WASHINGTON (CNN) – As the furor over AIG bonuses rages on Capitol Hill, a Republican congressman is calling for Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to "resign or be fired."
"Well before Timothy Geithner became Secretary of the Treasury, he was working hand-in-hand with AIG and other financial institutions to provide them hundreds of billions of dollars of taxpayer money as one of the key architects of the financial sector bailout," Florida Rep. Connie Mack said in a statement released Wednesday. "I was outspoken against the bailouts then, and I'm even more outraged now."
"I've had serious concerns about Secretary Geithner from the moment he was nominated. In the months since, he has shown us time and again why he was the wrong choice for this critical post. This week's news on the AIG bonus scandal is but the latest fiasco under his watch and he has lost the confidence of the American people."
"Quite simply, the Timothy Geithner experience has been a disaster."
Update: Rep. Darrell Issa, ranking Republican on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, also called on Geithner to step down.
"As one of the chief architects of the AIG bailout, Secretary Geithner was in a position to do what any lender of the last resort would do – negotiate concessions from AIG," he said in a statement released Wednesday afternoon.
"Secretary Geithner either didn't know about the bonuses, and was grossly negligent, or he did know and failed to bring this to the President's attention. Either way, the end result has been a significant waste of taxpayer dollars and he should take immediate responsibility and resign."
Earlier Wednesday, the conservative California congressman called on the White House to send him information before next week revealing "who within the Administration knew what, when" about the AIG bonuses.
From CNN Politics
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Agreed! Also, ask congress to resign because they OK the bonuses in the plan!!!!
Not so fast my GOP friends....... Let this man finally role out his economic plan first...... if it stinks, then press him to resign....... Truthfully what in the hell is wrong w/ conservatives these days? We are 2 days away from Obama's second month in office, and we've criticized him all 58 days..... frankly, it's disgusting........ Let Geithner bring his plan to the forefront...... By the way, the market has been doing fairly well for the past week and a half, yet no reporting on this, huh? If they were tanking, the media and my fellow right wingers would be panning Geithner/Obama for it........
More GOP dribble and Connie Mack knows it. The contracts with AIG were negotiated under Paulson and Bush. Geithner is left with the dirty work and has acted quickly. He has only been Treasury Secretary for 8 weeks not 8 years!
Republicans, how dare you ask for his resignation for something your party put into play. Everyone please "google" Gramm-Leech-Bliley Act of 1999, S.900 and H.R.10, (aka, The Financial Modernization Act of 1999).
This Act is what caused this mess to happen and as always, Democrats have to clean up after the GOP. Shame on CNN and other MSM not to reference this in their coverage. I am getting sick and tired of the laziness exhibited by the press during the Bush Administration, it has hurt this nation in too many ways to list. During Clinton's Adminstration, the press was all over President Clinton like a cheap suit.
I say this as an Obama supporter "I can't stand this guy."
in a no win situation, someone has to take the blame
he is the canidate to fall on the sword
Where was she when Bush was in office for the eight years? When all this crap started!! I don't recall ever hearing anything from her during that time. She would have had more credibility, if she had started being outraged then!!!
What a jerk!
Agreed!!! Fire Him!!! Can't hire a former Wall street guy, and expect him to fix this mess!!
This is a rare moment for me, but I agree with the GOP.
This is one area that I am a bit dissapointed in our new president on.
He has placed a select few people in charge of the financial departments of the government that are from the exact same climate that got us here to start with. I don't think they actually are going to change the climate at Wall Street because they all have that address.
Resign Timothy Geithner! You should never have been hired!
It is my belief that Mr. Timothy Geithner is in bed with all these so called financial best and brightest from Wall street and he is pulling the wool over President Obama's eyes. I don't believe this guy can be trusted. It appears his allegiance is more aligned with the large financial instutions than with the public or President Obama's for that matter. There something about this guy that I just don't trust.
So where is all the outrage over Geithner, since he had the most to do with AIG???? Oh since it is Obama's "only guy who can do the job" you hear nothing but crickets.......
The Republicans are not running this country anymore. No one is listening to them at all, and no one will listen to them for at least 36 more years...
It's time for this guy to go. He never should have been put in such a position to start with. He has no clue!
Yet again, another GOP c-o-p-p-i-n-g out on an issue started by the previous administration, and trying to blame it on the current one. While it may be true that Mack was outspoken against the bailouts, and may have even been outspoken in public about the nomination of Geithner, it is also true that the Republican Party is just as culpable as the current adminstration for the situation we are in. This is truly a bi-partisan problem.
