Rahm Emanuel's profitable stint at mortgage giant

[antimatter98]

Source: Chicago Tribune

Before its portfolio of bad loans helped trigger the current housing crisis, mortgage giant Freddie Mac was the focus of a major accounting scandal that led to a management shake-up, huge fines and scalding condemnation of passive directors by a top federal regulator.

One of those allegedly asleep-at-the-switch board members was Chicago's Rahm Emanuel—now chief of staff to President Barack Obama—who made at least $320,000 for a 14-month stint at Freddie Mac that required little effort.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-rahm-emanuel-profit-26-mar26,0,5682373.story

---

Obama appoints toxic financial industry insiders to his team, and we're supposed to believe
that things will change? This is BushCo under an Obama banner.

[lamp_shade]

1. Where's my pitchfork dammit !!!

[Buzz Clik]

104. I'll get the pitchforks, you get the torches!!!

RABBLE RABBLE! RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE!!!

[biopowertoday]

2. Its the say one thing and do another mentality!

[dionysus]

3. yes, exactly the same as bush.

[truedelphi]

69. Thinking about the Financial BailOuts made under Obama, I found myself thinking

If Bush had put together this Toxic Asset Buyout plan, would the Demcorats' have supported it or rebelled?

At the very best the plan will be highly inflationary. At the worst it will be a dismal failure.

In either case, the average person is so screwn.

[mopinko]

4. another media outlet finds it's voice. how strange.

the paper that twice endorsed *, finally has something to complain about. is this a great country, or what?

[flyarm]

7. wasn't it the Chicago trib that team Obama threatened to sue and wanted the editorial board fired?

seems to me i got much of my info from the Chicago Trib before the election..too bad many here ignored them!!

In fact i would say most here didn't ignore ..people here made exucses or demonized the messenger!

Don't worry we here at du love to shoot the messenger..

waaaa waaa we don't want to hear it..hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil..we have our Obama!
See the new boss, is the same as the old boss as many of us warned!!

Now will someone please define to me what a "GOOD DEMOCRAT " is again..I am waiting..or is it one of those lovely names i have been called so often.

[flyarm]

8. in the words of Harry Reid ..just " VINTAGE" Obama!! EOM

[karynnj]

9. Wasn't that Blago?

I don't think Obama ever asked for the editorial board - which endorsed him - fired. Obama also sat with the board to answer questions on Resko for HOURS and they did the most comprehensive articles on it - and in fact ended the story.

I am really sad to see that your hatred of Obama has not lessened to any real degree.

To me a good Democrat is a person who basically buys into most (if not all) Democratic values. This good Democrat can disagree on policy issues with any politician - including the President. But, the disagreement should be polite, issue based and not character assassination. In fact, one difference between Republicans and Democrats is that that kind of diversity of opinion is respected.

[defendandprotect]

20. The DLC-corporate wing certainly doesn't buy into most/all Democratic values . . .!!!

[karynnj]

42. I was trying to answer in general - and I think that ALL parts of the party are Democratic

I think that the DLC wing believes in some of the same things that the Kerry/Kennedy wing (for lack of a better name) believes on most social issues. I can't think of a single Democrat who does not have 100% or near 100% on the various "rights" scores (AA, women's, gay etc) On foreign policy, the DLC is more hawkish - though nowhere near the Republicans. On economic issues - they agree on the goals - health insurance, alternative energy, education reform etc but disagree on the details.

In addition, many Democrats are not completely in any one category on all issues. Kerry is more fiscally conservative and concerned with budget issues than most of the others in the left wing - but he is very good on the "social justice" issues - leading him to be the long term Senate sponsor for Youthbuild, the author of the precursor bill to S-CHIP, and the lead sponsor for many Congresses on the Affordable Housing Fund that just passed last year. Feingold is even more fiscally conservative.

In addition, there are many conservative Democrats, Conrad, Dorgan etc, who do not fit the DLC views on things like NAFTA and they were the most likely to fight against "wall street".

In 2008, the possible candidates did not neatly fall into the categories I defined.

Clinton was the closest on most issues with DLC, especially on foreign policy, but on healthcare her words placed her to the left of that.

Edwards was, in my opinion, inconsistent - he was by far the most hawkish 2004 candidate except for Lieberman. Though his opinion on Iraq changed, it was not clear his basic philosophy had. He spoke eloquently on poverty, but he had voted for the bankruptcy bill. Any excuse that he was a new Senator or that he represented NC, don't cut it here - this was an area Elizabeth Edwards specialized in and NC poor were as hurt by this as any - voting against this could easily have been sold in NC. His Senate votes placed him as firmly as Clinton in the DLC wing. As Feingold noted, his rhetoric was more consistent with Feingold's record.

Obama had the shortest record to look at. His foreign policy comments borrowed a lot from Senator Kerry, which I liked and I liked that he (along with Kerry) were the only potential people in the race who voted for the Feinstein amendment to ban the sale of cluster bombs. His voting record was slightly to the left of Clinton - usually in the Kerry/Kennedy wing. His personal history of being a community organizer made that designation seem where he was.

That was our real choice.

