Edward Liddy's Pitch in the WaPo
Edward Liddy's op-ed in the WaPo reveals two significant details: those contracts were negotiated at least as early as March 17, 2008, just in time for AIG's public confession that AIGFP was FUBAR. And the real issue here is not the contractual obligation to the banksters, but the risk still present in the CDS strategies.
The Geithner Master Plan To Recover The AIG Bonuses
Pretty much the only news this week has been outrage over the bogus bonuses paid to individuals in the AIG Financial Products division (yes, they have already been paid) and discussion among the political class as to how to remedy the situation. The moment we have all been waiting for has arrived: Tim Geithner has announced his master plan. Sounds like he stole it from Gomer Pyle.
AIG: "Retention" Payments for Leaving?!?!?!
I'm guessing that the American taxpayers just paid 11 AIGFP former employees retention bonuses even though they have already left AIGFP because they left "for good reason." Huh!?!?!?
Time to Get Geithner under Oath on AIG
Over the weekend, Tim Geithner told the American taxpayers that AIG just had to pay out those millions in bonuses. But now we learn from Andrew Cuomo what was in those contracts, and it sure sounds like Geithner was lying to us.
Two BIFFOs Celebrate St. Paddy's Day
May you be graced with trolls who will help you find the only Beamish on tap in Boston.
Win the Super Bowl? Win a Long Trip to Ireland!!!
A nice touch, announcing this on St. Paddy' Day:
President Barack Obama today announced his intent to nominate Steelers owner Dan Rooney as ambassador to Ireland.
In a statement from the White House, Mr. Obama said, "I am honored and grateful that such a dedicated and accomplished individual has agreed to serve as the representative of the United States to the Irish people.
Greg Craig Won't Tell You How Obama Disappeared the Whistleblowers
Some lawyer who looks remarkably like Greg Craig doesn't want you to know whether or not Obama will prosecute whistleblowers.
Lawyers Revolt Against Haynes And Yoo; Where's The OPR Report?
Well, as a card carrying member of the bar, I have to say it is about time that American lawyers learned something from their feisty compatriots in Pakistan. Sure enough, they have done exactly that as the National Lawyers Guild is going after Haynes and Yoo.
AG "Paunch" Sulzberger Fellates Dick
Remember how, on two different occasions, Arthur "Pinch" Sulzberger went out of his way to hide Dick Cheney's crimes? Well now he's got his son doing it for the family paper.
Obama to Geithner: Get That Bonus Money Back
It sounds like Obama has told Tim Geithner to go back to Edward Liddy and explain that $100 million bonuses are unacceptable.
I'm glad that Obama did this (after seeing the outrage in Congress no doubt). I'm still astounded that Geithner needed to be told. And I'm still suspicious that Geithner was responding to threats from AIG that no one is much talking about.
The Semtex in the AIG Retention Contracts
AIG seems to be saying to Tim Geithner that, if the US doesn't let AIG pay its AIGFP managers their bonuses, those managers might trigger events that would put the US government on the line for billions more in payments.
Dear W,
I'm still angry that you did not pardon Scooter. And I consider it fair game for my memoir. Love, Dick
The Abu Zubaydah Experiment
The New Yorker has a piece with long excerpts from the leaked Red Cross report on American torture of high value detainees. The article sure makes it sound like the torture tapes were an attempt to document which torture methods worked and which did not. Which I guess explains why they had to be destroyed.
Obama Becomes Bush As We Wait For Walker's Ruling
As you may recall, since February 27, we have been waiting for a decision, of some sort, from Vaughn Walker in the al-Haramain and Consolidated litigation in NDCA. The decision is not in yet; however, there is a new filing in the consolidated cases further ingraining the oneness of Obama with Bush in the litigation.
"And it does not employ the phrase 'enemy combatant'"
Barack Obama's DOJ finished it's homework assignment: to tell the Courts how it will deal with all the men Bush detained. But it basically amounts to renaming the same authorities and powers Bush claimed.
Pixie Dust and Cheney's Assassination Squads
A number of people have pointed to EO 12333 in their discussions of whether or not Cheney's assassination squads are legal. But that's precisely the EO that we have reason to suspect got pixie dusted--or changed, without any public record of the change.
The IP Treaty Is Secret Too?!?!?
Apparently, we're not allowed to know what's in the IP treaty Bush negotiated last fall.
Obama's Signing Statement Disappears Whistleblowers
Obama followed up his memo of the other day--promising not to use signing statements like Bush did--with a signing statement used like Bush did. Most troubling, he used it to counteract efforts to make it easier for whistleblowers to report problems and wrong-doing to Congress.
Call for the Senate to Vote for Process at OLC--and Dawn Johnsen
Dawn Johnsen is being considered in SJC today. When the Republicans start making incendiary claims about her, call them and remind them that, unlike John Yoo, she has promised to use a non-politicized method to put respect for the law back in OLC memos.
Sam Zell Chats with Fitz
Sam Zell chatted with Fitz--back in January. I'm guessing this is coming out now to pre-empt whatever news will show up in an imminent Blago indictment.