Geithner, as Mack has conveniently forgotten, was one of the golden boys that was greeted with cheers by the GOP for years. And he certainly cannot be held responsible for AIG's bad contracts - that is not something someone in any of his previous or current positions is responsible for. While I agree that Geithner has not lived up to his hype, I feel trying to hold him personally responsible for something that falls under the bailiwick of the entire Congress, the lack of oversight, and multiple administrations is a bit harsh.
Timmy knew, its time for him to GO!
Just another obstructions neo-con working on making sure President Obama "fails".
Certainly no breaking news here.
I voted for Obama and I stand by the GOP decision. This guy is an idiot! He is conceited and worthless and to think Obama would put the cream of crop for such dire position. C'mon Mr. President you can do better than this!
What an idiot. I would like to see him try and do the job. Typical, have all of the criticism and little to offer in solutions.
I am the only one that sees what is going on here??? All the Nobama appointments are a joke!!
I can hardly wait to see his kingdom fall but I wonder if the press will report the truth...........yeah right.
a Republican congressman is calling for Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to "resign or be fired."This Bull was a Disaster before Mr Geithner was on board...... Florida Rep. Connie Mack said "I was outspoken against the bailouts then, and I'm even more outraged now."You need to step down and take STEELE with you
Resign for what reason again? Stop trying to look for a scpaegoat here, these AIG contracts (which other similar institutions have) are decades long practices that the Obama administration will fix going forward.
Republican hack s like Connie Mack should remember the bail out started during the Bush administration. Didn't Republicans accuse the Obama administration of socializing the banks and over regulationg and micro-managing the financial institutions? The inconsistent Republican messages have an opportunistic dirty smell of politics.
To tell Tim that he is doin' a totally titillatin' job is somewhat like fishin' in troubled waters. On the other hand, to ask him to get out will be typical of a tit for tat by the GOP. Make up your minds, fellow Americans.
Resign for what reason again? Stop trying to look for a scpaegoat here, these AIG contracts (which other similar institutions have) are decades long practices that the Obama administration, which is barely two months old, will change. Republicans are very funny and they are big phonies. One day they don't want governt to intervine in executive pay, the next they want governement to be fired for not intervening in executive pay.
mhg March 18th, 2009 4:02 pm ET
I am the only one that sees what is going on here??? All the Nobama appointments are a joke!!
+++++++++++++++++++++
No, you're just the only one who doesn't see the GOP hypocrisy and political grandstanding going on here.
Afterall, a total incompetent like Rumsfeld took more than 2 months to resign, didn't he?
Connie Mack or whatever your name is,"SHUT THE HELL UP".
Could you imagine the effrontery? Geithner should resign for not clearing the mess you repugs and bush made for over 8yrs in 2 months.
You are the one that should resign from the House!
How about Paulson when he gave away nearly 800 billion with absolutely NO oversight, NO stipulations?!?!
The GOP are a bunch of hypocrites who do NOTHING constructive to solve the mess THEY created! Just whine, whine, whine. What a joke they've become!!
No one wants to give Obama or his staff a chance to get things unravled. It took us 8eigth years to get in this mess. And it going to take some time to see how we got in the mess to be sure we dont do it . And once we figure that out we can work on the eal problems. Fireing Tim Geithner will be wrong and not fair to the adminastration. I have full faith that we re heading in the rigth direction.
GIVE THEM BREAK!! AND LET THEM WORK ON THIS BIG MESS!!
The Republicans fought HARD against setting limits on executive pay back in September saying that it would disuade banks from taking TARP money. McConnell, Boehner, Cantor, Shelby–all the Republican visible leaders in Congress, ALL came out opposing any kind of government involvement in executive pay. What a bunch of opportunistic hypocrites! They accused the Democrats of being "socialists" for actually trying to set limits on executive pay, and the Democrats are the ones who have been fighting for years for higher pay for lower and middle-income workers. Republicans believe that health care for example should only be a luxury for those wealthy enough to afford it, and when the Democrats say fine, since you refuse pay people more (even though at the same time you're firing people, you're giving your executives 10 million dollar bonuses), we'll increase your taxes a little, and provide health care for people that way (since tax payers are ultimately paying for it anyway). The Republicans accuse them of being socialists. Now they have all this phony outrage about outrageous executive pay? Give me a break!
I don't want to hear anything from the people who sang deregulate baby for years. It's amazing how we're willing to listen to the goons that got us in this mess. Maybe we deserve the Republicans.
