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swag

(26,488 posts)
Tue Jan 8, 2013, 02:34 PM Jan 2013

Elizabeth Warren gears up (Rips AIG a new one) - Greg Sargent

Last edited Tue Jan 8, 2013, 03:31 PM - Edit history (1)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/01/08/elizabeth-warren-gears-up/

As you may have heard, AIG is in the process of deciding whether to join a $25 billion shareholder lawsuit against the federal government, despite the government’s role in bailing out the company, to the tune of $182 billion. The New York Times explains that the lawsuit charges that the government rescue “deprived shareholders of tens of billions of dollars and violated the Fifth Amendment,” which prohibits the taking of private property for “public use, without just compensation.”

This comes even as AIG is running ads thanking the American people for that initial bailout. As the Times account archly notes, joining the lawsuit “would almost certainly be widely seen as an audacious display of ingratitude. The action would also threaten to inflame tensions in Washington, where the company has become a byword for excessive risk-taking on Wall Street.”

In response to the news, Elizabeth Warren released a sharply worded statement that’s worth quoting in full:

“Beginning in 2008, the federal government poured billions of dollars into AIG to save it from bankruptcy. AIG’s reckless bets nearly crashed our entire economy. Taxpayers across this country saved AIG from ruin, and it would be outrageous for this company to turn around and sue the federal government because they think the deal wasn’t generous enough. Even today, the government provides an ongoing, stealth bailout, propping up AIG with special tax breaks — tax breaks that Congress should stop. AIG should thank American taxpayers for their help, not bite the hand that fed them for helping them out in a crisis.“

. . . more
41 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Elizabeth Warren gears up (Rips AIG a new one) - Greg Sargent (Original Post) swag Jan 2013 OP
Oh my. Better look out for this woman. She is going to be such a trouble maker. Autumn Jan 2013 #1
and grayson in the house. ellenfl Jan 2013 #2
Yes, another one who has our back. Autumn Jan 2013 #3
Well-behaved Women Never made History..... Pachamama Jan 2013 #17
Damn reckless is right. K&R for Senator Warren. n/t Jefferson23 Jan 2013 #4
I hope she stays off of small planes. Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2013 #5
... and away from Cabinet members who browbeat her into "compromising" Myrina Jan 2013 #10
Somehow . . . Brigid Jan 2013 #18
Expecting a panic call to soften that in 5,..4,..3,.. Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2013 #22
and yet the 5th amendment didnt protect those land-owners from keystone piple taking their land leftyohiolib Jan 2013 #6
This lawsuit could be a good thing. Jeevus Jan 2013 #7
and summer is coming... SemperEadem Jan 2013 #11
re:Elizabeth Warren gears up (Rips AIG a new one) - Greg Sargent allan01 Jan 2013 #8
Honestly, Liz dothemath Jan 2013 #9
Pass the popcorn: Warren and Grayson are in the Senate and House. . . DinahMoeHum Jan 2013 #12
so true!!!! beachgirl2365 Jan 2013 #13
Don't forget Bernie sellitman Jan 2013 #34
How VERY sweet Plucketeer Jan 2013 #14
Finally!!!! Fucking Finally..........My Sweet Jesus!!! N/T busterbrown Jan 2013 #15
Nationalize the Banks & Imprison Corrupt Bankers cer7711 Jan 2013 #16
Go Elizabeth Go! SoapBox Jan 2013 #19
Take no prisoners! santamargarita Jan 2013 #20
"Take no prisoners!" Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2013 #23
Biting the hand that feeds them .. Cha Jan 2013 #21
Warren 2016! nt cbrer Jan 2013 #24
You know, I really really like the sound of that! Canoe52 Jan 2013 #27
that is arrogance on a level rarely seen... BlancheSplanchnik Jan 2013 #25
Agreed ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2013 #36
not one iota BlancheSplanchnik Jan 2013 #39
Ow! That's gonna leave a mark! freshwest Jan 2013 #26
By Dog! This is an outrage. Only thieves like this... albear Jan 2013 #28
Next time they ask for more corporate welfare RoccoR5955 Jan 2013 #29
Senator Warren... sheshe2 Jan 2013 #30
I can hardly wait to see the outrage on FOX over this lawsuit RVN VET Jan 2013 #31
Even NPR's business show was lambasting them on it. grantcart Jan 2013 #32
Elizabeth Warren gears up! ReRe Jan 2013 #33
AIG suing the bailout would be like Bloomberg suing Occupy for not stopping default swaps. KurtNYC Jan 2013 #35
The bankers would have been Heathen57 Jan 2013 #37
Before everyone gets on a soapbox and we rip anything on anyone, Beacool Jan 2013 #38
This is what I donated to her campaign hoping for. Lone_Star_Dem Jan 2013 #40
WE (the Government) should counter-sue for the $182 Billion. Bill USA Jan 2013 #41

Autumn

(45,120 posts)
1. Oh my. Better look out for this woman. She is going to be such a trouble maker.
Tue Jan 8, 2013, 02:44 PM
Jan 2013

Our politicians just can't have that, it might make them sad.


K/R she and Bernie are the only hope we have.

Pachamama

(16,887 posts)
17. Well-behaved Women Never made History.....
Tue Jan 8, 2013, 05:33 PM
Jan 2013

I hope she does what she is doing and keeps on doing it....