You are looking (in other posts) only at the negatives - which are sometimes guilt by association. Look instead at what has passed:
- Lily Ledbetter
- S-CHIP
- a stimulus bill that includes money for high speed rail, green technology, and an increase in unemployment funds
- an omnibus buget bill that failed to pass last year

In addition, there were the things he could do as President
- the gag rule on speaking of contraceptives and abortion is gone internationally
- federal money can fund stem cell research
- there is a plane resembling a stretched out Kerry/Feingold to get out of Iraq - longer than I would have wanted, but doing the right things
- he has engaged in diplomacy


All of these are things that two years ago were why we wanted a Democrat to win. Obama has been President 2 months. On some things you included - we don't know his position. You take a JOKING comment from Jones to imply the foreign policy is being run by Kissinger. The Obama administration said the Kissinger trip to Russia had nothing to do with them. As to the poisoning of teh Rio Grande - it is on hold. It is very possible that that policy was determined at a low level (or even by a Bush apppointee) - but until the Obama team decides to do it - it should be fought as a bad idea, not a bad Obama idea.

As to Geitner/Summers etc - it is very likely Clinton would have picked the same team.

[defendandprotect]

52. Certainly the DLC is not going to support Single Payer Health Care . . .

And it was from HRC, who is part of DLC leadership, that we got some of the first murmurings of compromise on abortion -- which I found quite shocking! Granted it wasn't a very precise kind of appeal - rather muddled.

And unless HRC is pushing for Single Payer, then she is talking about health care under
the thumb of for-profit insurance companies.

Additionally, I doubt the DLC is going to push for overturn of Taft-Hartley law?

Obama previously supported Single Payer health care and then turned from it.

I expect the DLC to be pushing for privatization of some parts of Social Security and
Medicare -- and I hear nothing about one of Medicare's main problems -- corporate theft
from Medicare! And, imagine had Bush been successful in moving Social Security money
into Wall Street's hands!!!

And, isn't Obama still against gay marriage -- while Chuck Schumer has only recently reversed
himself on gay rights.

The DLC is not only hawkish -- it is suspiciously hawkish re Israel's warmongering/warmaking
and seemingly aligned with AIPAC.

Let me remind you that a lot is lost in the "details" -- !!!

Meanwhile, Rahm Emmanel/DLC is now in the White House and evidently he has been involved in
trying to round up more conservative candidates to run against current Senators/Representatives
who are more liberal.

Feingold is pressuring for an end to Congress' ability to raise their own salaries whenever
they feel like it -- in fact, I think they've built in automatic cost-of-living increases?

Right now, almost one-third of all Americans are either in jail, on parole, or on probation!!

Edwards, granted, has been a disappointment in every way to all of us.
IMO, Elizabeth Edwards should have been the candidate.

In general, what I am trying to get across is the idea that when parties are being "co-opted"
it doesn't happen immediately, but rather over time. That, IMO, is the DLC agenda.
Or, as has been being said for a long time . . .
"The Republicans are the Express train to Auschwitz --
the Democrats are the Local train to Auschwitz."

The tax cuts for the rich should have been immediately overturned.
We have New Yorkers now paying $2.50 to ride the subway!
The question of renewing progressive taxation should be taken up immediately.
Though more than 15 years ago, former Governor of NY, Mario Cuomo commented that
if we wanted to raise taxes on the wealth at that point, we'd have to call out the
militia!

Most of the things you are discussing are common sense -- which the Republicans regularly
fly in the face of -- i.e., the Plan B/Emergency Contraception Pill. Like Diplomacy!
If a nation is serious at all about peace, why would they ignore diplomacy?
On the other hand, more than two years ago we elected Democrats to end the war and all
we've gotten for that has been more death with Pelosi and Reid re-funding the wars for
more than two years!! We need to get out of Iraq and Afghanistan right now.
There should be no additional folly, especially no "surge" or escalation of troops in
Afghanistan!!

And, please, stop telling us about this presidency in it's "infancy" . . .
DECISIONS, ONCE MADE, DO NOT DISAPPEAR IN 60 DAYS OR TWO MONTHS -- THEY ARE GOING TO
INFLUENCE AND GOVERN THE DECISION-MAKING OF THE ADMINISTRATION FOR THE FORESEEABLE FURTURE!!!
That's why these decisions and appointments are so important -- and why you've seen such
negative reaction to them. And, why you will continue to see negative reaction to them!

You take a JOKING comment from Jones to imply the foreign policy is being run by Kissinger.

And, who suggested to you that the comment was a "joke" -- ????

Unfortunately, Rumsfeld was still at the Pentagon for a long period of time
after his resignation. And, Kissinger, I believe is still very involved in government.
At it's most corrupt!!!

As to Geitner/Summers etc - it is very likely Clinton would have picked the same team.

Yes, and Clinton overturned 60 years of welfare guarantees. And, if I recall correctly,
pushed the trade agreements?

[karynnj]

56. My points were intended to be:

1) That it IS better to have a Democrat - look at the list of things passed in teh 2 months Obama was in office - none of that was possible under Bush.

2) Given the choice we really had in 2008, Obama was the best of the three who ever had a chance to win. I still am willing to give him a chance. The fact is that other than Kerry, no one more to the left has had a chance since the early 1990s of becoming President. He faces enormous challenges and, at this point, we might be better pulling him to the left but not making outrageous attacks on his integrity.