Why do all the Obama haters think they can see things and know things no one else does? Is it any coincidence that the GOP is also heavily populated by religious people who also think they can see and know things no one else does?
WE did not get into this mess overnight ... it took 8 years. We certainly cannot expect it to be fixed in 2 months. Get a grip GOP!
Sorry, but this guy is in way over his head....as is his boss. Neither of them knows what to do. Pleading ignorance just doesn't cut it this time. It makes them look even worse for trying to cover up their own shortcomings.
Connie Mack is a politically partisan, right wing Bush Republican...
...he has no interest in seeing the economic agenda of the Obama administration succeed...
...like his puppeteer Rush "oxycontinhead" Limbaugh Mack wants the country to fail...
...so that Bush Republicans can regain power...
...Connie and ALL Bush republicans should cross the river Styxx...
Why is it that so many people think that if you speak critical of this administration you must be a Republican???
Come back to reality by asking yourself, was the criticism of Pres Bush only by the Dems or far left?
NO
Most people in this county do not belong to the GOP and will be angry at ANY (get it) ANY POLITICIAN that they think is doing them wrong.
If he's the only man who can fix the financial crisis, then we're in for nothing but more trouble. This guy is a joke and we should have know it since we found out about his innocent mistake on his own tax forms;
Tax cheat Geithner knew all about this mess. Time for him go, now.
Correction Ms. Mack, The American people have not lost confidence in a man who has had a postion for less than 2 months. The American people are now getting to see all the greed and business loop-hole unrighteous practices that you and your party were allowing to THRIVE over the LAST 8 years!!!! Any confidence lost is in you and the Rush Republican Party.
This demand is NOT how we as a democracy deal with problems.
The ObstructiPubs are so far beyond decency that their party should shut down permanently.
We need to modernize our country's government. The dark-suited, glum, overpaid and underworked jerks in the ObstructiPub party need to shut up!
Geithner has enough on his plate now besides dealing with ObstructiPubs.
I may be wrong, but I thought the deregulation started with the Savings and Loan deregulation YEARS ago (i.e., Keating 5 scandal).
Please comment.
ooooooHHH I get it. Bush & his clowns have ruined America, they screwed up the country, and thousands of soldiers have die because of a liar aka bush, spent billions of dollars on a war that never should have taken place in the first place. Just so they can get rich. Then before these clowns left office they purposely convinced congress to give AIG and others tarp money. To bad Bush hasn’t volunteered to give some of his earnings back to America. Oh and that crook Cheney. I believe they will reap what they sow!!!.
Fire him? Yeah, he's incompetent but he may be the only Obama appointee to have actually paid taxes!
what will the fallout be for obama after he said this morning that no one standing with him drafted the AIG paperwork...... Turbo Tax Tim was standing with him..... I think obama better get the facts before he sticks his foot in his mouth
I don't see anyone here – or anywhere else, wishing that McCain/Palin were in charge:
The choice was one or the other: The country choose President Obama... and the sour grapes crown was predicting failure two hours after he was sworn in.
Notice that those who are foaming at the mouth have few suggestions: easier to complain than to lead.
He doesn't hve a clue how to fix this mess!!!! Heck, He couldn't even pay his own taxes!! If I read correctly, wasn't Geithner one of the architects of the first bailout under the Bush Adm.? He didn't have a clue then and he doesn't have a clue now. He should go and take BO with him.
Wasn't most of this mess hatched under the control of those who love deregulation (GOP). Geithner got handed this mess, at least let him and his staff try to get it done!
Geez people... give them time to fix this... noone is perfect. I would like to see you in there, talking to everyone about the economy, getting grilled about the economy, issuing bailouts, and trying to watch over everything at the same time.
The Obama administration would love to put in oversight and czars, but all you republicans would do is complain that "socialism is on the way".
You know what.... I might take a dose of that if it means I can provide for my family and keep my house.
geithener a guy who used to be in bed with his wall street buddies is a tax cheat and is treasury boss talk bout having the fox watch the henhouse what in the world was obama thinking giving him this job
Love how the liberals try to change the topic. Our economy is imploding and this administration is asleep at the wheel.
All they can say is: Bush evil! Chaney! Halliburton! What about Palin! blah blah blah
How long are you guys going to keep repeating your talking points? Will you still be babbling this nonsense when this administration reduces the US to a third world country?
Kenneth March 18th, 2009 4:37 pm ET
WE did not get into this mess overnight … it took 8 years. We certainly cannot expect it to be fixed in 2 months. Get a grip GOP!
