are in complete cahoots with lobbyist interests. Alarm bells and outrage should have reverberated through this country when the corporations who held our debates (a travesty in and of itself) barred various presidential candidates from participating in our democratic process.

Just wanted to add a little bit to this civil dialogue that's taking place here. I believe the left's criticism of Palin's experience is a direct counter to the ongoing talking points of the right, including Mr. McCain, that Obama is a weak candidate because of his lack of foreign policy experience... and then picking someone out of the blue, with absolutely zero experience in that regard... would be akin to Marty Chavez attaining the Governor's seat and then being picked for VP.

And lets be honest with ourselves, John McCaine did not choose anybody... nor did Obama for VP, the consultants that the DNC and the GOP force the candidates to use and the elites of the parties are the one's who make those choices and it should be the media's obligation to point out how the process really works.

Let's also be honest when discussing abortion that neither the Republican party nor the Democratic party participate in any concerted effort to lower the abortion rate in this country, yet both parties cling to it as a hot button topic during election time.

As far as the "red scare" talking points about wanting to give corporate profits to welfare and immigrants, are you aware that the most successful corporations in this country report paying zero taxes... that's even after receiving millions of "tax-incentives" from tax payers like you and me. I'm not for stealing profits but I think its the tax-payers right to expect a successful company to abide by the same tax-laws that the average person does.

Its also should be pointed out that if it is communism you fear, this administration is responsible for accruing trillions of dollars in debt, the majority of which is owned by China, Russia and Saudi Arabia... not exactly bastions of democracy.

At this time in American history, would it not be more prudent for its citizens to examine the workings of its own political system and the subversions therein? Both parties are in complete cahoots with lobbyist interests. Alarm bells and outrage should have reverberated through this country when the corporations who held our debates (a travesty in and of itself) barred various presidential candidates from participating in our democratic process.

http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2007/10...

http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/un/disarmament/npt...


"In 2007, taking into consideration the recent international situation
surrounding nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, Japan submitted its draftresolution on nuclear disarmament to the United Nations General Assembly. On 5 December 2007, the draft resolution was adopted at the plenary meeting of the United Nations General Assembly by an overwhelming majority of 170 votes infavour, which is the largest ever."

http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2007/10...

http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/un/disarmament/npt...


"In 2007, taking into consideration the recent international situation
surrounding nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, Japan submitted its draftresolution on nuclear disarmament to the United Nations General Assembly. On 5 December 2007, the draft resolution was adopted at the plenary meeting of the United Nations General Assembly by an overwhelming majority of 170 votes infavour, which is the largest ever."

Thanks for the input Dave. I was going off this definition:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapon_des...

"The core of an implosion weapon

Thanks for the input Dave. I was going off this definition:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapon_des...

"The core of an implosion weapon â€" the fissile material and any reflector or tamper bonded to it â€" is known as the pit. Some weapons tested during the 1950s used pits made with U-235 alone, or in composite with plutonium,[8] but all-plutonium pits are the smallest in diameter and have been the standard since the early 1960s."

As well as the definition cited in the AP report that I cited:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hLlCrUKKwQnr...