As to the Jones comment being a joke, he mentioned Scowcroft and another national former security adviser as well. I didn't think it meant that Kissinger is someone who advices and directs him.

Do you have a link for this?
Meanwhile, Rahm Emmanel/DLC is now in the White House and evidently he has been involved in
trying to round up more conservative candidates to run against current Senators/Representatives
who are more liberal.

Which incumbents is he targeting?

As to single payer - many will say that starting from scratch it makes sense, but few have actually written legislation, co-sponsored it or even said that was their goal. I know Kuchinich has a House bill, but it has nowhere near the support it would need.

[defendandprotect]

59. Better than the criminals who were in the White House isn't good enough . . .

We have to expect more and push for more -- like the ending of the wars NOW.

None of us is going to give up on Obama -- we will all keep pushing and keep hoping he'll
stop moving in DLC directions and in Bush directions.

Again, the lesser of evils isn't what democracy should be about and what we should be
looking for.

Additionally, we don't really know what has happened over the last 40 or more years since
the coup on JFK. The electronic voting machines began coming in during the late 1960's.
IMO, that makes every election since that time questionable. As far as I can see,
since they passed the Voting Rights Act we've had election steals by GOP.
Germany has just declared these computer voting machines to be "Unconstitutional."
We should do the same!

Re-read the post about Jones' comments --

Re Emmanuel's activities, someone here mentioned it -- we'll see if we can track it down
when the subject of Emmanuel comes up again. There are already something like 42 Blue
Dogs in House/Senate! We don't need any more.

Again -- neither on finance nor in regard to health care for everyone is Obama having to
reinvent the wheel . . .

On finance all you have to do is follow FDR and New Deal -- all the regulations needed are
there -- simply REINSTATE THE REGULATIONS ON CAPITALISM. Unregulated capitalism is merely
organized crime.

On Single Payer, all Obama has to do is lift the age restrictions from Medicare and we're
ready to go.
He should also end the current drug program which is a privatization of Medicare for
benefit of insurance companies and drug companies. They should enact a more worthy drug
program -- minus insurance companies and allow Medicare to do the common sense thing . . .
i.e., negotiate with Drug Companies on drug prices. We pay something like 95% more than
any other nation for our drugs!!!

[Zhade]

54. What a load of fucking HORSESHIT.

Kennedy, even Kerry, didn't bang the drum for war against Iraq. They don't advocate taking tax money from public schools to give to private schools, including religious ones (which is ILLEGAL). They don't support NAFTA and its ilk that destroyed our manufacturing base and shipped our jobs overseas to exploit laborers there.

The DLC is as close to them ideologically as a gold-painted turd is to Fort Knox.

[EPIC1934]

106. how power works now

Completely misses the point of how power works.

First recall that Kerry said in August 2004 after the COrporate Media had slayed Dean and blown mr narcolepsy into the Dem nomination "I would have supported the invasion of Iraq even had I known there were no WMDs"


That point is not going to be reapeated much in the history of that campaign so please read it again.

With that statement Kerry announced that he could not use his single most powerful weapon agains the lying vermin.

Kerry ran the worst campaign in history, and amzingly managed to lose by not hiting back at theblatent lyer. Now you point out that KERRY WAS NOT BANGING THE DRUMS for war. I would agree with that, but that is not the point.

The Republicans will always tell louder lies.

The Corporations mush millions to the Dems NOT TO HAVE THEM BEAT THE DRUMS but rather to ANSWER those drum beats vewy vewy vewy ...quietly.


This way the false opposites of dems "VS" republicans is still in effect (Clinton can point to something in fine print in the Congressional Record that she said to a goldfish watching C-Span) but still THE ONLY MESSAGE THAT GETS OUT LOUD AND CLEAR TO A CRITICAL MASS OF PEOPLE IS THE REPUBLICANS LIES. Without the Dems soft punches there is no way the Republican haymaker lies fly. The Corporate Dems know this and I AM AMAZED THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE NOT FIGURED THIS OUT YET.

[Pastiche423]

57. After being on this board for four years

your naivete astounds me.

The DLCers are democrats in name only. They are corporatists and hawks. If you take your blinders off, you could actually educate yourself.

About six years ago, a former DUer researched and posted about the DLC. I've lost the links, but will go through the archives to find them. They are a must read to anyone that believes any DLCer is your friend and represents you.

Absolutely amazing!

[defendandprotect]

60. And, thank you if you manage to resurrect that info . . .

I think it is much needed here --- !!!

[Pastiche423]

74. I'll say you're welcome...

once (and if) I find them.

The archives prior to July 6, 2003 are difficult to navigate, but at least I know the approximate dates and forum - the Meeting Room, which no longer exists.

When I do find them, I will burn them to a cd!

And you are correct. They are direly needed now!

[defendandprotect]

97. I also see they dungeoned the thread -- !!!

[karynnj]

65. You misunderstood what I said

I know where the DLC tends to separate from the other part of the party - I said they were more hawkish and that they were more aligned with the big corporations. Exactly what you said.

Where I disagree is that - it is silly to say that a large part of the Democratic party - including the Clinton administration and many people now in powerful positions are "democrats in name only". Now,nothing I wrote said I agree with them - check my posting history - I have real problems with the Clintons and many of the DLC people. Given a choice, I preferred other candidates in Clinton in 1992, preferred Bradley in 2000, preferred Kerry in 2004, and Obama in 2000.