----------–
your democratic CONGRESS did this in 4 years dummy.........how is it that the top five recipients of AIG contributions are DEMOCRATS???? who is number one DODD,,, number two OBAMA....... that is right your president is and was on the payroll..... get your facts straight
The republicans are only interested in the next election and if it means hurting the economy now that's a price they are willing to pay.
im lost for words cnn everyday it seems like all u care about is ratings and internet hits. give the man a chance! the republicans are a joke all they do is criticize how can you (cnn) take them seriously?
I'd like the republican party to "resign or be fired" as well as all the nay sayers out there who aren't giving the various fixes, present & future, a chance to work! Nobody said this was all going to be perfect, but it was stated that it was going to be open and honest and so far that's exactly what it's been! Update: Several of AIG's exec's have already returned their bonuses and I'm betting those that haven't don't want the Treasusy Dept. chasing them down! Y'all need to chill out!
It's the same regurgitation I am seeing from the left. "It took us 8 years to get us into this mess" is the most overstated sentence in history. It took MORE than 8 years, almost 20 years. I am a HARD CORE conservative, but I want Obama's team to get us out of this rutt, (although I'm not too optimistic right now.) But it's amazing to me how Geithner is not doing so great and somehow, it's the Republican's fault. How is that?
mhg March 18th, 2009 4:02 pm ET
The only joke is the rethuglicons in congress that people like you have elected...
Let's see; TAX CHEATER THAT SHOWS ALL CHARACTERISTICS OF A SUPER-CORRUPTED POLITICIAN.
Well , boys and girls,...this alone is more than qualification to stay in place; – for the OBAMA GANG IS DESIGNED ON THE BASIS OF DISHONESTY, CORRUPTION AND DECEPTION.
Now, if this nation becomes a third world -style country and/or another terrorist attack takes place ?....I really do not know where in the glalxy THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION (Obama,'their front-man', and all the rest of the weeds)...I have no clue where they all are going to hide their faces.I CANNOT REALLY CARE LESS,...IT WILL BE THEIR PROBLEM.
sincerely,
Daniel Cabrera
Merrillville,Indiana
I don't hear any solutions from either the republicans in office, or the know it all bloggers here who do nothing but criticize.
Obama and his administration have been working tirelessly, at light speed, tackling problem after problem after problem... compile that with the republicans trying to stop them from doing anything at every turn, then turning around and criticizing them for not working fast enough?
Why should Geithner resign because of what AIG did with the money they received... mostly from the Bush Administration may I add? That's like saying we should imprison all Catholics in a community because their priest decided to molest some alter boys.
The news came out about what AIG is doing with the money.. and immediately the entire Obama administration jumped on it and called them to hearing. What would you have them do instead?
Every single Republican needs to resign for not doing any work except to criticize and try to fight and say no to everything! The Republicans are obstructionists who don't give a darn about this country...only their political party!
REPUBLICANS RESIGN!!!
Alice Newman Center Harbor NH March 18th, 2009 4:58 pm ET
I don't see anyone here – or anywhere else, wishing that McCain/Palin were in charge:
The choice was one or the other: The country choose President Obama… and the sour grapes crown was predicting failure two hours after he was sworn in.
Notice that those who are foaming at the mouth have few suggestions: easier to complain than to lead.
-------------
that would be like someone saying OBAMA should have released origional birth certificate proving his citizenship, or his college transcripts, or maybe people should have really took a hard look at this idiot and what he stands for before they voted in favor of it being the cool thing to do..... you are just sad that you are getting what you voted for= complete chaos and the downfall of your country
Unfortunately, the Democrat-dominated Congress has no clue what they are doing. They are just throwing money at the economic problems, without any idea what its effect will be. They don't even know what they are putting in the stimulus bills before voting on it.
If Geithner goes so should Steele and limbaugh!
Leet the real biggots stand up. I know about the RNC, the Reagan Democrats and not the self interest groups. Just because they are Democrats out there doesn't mean they support Obama. They have their own agenda and it is not that honorable either. So what is new CNN? Are you going to ride with this as you generally do with anything negative about Obama or you going to bring out Alaska again?
What is wrong with everybody? How can our president and the new adminitration fix anything in a couple of month. Please do your math!
Give President Obama a chance. He will do what is good for everbody.
Get the money back from all the AIG quote on quote execs – they were supposed to do a great job – guess they did – loosing all the money and get rewarded for the loss. Can I or anybody else have a job there? The same goes for all the bonuses to the employees of Merill Lynch. 90% tax should be great – make it 95%.
