BAILED-OUT EXECS PLOT AGAINST LABOR BILL

[kpete]

Source: Huffington Post

BAILED-OUT EXECS PLOT AGAINST LABOR BILL
Bailout Recipients Hosted Call To Defeat Key Labor Bill

January 27, 2009 01:10 PM


Three days after receiving $25 billion in federal bailout funds, Bank of America Corp. hosted a conference call with conservative activists and business officials to organize opposition to the U.S. labor community's top legislative priority.

Participants on the October 17 call -- including at least one representative from another bailout recipient, AIG -- were urged to persuade their clients to send "large contributions" to groups working against the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), as well as to vulnerable Senate Republicans, who could help block passage of the bill.

Bernie Marcus, the charismatic co-founder of Home Depot, led the call along with Rick Berman, an aggressive EFCA opponent and founder of the Center for Union Facts. Over the course of an hour, the two framed the legislation as an existential threat to American capitalism, or worse.

"This is the demise of a civilization," said Marcus. "This is how a civilization disappears. I am sitting here as an elder statesman and I'm watching this happen and I don't believe it."


Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/27/bank-of-americ...

---

Listen To The Conference Call Hosted By Bank Of America... Includes AIG Representative, Conservative Activists... Led By Home Depot Co-Founder Who Calls Union Bill "The Demise Of A Civilization"...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/27/bank-of-americ...

[Donnachaidh]

1. I certainly hope someone has sent this along to the White House

Nationalize these fuckheads, the scheming bastards. AIG should be driven into the sea.

[Jambalaya]

77. Update 1/28/09 ---Possible violation of law by AIG and company

Art LevineContributing editor of The Washington Monthly

Posted January 28, 2009
|
Human Rights Watch Backs Pro-Union Bill -- Did Anti-Union Bailout Barons Break Campaign Laws?
the same day that The Huffington Post broke the news that financial executives receiving billions in bailout funds schemed to block the Employee Free Choice Act with campaign cash, Human Rights Watch issued a report endorsing the bill as vital to protecting workers' rights.

Now some reform groups, I've learned, are looking into whether the bailout recipients violated federal laws in using part of the bailout billions towards lobbying against the Employee Free Choice Act -- and could ask for a Congressional investigation. I'll keep you posted on the latest developments______________________________________See the WHOLE article at Huff Po

[Lindsay]

2. These are evil people.

Hateful, evil people.

[SharonAnn]

8. Yes, What they're afraid of is not "the demise of civilization" but the demise of greed

[Deja Q]

26. Quite. Greed destroys civilizations.

[Fire1]

48. Nail on the head!

[tclambert]

69. "This is how a civilization disappears." He means the Mayans and the Aztecs, obviously.

Oh, wait, the Mayans burned down their forests (used up their energy supply), and the Spanish conquered the Aztecs 'cause they wanted their gold.

[Jambalaya]

72. Mayan Long Count

Oh,oh. Weren't the Mayans the predictors of the 2012 "End of the World" scenario?

That's TOO close for comfort!

[Zhade]

93. Um, please tell me you don't take that nonsense seriously.

NT!

[Jambalaya]

100. "No Comment" [and that's off the record!]

[Zhade]

104. LOL.

At least you handled my derision with aplomb. Kudos on that.

[Bryan Sacks]

33. The pitchforks will come out.

'This is how a civilization ends'.

How the fuck would he know what civilization is?

[RJ Connors]

57. I'm with you. I think some bad things are coming and coming soon.

The good news is we at least now have someone in the big chair that actually has some nads and I perceive some really good street smarts to go along with them.

[SammyWinstonJack]

47. Ya think?

[Jambalaya]

58. Axes of Evil

Repost: FTR #531 Interview with Lucy Komisar about Offshore
Posted September 23, 2008 by FTR, in Category: For The Record

Recorded October 30, 2005


REALAUDIO
Featuring the brilliant investigative journalist Lucy Komisar, this program highlights the use of “Offshore” entities to evade taxes, maximize corporate profits and finance a variety of criminal enterprises. Much of the first side of the program consists of analysis and discussion of insurance giant AIG and its prolific use of “offshore” scams. In addition to presenting AIG’s pioneering development of “captive” reinsurance companies to launder profits and evade taxes, the program highlights AIG’s use of Coral Reinsurance for a variety of illegal gambits. It should be noted that AIG’s illegal operations have been aided by a number of powerful and influential people. Much of the second side of the program consists of review of the pivotally important Clearstream network, and its use by intelligence agencies, corporations, criminal syndicates and terrorist organizations.