My point though is that, like them or not, the DLC is part of the Democratic party. If you look at any of the partisan scoring of Senators - Republicans cluster on one end Democrats on the other. The DLC members are closer to the center, but they are still far closer to the other Democrats than to Republicans. On the other side, even our "favorite" Republicans are closer to the Republican end.

[Pastiche423]

72. I agree of much of what you said

But the DLC is mucher closer to the repubics than to the dems. And they have been proving that since the late 80's.

They are the main reason I left the Democratic Party. If I wanted to belong to a party that welcomed repubic lites, I would join the repubic party.

They brought us NAFTA, Welfare Deform and the Iraqi genocide to mention just three of their "gifts" to We, the People.

[defendandprotect]

98. Disagree ---

No . . . the DLC exists within the party . . . yes -- that much is true.

But it is there -- as their own expressed vow if you look at their website ---

to move the party to the RIGHT.

It is a corrupting influence on the party -- and Gore bailed out of it and

I think it's pretty clear that Obama didn't want to be identified with it.

As they say, you can only really be betrayed by those closest to you!!!

Quite true!!

[wcepler]

81. Simple: DLC = RNC

This is vintage Clinton crap. The DLC is wonderful! Yeah, even though the DLC pukes out only right wing dems, e.g., the 2006 Congress of dem/pug traitors. ANYONE who supports the DLC is a closet republican. Here, let's make it simple: DLC = RNC. Reading the above "Oh, we're all just loving Democrats!" is like reading a commercial for toilet paper. The DLC in the ENEMY, they are boot lickers of the elites, e.g., Bill Clinton -- that puke.

We need to be LIGHT YEARS away from the Clinton/Carville DLC machine! Carville is the only public figure I know whose as treacherous as he's ugly.

[defendandprotect]

99. Yes . . . and unfortunately ...

there seem to be connections to the PNAC . . .!!!!

Just had an e-mail from the Democrats/fundraiser -- from James Carville

specifically -- and I "unsubscribed" telling them want little to do with

ole Carville!!

[Baby Snooks]

102. Bingo!

"As to Geitner/Summers etc - it is very likely Clinton would have picked the same team."

Of course she would have. And apparently did. Seems the Clintons delvered a "Trojan Horse" as a "peace offering."

Rahmbo serves the Clintons and the Clintons serve the Bushes and the Bakers and the Candlestickmakers who don't care about the people.

The question is who does Obama serve? The man has a plan but the plan has a little problem. What good is regulation if you put the crooks in charge of regulation? Letting the foxes guard the chickens is never a good idea.

The problem with letting the foxes guard the chickens is that when some of the chickens mysteriously disapppear the foxes will investigate and then announce they determined that in fact no chickens are missing. The farmer merely had miscounted the chickens.

[babylonsister]

10. Boy, are you confused, but

somehow that doesn't surprise me. Any opening for the knife is ok, even if untrue.

http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/dec/10/local/chi-blagojevich-tribunedec10

Gov. Rod Blagojevich sought firing of Chicago Tribune editorial writer in exchange for Wrigley Field deal

[redqueen]

18. Thanks for the demonstration. (nt)

[redqueen]

30. Hey... if you're *not* a troll... you might be interested in this...

it explains how you got fooled.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8293655

[NashVegas]

39. That Wasn't Obama, That Was Blago

[mopinko]

45. rod blagogevic was not a part of "team obama"

not even for a second. so, no, it was not "team obama" it was the recently impeached bat shit crazy former governor that tried to bribe the trib to fire it's editorial board. (not threaten, just fyi)

and the chicago tribune always was and always will be a republican rag. once upon a time they had some integrity, and kept the editorial side out of the news side. but they erased that line long ago.
you might remember, tho, that after a very long meeting with them, and some independent investigation, they decided that obama had nothing to do with tony rezko and the blaggo slime and money machine.

as far as the new boss and the old boss, no, i will not descend into that giant vat of bs.

[terisan]

51. but Obama was part of team Blago according to Emmanuel. nt

[blondeatlast]

46. That was Blago and since you repeated your ignorance, allow me.

That was Blago.

[blondeatlast]

48. Is "ignorant" one of those names? The person you are referring to is Blago

and this is a hit piece already discredited on DU.

[flyarm]

5. but but but ..this is change we can all believe in..is it not???????

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5326729&mesg_id=5326729

thanks to Orwellian_Ghost for bringing this to my attention!!

Obama is Considering Monsanto Shill Michael Taylor to Head New Food Safety Working Group
Promoted to Primary Headline on 3/24/09:
Monsanto Planting Seeds in the White House?

by Asher Miller

Apparently, President Obama is considering appointing Michael Taylor to head the new Food Safety Working Group. Who's Michael Taylor? From Food Politics (care of Jill Richardson):

Mr. Taylor is a lawyer who began his revolving door adventures as counsel to FDA. He then moved to King & Spalding, a private-sector law firm representing Monsanto, a leading agricultural biotechnology company. In 1991 he returned to the FDA as Deputy Commissioner for Policy, where he was part of the team that issued the agency's decidedly industry-friendly policy on food biotechnology and that approved the use of Monsanto's genetically engineered growth hormone in dairy cows.