You sell gasoline and spill some – it comes out of your pocket – you do not get a bonus!!!
How about all the Republican stooges in Congress be fired or step down.
I am sick of them. This administration has been in office less than 2 months all they have done is complained about the problems THEY CREATED.
Get over it or get out. REPUBLICANS ARE TO BLAME AND NO ONE IS BELIEVING OTHER WISE.
To Both Dave and Connie
Those were campaign contributions. Should McCain be shoved out of the Senate because big oil companies contributed more to him? Should any candidate running for office turn down all campaign contributions and just rely on word of mouth instead of advertising themselves?
This isn't money lining their pockets, they were legal campaign contributions.
Dave in California,
The only form of multitasking I have seen President Bush do it destroy this country single handedly just like he destroyed his father's companies, their family name, and this country's reputation. I still support Obama because he has to clean up the mess that your goons left behind. If we had voted for McCain/Palin, they would both still be saying that the economy is fine just like they did on the campaign trail. Get over it son, your guy lost, and your popularity is still waning.
The Obama kool-aid drinkers are amazing. Please tell me how you can defend Mr. Geitner in this debacle?
..........oooooh it was Bush's fault......oooooh Obama is still getting his feet wet............ooooh we're so blinded by our hatred that it supresses the truth and the facts.
If it were a republican in this same situation, you would be calling for his head. Well guess what, we ae calling for his head! The white house is now like a three ring circus with MC Obama doing the backpeddle shuffle. Freaking hillarious.
The Republicans are busy blaming the Pres. and Geithner, but this is really their fault.
The Dems in congress wanted more regulation in the bailout, but most of that was taken out because the Republicans didnt want that in there, and this is what happens when you dont get enough regulation for these kinds of things like the Dems wanted.
So instead of blaming the President for messing up on this, why doesnt the blame go to the people who wrote the bailout, congress, and the people who ruined it, Republicans
@ " The Last Patriot"............. How long will we, Liberals, keep up with the talking points????? Until one of you ignorant GOPers ...... gets it!
You cry socialist, impeach, resign! BUT ....... WHERE WERE you "so-called-fiscal-conservatives" while Bush was hiding the actual cost of the Iraq War??
Where were you "patriots" when Bush was dismissing our Constitution and SPYING on American Citizens?
Where you "patriots" when Bush/ Cheney established secret prisons in foreign countries so they could torture???
Where were you with your "holier-than-thou" attitude when Bush was DOUBLING our National debt?????
EVEN BERNAKE TALKED ABOUT THE "CRASH OF 2008" ....... WHO WAS PRESIDENT???
ALL we, Liberals, are saying is that OBAMA INHERITED THE BUSH DISASTER...... HE HAS BEEN IN OFFICE A MERE ......50+ DAYS......... AND YOU WANT TO BE RID OF HIM?????????
BUT IT WAS OKAY WITH YOU WHEN BUSH BANKRUPTED OUR NATION! HYPOCRITE.
With a little luck and before it is to late, mabe the voters will realize that all is well with the obama administration and his band of thevies, liars and tax cheats. They had every intention of taking over the business community from the start,
Do the people have what it takes to stop them or, is that the kind of country they are looking foreward to?Do they want government to own everything?
"The Last Patriot
March 18th, 2009 5:07 pm ET
Love how the liberals try to change the topic. Our economy is imploding and this administration is asleep at the wheel.
All they can say is: Bush evil! Chaney! Halliburton! What about Palin! blah blah blah
How long are you guys going to keep repeating your talking points? Will you still be babbling this nonsense when this administration reduces the US to a third world country?"
Seriously. I mean this. Seriously. I am neither liberal or conservative – the government is a bunch of crooks no matter who's in charge. That being said, you sir are an idiot. What does your post have anything to do with this topic at all? Your idiotic president got us into this financial nightmare with absolutely no insight on regulating these idiots. Now the new one is trying to get us out. You could have won the election, but your candidates, for lack of a better word, sucked.
Go cry in the corner.
And just who would you replace him with. And just what would he do differently? These guys dont have a ton of lawyers telling them what is and is not permissible under the law.
Wow – how strong is that kool-aid???
Obama-pologists are ACTUALLY defending the incompetent tax-cheat, Gaithner, who along with Dodd GAVE the bonus loophole to AIG???
Wow... Obama really is their messiah.