This story makes my blood boil....when I think how much money went to the banks and to AIG and how they have profited and gained from the taxpayer, whom without they would have been destroyed, dead like Lehman Bros. How dare they.....I hope that Senator Warren leads the way and makes these disgusting thiefs regret they ever said anything other than "Thank you Taxpayer, I'm not deserving...."

Jeevus

(61 posts)
7. This lawsuit could be a good thing.
Tue Jan 8, 2013, 03:39 PM
Jan 2013

If AIG goes forward with it America will respond. This kind of abhorrent behavior would fan the flames of hatred against Wall Street and give more strength to the Occupy movement and/or lead to the development of more anti-corporate-greed movements.

allan01

(1,950 posts)
8. re:Elizabeth Warren gears up (Rips AIG a new one) - Greg Sargent
Tue Jan 8, 2013, 03:43 PM
Jan 2013

next time , when we have a populist election i want to see an iceland style revolt by the voters , and then arrest these arrogent so and sos !

 

dothemath

(345 posts)
9. Honestly, Liz
Tue Jan 8, 2013, 04:15 PM
Jan 2013

That Warren girl. Stating the truth and making sense. Just who does she think she is?
Republicans aren't going to like this. How do I know? Limbaugh, Hannity, Laura Ing...something, Mr. Coulter, Dooooocy, Faux Nooz, et al, will tell them they don't and they will run with it.

DinahMoeHum

(21,806 posts)
12. Pass the popcorn: Warren and Grayson are in the Senate and House. . .
Tue Jan 8, 2013, 04:45 PM
Jan 2013

. . .it's gonna be a fun 2+ years (at least).

 

Plucketeer

(12,882 posts)
14. How VERY sweet
Tue Jan 8, 2013, 05:02 PM
Jan 2013

Sweet to have someone on OUR side for a change. And not someone just saying crap without ever backing it up. Go gitum, Liz! Tear 'em a new one!

Cha

(297,574 posts)
21. Biting the hand that feeds them ..
Tue Jan 8, 2013, 07:11 PM
Jan 2013

Seems like future help to AIG should be Stopped because of Insufficient Gratitude. Thank you, Elizabeth Warren!


scott brown would have been worthless in the Senate.

BlancheSplanchnik

(20,219 posts)
25. that is arrogance on a level rarely seen...
Tue Jan 8, 2013, 07:52 PM
Jan 2013

It is disgusting!!!!!! I want my money back--they sure don't deserve it!

I love seeing Elizabeth say it straight to the point. Kick their sorry asses!!!!!!!

 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
36. Agreed ...
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 12:49 PM
Jan 2013

I wonder if these "Masters of the Universe" actually think of the possible outcomes of their actions?

BlancheSplanchnik

(20,219 posts)
39. not one iota
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 03:54 PM
Jan 2013

Perhaps they do in terms of their own portfolios, and probably in terms of their own families....

But ramifications for those outside their small circle of people they can identifywith (and nb: corporations are people too. My friends.) don't matter to them. Strange, since what happens to everyone else will eventually affect them, too.

But basically, to them, Everyone and Everything else is just scenery. imho

 

albear

(33 posts)
28. By Dog! This is an outrage. Only thieves like this...
Tue Jan 8, 2013, 08:20 PM
Jan 2013

(AIG) are supposed to make a profit! How dare the US taxpayer do so?

sheshe2

(83,876 posts)
30. Senator Warren...
Tue Jan 8, 2013, 11:03 PM
Jan 2013
From my State of MA!!!!!

She is going to be a powerful Senator!

Just watch her go!

RVN VET

(492 posts)
31. I can hardly wait to see the outrage on FOX over this lawsuit
Tue Jan 8, 2013, 11:52 PM
Jan 2013

I bet the morning trio (Doocy, the bottle blonde, and the other guy), Hannity, and O'Reilly already have AIG in their sites and will begin the attack on it's ingratitude in 10. . . 9. . . 8 . . . .

OK, I'm kidding I'm kidding!

grantcart

(53,061 posts)
32. Even NPR's business show was lambasting them on it.
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 01:55 AM
Jan 2013

They did a funny parody of their "Thanks America" commercial.

They did have an expert on who said that because it dealt with possible shareholder issues that the board had to listen to the presentation in order to avoid a useless lawsuit.

He said that the government would also have attorneys present and thought that it would be dispatched with very quickly.

Let's see how completely out of touch these folks are.

He said that on the merits that the lawsuit was completely baseless because it could be proven that without the intervention that AIG would be faced with immediate bankruptcy and the shareholders would have no shares.

Heathen57

(573 posts)
37. The bankers would have been
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 01:39 PM
Jan 2013

better off if they would have let Sen. Warren on the commission. She would have only power to recommend things.

Now she has the power to push real legislative changes. Their short-sighted victory has turned around to really bite them in the arse.

Beacool

(30,250 posts)
38. Before everyone gets on a soapbox and we rip anything on anyone,
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 02:20 PM
Jan 2013

how about first finding out the result of that Board meeting? The AIG Board of Directors agreed to hear Hank Greenberg. Let's wait and see what happens before everybody gets out their pitchforks and torches.

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