SAY HELLO TO AIG, SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR MONEY

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UNLIKE MANY WALL STREET FIRMS, AIG HAS AN OFFICE IN YOUR HOME TOWN



AIG CONTACT INFO RIGHT HERE! WHY NOT DROP IN AND SAY HI!

ABC NEWS: NIGHTLINE
"AIG under Criminal Investigation"
Your Tax Dollars At Work.



Or, Ask For Your Money Back?

Whatever you do, do NOT jam their switchboard or website or emails. Do not send them stinky things like fish or dog-poo in the mail. Do not EVER trash their offices or the vehicles in their parking lots. Do not follow them home and prank them or spit in their faces. All of these actions are illegal and wrong and unfair. So don't do them. OK?

And don't do it to your Senators or Congresspersons, either. Ever. And leave Tim Geithner alone, too. They all have enough trouble giving away the last of your money to the rich, especially when they've made you so poor. No, really, it really bothers them, really a lot. Really. They can hardly swallow their truffles. Really.


AIG
"AIG Corporate Home Page"
You can even visit them online.

AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL GROUP: CORPORATE
"AIG Board Of Directors"
Drop the CEO or the Chairman of the Board of Directors a line.

SUPERPAGES
"AIG Offices, USA"
Drop in at your local AIG office.

CONGRESS.ORG
"My Elected Officials"
Find and contact your federal, state, and local officials.

US TREASURY DEPARTMENT: SECRETARY TIMOTHY GEITHNER
timothy.geithner@do.treas.gov
Write your Enabler-In-Chief.

NY DAILY NEWS
"Pin AIG woes on Brooklyn boy: Joseph Cassano walked away with $315 million while company staggered"
It's good to be teh scumbag.

' At the top of the list is 54-year-old Joseph Cassano, a Brooklyn cop's kid made good who went oh so bad. As head of the Financial Products unit, Cassano racked up billions of losses while assuring investors it was nearly impossible for his unit to lose. "It is hard for us, without being flippant, to even see a scenario within any kind of [rhyme] or reason that would see us losing one dollar in any of those transactions," he told investors. Before he was finally fired last March, Cassano pocketed $280 million in cash and an additional $34 million in bonuses. Under a "retirement" agreement marked "confidential," Cassano also got a $1 million-a-month "consulting fee." To put Cassano's personal score in context, his end is three times the annual budget of his alma mater, Brooklyn College, to which he has not contributed a dime. Joseph Cassano started out at Drexel Burnham Lambert under Michael Milken, "the Junk Bond King." Drexel imploded in 1990 and Milken landed in prison. AIG promptly hired a team of Drexel people to start a Financial Products unit, Cassano among them. Cassano became the head and began dealing in securities known as "credit default swaps" out of one office in Wilton, Conn., and another in England, dubbed "the London casino." '

REUTERS
"AIG chief worried about safety after death threats"
So, now we're ALL worried.

' The head of AIG told the U.S. Congress on Wednesday he was reluctant to reveal the names of employees who took home bonuses because the troubled insurer has been receiving death threats. "All the executives and their families should be executed with piano wire around their necks," Edward Liddy, chief executive of American International Group Inc, read from one note. "I'm looking for all the CEOs' names, kids, where they live, etc.," he read from another. Liddy, who took over at AIG in September, was testifying before a congressional subcommittee investigating why the giant insurer paid out $165 million in bonuses after getting billions of dollars in a federal bailout. "I'm just really concerned about the safety of our people," Liddy said of his willingness to release the names of the bonus recipients. Barney Frank, chairman of the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee, said their identities should be made public anyway. "If we give in to these kind of threats we would never get information made public about a lot of things," he said, adding he would talk with law enforcement officials to determine the severity of the threats. '

THE TIMES OF LONDON
"Armed guards at AIG offices after death threats over bonuses"
Well, at least Blackwater has jobs.

' A wave of popular anger over the $165 million (£118 million) in bonuses received by executives of American International Group (AIG) is threatening to engulf the insurance company and cause deep damage to President Obama’s infant Administration. Armed guards have been stationed outside the Connecticut offices of AIG Financial Products (AIGFP), where death threats have been pouring in and some employees have resigned or have refused to turn up for work. Yesterday it emerged that 11 AIG workers who had received retention bonuses of $1 million or more had already left the company, stoking the anger on Capitol Hill, where Congress was threatening to introduce taxes to claw back the $165 million bonus payment to 400 staff at the division that caused its near-collapse. “AIG made more than 73 millionaires in the unit, which lost so much money that it brought the firm to its knees, forcing a taxpayer bailout,” he wrote. “Something is deeply wrong with this outcome. I hope the committee will address it head on.” He said that it was unclear when or how they left the company or why the bonuses were paid. AIG declined to comment. '

THE AUSTRALIAN
"Obama pulled in $150,000 from AIG"
Change we can not have any of.

