Holding HOLDER Accountable?? Goldman Sachs Lied To Their Customers And Congress, no problem!

[Ghost of Huey Long]

Last edited Thu Jun 28, 2012, 07:11 PM - Edit history (1)

Congress seems a bit selective on who they hold accountable, and which betrayals they think have affected Americans the most...

Taibbi argues that Goldman Sachs executives lied when they testified in front of Congress in the aftermath of the crisis. Unlike other commentators who grouse about how Wall Street execs should be tossed in jail, Taibbi actually provides specifics. He takes quotes from some of the Goldman execs who testified, including CEO Lloyd Blankfein and CFO David Viniar, and then juxtaposes them with what he believes to be the truth at the time.

And at least as Taibbi tells it, the statements do appear to be misleading, if not outright false.

One of the biggest frustrations most people have about the financial crisis is that no one has yet been held accountable for it. In prior crashes--the S&L collapse, the 1987 crash, the dotcom bubble--prosecutors had a field day parading villains in front of TV cameras. And yet, this time, despite the financial crisis ushering in the worst recession since the Great Depression, no big shots have gone to jail.

Taibbi vents about this. He also observes that prosecutors have just brought massive, high-profile perjury cases against athletes like Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds, but apparently can't or won't do the same with Wall Street executives.

One explanation for this, of course, is that prosecutors don't think the Wall Street execs are guilty of anything. But Taibbi thinks the explanation is more insidious: An institutionalized double-standard, stemming from the fact that many prosecutors and regulators someday hope to work at Wall Street firms like Goldman Sachs.
http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/matt-taibbi-goldman-sachs-executives-lied-customers-congress-175044553.html

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-people-vs-goldman-sachs-20110511

[Nuclear Unicorn]

1. The DOJ could prosecute GS execs

I dunno what that will do to the WH staff but Holder is free to prosecute.

[Ghost of Huey Long]

2. 'Holder is free to prosecute'

well what is he waiting for?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

6. I'm not sayin' nothin'

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/21/goldman-sachs-connections_n_547267.html

I'm just sayin'

[Autumn]

8. As soon as hell freezes over

would be my guess.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

3. 18 USC 1001 makes lying to congress a felony which is enforceable by the U.S. Attorney General.

The U.S. Attorney General (Holder) has discretion as to whether to enforce or not enforce the statute.

If Holder or anyone else is auditioning for a future job with Wall Street, there is no way to compel them to enforce the law.

[Ghost of Huey Long]

4. maybe now would be a good time to announce prosecutions

Holder would save his reputation and illustrate to Americans what accountability really means.

[Coexist]

5. would be nice to see some prosecutions of real criminals

[Nuclear Unicorn]

7. I hear a 40-something factory worker on chemo bought pot today

Sic 'im!

[Autumn]

9. Damn

[Huey P. Long]

10. The narrative/story/mythology is Holder is a HERO.

Get on board for the big 'win'!

[Ghost of Huey Long]

11. oh I know, but right now I am really freaking sick of Congress

Someone needs to go after their hypocritical asses.

Seems like a perfect time for Holder to start holding some real criminals accountable.

[Huey P. Long]

12. Um, you started this thread on 'Holding Holder Accountable'. And if you think all of a sudden

he will be going after the corporate criminals, wake up. My first post was sarcasm, btw.

Today he's a hero!

[Ghost of Huey Long]

13. that totally came out wrong

that is why I started a new one...

[Huey P. Long]

14. You sir, are a very poor ghost. -eom

[Ghost of Huey Long]

15. I'm sorry