Perhaps we should begin with an offering from Goldman Sachs he covered closely, the Abacus deal, for which Goldman was fined. Mr. Cohan, please explain whether you believe Goldman was guilty of unethical or illegal activity in the sale of Abacus. Ultimately, I hope we get your views on why there have been no convictions, and why.

A president elected in reaction to the economic and political environment. A president hated on the left for lack of bold action and accused by the right of being a socialist. A president who appears to struggle with any sort of confrontation within his own Administration and who appears to have continuing issues with quality of staffers. A president accused of promoting class warfare and ‘uncertainty’. A president with a justice on the Supreme Court who opposes him named Roberts. A president with a wife who is, to many, as controversial as he is. A president and an Administration during a time when bold decisive action is required, but who seem to suffer from chronic timidity.

Obama or Roosevelt? Both?

This week’s holiday mandates giving thanks. For many Americans, that is complicated by the harsh years since 2008.

There’s the bitterness of lost jobs, foreclosed homes and diminished opportunity. There’s the resentment over bailing out Wall Street, then watching banksters grant themselves sensational bonuses while denying Main Street loans to save businesses. There’s the fear generated by county club conservatives demanding draconian cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

It’s hard to muster gratitude while suffering, to feel appreciative while dreading a meaner future.

This book is a fast and easy read so you will absorb a ton of well-researched factual knowledge without losing your horse, crawling through the desert, or emptying your canteen. It’s a fun, easy way to learn and understand a whole lot of important information that banksters would prefer you never know and delivered in a way that exposes the hypocrisy of many of the proposed “cures” for our current economic woes. It really is a terrific learning tool and delivers information in a form that even Members of Congress should be able to understand.

The late poet and Lutheran seminary professor Gerhard Frost once wrote “My check stubs are enough” to give you his autobiography. The former Chancellor of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, Giles Fraser, wrote similar words in June 2010: the best way to assess what someone believes is to look through their bank statement. Forget fancy words and sermons, money is the way we mean it – or we don’t. Money is the sacrament of moral seriousness.”

Given the reactions of the MOTUs and Powers That Be to the Occupy Movement, I’d say they don’t enjoy having their morals examined.

Occupiers planned to “take the horse” in Grant Park on Saturday night. Just like one week ago, they anticipated many arrests because the city intended to enforce the park curfew, which is 11 pm.

A march to Grant Park was organized at about 7 pm to Grant Park. About 1000-2000 showed up to support. Many rank-and-file union members came out to lend support to Occupy Chicago’s effort.

An unusually dynamic and lively Manhattan Community Board 1 Meeting took place blocks away from Liberty Park yesterday. The Quality of Life/Financial District Committee met to deliberate over Occupy Wall Street and hear remarks from residents. The board members, which have been in support of Occupy Wall Street, have been receiving an increasing amount of complaints about the occupation.

One week after Occupy Wall Street forced Brookfield Properties to back off of their plans for a “forced cleaning” that would have likely been used to bring an end to the occupation, Mayor Michael Bloomberg is once again publicly denouncing Occupy Wall Street. Bloomberg says the city will begin to enforce laws that supposedly require demonstrators to acquire permits for marches and large gatherings.

Occupy Wall Street is a healthy and robust occupation right now. It is swarming with media, so much media that occupiers are likely growing tired of interviews (which means the best reporting is coming from people who just sit there and observe the occupation). Each and every day there is some kind of an action that pulls into focus how poor, working class and middle class Americans are being made to shoulder the burdens of society while corporations and the richest 1% receive tax breaks, bailouts and enjoy increased influence over government. During the night when the occupation is most vulnerable to raids or a forced dispersal, the camp is at peace because the occupation has largely won this struggle.

Last night, police threatened to take down a medical tent put up during the date, but Occupiers, with help from Jesse Jackson, were able to convince police to leave the tent in place for now. Firedoglake’s premier live blog continues. Kevin will be down at Occupy Wall Street for another day of reporting on whatever happens. He will be conducting more interviews with occupiers and supporters.