His questionable role in these decisions led to an investigation by the federal General Accounting Office, which eventually exonerated him of all conflict-of-interest charges. In 1994, Mr. Taylor moved to USDA to become administrator of its Food Safety and Inspection Service... After another stint in private legal practice with King & Spalding, Mr. Taylor again joined Monsanto as Vice President for Public Policy in 1998.

The man has moved in and out of roles at the federal government and Monsanto so many times he probably has whiplash

<snip>

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Monsanto-Planting-Seed...



Wonder how they will feel when the vegetation along the Rio Grande border is sprayed..much like agent orange in Vietnam ..and it gets into their drinking water, and the air their kids breath..
Wonder where Monsanto is in that little excersize??

ahhh shucks ..they won't give a shit because Obama is doing it .not bush!
or they don't live there..so wtf..why should they give a fucking rats ass ..right??????

and When Obama hires Kissinger ..they don't give a shit because it is Obama doing it not bush!

gosh these people sound more and more like bush bots of 2000 each and every day!

and to think , i used to believe many here actually had values they believed in..wow was i sorely mistaken!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

a little recap of Obama's appointments and who he has tapped to represent his administration..shall we??... who is who ..

Thank you Poster : German..i am reposting your post here at the top so it is not missed in context to all that is being done in our name!!


Remarks by National Security Adviser Jones at 45th Munich Conference on Security Policy

Published February 8, 2009
Speaker: James L. Jones


U.S. National Security Adviser Jones ( edit to add: new advisor hired by Obama!!!!) gave these remarks at the 45th Munich Conference on Security Policy at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof on February 8, 2009.

"Thank you for that wonderful tribute to Henry Kissinger yesterday. Congratulations. As the most recent National Security Advisor of the United States, I take my daily orders from Dr. Kissinger, filtered down through General Brent Scowcroft and Sandy Berger, who is also here. We have a chain of command in the National Security Council that exists today.


Source: http://www.cfr.org/publication/18515/remarks_by_nationa...


..............................................................


now add this ..to this>>>>>>>>>>>>
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...


Oh Goody- Obama attempts to appoint another Goldman Sachs exec who worked with Phil Gramm

I reported back in February on the case of Gary Gensler, the former Goldman Sachs employee and derivatives cheerleader who President Obama nominated to head the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Gensler’s nomination sailed through the Senate Agricultural Committee but Senator Bernie Sanders has placed a hold on the nomination (as has a second senator who is as yet unnamed). A statement from Sanders’s office said:

While Mr. Gensler is clearly an intelligent and knowledgeable person, I cannot support his nomination. Mr. Gensler worked with Sen. Phil Gramm and Alan Greenspan to exempt credit default swaps from regulation, which led to the collapse of A.I.G. and has resulted in the largest taxpayer bailout in U.S. history. He supported Gramm-Leach-Bliley, which allowed banks like Citigroup to become “too big to fail.” He worked to deregulate electronic energy trading, which led to the downfall of Enron and the spike in energy prices. At this moment in our history, we need an independent leader who will help create a new culture in the financial marketplace and move us away from the greed, recklessness and illegal behavior which has caused so much harm to our economy.
http://harpers.org/archive/2009/03/hbc-90004606

................................................................................

and add this to the equation!!>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Tim Geithner worked for 3 years at Kissingers firm..and then the CFR.........yes Kissinger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't believe me??..look it up!! If the transparent one hasn't scrubbed it yet!!

the Kissinger I have despised as a dem my entire life!!

This is the same Kissinger so many 9/11 families and families and employees of the airlines involved with 9/11 fought tooth and nail along with most dems to get him removed from the 9/11 commission because of his heavy ties with Saudi Arabia!! And because of his nafarious background.

Look into the back ground of Geithners dad , Peter Geithner and his ties to Obama's mom and step dad!!

Google is your friend!!


See Obama sent Kissinger To Russia shortly after becoming president to represent the Obama administration in Russia..
Kissinger who held positions with Nixon, Ford and Reagan !!!!!!!!!!!!

why did Obama send Kissinger to Russia , representing his administration and the USA..
lets see shall we??????

http://www.answers.com/topic/timothy-f-geithner

Timothy Geithner
Career

After completing his studies,Geithner worked for Kissinger and Associates in Washington, D.C., for three years and then joined the International Affairs division of the U.S. Treasury Department in 1988. He was deputy assistant secretary for international monetary and financial policy (1995–1996), senior deputy assistant secretary for international affairs (1996-1997), assistant secretary for international affairs (1997–1998).<

He was Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs (1998–2001) under Treasury Secretaries Robert Rubin and Lawrence Summers.<5> Summers was his mentor,<1> but other sources call him a Rubin protégé.<9><10><11>


In 2002 he left the Treasury to join the Council on Foreign Relations as a Senior Fellow in the International Economics department.<7> At the International Monetary Fund he was director of the Policy Development and Review Department (2001-2003).<5>

...........................................................

this kissinger:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GThfWVCfjVo&eurl=http ://...

"There is a need for a new world order," Kissinger told PBS interviewer Charlie Rose last year, "I think that at the end of this administration, with all its turmoil, and at the beginning of the next, we might actually witness the creation of a new order – because people looking in the abyss, even in the Islamic world, have to conclude that at some point, ordered expectations must return under a different system."