Program Highlights Include: A working definition of “Offshore;” the links of AIG to the intelligence community; assistance given to AIG’s scams by luminaries such as Henry Kissinger and former Secretary of the Treasury Robert Rubin; Clearstream’s use of unregistered accounts; the role of the Clearstream network in the Banco Ambrosiano, October Surprise and BCCI scandals; the role of the Clearstream network in the financing of Al Qaeda and 9/11; the role of the Clearstream network in the machinations of the Russian criminal networks of Mikhail Khordokovsky; discussion of the “Bermuda Inversion” gambit; discussion of “Transfer Pricing;” discussion of an organization formed by Lucy Komisar that is working to eliminate corporate tax evasion through the use of “offshore.”

For The Record: Repost: FTR #531 Interview with Lucy Komisar about ... Sep 23, 2008 ... Featuring the brilliant investigative journalist Lucy Komisar, this program highlights the use of “Offshore” entities to evade taxes, ...
ftrsummary.blogspot.com/2008/09/repost-ftr-531-interview-with-lucy.html - 336k - Cached - Similar pages

[Jambalaya]

73. AIG and CIA

Here's a couple of links explaining the background of AIG-and how that could eplain WHY there is little to no transparency as to where the bailout money will actually go..

These two threads contain some of the best info I've ever come across.
Its worth the time to review at last a portion,or to bookmark for future reference.

Puts a LOT in its proper perspective,IMHO.___________________________________________________________

Democratic Underground - The relationship between AIG and CIA ...The American International Group at its origins was linked to the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) the forerunner of the CIA. ...
www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=sh... - 139k - Cached - Similar pages


Bailout of AIG, the CIA, and Covert Operations - Democratic ...21 posts - Last post: Sep 18, 2008
Michael Ruppert has tied AIG to CIA drug-trafficking - somehow linked to Carlos Lehder (Medellin Cartel co-founder) ...
www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=vi... - 97k - Cached - Similar pages

[The Stranger]

3. Good ol' Traitor Pelosi and Imbecile Reid.

With friends like these, who needs enemies?

[Deja Q]

25. Who?

[aggiesal]

30. It Sen. DiFi that is against the EFCA bill ...

Call DiFi's offices in DC, SF, LA, and SD, and let her
know that we want her to vote for EFCA.

Hubby is making toooo much from DOD contracts.

[Jambalaya]

34. Blum and Company

<http://members.tripod.com/unionplainfacts/documents/new... >

Union pension loses big money under Blum's management.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<http://www.mega.nu:8080/ampp/china/j28.html >

China-Gate's Smoking Gun

"Feinstein's financial ties to the communist Chinese and COSCO include her husband, Richard Blum."

"Blum is reported to be heavily tied to the PRC through his far east investment firm, Newbridge Capitol Corp. Blum's partner at Newbridge, Peter Kwok, also served as a consultant to COSCO, and COSCO Hong Kong Holdings, a company owned by Chinese billionaire Li Ka-Shing. In 1989, Kwok helped CITIC and Li Ka- Shing raise $120 million to buy a HUGHES built communications satellite for a company also part owned by Chinese Generals."





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<http://www.wcrp.org/RforP/GBTRUSTEES_CONTENT.html >

"Mr. Richard C. Blum (Co-chairman)

Chairman, Blum Capital Partners

Mr. Blum currently serves as a director on numerous boards, including CB Richard Ellis, Korea First Bank, Northwest Airlines Corporation, Playtex Products Inc. and URS Corporation. He also serves as a director of Glenborough Realty Trust, Inc., and is Co-Chairman of Newbridge Capital. He is a former director of the following public companies: National Education Corporation, Taft Broadcasting Corporation, Advanced Systems, Inc., Triad Systems, Inc., Sumitomo Bank of California, Princeville Development Corporation, and the Shaklee Corporation. Mr. Blum is the founder and Chairman of the American Himalayan Foundation, and is Honorary Consul to Mongolia and the Kingdom of Nepal."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<http://members.tripod.com/unionplainfacts/documents/arc... >

Blum is suing a union worker for saying that Blum raided the pension fund. Good article.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<http://www.taiwandc.org/twcom/75-no2.htm >

Another good Chinagate article from Taiwan.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1997/10/06/time/teamster... >

New Witness To The Teamster Cash-Swap Plan.