' BARACK Obama and New York senator Charles Schumer, leading the charge to recoup $US165million ($250million) in bonuses paid to employees of AIG, received nearly $US150,000 in campaign donations from the bailed-out US insurance giant. As the White House attempted to contain a furore that threatens to damage the President's standing, New York newspaper Newsday reported that AIG donated $US101,332 to the US President last year, second only to Chris Dodd, chairman of the Senate banking committee, who received $US103,100. Senator Schumer, who proposed legislation yesterday that would claw the bonuses back through a special tax of almost 100per cent on the payments, has received $US38,500 from AIG since 2000. '

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
"Critics Got Donations From Insurer "
Plus ca change.

' Among Republicans, former President George W. Bush has received the most -- $200,000 -- from AIG and its employees, followed by 2008 Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, with $99,000. Through the 1990s and the early part of this decade, AIG's donations were evenly split between Republicans and Democrats. But starting during the 2004 election, AIG employees and its PAC started favoring Democrats. Since then, Democrats have received 60% of the $2.6 million in political donations from the company and its employees. '

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RED STATE YELLOW BELLIES

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WASHINGTON REPUBLICANS VOTE AGAINST THEIR HOME STATES

CONSERVATIVES FEAR REPUBLICAN CORPORATE MEDIA & PARTY BACKLASH

Their Constituents Would Have Benefited Most By Federal Spending, But Con's In Congress Have Other Loyalties

The following persons voted against any stimulus bill. They are all Republicans who put Party before Country. They are all elected representatives who voted against the interests of their own constituents. They are from States that receive more in Federal spending every year than their citizens pay in Federal taxes. All of these States are poor, and have severe social problems: Lowest ranked in education, poorest, shortest life expectancy, highest infant mortality. [See yesterdays post.]

These are the very States that would have benefited most from any Federal spending measures. Still, their Republican Senators and Congressmen and women voted against any such spending. They will only vote for tax breaks for the rich and foreign corporations. Let them know what you think of their voting record by phone, fax, mail or email. And don't forget to fire them on Election Day, November 2010. It's right around the corner. The Change is just gettin' started.


RED STATES 2008: Click On A Name To Send A Message, Or Use The Links Below This List to Find Your Representatives

ALL of these people voted AGAINST jobs for Americans. Why? Ask them!

1. ALABAMA -SEN. J. Sessions, SEN. R. Shelby - (R-AL);
-REP. Jo Bonner, REP. Mike Rogers, REP. Robert B. Aderholt, REP. Spencer Bachus - (R-AL)

2. ALASKA -SEN. L. Murkowski - (R - AK);
-REP. D. Young - (R-AK)

3. ARIZONA -SEN. J. McCain, SEN. J. Kyl - (R - AZ);
-REP. T. Franks, REP. J. Shadegg, REP. J. Flake - (R-AZ)

4. ARKANSAS -REP. J. Boozman - (R-AR)

5. GEORGIA -SEN. S. Chambliss, SEN. J. Isakson - (R - GA);
-REP. J. Kingston, REP. L. Westmoreland, REP. T. Price, REP. J. Linder, REP. N. Deal, REP. P. Broun, REP. P. Gingrey - (R-GA)

6. KENTUCKY -SEN. M. McConnell, SEN. J. Bunning - (R - KY);
-REP. E. Whitfield, REP. B. Guthrie, REP. G. Davis, REP. H. Rogers (R-KY)

7. LOUISIANA -SEN. Vitter - (R - LA);
-REP. S. Scalise, REP. A. Cao, REP. J. Fleming, REP. R. Alexander, REP. B. Cassidy, REP. C. Boustany Jr. (R-LA)

8. MISSISSIPPI -SEN. R. Wicker, SEN. T. Cochran - (R - MS);
-REP. G. Harper (R-MS)

9. MONTANA -REP. D. Rehberg (R-MT)

10. OKLAHOMA -SEN. T. Coburn; SEN. J. Inhofe - (R - OK);
-REP. J. Sullivan, REP. F. Lucas, REP. T. Cole, REP. M. Fallin (R-OK)

11. SOUTH CAROLINA -SEN. J. DeMint, SEN. L. Graham - (R-SC)
-REP. H. Brown Jr, REP. J. Wilson, REP. G. Barrett, REP. B. Inglis - (R-SC)

12. TENNESSEE -SEN. L. Alexander, SEN. B. Corker - (R - TN);
-REP. David P. Roe, REP. John J. Duncan Jr, REP. Zach Wamp, REP. Marsha Blackburn - (R-TN)

13. WEST VIRGINIA -REP. S. Capito - (R-WV)


MORE INFORMATION
Red States, Poor States, Your State's Taxes

SENATE.GOV
"Find & Call or Email Your US Senators of the 111th Congress By State"

HOUSE.GOV
"Find & Call or Email Your Congressional Representative BY Zip Code"

MSNBC
"Senate Roll Vote: How they voted on stimulus bill"
All the Dems plus the Maine Repukes & the two Independents voted "YES."