.................................................

This is the Kissinger Obama sent to Russia........representing his administration..

http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/82may/hershwh2.htm


Kissinger and Nixon in the White House
by Seymour M. Hersh


http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0611-03.htm


and that is just for starters!!


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph ...

Larry Summers and California Energy "crisis" / Enron

During the California energy crisis of 2000, then-Treasury Secretary Larry Summers teamed with Alan Greenspan and Enron executive Kenneth Lay to lecture California Governor Gray Davis on the causes of the crisis, explaining that the problem was excessive government regulation.<8> Under the advice of Kenneth Lay, Summers urged Davis to relax California's environmental standards in order to reassure the markets.

.......................................................................

WSJ: Citi's Chief Economist Leaves for Treasury Post


Source: The Wall Street Journal

Citigroup Inc.'s chief economist is leaving the New York company for a job at the U.S. Treasury Department, according to an internal Citigroup memo.

Lewis Alexander, who has been at Citigroup since 1999 and before that worked at the Federal Reserve, will head to Treasury "to work on domestic financial issues," said the Citigroup memo, which was sent Tuesday.

According to a government official, Mr. Alexander will be a counselor to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. Mr. Alexander and a Treasury spokesman weren't immediately available to comment Tuesday. A Citigroup spokesman declined to elaborate on the company's memo.
(...)
Mr. Alexander's role as Citigroup's chief economist didn't entail significant management responsibilities. But his optimistic economic forecasts colored executives' views that the U.S. was unlikely to face a prolonged slump.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123732747181462245.html

anyone have warm fuzzies yet?????????

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who can make this crap up???????????


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica /...

Despite his pariah status with many Left-wingers in Mr Obama's Democratic Party, the president forged relations with Mr Kissinger during his campaign.

The compliment was returned when the 85-year-old veteran of the Nixon and Ford administrations said last month that the young president was in a position to create a "new world order" by shifting US foreign policy away from the hostile stance of the Bush administration.

He publicly supported Mr Obama's notion of unconditional talks with Iran, though not at the presidential level.

Further demonstrating his willingness to work with his opponents on foreign policy issues, Mr Obama turned to two veteran Republicans steeped in Cold War experience to press home his plans.

Shortly after Mr Kissinger's trip, Richard Lugar, a Republican senator from Indiana who has worked on nuclear disarmament issues for 30 years, also visited Moscow. George Schultz, another former secretary of state, has also played a vital role.


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thank you to the du poster who posted this..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...
Oh Goody- Obama attempts to appoint another Goldman Sachs exec who worked with Phil Gramm
I reported back in February on the case of Gary Gensler, the former Goldman Sachs employee and derivatives cheerleader who President Obama nominated to head the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Gensler’s nomination sailed through the Senate Agricultural Committee but Senator Bernie Sanders has placed a hold on the nomination (as has a second senator who is as yet unnamed). A statement from Sanders’s office said:

While Mr. Gensler is clearly an intelligent and knowledgeable person, I cannot support his nomination. Mr. Gensler worked with Sen. Phil Gramm and Alan Greenspan to exempt credit default swaps from regulation, which led to the collapse of A.I.G. and has resulted in the largest taxpayer bailout in U.S. history. He supported Gramm-Leach-Bliley, which allowed banks like Citigroup to become “too big to fail.” He worked to deregulate electronic energy trading, which led to the downfall of Enron and the spike in energy prices. At this moment in our history, we need an independent leader who will help create a new culture in the financial marketplace and move us away from the greed, recklessness and illegal behavior which has caused so much harm to our economy.
http://harpers.org/archive/2009/03/hbc-90004606

[DaLittle Kitty]

11. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

? Let's watch for the next 6 months then you can make firmer predictions! :)

[lutefisk]

22. That's not fair. We're supposed to look forward, not back, right?

The depressing thing is, I don't think it would be substantially different with Clinton.

[babylonsister]

6. And this is in LBN because? I knew years ago Emanuel made

lots of money in private industry. This isn't news, just someone trying to trump up some outrage.

[flyarm]

12. AHHH MAYBE BECAUSE IT WAS IN "today"s" PAPER??????

Rahm Emanuel's profitable stint at mortgage giant
Short Freddie Mac stay made him at least $320,000

By Bob Secter and Andrew Zajac | Tribune reporters

March 26, 2009

[babylonsister]

14. So what? Genius, do you know when Emanuel worked for the

mortgage giant? Like I said, someone is trying to stoke outrage. It appears to be working, but with you that doesn't take much. :eyes:

[No Elephants]

33. Being in today's paper does not make an 8 year old story latest breaking news.

[ArchieStone1]

80. the case can be made that it belongs in the Editorials and Other Articles section

In my view.

[blondeatlast]

49. What part of "BREAKING" needs more explanation?

The only thing "breaking" here is my tolerance for reactionary nuttiness--something that is freely flowing on this thread.

[avaistheone1]

13. BTW It is outrageous and should be called out now and in the future as just that.

There is no just explanation for such incompetence by Emmanual and such gross enrichment for it.