Blum involved in payola with Teamsters

[aggiesal]

40. And these don't include his US DOD contracts! ...

Thanks for proving my point.

[truedelphi]

61. Di Feinstein is the number 1 reason I won't sleep well at night until we have

A viable three, or four or five party system alive and well in THE USA.

She has controlled so much of what goes on in the name of the "Democratic Party" here in California that it is nauseating.

[ixion]

4. To the "recipients" of the bailout: I want my money back... now.

thanks. have a nice day.

[GinaMaria]

5. with interest of course! nt

[Blue_Tires]

90. +1

[Demeter]

6. It's the End of His Gravy Train, Maybe

but what passes for society isn't anything like civilized when people are without any income or employment.

[fascisthunter]

7. They Deserve to have a Mob of Citizens String their Greedy Asses Up

[FiveGoodMen]

10. Yes, they do. And apparently, that's the only way they'll ever be stopped.

Our elected leaders will never do anything useful.

[lenegal]

76. Absolutely. Place them in a dunking cage. The line of people would be so long

it might make a dent in our horrific defecit.

At least the greedy CEO stench has come out to the light of day.

[infidel dog]

9. "Bernie Marcus, the coprophagous founder of Home Depot..."

Scum. Absolute scum. Go abuse your workers now, Bernie, you POS.

[Downwinder]

11. My last choice for shopping.

If I can find some place else to get something I do it. His attitude toward employees is reflected by them.

[LisaM]

24. Home Depot has a very high rate of accidents

and a sordid history of quashing any press about it. They also outlawyer anyone trying to make a claim.

I won't shop there.

[daggahead]

85. I will shop at the local lumber yard and hardware stores.

No more Home Depot for me ...

[Jambalaya]

32. Coprophagous?

What does that mean? I've never heard that word.

Is that like chupacabra?

[Orrex]

56. Not to put too fine a point on it...

It comes from "coprophage, meaning "shit eater."


Roll that one out during your next staff meeting, and you're sure to turn a few heads!

[Jambalaya]

59. Scarab

Oh,like a dung beetle. Otherwise known as a scarab beetle.Thanks for the feedback.

[daggahead]

87. Link ...

<a href="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/coprophagia ">coprophagia</a>

[Jambalaya]

91. Thank You.

[Synicus Maximus]

39. You do realize that Bernie Marcus retired from HD six years ago.

And since then he has done nothing worthwhile. As long as you don't remember he almost single handily financed and pushed the Georgia Aquarium not to mention many smaller charities and projects.

[corpseratemedia]

12. disgusting slobs

but at least if they are successful in lobbying against the legislation, there won't be a home depot


..they'll be nothing

http://www.bermanexposed.org/

[HopeHoops]

13. And the private jet wasn't available so they had to suffer flying first class - whah!

[edc]

14. Lessons of History

"This is the demise of a civilization," Bernie Marcus.

Henry Ford II said something similar about legislation for federally mandated seat belts and other auto safety features back in 1966.

[starroute]

15. Look behind all of them and you find the US Chamber of Commerce

It was Marcus who first encouraged Chamber of Commerce president Thomas Donohue in 2000 to stop just being a representative of American businesses and start collecting massive amounts of money from major corporations to throw into electing pro-business candidates. Turning back EFCA is currently the Chamber's top priority. AIG has also plowed large amounts of money into the Chamber's campaigns.

Rick Berman was formerly a labor law director with the Chamber of Commerce. A spin-off of his group, the Employee Freedom Action Committee, was advertising heavily against the Employee Free Choice Act in Minnesota last summer, in company with the Coalition for a Democrat Workplace, which has been described as a front group for the Chamber.

Some of these ads also attacked Al Franken and supported Norm Coleman -- and in that same October conference call, Marcus said, "if a retailer has not gotten involved with this, if he has not spent money on this election, if he has not sent money to Norm Coleman and these other guys ... <they> should be shot; should be thrown out of their goddamn jobs."

The Coleman connection may have been the result of the firm of FLS Direct, which has as clients the Chamber of Commerce, the equally anti-EFCA National Federation of Independent Business (which was running its own ads in Minnesota), and also Norm Coleman. Coleman is longtime pals with FLS's Jeff Larson and he rents living space in FLS's Washington townhouse at below-market value.

FLS in turn is very close to the Republican Party and Karl Rove, has been behind some of the more noxious robocalls of recent campaigns, and is a sister firm of DCI Connect -- which is tied in not only with the Swiftboat Veterans and other GOP front groups but also with Mike Connell and the White House email scandal.