Everyone:
Google every single one of the GOP calling for the resignation of Geithner and see what they had to say about executive pay when Paulson was ramming through the first TARP bailout.
No shame. No shame.
Thanks for the laugh Connie "Hack". If republicans had one shred of credibility on economics I might take your joke seriously, but alas...it's a funny one.
Who cares what today's GOP ranters have to say about anything? While Geithner was peripherally involved in the earlier bailouts, even before being appointed and/or confirmed, he wasn't the main architect of this debacle. That would be Paulson, with Bush's blessing. CNN, why do you make this a headline on the Ticker? So a couple of Republican clowns think Geithner should resign. Big deal! And just how do they think they will have anything to say about firing him? Did someone die and put them in charge?
Does anybody here think Sarah Palin could solve this crisis? After all she does have executive experience.
This mess did not start with Tim Geithner and the republicans know it! This is all because of the indifference showed by the Bush administration in not keeping tabs on the excutives that were given billions and not required to act like mature business people. Bush was too busy keeping his rich friends fat and happy to worry about anything else. It was his callous indifference that led to all of this and the republicans know it! But, they will never admit any mistakes made and will blame any democrat within shouting distance for whatever is going wrong right now. Bush had eight long years to screw the U.S. up and he did a wonderful job!
Please give me a break. How are they to make a request like this? I mean seriously, folks are pointing fingers at Timothy and the contract for the AIG bonuses were done last year!!! Folks really need to get their fact straight before you go pointing fingers!!!
It just goes to show the Republicans will try anything to pin the problems on the economy on the President and his staff. They don't want to work on getting problems resolved they just want to find and start mess!!! GET THEM ALL OUT OF CONGRESS!!! THE REPUBLICANS ARE ALL WORTH LESS!!! All GOP supporters would do well to vote all sitting Reps and Senators out and put some new ones in!!!
Whoever is saying Obama is doing TOO MANY things at the same time IS in idiot!!!
1) HealthCare Reform – it is the biggest cost / drag on our costs (& so, the
budget)
2) Education – the ONLY way to stay more productive and succeed
3) Afghanistan/ Pakistan – NO CHOICE
4) Deficit Control – the Chinese are planning to sell our Treasury notes!!!
So wake up, you MOURONS....
Ofcourse you cannot miss the Cheney & Bush – they did NOTHING but skrew us all, so anyone who does SOMETHING looks like he is doing a LOT
This mess was started last fall. Long before the new administration got in office. However, I think Geithner is toast. He wasn't able to talk to the American people anyway, which was a critical requirement for the role of Treasury Secretary. Atl least at this time.
So this turned out to be a bad decision on President Obama's part.
Lucky for me, I knew the President wasn't going to be perfect. Just much better than what we had. Pity so many imperfect people (the media included) expected him to be something that they are not...
@Frank in Phoenix "Fire him? Yeah, he's incompetent but he may be the only Obama appointee to have actually paid taxes!"
Actually Geithner DIDN'T pay his taxes, he just happened to be the first of the Obama appointments to go before Congress. While what he had unpaid wasn't AS bad as Daschle's, he only paid the original amount, none of the late fees / penalties and interest.
He IS in over his head, this is just another blunder proving it. Every time he talks, the markets drop.
A reply for Mari.
I am with you on this one.
But you must understand you are talking to Republicans.
If they had any brains they would not have been republican!!!
The buck doesn't stop at Geithner....his boss needs to be held accountable but of course, the liberal media will not raise that issue. This is what you get when you elect an unaccomplished community organizer to the office of President of the United States.
Change you can believe in.
From an earlier post.
The top ten recipients of AIG donations for the 2008 election cycle:
Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Connecticut: $103,100
President Barack Obama: $101,332
Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona: $59,499
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: $35,965
Sen. Max Baucus, D-Montana: $24,750
Former presidential candidate Mitt Romney: $20,850
Vice President Joe Biden: $19,975
Rep. John Larson, D-Connecticut: $19,750
Sen. John Sununu, R-New Hampshire: $18,500
FormerpPresidential candidate Rudy Giuliani: $13,200
_____________________________________________________
CNN,
I know for a fact that these numbers are incorrect. I heard that CNN was incorrect on this story from other numerous sources that actually did their homework, instead of quoting from Faux News. You should have re-checked those figures before you started to wildly swing to the right on this issue.
Yes, fire him and get someone who is NOT part of the so-called "Federal" Reserve to take over.