[andodempa]

25. Goodbye Rahm

IMHO, Rahm Emmanuel is finished. He looked the other way in the name of profit. Millions are unemployed and no longer able to support themselves and their families due to selfish incompetence, greed, and short-sightedness.

I support Obama. However, we need to hold this administration fully accountable. This is not a small issue nor will it be swept under the rug. We're better than this. It's We the People, not We The Corporations or We The Rich.

[avaistheone1]

27. I agree. I thought we were going to govern differently.

[andodempa]

28. Followup

One of the biggest issues with the Bush Adminstration was that the foxes were guarding the hen houses. Every single presidential appointment was to ensure the profits of the elite. They made a hell of a lot of money at the expense of the middle and lower class. I don't care what party you belong to. This is unacceptable.

[guruoo]

92. Welcome to DU

[diamidue]

37. He's not going anywhere.

Some say Emanuel was chosen by the elite to make sure Obama follows the game plan. Don't know if that is true, but I suspect that he wields a lot of behind the scenes power, and that he isn't going anywhere. Never liked (or trusted him) and never will. Nor his brother.

[Zhade]

55. If Obama won't fire Geithner, he won't fire THIS asshole either.

NT!

[redqueen]

31. You might want to check this out:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8293655

[truedelphi]

70. The wonders of this administation keep me up at night.

The same banker-friendly, middle class sneering, high and mighties mucking up our economy.

[L. Coyote]

16. It is not easy to find a way to throw dung these days.

[redqueen]

19. Yep... but the dedicated few still try.

Sad, really.

[avaistheone1]

75. I think Emmanual made it rather easy.

[guruoo]

91. The doomsayers dayplanner must have had it penciled in for recycling. n/t

[acmavm]

15. All I can say is bwahahahahahaha

Saw all this shit coming last year and did a few months in exile for pointing it out.

Bwahahahahahahahaha!

[redqueen]

32. Pointing what out?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8293655

[marshall]

17. Somebody had to be making that money

No surprise.

[Kweli4Real]

21. Tell me again ...

exactly how mortgage giant Freddie Mac's portfolio of bad loans helped trigger the current housing crisis? But first tell me the one about the fat guy that comes around every year to deliver toys to all the little kids.

[digidigido]

23. Why don't you just title this post "Throwing Dirt at Rahm and by extension, Obama" ?

[MannyGoldstein]

26. Why Should That Be The Title?

It is what it is.

[digidigido]

62. Exactly, because that is what it is, dredging up old news, recycling it and trying to

discredit Rahm and by extension the President.

[smiley_glad_hands]

24. You post a story that is old news from rw rag? eom

[redqueen]

29. Would you like to see how you got fooled by the spin machine?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8293655

[mac56]

83. redqueen, thank you. I wish I could just K & R your post

and try to ratchet down some of this hysteria. But it seems the "run in circles, scream and shout" crowd must have its daily dose.

[redqueen]

84. My pleasure of course.

You'd think people would have caught on to this game by now, huh?

[andodempa]

34. I still have hope

Are there any honest politicians out there? I believe that public service should be strictly public service. Any money received from corrupt corporations or organizations is inexcusable. Don't think for a second that Rahm Emmanuel would choose right from wrong when it means the difference between making or losing money. And this all comes at the expense of our health, safety, and future.

I still have hope. I have a gut feeling we were all just being told what we wanted to hear.

[No Elephants]

35. STOP falling for corporate media anti-Democratic bs. Please. Just say no.

[ArchieStone1]

36. I find the following paragraph troubling

"On Emanuel's watch, the board was told by executives of a plan to use accounting tricks to mislead shareholders about outsize profits the government-chartered firm was then reaping from risky investments. The goal was to push earnings onto the books in future years, ensuring that Freddie Mac would appear profitable on paper for years to come and helping maximize annual bonuses for company brass."

[guruoo]

93. Welcome to DU

[Sarah Ibarruri]

38. LOOK... let's face it, the whole F nation was involved in this shit

Let's get over it, put regulations up like steel walls, and move foward, throw the previous administration in prison, and move forward.

How does that sound?

:toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast:

[terisan]

50. I wasn't and I want everyone in govt who was to give the $ back with interest.

Bush , the Republicans and every Democrat who took the money.

[debbierlus]

40. You can tell who a person is by the company they keep....

And, Obama stands with the worst of the worst.

[Stellabella]

41. I. Don't. Care.

That's nothing compared to the irresponsible attitude of the repukes who did NOTHING while these banks were partying.

[paulk]

43. I don't agree with everything Obama has done

but to say

"This is BushCo under an Obama banner."

is just plain nonsense.

[TerribleLarryDingle]

44. OMG! THE OUTRAGE!

:sarcasm:

[onehandle]

47. A Tribune hit job voted up to the front page of Democratic Underground.

Surprise, surprise.

[humbled_opinion]

77. hmmm

Mabye there are many deep cover trolls on this board.... only explanation IMHO..

[cascadiance]

86. Good leaders don't give people ammo to "hit" them by not screwing up who they hire!

The "Rahm-per Room" is a mess in my opinion...

[guruoo]

94. I'm dissapointed....

I would have sworn there more than 40 of them operating here.

[Zhade]

53. This is exactly why Obama shouldn't have picked ANY DLC fucks for his administration.

We knew that the media would be on him like a rabid dog -- and he's given them ammunition that isn't fabricated, but actual problems.

