How the 1% Rigs Its Self-Enrichment

[boutons_deux]

34 Lawmakers Changed Their Investments After Receiving Private Briefings About 2008 Economic Crisis

Boehner is one of 34 members of Congress who took steps to recast their financial portfolios during the financial crisis after phone calls or meetings with [Treasury Secretary Hank] Paulson; his successor, Timothy F. Geithner; or Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke, according to a Washington Post examination of appointment calendars and congressional disclosure forms.

The lawmakers, many of whom held leadership positions and committee chairmanships in the House and Senate, changed portions of their portfolios a total of 166 times within two business days of speaking or meeting with the administration officials. The party affiliation of the lawmakers was about evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans, 19 to 15.

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/06/25/505447/congress-trading-2008-financial-crisis/

[clambake]

if you're not inside you're outside.

[clambake]

i know you guys never heard that before. no need to thank me.

[clambake]

"don't worry about the horse being blind, just load the wagon"

[cheguevara]

Rome is the mob. Conjure magic for them and they'll be distracted. Take away their freedom and still they'll roar. The beating heart of Rome is not the marble of the senate, it's the sand of the coliseum. He'll bring them death - and they will love him for it.

[scott]

Congress should definitely pass a law to prevent Congress from getting rich from information only Congress has.

Shit.

[boutons_deux]

STOCK was passed, or nearly so, but they argued over what was a "lobbyist" (eg, someone penetrating deeply into Congress and would love to have insider info for hedge/equity funds)