So there are a lot of very tight relationships here that go much further than merely bailed-out executives trying to bite the hand that feeds them. It's nasty about five different ways.

[Jambalaya]

35. Similar minds

I just posted over at a blm thread almost the same thing.

Last year,Crooks and Liars had a video of a TV ad run in Minnesota .
It portrayed some Mafia types intimidating workers into joining a union.Ofcourse the message was to vote no to EFCA.

Get this,it was a front organization PRETENDING to be representing employees-yet was actually representing Chamber of Commerce and BIG retailers.

The local TV station did a real investigative piece and BUSTED this sham-doing a great piece of journalism.

I'll try to locate the piece and link it,if I can.

[Jambalaya]

36. Reality (Card)Check

MN’s WCCO CH4 news’ “Reality Check” segment destroys, point-by-point, a new intentionally misleading Sopranos-spoof TV ad by the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, which is actually a cartel of national business groups including the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and Wal-Mart, masquerading as a pro-union, pro-worker group on behalf of Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) against his Democratic challenger Al Franken.

The ad exploits “a distorted stereotype of the Mafia, and of labor unions as tools of organized crime” to misrepresent legislation that, despite what the ad implies, would actually make it easier for workers to organize unions.~~~~~~~~Crooks and Liars ~~~~~~~~

July,2008

[Jambalaya]

37. Link (Hopefully)

MN Senate Race: "Reality Check" Pwns Anti-Worker Astroturf Ad Against Al Franken
By Bill W. Sunday Jul 13, 2008 8:45am

Download | play Download | play (YouTube)

MN's WCCO CH4 news' "Reality Check" segment destroys, point-by-point, a new intentionally misleading Sopranos-spoof TV ad by the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, which is actually a cartel of national business groups including the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and Wal-Mart, masquerading as a pro-union, pro-worker group on behalf of Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) against his Democratic challenger Al Franken.

The ad exploits "a distorted stereotype of the Mafia, and of labor unions as tools of organized crime" to misrepresent legislation that, despite what the ad implies, would actually make it easier for workers to organize unions. -----------------Crooks and Liars website

[underpants]

44. On the issues

The Chamber is:

* Supportive of immigration reform
* Supportive of the Ledbetter v. Goodyear decision
* Pro-Energy Source Diversity
* Pro-Social Security Reform
* Pro-ANWR Drilling
* Pro-Offshore Oil Drilling
* Pro-Nuclear Power
* Pro-Health Savings Accounts
* Pro-globalization/free trade
* Supports restrictions on naked short selling

* Against taxation increase on businesses
* Against raising the Minimum Wage
* Against many union-supported polices
* Anti-Environmental regulation

* Neutral on social questions such as abortion and gay marriage

* The Chamber campaigned against portions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

* The Chamber has recently begun a campaign against the proposed Employee Free Choice Act<7>. They suggest the act will reduce worker's rights. The act is widely supported by organized labor<8>.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Chamber_of_C...

[us_citizen]

16. what did you expect?

it's instinctive for these types to take the help they got, and use it as a weapon against those who sacrificed to give it to them. I wrote my Senators concerned that the bailout would result in a bailout/lobbying feedback loop, where those who got the money would use part of the money to lobby against the intersts of those who handed over the money (and of course use another part to lobby for more money)- and here we are.

Reminds me of a story:

A young girl was trudging along a mountain path, trying to reach her grandmother's house. It was bitter cold, and the wind cut like a knife. When she was within sight of her destination, she heard a rustle at her feet.

Looking down, she saw a snake. Before she could move, the snake spoke to her. He said, "I am about to die. It is too cold for me up here, and I am freezing. There is no food in these mountains, and I am starving. Please put me under your coat and take me with you."

"No," replied the girl. "I know your kind. You are a rattlesnake. If I pick you up, you will bite me, and your bite is poisonous."

"No, no," said the snake. "If you help me, you will be my best friend. I will treat you differently."

The little girl sat down on a rock for a moment to rest and think things over. She looked at the beautiful markings on the snake and had to admit that it was the most beautiful snake she had ever seen.

Suddenly, she said, "I believe you. I will save you. All living things deserve to be treated with kindness."

The little girl reached over, put the snake gently under her coat and proceeded toward her grandmother's house.

Within a moment, she felt a sharp pain in her side. The snake had bitten her.

"How could you do this to me?" she cried. "You promised that you would not bite me, and I trusted you!"