[Pastiche423]

58. I knew the minute he appointed rahm

that all Hope and Change had flown out the window.

It is so sad that so many on this thread are trying to defend the defenseless.

[Zodiak]

87. You mean most of DU

Or at least the results of that poll posted in anotehr thread have 80% of DU thinking that Rahm's long corporate history is a figment of the MSM.

For those of us who have been following Democratic politics for some time, Rahm is a typical corporate Democrat....a "New Democrat", or a DLCer-type. His job with the DCCC was to get rid of liberal candidates and encourage "moderates" (some of whom were Republicans up until the election) to run instead.

When we won in 2006, Rahm was front and center to take credit even though Howard Dean really deserved the bulk of it. Rahm is anti-grassroots and has been for some time.

I am very disappointed that so many are not aware of this history and pretend Rahm doesn't have a corporate agenda.

Corporatism is the main reason I opposed Hillary's nomination. Interesting that in the end, we get only corporate Democrats as choices, and because of it, we don't really have a choice at all in the US.

This is so tragic because it is clear to everyone that the corporate uber alles status quo has been our problem.

[defendandprotect]

63. Why isn't anyone asking why Emmanuel was on the board to begin with?

This should be illegal -- !!!

[humbled_opinion]

61. Oh Please...

Your attempts at highlighting things to try and paint the Obama administration in a negative light is fodder for the Right Wingers. Enough already.

[upi402]

64. True, the Obama Republicans will do just fine on their own. n/t

[girl gone mad]

85. Yes, by all means..

let's not ever criticize this administration, lest our posts become "fodder for the Right Wingers".

:rofl:

[aldo]

66. Get rid of that POS. eom

nt

[Name removed]

68. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[truedelphi]

71. Thirded. n/t

[mod mom]

67. Why am I not surprised, sickened but not surprised!

[GreenTea]

73. Fucking DLC - No wonder why they won't allow the excellent Howard Dean for

any cabinet post...because Dean is a true FDR democrat, the corporate run DLC is not and why we have Bush hold overs running the bailouts & Treasury!

[mnhtnbb]

76. I was just about to post about Dean--you beat me to it!

[tekisui]

78. This is BushCo under an Obama banner. BULLSHIT!

It may not be perfect, but that is one stupid ass claim to make.

[RedCloud]

79. So are finance and econ types supposed to make squat?

I have friends, faculty, who make in excess of six digits annually in those fields. Money is literally thrown around everywhere. 300K is chump change in the "real" world.

Now say you are Obama and you start to hear the hate talkers. Spouting the same crap as before Kennedy's demise. You know their game plan. Oops. Don't blame me. I was just expressing my opinion. I wasn't in that book depository or perhaps sewer.

And you have to fix a robber baron economy. The American Empire you just inherited is stinking corrupt. Military is going bonkers with its assignments and needs to be rolled back. Legitimate causes have been pissed on for about a decade and you need to revive them. Every day of your life you are going to be scrutinized because you have to be the perfect president. No one will cut you any slack.

But you know change happens very slowly. Your top folks are simply thrown out there to stem the bleeding. The younger crowd is there at the lower levels too without the publicity but gaining valuable experience which you hope one day will reach the point where you can replace the folks you were stuck with in the beginning because you had no viable alternatives.

If you are still into being Obama, I will tell you that the rest of the world believes in you far more than your own people. They just don't know that change is progress in slow motion.

[Runcible Spoon]

82. Dump the motherfucker already! eom

[fadedrose]

88. K

[rhett o rick]

89. I am not a fan of Emanuel, but......what you are reporting in the scheme of things is nothing.

I am curious what your motivation is? With the republiCons trying their damnedest to bankrupt the middle class, you want to pick on Emanuel. I question your agenda.

[MasonJar]

90. Emmanuel is DLC front and center. I knew Obama was on the wrong

track as soon as he announced Rahm as his Chief od Staff. And the Treasury is replete with ex-Wall Streeters, most notably Goldman Sachers. It makes me sick to think that Barack is receiving their advice and following it. No one can dissuade him either, obviously.

[JJ]

95. Now I'm CONCERNED!!!!!11!!!

Of course we all know that Freddie and Fannie single-handedly brought down the economy, and it had nothing to do with deregulation and derivatives.

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

I'm glad the M$M has become trustworthy again. They have no agenda.

[defendandprotect]

100. Why would we condone what Freddie/Fannie did or corporate-press . . . ???

Or, hedge funds or derivatives....?

it is all part of corrupt/criminal capitalism -- !!!

[trickyguy]

96. Flip, flop, flip, flop.

[hendo]

101. with friends like us, who needs enemies. NT

[pam4water]

103. Is this why Arianna Huffington sarcastically refers to Rahm Emanuel as one of the gold dust twins?

[bertman]

105. Does anyone honestly believe that a person who made mega-millions off of the financial

industry is going to REFORM it?

Emanuel is just another corporate hog feeding at the trough. Whether he made $320,000 or whether his stock sale was profitable is not the issue here. The issue is that this person is now in one of the most powerful positions on the planet and he's a corporatist scumbag who has taken advantage of the crooked patronage system known as Washington politics.

This is not the change I voted for.