Comments on: Pecora in Perspective: A New Commission is Born! http://firedoglake.com/2009/07/15/pecora-in-perspective-a-new-commission-is-born/ Firedoglake weblog Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:49:29 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: fatster http://firedoglake.com/2009/07/15/pecora-in-perspective-a-new-commission-is-born/#comment-1936753 fatster Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:53:17 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/07/15/pecora-in-perspective-a-new-commission-is-born/#comment-1936753 <p><strong>Potential Conflicts Of Interest For New Pecora Commissioners</strong><br /> By Brian Beutler - July 15, 2009, 5:26PM</p> <p>“At a glance, none of the newly named members of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commissioners come as a terrible surprise. Several of their names had been floated in news reports and rumors in the weeks leading up to today’s announcements. But there are a couple potential conflicts of interest worth pointing out.</p> <p>. . . </p> <p>“On the Republican side, commission vice chairman Bill Thomas–a former Republican Congressman from California–raised $1.8 million for his campaigns from financial, insurance, and real estate interests, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. . . . </p> <p>“On the Democratic side, former Florida Senator and Governor Bob Graham raised $2.1 million for his campaigns from similar interests, including tens of thousands from employees and PACs of Citibank, Bank of America, and Goldman Sachs.”</p> <p><a href="http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/potential-conflicts-of-interest-with-new-pecora-commissioners.php?ref=fpa" rel="nofollow">Link.</a></p> Potential Conflicts Of Interest For New Pecora Commissioners
By Brian Beutler – July 15, 2009, 5:26PM

“At a glance, none of the newly named members of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commissioners come as a terrible surprise. Several of their names had been floated in news reports and rumors in the weeks leading up to today’s announcements. But there are a couple potential conflicts of interest worth pointing out.

. . .

“On the Republican side, commission vice chairman Bill Thomas–a former Republican Congressman from California–raised $1.8 million for his campaigns from financial, insurance, and real estate interests, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. . . .

“On the Democratic side, former Florida Senator and Governor Bob Graham raised $2.1 million for his campaigns from similar interests, including tens of thousands from employees and PACs of Citibank, Bank of America, and Goldman Sachs.”

Link.

]]> By: bobh http://firedoglake.com/2009/07/15/pecora-in-perspective-a-new-commission-is-born/#comment-1936686 bobh Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:42:05 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/07/15/pecora-in-perspective-a-new-commission-is-born/#comment-1936686 <p>Yes, get Spitzer on it, and Bair, too, if she is not too busy closing banks.</p> Yes, get Spitzer on it, and Bair, too, if she is not too busy closing banks.

]]> By: dosido http://firedoglake.com/2009/07/15/pecora-in-perspective-a-new-commission-is-born/#comment-1936432 dosido Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:35:45 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/07/15/pecora-in-perspective-a-new-commission-is-born/#comment-1936432 <p>Thank you so much for this report! I look forward to reading more about it and I see Jane has the right source to do just that. Much appreciated.</p> Thank you so much for this report! I look forward to reading more about it and I see Jane has the right source to do just that. Much appreciated.

]]> By: Cynthia Kouril http://firedoglake.com/2009/07/15/pecora-in-perspective-a-new-commission-is-born/#comment-1936389 Cynthia Kouril Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:13:59 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/07/15/pecora-in-perspective-a-new-commission-is-born/#comment-1936389 <p>Technically, the findings are reported to Congress, but I suspect that the final report will be pritned and available tot he public, like the 9-11 Commission report, and the Starr report</p> Technically, the findings are reported to Congress, but I suspect that the final report will be pritned and available tot he public, like the 9-11 Commission report, and the Starr report

]]> By: bobschacht http://firedoglake.com/2009/07/15/pecora-in-perspective-a-new-commission-is-born/#comment-1936370 bobschacht Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:54:53 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/07/15/pecora-in-perspective-a-new-commission-is-born/#comment-1936370 <blockquote><p>these were Bill Black’s recommendations:</p> <p> “Jack Blum and Saul Wisenberg (Dem., Rep) as counsel. Hire Dick Newsom and Chris Seefer as your key investigators.” also elizabeth warren</p></blockquote> <p>Oh, yes please: Elizabeth Warren!</p> <p>Cynthia, thanks for this commentary. We need to keep this commission in view and on the front burner! </p> <p>Bob in HI</p>

these were Bill Black’s recommendations:

“Jack Blum and Saul Wisenberg (Dem., Rep) as counsel. Hire Dick Newsom and Chris Seefer as your key investigators.” also elizabeth warren

Oh, yes please: Elizabeth Warren!

