Cliff hanger

Found this cartoon on the Miami Herald site and couldn't resist sharing. :)

We still have the GOP telling us what we are doing wrong. And some of us are still listening!

Top 10 reasons why it is difficult for Indians to be Hijackers or Terrorists!

I recently received this tongue-in-cheek missive that I thought was really hilarious, because it is so true! Here it is for your enjoyment.


1. We are always late; we would have missed all 4 flights.

2. We would talk loudly and bring attention to ourselves.

3. With free food & drinks on the plane, we would forget why we're there.

4. We talk with our hands; therefore we would have to put our weapons down.

5. We would ALL want to fly the plane.

6. We would argue and start a fight in the plane.

7. We can't keep a secret; we would have told everyone a week before doing it.

8. We would have put our country's flag on the windshield.

9. We would have postponed the mission because a cricket match was on that day.

10. We would all have fallen over each other to be in the photograph being taken with one of the hostages.

Party at Capitol Hill Dunk Tank!

There is something to be said for the party at the Capitol Hill Dunk Tank that periodically invites the creme-de-la-creme from the Wall Street and Financial fraternity for cake, since they don't eat bread. Even as we are crying foul at the massive re-distribution of wealth that is taking place under our noses, our house reps, in an effort to wipe our tears and divert us, have hauled up various economic criminals (bank and auto heads), real criminals (peanut tycoon), camouflaged criminals (Treasury and SEC officials who plead incompetence rather than malicious intent), and financial criminals (Madoff et al), to a Capitol Hill Dunk Fest.

Our brave leaders have put their heads in the lion's jaws for our sakes. They recognize that we are yelling for blood. And that we want justice. Because we know, in our heart of hearts, that the money the CEOs have earned is not for an honest day's work. It is "earned" with a loaded dice - by knowing the "right" people, "lobbying" for their interests, and fighting against legislature that benefits the country.

So they drag these suited, booted, arrogant, smirking, know-it-all, talking heads to Capitol Hill.

"Did you know that you were indulging in risky behavior when you encouraged your loan officers to push high interest mortgages to people who couldn't repay them?
Dunk!

"How much money did you lend out last year after you took TARP money and how much did you lend out the year before when didn't have access to TARP money? Why are both amounts the same?"
Dunk!

"How many millions did you pay as bonus to your employees with one hand, when your company was in the red and grasping taxpayer money with the other hand?"
Dunk!

"Weren't your companies the ones that fought hard against legislation for building energy-efficient cars? Now why are you coming to us for help when gas prices make your cars unaffordable to run?"
Dunk!

"How did you come to Capitol Hill today? Did you use the Corporate jet?"
Slam Dunk!

Oh, I know, I know, one cannot shame the shameless. To all intents and purposes, a tongue-lashing is not the same as a lashing.

Our only hope of reprieve from yet another bubble is to enact strict and loophole-free laws before we hand out our money to the grubby hands of the banks. But since our interests are not protected here too, we must rely on Wall Street's sense of shame and well concealed patriotism in order to help dig our nation out of the mess of their making.

Even if the dunkfest does not accomplish its goal - to shame the CEO's into good behavior, it at least indicates that at least our lawmakers feel our pain, while they are handing out the futures of our children and grandchildren to dishonest and avaricious people. We should be able to take comfort in that.

Sex and the TARP!

Here is a riddle: What is more scandalous than "Sex and the City", costs $2000 / hour, gives intense pleasure to someone other than you, but is paid for with your hard-earned money under TARP?

Guess? Didn't get it?

Ok, here is another hint: What is a legitimate business expense for big Wall Street CEOs in order for them to perform their high-stress, high-paying jobs, delivering "great" rates of returns for their investors?

Give up? Beyond your imagination?

I don't blame you. It is hard to wrap your minds around this creepy excess.

According to an NYC Madam, Wall Street execs and CEOs have been utilizing high-end prostitutes at $2000/hr and paying for them with their corporate credit cards. They have been deducting these expenses illegally as legitimate business expenses. Looks like the TARP money will come in handy to rescue their firms since their routine expenses to "conduct" their business is higher than the profit generated from the business. It is no wonder that the companies that they manage are now running at a loss and need tax payer money to help offset losses. To add insult to injury, even after this illegal, deceitful, fraudulent and distasteful behavior they have the gall to resist Govt. oversight for the TARP money and fight the restrictions placed on their compensations. And they try to get the Republicans to spout crude "wisdom" about Govt interference in their business.

By rights, we, the public, should ask the Govt to prosecute all these executives and recover this money from them. We should also be defining the oversight of company expenses for companies that accept TARP money since we have paid for all this:

- a major New York real estate developer who, according to the list, "will come to the door wearing women's panties," and who spent nearly $100,000

- a partner at the Wall Street law firm Cravath Swaine Moore "looking for a party girl to come fully equipped" and spent a total of $20,000

- an investment banker from Lehman Brothers who saw "Kelsey and Keely together" and later saw "Aria and Skyler at the same time"

- an investment banker at JP Morgan Securities who "loves Brooke" and spent $41,600

- an investment banker at Goldman Sachs who "only wanted all-American girls" and spent $27,000

- a managing director from Merrill Lynch who saw "Lana" using the name "Nataly"

- a managing director from Deutsche Bank "who called about seeing Nataly again"

Join in to leave a message if you don't want to pay for all this.

Plumbing the depths - GOP style!

Here is a nice story: The sun is shining brightly. The seas are calm. The fish are swimming close to the surface of the azure blue waters practically begging to be reeled in by the fishing lines. And GOP is sailing their boat looking up proudly at their captain at the helm. He is doing a great job. Everything is under control because the GOP is IN control!

Suddenly, the weather changes. Dark, ominous storm clouds gather. The sea gets rough and choppy. The fish have swum deep into the sea, hiding in fear. The GOP'ers glance up at the wheel. The captain is nowhere in sight. He's on vacation at his Texas ranch. So they look for the 2nd in command. Oh no, he's gone hunting and has shot his friend in the face.

So they grit their teeth and ask for "all hands on the deck" to prevent the ship from sinking. Somehow they muddle through, to hold the ship afloat until the captain retires. Now they are looking for a new captain. Someone with a spine. Someone who knows how to stay in the limelight. Someone who will grab on to opportunity and hold tight. Someone who will stand firm (if muddled) about their conservative stances.

They cast around for a leader. They search high and low. For as far as they can scan the horizon, they cannot find anyone to captain their floundering ship.

So they finally cast their lines in the deep choppy waters of the GOP base and reel in a dead fish. This was the fish that John McCain, the previous de facto leader had reeled in earlier to help his sinking ship stay afloat. For lack of a better alternative, they resurrect it and lo! Here is our leader. Guess who?

Our intrepid, opportunistic, tax-dodging, unlicensed, Joe, the plumber!