"to reduce safety inspections of an air-charter company owned by a family friend," one which, in 1993, "crashed in a snowstorm in Minot, North Dakota, killing the pilot and three doctors on their way to a reservation clinic" (after numerous accusations of serious wrongdoing, an Inspector General report cleared her of wrongdoing)".

If the law passed, I wouldn't cry too much but it's a terrible, ineffective way to legislate.

But of course, everyone knows it won't pass, including Clare McCaskill.

But that said, McCaskill's proposal is a joke. It would never pass and it's only purpose is to make her look good for a few minutes without changing anything.

We need real solutions, not unhinged tirades and vanity bills.

Seriously, the problem here is the moral hazard. In a pure capitalist system, the shareholders and bondholders would be wiped out and the CEOs could be sued for their mistakes. But instead we are forking over billions, trillions oven to these bonus hungry idiots so they can continue to act as parasites on productive labor soaking money from the market and returning nothing Why on earth should we continue with this system?

I certainly think the Obama administration could be doing more to solicit public input on the recovery bill and its various constituent points as well.

But anyway, Jesus. How can these people be so far outside the zeitgeist. I mean Abortion is one thing but contraception!? How many Americans are opposed to that?

And just the other day he was saying how great it was that the Israelis were killing lots of Palestinians, as they needed to be "taught a lesson", just like the Iraqis I guess.

Friedman is an idiot and no one should listen to him. He just wants to inflate a green energy bubble so he can get Rich again, before bailing out right before the crash.

But realistically, is there any chance of any of that happening (especially reimbursement) with Tim Geithner in charge over there? I would guess no. Especially not the 'reimbursement for bonuses' thing. I'd love that, but I doubt it could happen.

Wall Street owns DC, and I don't see that changing any time soon. We need to do something about the insane amount of lobbying going on.