bernie madoff Archives - Where Is The Outrage?

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday. I wish everyone a very safe and happy holiday. I hope that you’re able to spend it with your loved ones.

This is short list, it is not exhaustive. This is what I’m thankful for:

I’m thankful for a wonderful, loving wife and family. I could not be more blessed.
I’m thankful that I’m not writing George Bush’s autobiography. How do you make eight years of failure sound good?
I am thankful for our wonderful troops overseas and here at home. I’m hopeful that the troops at Fort Hood are getting the support that they need.
I”m thankful that Bernie Madoff got none of my money. I’m sad that Wall Street CEO’s didn’t personally invest in his schemes.
I’m thankful that Joe the Plumber’s 10 minutes is up.
I’m thankful that neither John McCain nor Sarah Palin became president.
I’m thankful that Barack Obama is our president.

I’m thankful that the House has passed healthcare legislation. I’m glad that Mary Landrieu, Blanche Lincoln and Ben Nelson don’t represent me or my state. I’m glad that progressives rejected Joe Lieberman. I’m just sorry they couldn’t convince the rest of the state not to vote for him.
I am thankful for Senator Al Franken, who has stood up for working women and against big corporations.
I am thankful that I belong to a party that does not hold litmus tests for entry.
I am in thankful that the economy is improving. I’m extremely hopeful that the economy will begin making jobs in the first quarter of next year. We need jobs. We desperately need millions of jobs. We need slow and sustained growth, not for two or three years, but for an extended period of time. We need green jobs. We need jobs that cannot be shipped overseas. We need American companies to begin to invest Americans again.

By ecthompsonmd|2009-11-26T07:29:55-04:00November 26th, 2009|General, Obama administration, Party Politics|Comments Off

What's going on – News Roundup (updated)

Wednesday News Roundup

There was a terrible shooting in Alabama in which 10 people, including the gunman, died. Victims ranged in age from 18 months to 74 years old. As usual, the news is searching for an answer or a reason, when in fact there are no adequate answers or reasons.
There seems to be an increasing war between Jon Stewart of The Daily Show and Jim Cramer, CNBC financial analyst. Monday, on Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough wanted to stand up for Jim Cramer. I’m not sure why. I have a problem with financial analysts who tell us on Monday that the company is solid when by Friday the company is filing for bankruptcy. In my opinion, this means that the financial analyst is not really analyzing anything but is, instead, a financial cheerleader. Joe Scarborough is so far out in left field on this issue that I’m not sure he’s in the same stadium.
President Barack Obama has introduced new earmark guidelines. Look for John McCain to say that these guidelines have not gone far enough. Wouldn’t it be up to the Senate to write its own rules?
Veteran reporter Seymour Hersh stated that Bush had a squad of CIA killers. “Under President Bush’s authority, they’ve been going into countries, not talking to the ambassador or the CIA station chief, and finding people on a list and executing them and leaving. That’s been going on, in the name of all of us.” Now that gets my attention.
Merrill Lynch is being asked to pay a fine of $7 million for leaving a phone off the hook. From what amounts to insider trading some daytraders made a whopping $8,000. Really? Bernie Madoff was able to rip off investors for over $50 billion. Allen Stanford was able to abscond with $8 billion. The SEC is chasing down an $8,000 scandal? Please.
If there’s one country that has nuclear weapons in which we need and pray for stability that would be Pakistan. I spoke with the Center for American Progress’s Brian Katulis about the complex political issues in Pakistan, yesterday (great interview). There is a large protest that is organizing in Islamabad, which could be a huge problem. (An interactive map of our predator air strikes can be found here.)
A new photo has been found from 1865 which is now thought to be the last photograph taken of Abe Lincoln before his assassination. Although this is a neat photograph in front of the White House, it is very blurry. If experts say that is Abraham Lincoln, I guess I’ll believe them.
Maureen Dowd has written the first thoughtful column that I have read of hers in maybe two or three years. She basically applauds Michelle Obama for being comfortable in her own skin. What Maureen doesn’t mention is that you have to be comfortable with who you are in order to be a successful black woman who is in her 40s.
Robin Givens is back in the news, now an expert at domestic violence. Just because you’ve been a victim does not mean you’re an expert. I’ve been in a car crash, as have most Americans, but I don’t think that makes us experts on car crash technology, geometry or prevention. Domestic violence is a serious problem in the United States and around the world. We need real experts to discuss the Chris Brown and Rihanna problem. There are issues of self-esteem, cultural pressures and, quite possibly, instincts. I’m not sure how a gloss-over by Robin Givens is really helpful.

By ecthompsonmd|2009-03-11T14:34:08-04:00March 11th, 2009|Domestic Issues, Obama administration, Pakistan, The Daily Show|Comments Off

I have a problem with some criminals. Others, not so much. If you rip off Halliburton or KBR for a couple of million, I’m probably going to throw you a party. On the other hand, when you rip off the elderly and take their savings, there isn’t a punishment bad enough. Under the jailhouse? Nope. Electrocution at one volt per day? Too easy. Bernie Madoff is in this category (of course he is innocent until proven guilty).

60 Minutes did a great story on the Whistle Blower, Harry Markopolos, and Bernie Madoff this week. Watch the video:

Watch CBS Videos Online

From AP:

Bernard Madoff has agreed to give up the rights to his disgraced investment business and his company’s prized artwork and entertainment tickets, as an official for an organization providing relief to investors said Tuesday that some checks may be in the mail this month.

The trustee overseeing the liquidation of Madoff’s business said the former money manager was surrendering ownership rights to his business, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, along with the company’s artwork and entertainment tickets. The trustee, Irving Picard, did not specify the value of the property or say what kinds of tickets and artwork Madoff possessed.

The ultimate goal is to put some of Madoff’s remaining assets in the hands of investors who lost their life savings amid the scandal, and there are growing signs that some of them could see relief in coming weeks. (more… )