There were no bonuses given out; it was retention for work to be done by the experienced employees so AIG would not go belly up. After the work was done, the employees left. Is anyone listing to Mr. Libby. The republicans want this to fail so they can get back in power and we will be in worst shape then before.
the community organizer is going to be impeached . . .it's in the works now...
1. Since he was "The ONLY ONE" one who could do this job, he was rammed down our throats!
2. In charge of enforcing the tax laws but he couldn't obey them.
3. Came from the SEC and was supposed to keep an eye on Wall Street. He failed!
4. Was to brief the nation on a recovery plan several weeks ago! He didn't have one! He failed!
GO HOME!
Geithner looks a little like the villain from Ghost.
Just as a note to both sides of the debate:
Can you PLEASE stop referencing Kool-Aid?
I have a good feeling that the people doing it are either too young to remember the whole Jim Jones People's Temple, or just simply don't care to the point where they are willing to make their bad analogy on the backs of pictures of dead children lying bloated in the sun.
He should resign, but keep this in mind: we do not have a treasurer yet.
To Beth!
before speaking "your mind", try to collect all the facts. TARP money which went to AIG was approved by congress last year. As you well know, but would like to hide the fact, democrats called for more restriction on how that money should be spent. Republicans who are calling for secretary Geithner to resign were against any restriction. As the end result, AIG who promised the bonuses under contracts from 2008 is obliged to pay them. So to make the story short, blame the messenger for the bad news. l am sure you will disagree....
Another Obama mistake. Obama picks this tax cheat and then won't dump him when that was the ethical thing to do instead making some high-falutin rationalization about how he's the best "man" for the job. People better get beneath the surface of Obama soon to separate the grist from the empty suit.
The republicans need to just shut up already.........................................
Actually, Mr. Mack, as the last election made abundantly clear, it is the Republican party that has "lost the confidence of the American people". Apparently, you failed to receive the message, wrapped as you are in the cocoon of your safe, solidly conservative west Florida coast congressional district. It took Mr. Bush eight years to destroy our economy, in large part by the deregulation of which you have been such a champion. Perhaps you will have the good grace to allow Mr. Obama and his team more than a few weeks to try to undo the devastation. If you and your colleagues would try to be more useful to OUR President, instead of reflexively and relentlessly obstructionist, it might benefit the American people of whom, after all, you are an employee.
The guy has been on the job for less than two months. And the bonuses are not his fault. They were allowed to happen by a clause in the bailout package that allowed contracts before Feb. 2009 to be honored.
Quit whining about others and do something yourself. Giethner is working his butt off.
Timothy Geithner have had 8 weeks and folks are asking him to retire. It is amazing to me that these same folks are saying NOTHING about firing the CEO and the other executives at AIG who are really the problem. This is politics at its best and you all know it. Just think for a moment – how is this Geitner's fault? AIG is NOT run by the government – but ONLY FUNDED by the governement. Big difference... Geitner did not authorize these bonuses. To say that he is the "Fall Guy" is absurd at best.
I think it would be far more productive for our nation and our economy if the Republicans members of Congress resign. Their job approval rating is at 28% and falling.
Geithner was not even in office yet when the BUSH administration sent out the TARP money to AIG. I think they need to get their facts straight. Of course, as we have seen, with Republicans the truth is optional.
Republicans have done nothing but snipe, whine, criticize, and lie about everything President Obama has done to try to restore this nation. The Republican Party has NO leadership, NO policies, and NO plans or solutions to offer for any problem America is facing. They have done nothing but try to tear down and slow down the recovery of our country. They are not working for the People who elected them. They are just playing games with our lives and our futures.
I am so sick of all the constant negative Republican noise. They are obviously going to do nothing to work to help this nation and plan to vote NO on everything. For the betterment of this country and its faster recovery, it is the Republicans who should resign since they have nothing to offer but negativity.
The People will be voting the next wave of them out in 2010 for their betrayal of America and its reconstruction. In NC we will be getting rid of Sen Richard Burr who has never done one thing for our state and has been in the pocket of big business to the detriment of many.many lost jobs in NC. It is time to remove the do-nothing negative Repubicans and replace them with serious, intelligent representatives who will work to move our nation forward and will stop playing games with our lives in the name of PARTY FIRST and AMERICA LAST.
President Obama is doing a fantastic job handling many critical issues at once. He is a great leader and is keeping all Americans in mind as he introduces more ways to help us. He talks to We the People and tells us what he is doing and why. His moves to recovery have been intelligent and forward-thinking. How refreshing to have intelligence, truth and honor back in the White House.
