Afternoon/Evening DUers, your reaction to Paulson today.

[Mike 03]

I can't stop shaking in anger/bewilderment from this morning.

What is your take on what he said?

I would rather listen than talk.

Have at it.

[TexasObserver]

1. Investigation by Congress and the FBI. Criminal prosecution for fraud.

[phantom power]

2. My reaction is....

the economy is bleeding out, and none of our fearless leaders knows what to do.

[Cleita]

3. Just this.

:puke:

Need I say more?

[Triana]

4. One word:

RIPOFF!

And the FINAL end to FDR's "entitlement" (aka "socialist" to a pigshit) programs - they have been murdered by simply bleeding the treasury DRY of every coin - and then a few hundred billion more - just to be sure they STAY gone. THAT - and enriching his buds on Wall Street - is his and bu$hit's plan - and guess what - they've succeeded.

AND there's the added bennie of having SET OBAMA UP TO FAIL - because he can't do a damn thing - he has NO budget and NO money to do anything with.

How conveeeeeeeeeeeenient. Eh?

:mad:

[NRaleighLiberal]

5. Did we really expect any different with so many incompetents in charge?

Haven't we learned anything over the past 8 years - we break, not fix things, we don't have a clue how to fix them, and we lie whenever possible?

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

6. It somehow suddenly dawned on those fucking dimbulbs...

That handing over great gouts of money to the people who caused the problems in the first place just wasn't going to work, because the people who caused the problems were just hoarding it for more business deals that would profit themselves. The health of the wider economy meant less than nothing to them. In their minds, they were the economy, and their financial health and comfort would benefit all of us.

It's the logical conclusion of people who have lived their lives and made their fortunes under Reaganomics.

[Sal Minella]

10. "Some people choose to be homeless," said St. Ronnie. I remember that all too well.

But you wouldn't think so many would also choose to become jobless at the same time. There's just no telling what low-class people are going to do next.

But if they didn't have the good sense to be born into wealthy families, that's their own fault.

[MindPilot]

7. wondering where all the bailout supporters are hiding

I just want to deliver a nice fat "TOLD YOU SO!!"

[Turbineguy]

8. Marxism was a system that worked well

for Marx.

The Republican version of Free Markets i.e. Socialize Losses, Privatize Profits is working well for them.

Paulson is trying to fix a problem he has helped create the same way he helped create it. Because when your only tool is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

But many were all taken in by low interest rates, rising home values, growing brokerage account balances, easy profits and the rest. We will come out of this better I think. Many will suffer. Some will retire comfortably to their villas and enjoy their yachts. None will go to jail.

And the Reagan revolution will go the way of Marx.

I am a bailout supporter because for now, it is cheaper and better than the alternative.

[Autumn]

9. Thoroughly pissed,

but it's just what I expected. Can't wait for the next one. Bastards,all of them.

[malaise]

11. Immediate reaction

WTF
Later reaction WTFF

Still later reaction - who will arrest this perpetrator of the greatest fraud in history.

[sad sally]

12. the man has proven himself to be the perfect Bush cabinet member

knows when to lie (although his hesitant speach gives him away...you know when he's lying), knows when to pay dumb, knows how to blame somebody else, knows how to play the old "keep you eye on the pea" game (now you see it, now you don't). He's a dangerous man (always has been) to be in charge of the US Treasury; seems like his goal is to make sure it's another agency left in ruins.

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. You mean this part?

"Paulson said he was reluctant to dole out aid to borrowers because that would make less cash available to aid finance companies.

"The top priority has to be stability, making sure we have resources in reserve to deal with any systemic events," Paulson said."

I thought he was being very clear, has always been clear.

He is saying, as he has said all along, the top priority has to be that ( his crony ) investment banks get and hold onto lots and lots of money, in case they is a some sort of emergency that comes along.
An emergency he has alluded to several times in the recent past if you remember.
An emergency that will be more likely since he is doing nothing to help the consumers avoid increased financial devastation.
Sorta " we got the public on the ropes where we want them, helpless, broke and afraid"
and now "it is time to finish collapsing the economy, 'cause if it is a choice of paying debts to Japan or keeping the money in Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan, guess which I am choosing".

Was that the part you were having trouble with ?