Cynthia, thanks for this commentary. We need to keep this commission in view and on the front burner!

Bob in HI

]]> By: emerson http://firedoglake.com/2009/07/15/pecora-in-perspective-a-new-commission-is-born/#comment-1936369 emerson Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:53:56 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/07/15/pecora-in-perspective-a-new-commission-is-born/#comment-1936369 <p>Cynthia,</p> <p>What do you believe are the chances of Born and staff overcoming obstructions and fleshing out corruption ala Pecora? And who are the findings reported to?</p> Cynthia,

What do you believe are the chances of Born and staff overcoming obstructions and fleshing out corruption ala Pecora? And who are the findings reported to?

]]> By: Cynthia Kouril http://firedoglake.com/2009/07/15/pecora-in-perspective-a-new-commission-is-born/#comment-1936368 Cynthia Kouril Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:44:53 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/07/15/pecora-in-perspective-a-new-commission-is-born/#comment-1936368 <p>Hugh, if you are willing to keep your head down and your chin up, you cCAN do a meaningful investigation despite all that. Believe me, been there, done that. </p> <p>Don’t despair just yet. It can be done if there is strong staff. </p> <p>Remeber Pecora was the 4th staff counsel. the first 3 did not speak truth to power. Only Pecora refuse to take no for an answer, As I explained <a href="http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/24/pecora-in-perspective-why-do-we-need-a-new-commission/" rel="nofollow">Here</a></p> Hugh, if you are willing to keep your head down and your chin up, you cCAN do a meaningful investigation despite all that. Believe me, been there, done that.

Don’t despair just yet. It can be done if there is strong staff.

Remeber Pecora was the 4th staff counsel. the first 3 did not speak truth to power. Only Pecora refuse to take no for an answer, As I explained Here

]]> By: Hugh http://firedoglake.com/2009/07/15/pecora-in-perspective-a-new-commission-is-born/#comment-1936366 Hugh Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:29:25 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/07/15/pecora-in-perspective-a-new-commission-is-born/#comment-1936366 <p>masaccio,</p> <p>as Bill Black who worked on the commission investigating the S&L crisis pointed out, this is precisely what didn’t happen.</p> masaccio,

as Bill Black who worked on the commission investigating the S&L crisis pointed out, this is precisely what didn’t happen.

]]> By: masaccio http://firedoglake.com/2009/07/15/pecora-in-perspective-a-new-commission-is-born/#comment-1936364 masaccio Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:26:21 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/07/15/pecora-in-perspective-a-new-commission-is-born/#comment-1936364 <p>This is what I have seen too. the point of the Commission names is to ward off all the politicos so something can actually get done without interference from lobbyists and special pleaders.</p> This is what I have seen too. the point of the Commission names is to ward off all the politicos so something can actually get done without interference from lobbyists and special pleaders.

]]> By: Hugh http://firedoglake.com/2009/07/15/pecora-in-perspective-a-new-commission-is-born/#comment-1936363 Hugh Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:20:54 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/07/15/pecora-in-perspective-a-new-commission-is-born/#comment-1936363 <p>Well in the Bill Black piece selise linked to, he says that politically chosen commissioners just get in the way of real investigation. They try to tone things down. They seek compromise. If compromise isn’t possible, they leak, back stab, and otherwise try to sabotage the work of the commission. </p> <p>Brooksley Born is a person for anyone following this that deserves to be there. But it is always a bad sign, if you have been following this, to go Who? when names of commissioners are released.</p> Well in the Bill Black piece selise linked to, he says that politically chosen commissioners just get in the way of real investigation. They try to tone things down. They seek compromise. If compromise isn’t possible, they leak, back stab, and otherwise try to sabotage the work of the commission.

Brooksley Born is a person for anyone following this that deserves to be there. But it is always a bad sign, if you have been following this, to go Who? when names of commissioners are released.

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