Ok, so I saw "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" yesterday

[Midnight Rambler]

It's just unbelievable the extent of the fraud and corruption that went on at that place. But there were two things that really struck me.

First of all, there was Kenny Boy lobbying so hard for energy deregulation back in the 80's, and Poppy Bush presenting this pig all over the world like he was some kind of corporate messiah. Why the Dems haven't made more of an issue of the Bush family connections is beyond me, but when Lay and Skilling actually go on trial I think we really need to emphasize on this.

Secondly, there was the power situation in California. I'm sure everyone knows the story by know, especially if that's your home state, but it just blows my mind that these guys were, as the film put it, basically raping the California energy market. Then they went and blamed it all on Gray Davis and opened the door for the Governator. And all the while they're bragging in those famous audio tapes about screwing Grandma Millie. Is this what those free market conservatives really want? Unfettered capitalism that runs all over the citizens?

Anyway, that's my little rant on the film. There's so much more stuff in there, and most of it's already been said, but the level of greed was just obscene. Goddamn, goddamn...

[Nomad559]

1. Enron Traders Caught On Tape

http://www.putfile.com/media.php?n=Enron_Traders

[Merlot]

2. Living in CA and watching the Grey Davis trap unfold

I can honestly say I've already lived the film. I still may see it anyhow.

[punpirate]

3. In answer to your question...

... "Is this what those free market conservatives really want?"

It's easy to answer: yes.

[xray s]

4. The fact that Democrats never effectively turned this into an issue ...

..really points out a weakness in their ability to grab an issue and pound the Republicans into the ground with it.

Kind of pathetic, actually.

Oh..and we'll see if lay and Skilling ever get to trial. I think we will see three more years of delays and then a pardon from W on his way out the door.

[miss_kitty]

5. the tiny-ish county north of here is being sued by Enron

Snohomish Co refuses to pay Enron $120m based on the fact Enron artificially inflated those price. Snoho CO has the tapes for evidenciary purposes. Enron still has balls of brass.

[Midnight Rambler]

8. Oh, the brass balls are on full display in the film

There's a scene with Barbara Boxer grilling Jeff Skilling. He's denying everything, despite the fact that she's holding documents in her hand that basically says he's a lying sack of shit.

[fudge stripe cookays]

11. I couldn't believe the rates!

Rates that were normally $30-$40; $50 a kilowatt hour at the MOST. They ended up inflated to $1,000 kw hour.

Because they knew that the company was on WAY shaky ground, and the accounting dept had been artificially inflating profits, they had to find a way to keep their stock at a really high price. It was the only part of their house of cards that still looked good to the rest of the world.

When things began to go wrong, it only took a few weeks. That's how bad things REALLY were.

I highly recommend this film. There were things I had heard about, but still didn't quite understand the inner workings of. This movie clarified all that.

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[KT2000]

6. Did you see it at a theater

or is it out for rental yet?

[Midnight Rambler]

7. Theater

There's a place here in Austin, Dobie Theater, where they play all the indie films and documentaries. It just came out, premiered at SXSW.

[fudge stripe cookays]

10. I miss The Dobie.

I've seen tons of animation festivals there. And "Heavy Petting" stands out.

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[fudge stripe cookays]

9. We saw it Saturday night....

and I was more shocked than I thought I'd be.

Especially with Skilling. What a completely greedy, selfish, self-involved prick.

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