"You knew what I was when you picked me up," hissed the snake as he slithered away.

[AzDar]

17. Infuriating.

[Omaha Steve]

18. Thank you for posting this

I was out late tonight for my local meeting. (I was also out late yesterday night on local business and tomorrow night on Federation of Labor business). So I haven't had time to do much since Sunday. I was going to post this and you beat me to it. Again THANK YOU for posting this expose on where business is out to crush (remember Walmart telling it's employees to vote Republican last Fall to keep out the unions) the Employee Free Choice Act.

See also Bailout Recipients Hosted Call To Defeat Key Labor Bill in the Labor Forum: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

K&R!

[peacetalksforall]

19. I regret to say that I have spent money there - lots. I thought I read that it was a blue company.

I am really confused. No wonder some peolple are talking about switching to Lowes.

I think this article will have a permanent impression on my. I don't think it can be reversed given tha ttitude and direction as exposed here. I'll be waiting for someone to convince me otherwise.

You gotta say that they are transparent.

[Mari333]

20. mutherrrrrfooooookers!!!!!! nt

[Malikshah]

21. Traitors all. Make. them. poor.

Make them pay. Literally.

[peacetalksforall]

22. I just heard an ad for EFCA on MSNBC while streaming Olberman? Can that be?

[Ikonoklast]

23. Thank God It Passed!

I want MY MONEY back, fuckers!

[lonestarnot]

27. Fuckers! Hope they have to swallow their own bile when this passes!

[Jambalaya]

28. Just the facts,m'am.

Here are two resources for EVERYTHING a person could EVER want to know about these anti-labor groups.Who,what,why,where and with whom.

These are definitive sites for reliable,extensively researched info.

American Rights at Work - Anti-Union Network American Rights at Work is a nonprofit advocacy organization whose mission is to support workers' rights to a free choice and a fair chance to join a union. ...
www.americanrightsatwork.org/the-anti-union-network/hom... - 38k - Cached - Similar pages

American Rights at Work - Home Enter the Anti-Union Network The Employee Freedom Action Committee is a new anti -union front group from Richard Berman that attacks Congressional candidates ...
www.americanrightsatwork.org / - 23k - Cached - Similar pages
More results from www.americanrightsatwork.org »

[eridani]

67. That deserves to be an OP. Thanks. n/t

[Coexist]

29. assholes.

[Downtown Hound]

31. These conservatives have done what no other could

They have made me question my opposition to the death penalty. God, what evil slime these CEO's are.

[Jambalaya]

38. Day Laborers----Homeless Depots ?

Home Depot seeks relief from day-labor rules - U.S. business ... Jun 27, 2007 ... Home Depot is tired of being forced by local governments to accommodate the day laborers who turn up in its store parking lots seeking ...
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19453488/ - 50k - Cached - Similar pages

FOXNews.com - Home Depot, Forced to Provide Day Labor Facilities ... Jun 27, 2007 ... Home Depot, Forced to Provide Day Labor Facilities in Some Cities, Seeks Federal Shield Law, The Home Depot is tired of being forced by ...
www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286944,00.html - 52k - Cached - Similar pages

Job Center's End Won't Still Debate - Los Angeles Times ... a manager at the Santa Ana Home Depot, where police routinely roust job ... home improvement stores to include day laborer job sites in their plans. ...
articles.latimes.com/2005/mar/17/local/me-daylabor17 - 36k - Cached - Similar pages

ON THE CORNER: Day Labor in the United States File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
Day-labor sites tend to form near home improvement stores, ...... emboldened to withhold wage payments, abandon workers at job sites and subject ..... gardening (nurseries), moving (U-haul) and home improvement stores (Home Depot, ...
www.sscnet.ucla.edu/issr/csup/uploaded_files/Natl_DayLa... - Similar pages
by A Valenzuela Jr - Related articles - All 10 versions

[Jefferson23]

41. Disgusting bastards, the love of money over anything else.

[spindrifter]

42. They just don't get it.

[underpants]

45. Oh they get it-they are trying to hold off the flood

the Chamber has been a very effective part of the effort to rid America of unions and now to simply ignore their existence

Poll after poll the last 5 years or so have shown that the American public (about 55% or more) are willing to join a union.

That is trouble for the Chamber and their kind

[anonymous171]

43. Corporations should get a tax break for not meddling in Politics.

That or they should not have constitutional rights.

