Reply #168: Nonsense

[scentopine]

1. Your argument that executive branch functions are not required to answer to congressional inquiry is nonsense and *exactly* the same argument Bush and Cheney attnys used to keep exec staff members from testifying in front of congress. We can do it the easy way or the hard way with subpoenas and law suits. Supplying a full accounting to congress (our representatives) is not usurping executive priority. For the moment, let's push aside the technical mechanisms at our disposal to force disclosure from the Obama administration (and the treasury) - why would the president not demand full accountability and communicate that to the public? According to the Obamanauts, we should simply sit back and be happy and just trust the purity of his constitution and his Wall Street lobbyist, Tiny Tim. I don't agree. This is completely wrong on so many levels - from duplicitous claims of transparency to criticizing Bush for the same behavior. It is wrong, wrong, wrong (but politically convenient, I get that part).

2. Approx. 10% of TARP money been returned. Approx. $50 billion out of $500 billion returned. A total of 1.2 trillion is available. There will be more cash given out, and the largest wall street firms will probably repay some of it. The returned amount is less than the amount Madoff stole in his ponzi scheme. As I am sure you know, the inspector general weighed in on the subject and simply echoed legitimate concerns some of us democrats have been voicing for six months. We gave cash to banks with no strings attached. Have you ever filled out a mortgage application? Banks know how to track their cash. They have the most sophisticated computer systems in the world for managing accounts, in and out. To say it can't be done is insulting and arrogant.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/25205.html - one of many, many articles and opinion pieces available.

Obama's apoplectic sycophants seem especially testy these days. Why not direct your anger at Obama instead of those of us working for change?