Geithner wrote the AIG Bailout bill while he was head of the Federal Reserve you Liberal sheep and stooges. Don't try and blaim this on Republicans. Last time I check Geitner was Obama's man and Chris Dodd and Barney Frank were democrats.
What's missing here is that some members in Congress should also be called upon to step down for their lack competency in this whole event.
I doubt that will happen. They have absolutely no shame. They now ask the "tough" questions hoping to make the sound bite for the evening news. No shame at all!
Liberals as well as conservatives should own up to their part in this mess.
Perhaps Congressman Issa could help us all, if he would simply tone down his stupidity.
Geithner and company have scarcely been in power for 2 months – Geithner himself DOES NOT EVEN HAVE A FULL TEAM!!!
Congressman Issa, please stop trying to cause a riot!
What a crock! Republicans crying for someone's resignation. Where have I heard that before.. oh right! The Democrats have been screaming that at Bush and GOP for the past eight years!!!
Give me a break. Your false indignation is deafening.
Gene March 18th, 2009 5:20 pm ET
To Both Dave and Connie
Those were campaign contributions. Should McCain be shoved out of the Senate because big oil companies contributed more to him? Should any candidate running for office turn down all campaign contributions and just rely on word of mouth instead of advertising themselves?
This isn't money lining their pockets, they were legal campaign contributions.
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yes he should be punted out of office as well.... dodd and obama are directly tied to both of these companies..... personally i think all dirty politicians should be encarcerated..... ALL OF THEM... there should be term limits strapped to every public office we have... career politicians should be a thing of the past
Whats killing me is the fact that this money was appointed to them MONTHS before Tim got there, and another thing that is KILLING me is the DEMOCRATS wanted over site on the money, but OH NO PAULSON, you know the REPUKE, said no, they were not going to do that. SO all you morons that have no clue what they are talking about please remember, YOUR PARTY LOST AND WILL NEVER EVER BE BACK IN CONTROL! They are the reason we are in this mess, the POTUS and Tim G will FIX IT! SHUT UP!
Enough is enough is enough. Geitner is doing just fine. Without him, there will not be a Citi Bank today, and without Citi Bank, DOW industrial average would be roaming around 4000.
If you really want to be objective about this, compare AIG's bonuses from this time last year to this year. It has more than halved. If anything Geitner should get the credit for saving taxpayers money being used for bonuses and not vise versa...
This is nothing but politics – and you all know that... so stop the nonsense. He has only been here for 8 weeks.
Im sorry did i miss something? I thought that obama was the president? that means that as of JANUARY 20, 2209, He and only HE is responsible for everything that happens to and for this country and its people. He said that once elected HE would fix the problem. He said trust him to make life better for all of us. HE SAID IT NOT BUSH! Obama is the preisdent. stop making excuses for his inexperience. We told you that he wasnt up for the job but you elevated him to position of Savior so that you could bask in his glory. YOU wanted change well heres the change. Bush is an american citizen now just like the rest of us and he has nothing to do with the decisions that olbama has made since January 20. Stop blaming everyone else and start blaming the leader of the free world. If he cant do the job then ACCEPT it and move on. Geez! Everytime you point the finger elsewhere when Obama screws up it telkls me, and the rest of the world, that you do not trust the decisions that he makes. If this is the case then why did you vote for him? ACCEPT HIM FOR THE INPERFECT HUMAN BEING THAT HE IS!
No Hillary = No Obama = Bitter Puma wiht no life but to try to tear down al the president is trying to do to fix this economy. Personally I hope you're stil bitter for the next 8 years!
What is needed right now is to put in place what ever it takes to get all of every penny back from the bonuses.
He should have never been confirmed.
Since he wasn't even appointed when congress wanted to put stipulations and restrictions on the money, how is it his fault? It was Paulson that said give them the money with no restrictions, not Geithner.
This situation with AIG bonuses and the appearance that Geithner and the Congress knew about it but did nothing to stop it, is starting look like payback.
I think that a full independent investigation is warranted and then we can decide what to do or not to do about Geithner.
Mike March 18th, 2009 5:37 pm ET
the community organizer is going to be impeached . . .it's in the works now…
Dream on.
Impeachments are done by Congress. Last time I checked, the House was about 60% Democrat, and the Senate is 58%. so FAT CHANCE.
Please read a book on civics. You don't want your last brain cell to die uninformed.
Nice to see you back, WELCOME TO THE OBAMA SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
So tell me... how is he like those "other people" you listed in all caps?
Or are you just proud of the fact that you can spell their names correctly?