[SammyWinstonJack]

46. Well "THANK GOD IT PASSED'!!

[Zhade]

95. Thanks for that. The arrogant ignorance that prompted that rallying cry must not be forgotten.

It's idiocy like that viewpoint that enables the destruction of our country and rights.

[Raster]

49. Bernie Marcus = "elder statesman"?

He certainly has a high opinion of himself.

We Can Do Better!

[mntleo2]

50. Please, PLEASE for the sake of this country ...

...make these people STOP!

This made me literally sick to my stomach. The NERVE after taking billions in welfare money from We The People they hate so much.

What a bunch of self absorbed greedheads. They really do not deserve to breathe the same air and take up the humongous space they already take away from the rest of the world. All they have done is ruin this country, decimated entire forests, caused so much death and destruction all so they can have more money than they could count and more ...things than they should have.

Why oh WHY are they even allowed to live among us??? Why don't these people just go away to some island where they can live their illusions they do anything of value or have done one thing for this world? Why don't we drive them to just take their money and leave the rest of us to make this world decent for everyone, not just for them?

puff, puff, puff, this made me SO mad!

Cat In Seattle

[sasquatch]

51. Of fucking course

Time to start building guillotines.

[Lorien]

52. Poor baby gave up yacht time:

(snip)

This bill may be one of the worst things I have ever seen in my life," he said, explaining that he could have been on "a 350-foot boat out in the Mediterranean," but felt it was more important to engage on this fight. "It is incredible to me that anybody could have the chutzpah to try and pass this bill in this election year, especially when we have an economy that is a disaster, a total absolute disaster."

(snip)

F-ing pig. Home Depot joins Wal-Mart as another place that I will never shop.

[McCamy Taylor]

53. Tell Me Again Why DU Was So Quick to Acquit Bank of America in the Blago Arrest?

We all remember that weekend back in December. A group of workers in Chicago had been told that they were fired---and they would not be getting their severance pay, because the bank said no . The same bank, Bank of America had received billions from taxpayers in the form of a bailout after Bush got on TV and told us that the sky would come crashing down on our heads if we did not drain the federal tax coffers to fill the pockets of his good buddies in the banking industry. The money was supposed to save the economy. Paying the severance of laid of workers was a good place to start if you want to keep money flowing to mortgage holders and grocery stores and other businesses, but apparently those were not the sectors of the economy that Bank of America had in mind when it pocketed the check for 25 billion cool big ones. They said the workers would have to go hungry that Christmas. The workers had other ideas and they decided to stage a sit in at Republic Window and Door in Chicago.

If you were Bank of America, and the nation felt like they owned a big chunk of you and that they could tell you what to do, you would get on the phone with the mayor of Chicago and tell him to get those SOBs out of your building. However, Daley was a good buddy of Obama who had been voted into office with the help of labor, and Obama had this to say about the workers at Republic Window and Door:

“I think they’re absolutely right,” Obama said today in response to a question at a Chicago news conference. “And understand that what’s happening to them is reflective of what’s happening across this economy.”

http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2008/12/07/obama-si... /

So, next you would try to get the governor of Illinois to give you some skull busting relief like in the good old days. But Blagojevich went even farther.

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich announced Monday that he is asking all Illinois government agencies to suspend business with Bank of America. Blagojevich contended that Bank Of America received a multi-billion dollar bailout from the government and should accordingly restore credit to the Republic Windows & Doors company in Chicago

There is video at the link

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/08/illinois-gover...

So, if you are a dedicated union buster like Bank of America what are you going to do? Are you going to let the Gov. of Illinois do that to you? Hell no! You are going to call up the White House which just paid you $25 billion so you could pay some of that money to other people so they could funnel it back to Republican candidates. (I hope that the feds are already on this one)

The next day, when St. Patrick Fitgerald of the Outing of Valerie Plame made Blagojevich do the perp walk, there was actually a thread at DU insisting that the sudden arrest of the Illinois governor had nothing to do with the way he publicly sided with labor and chastised Bank of America. Folks here were outraged that Fitz’s motives (or his case) would be questioned. They would not even consider that a bank which managed to persuade Dumbya and Cheney to embezzle $25 billion big ones for it might also have the clout and the desire to have a governor arrested for causing it public embarrassment. Even the thought that Bank of America might have intervened to speed up a planned investigation of the governor, forcing an arrest before a case against him had been made---impossible! America’s business leaders do not do such things.

