In case the clueless here really are clueless and not agent provocateurs, it isn't Jon Stewart's job to report the news or do a better job at financial analysis than [randomly selected talking head].

"The Daily Show" displayed the truth in an entertaining way and that upset some people. Who knew emperors got upset by being told they were naked (or called charlatans)? One of the naked swindlers complained loudly and got his nose tweaked. He whined more and got spanked. Then he tried to weasel his way out it and got called on his mendacity (that's "bullshit" for the trolls).

Dear Trolls, do you think this post will kill this thread?

You're exactly right, this is class warfare. AIG planned and particpated in the sneak attack on the American public.

Just what we need, another DINO to drag the Overton window 'right' off the shoulder and into the ditch. "Right" where the Thugs drove this country.

Thanks, but no thanks. Redemption lies in seeking true liberals to represent America's citizens.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/03/17/dodd/index.html

"But we simply do not have enough information to say that it's not a good use of funds to pay bonuses to the talented and deserving in order to convince them to stick it out with AIG. We simply can't say that retaining the talented through bonuses isn't a necessary step."

Uh, yes we do and yes we can.

"What we can (and many of you do) say is that they are all stupid and crooked and have too much money and we want their bonuses back, and it's even OK to tax it away if we have to."

Well, not stupid. The criminal mind is often more intelligent than norm. Otherwise, correct. They should be happy we're only taking "their" money.

I love it when someone clearing dough more than the GDP of a small country argues on Day One that they've earned that money because they're soooo valuable to the company. Day Two, when the house of cards collapses, they shrug and ask "How could I have known, how could anyone have known?" They're responsible when there's a bonus or an obscene payout, but when the bill comes due, it's some poor schumck down in the mailroom that's root of all evil.

ya right.

Generally, the responses from Blunderdog et al, align with my feelings on this. I'll add that it isn't "a special tax on stupidity", it's "a special tax on greedy stupidity".

Regarding the handwringing, I'm willing to take a Capitalist's view on this. If there are some people at AIG with talent, then AIG will find some way to retain them. Otherwise these talented people will go to other firms who will reward their value.

There has to be some consistency here in order to achieve intellectual honesty. Surprise! we're not getting any from the players. It's socialism for the rich and capitalism for the poor (with heavy emphasis on "caveat emptor").

Wouldn't that have been a fun internal dialog to hear?

"We must lose today so that we can win tomorrow."

"Must .. keep .. power .. must .. stay .. in .. control ... ahhhh!"

And then their head explodes like a Martian on Slim Whitman.

No, the Thugs are simple creatures. Taking one for the team is antithetical to their core nature.

The author(s) would have been well served to have read Prof Fussel's treatise on the American class system before starting.

Succinctly poignant, brilliantly illustrating the tragedy of this lifestyle/religion/mindset.

@ Laura Miller - putting "family first" is hardly a cultural or religious phenomenon. Or do you think loving your children is purely "American"?

Republicans hate the bill, and have promised a filibuster in the Senate, so HARRY REID WILL NOT BRING IT TO A VOTE.

His flip flop on the FISA vote. First he railed against it, then he vote for it.

*When he didn't need to*

My guess is he gives Wall Street a stern wag of the finger, and gives us the other [finger].

... along with every other extant covenant between citizen and state?

This entire paragraph deserves repeating:

"Why should the Johnstons be any better, or different, from the rest of America, which is encouraged by every reality show, every top chef and next model and bachelor and swapped wife, to believe that life in this country only really makes a mark if it is lived on television?"

.

Regarding Bible Spice and her inability to avoid the spotlight, Robert Greene describes what Palin is, or aspires to be - "the star".

"Stars create illusions that are pleasurable to see. The danger is that people tire of them.... [The star] must keep all eyes upon [them] at any cost....

"[As a Star] do not worry about noteriety, or about slurs to your image.... Once people have recognized a Star, any kind of publicity, even bad, simply feeds the obsession."

The Thugs have to have some scary non-Murican with which to scare the rabble. Aside from that, on the plantation it's good for the owner to have two groups squabbling over the crumbs. Keeps the poor underbidding against the other poor.

Maybe he'll go on TDS again for another spanking.

The "Left" has seriously misunderestimated the coolaid-drinking cannon fodder of the "Right". The Faux News viewers are voting for what they think is morally correct. The game Wall Street played with the bad debt is akin to the morality that the GOP sold to their base.

So to melissasbatman and everyone else that makes less than $200K/yr (the number some Conservatives claim represents 'middle class' income), I suggest you take a critical look at how this country treats rich and poor. And stop drinking the coolaid (it's bullshit, and it's bad for you).