There is a reason that otherwise sane people get such stars in their eyes when they think about Big Business in America. It is because Big Business owns all the Big News and the Big TV and every Big Thing out there. Including most of what you read, drink, wear, eat. Just wait until they own your kids and the patent to your DNA.

P.S. Lay odds 1:1 that Blago becomes a labor folk martyr one day, impeached by corrupt politicians in his own state because he dared to challenge a union busting Bank of America. And once he is impeached, Fitz will slink away. Maybe they are impeaching him now so they will have a good martyr tomorrow.

[truedelphi]

62. McCamy in my weaker moments I think that rather than castigating Blago we should have embraced him

For just one million bucks, we lefties could have had an anti-nuke, pro-solar power, non-de-regulator of utilities, paper ballot oriented, pro-Union, taxer of the rich, supporter of the unions style-of-candidate seated in Springfield as Governor for the state of Illinois.

Someone who would have seen to it that the Big Banks in Illinois stopped hoarding the bailout bucks but instead passed them on to companies that face going out of business.

Doesn't this sound rather good? And believe me, it wouldn't be even a tad more dishonest than what goes on in terms of selecting candidates every other day of the week, expecially in the Feinstein-controlled state of California.

[Hannah Bell]

88. "asking all Illinois government agencies to suspend business with Bank of America."

kick for this.

i wondered why, in the cesspool that is politics, blagojevich got singled out, this explains it nicely.

[Zhade]

97. Hey, don't include ME in that.

NT!

[Jambalaya]

98. Wide Brush

Don't count me in ANY way or wide swath as being enamored of the usurious practices of big business in general,or BOA most certainly in particular.

I've been keeping my eye on their dastardly deeds now for a couple of years,along with the likes of GE Capital.

BofA stated targeting low income folks a long time ago.Their CEO,if I'm not mistaken was previously at another vampire bank,MBNA,if I'm not mistaken..{Please correct me if I'm mistaken.}

I last year canceled a credit card because of its BofA affiliation and its practices.

I felt that there was a lot MORE behind the scenes to Blagoevich's perp walk than met the eye...and a whole lot less when it came to evidence. The timing has never "felt "right to me. As though it was accelerated by someone's insistence , before the goods were really gotten on him.

[defendandprotect]

54. It 's hard to beat the corruption of $$$ on either end . . .

the corporate briber nor the elected officials who take the bribes . . .

This should be a threat to capitalism -- and I actually heard a reference to "failed"

capitalism by someone in a panel on C-span last night!

It's more than failed capitalism --- its repeatedly failed capitalism.

Capitalism is a ridiculous "King-of-the-Hill System" ---

Unregulated capitalism is merely organized crime ---

And we should move on to democractic socialism -- economic democracy.

And this is yet another reason why we have to restore progressive taxation on corporations

and the wealthy--!!! Quickly!!!

[truedelphi]

64. Yet I hear again and again defense of these greedy slobs.

Brother in law informed me today that we had to have Geithner - after all, he understands the system.

To which I say, "So!"

It's like saying we have to have an arsonist as a fire marshall - as only an arsonist understands the destructive potential of fires.

[defendandprotect]

55. Bank of America, AIG, Home Depot . . .

and not unlike the fascist "Business Roundtable" which is 250 or more companies working

against equality in markets/workplace.

You'll not see them on C-span!!

But here we are and what are we doing about it ---

Have we anything like the inspiration of the French who come out into the streets regularly?

Well, the French are pretty much all French --

Same for Italians --- and Irish ---

But, Americans may be too divided - too remote from one another --- to understand what we

have to do to save ourselves . . . . ?????

Or maybe we're just used to being controlled by corporations and not caring that

many of our politicians are doing their dirty work for them....???

[Jambalaya]

60. Famous Last Words

"The Strongest Reason for the People to Retain Their Right to Keep and Bear Arms is as a Last Resort to Protect Themselves Against Tyranny in Government" - Thomas Jefferson

"Unless the people, through united action, arise and take charge of their government, they will find that their government has taken charge of them. Independence and liberty will be gone, and the general public will find itself in a condition of servitude to an aggregation of organized and selfish ambitions."
-Calvin Coolidge October 1932

"When the government fears the people, there is liberty; when the people fear the government, there is tyranny." -Thomas Jefferson

"Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up, and shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better. This is a most valuable - a most sacred right - a right, which we hope and believe, is to liberate the world."
- Abraham Lincoln

"There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation. One is by the sword, the other is by debt."
- John Adams

"All the perplexities, confusion and distress in America arise, not from
defects in their Constitution or Confederation, not from want of honor or virtue, so much as from the downright ignorance of the nature of coin, credit and circulation."
-John Adams

"No people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffused and Virtue is preserved. On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant, and debauched in their Manners, they will sink under their own weight without the Aid of foreign Invaders."
-Samuel Adams, letter to James Warren, 1775

[defendandprotect]

63. Yes -- it's the NRA which has kept us free -- not laws, not the Constitution ....

not the New Deal --

That's why the Palestinians have failed -- no NRA - !!!

[Jambalaya]

74. Dis-arming the Revolution

"Revolutions are only fought by those whose ribs are easily counted"

[defendandprotect]

82. Ghandi and Martin Luther King, Jr. both changed history without guns . . .

in fact, it was the people with the big guns who lost ---

Ghandi defeated the British system of colonialism --

MLK, Jr. defeated Segregationists and dismantled the system in the South ---

This is called non-violence . . . !

[No Elephants]

65. I was just about to move my account to BankAmerica. Guess I won't. It won't make or break them,

but at least it won't help them, either.

[No Elephants]

66. Why aren't Democrats making sure every worker in America is hearing the tape twice a day, every day?

[Jambalaya]

75. Wishbone or backbone?

I cannot fathom WHY either! It is imcomprehensible that there is NOT more outrage on this issue. Nor MORE pushback against the likes of Dr.Evil{Richard Berman} and his kind at the Chamber of Commerce and in the corporate boards of America?

Where is the PASSION in the Democratic party these days?

You cannot substitute a wishbone for a backbone,folks.

[Joe Chi Minh]

68. "How to win friends and influence people." The architects of this shambles

won't be happy until they've felt the points of a few pitchforks. Then getting tarred and feathered.

[Jambalaya]

92. Coming home to roost

With all the chickens coming home to roost, there's plenty of feathers available.

Now, I have a HUGE pot for heating up the tar....volunteers,anyone?

[Joe Chi Minh]

102. Have you got crawfish pie for us to eat while you're stirring the mix?

[FloridaJudy]

70. "This is how a civilization disappears"?

Um, no. Civilizations usually fail because they over-exploit their resources, or otherwise care more about immediate gain than long term viability. They got greedy.

You guys should know all about that.

[aquamarina]

71. Simply shameful.

[proud2BlibKansan]

78. I certainly wouldn't call someone who wants people to be shot "charismatic"

[blogchimp]

79. What this really is

More or less this is a classic example of those who bite the
hand that feeds them

[happygoluckytoyou]

80. VOTE PRO-WORKER PRO-UNION.... CLASS WARFARE IS ON.... ready aim FIRE ! adios Reaganomics

[daggahead]

86. That war started in 1980! n/t

[whistle]

81. Amazing the power a trillion dollars of bailout money gives isn't it

[defendandprotect]

83. ...and what percentage of that are they scheduled to repay . . . ????

[whistle]

84. None that Bush and Paulson turned over

[Zorra]

89. Anyone that has money in BOA should close out their accounts. BOA needs to collapse.

Labor Unions should take out major ads identifying the participants in this anti-worker movement that is working against the EFCA , and call for a boycott of these companies and institutions.

[Jambalaya]

99. Bailout Recipients Violating Fed Law re:EFCA?

Art LevineContributing editor of The Washington Monthly

Posted January 28, 2009
|
Human Rights Watch Backs Pro-Union Bill -- Did Anti-Union Bailout Barons Break Campaign Laws?
the same day that The Huffington Post broke the news that financial executives receiving billions in bailout funds schemed to block the Employee Free Choice Act with campaign cash, Human Rights Watch issued a report endorsing the bill as vital to protecting workers' rights.

Now some reform groups, I've learned, are looking into whether the bailout recipients violated federal laws in using part of the bailout billions towards lobbying against the Employee Free Choice Act -- and could ask for a Congressional investigation. I'll keep you posted on the latest developments______________________________________See the WHOLE article at Huff Po

[Zhade]

94. But "Thank God It Passed!" Right, suckers?

We warned you -- and now the money stolen from us via the bailout is going to efforts to destroy our livelihood.

Thanks for being so fucking gullible, you sad fools.

[sarcasmo]

96. AIG, Home Depot, Bank of America, Corporate WHORES!

[ooglymoogly]

101. KR And these evil fucks are getting taxpayer bailouts.

Shame on our con artists in congress.

[budkin]

103. Unfuckingreal