' Republicans No: Alexander, Tenn.; Barrasso, Wyo.; Bennett, Utah; Bond, Mo.; Brownback, Kan.; Bunning, Ky.; Burr, N.C.; Chambliss, Ga.; Coburn, Okla.; Cochran, Miss.; Corker, Tenn.; Cornyn, Texas; Crapo, Idaho; DeMint, S.C.; Ensign, Nev.; Enzi, Wyo.; Graham, S.C.; Grassley, Iowa; Hatch, Utah; Hutchison, Texas; Inhofe, Okla.; Isakson, Ga.; Johanns, Neb.; Kyl, Ariz.; Lugar, Ind.; Martinez, Fla.; McCain, Ariz.; McConnell, Ky.; Murkowski, Alaska; Risch, Idaho; Roberts, Kan.; Sessions, Ala.; Shelby, Ala.; Thune, S.D.; Vitter, La.; Voinovich, Ohio; Wicker, Miss. Republicans Not Voting: Gregg, N.H. '

AOL NEWS
"House Roll Call for Stimulus Bill "
"BIPARTISANSHIP! BIPARTISANSHIP!! BIPARTISANSHIP!!!" MORE Republican Bullsh*t.

' The 244-188 roll call Wednesday by which the House passed a $819 billion economic stimulus bill. A "yes" vote is a vote to pass the bill. Voting yes were 244 Democrats and 0 Republicans. Voting no were 11 Democrats and 177 Republicans. X denotes those not voting. There are 2 vacancies in the 435-member House. '

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States Receiving Most in Federal Spending Per Dollar of Federal Taxes Paid:
1. D.C. ($6.17)
2. North Dakota ($2.03)
3. New Mexico ($1.89)
4. Mississippi ($1.84)
5. Alaska ($1.82)
6. West Virginia ($1.74)
7. Montana ($1.64)
8. Alabama ($1.61)
9. South Dakota ($1.59)
10. Arkansas ($1.53)

The states with the lowest median household income
10. N Mexico $40,629
9. Montana $40,627
8. Tennessee $40,315
7. Kentucky $39,372
6. Louisiana $39,337
5. Alabama $38,783
4. Oklahoma $38,770
3. Arkansas $36,599
2. W. Virginia $35,059
1. Mississippi $34,473

States Receiving Least in Federal Spending Per Dollar of Federal Taxes Paid:
1. New Jersey ($0.62)
2. Connecticut ($0.64)
3. New Hampshire ($0.68)
4. Nevada ($0.73)
5. Illinois ($0.77)
6. Minnesota ($0.77)
7. Colorado ($0.79)
8. Massachusetts ($0.79)
9. California ($0.81)
10. New York ($0.81)

Here's where the median household income is highest
Maryland $65,144
New Jersey $64,470
Connecticut $63,422
Hawaii $61,160
Massachusetts $59,963
New Hampshire $59,683
Alaska $59,393
California $56,645
Virginia $56,277
Minnesota $54,023
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Suggestion Box & Tip Jar We would like to make over this blog to make it easier to access, to read and to comment on. We would also like to serve our readers better by providing more of what you need and want to see. All serious suggestions will be considered. We hope to move to our own domain in the near future, and we would like to ask for your financial assistance in doing that, and in upgrading our hardware & software. Small one-time donations and larger long-term subscriptions are welcome. Exclusive advertising is also available. If you think we are wasting our time in doing all this, please let us know. If you wish to help us, now is the time. As always, negative bullsh*t from right-wing trolls will be sh*tcanned. Thank you to everyone else. Please send feedback & PayPal contributions to cosanostradamusATexciteDOTcom. Thanks.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS: BRING THEM ALL HOME ALIVE, NOW!

"BI-PARTISAN! BI-PARTISAN!! BI-PARTISAN!!!"

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REMEMBER THE REPUKELICKINS SQUAWKING THAT AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY?

THEY USED IT AS A CLUB AGAINST OBAMA

YOUTUBE: FUXSNOOZE
"Rush Limbaugh on Hannity - I hope Obama Fails with His Socialist Agenda - Part 2"
Two sick, traitorous a-holes. Conservatives, in other words.



Now They're Using Rank Right-Wing Partisanship To Scuttle The U.S. Economy Out Of Spite

Politics as usual from the GOPers: After admitting how pleased they were that our new President had made a rare Executive visit to the Legislative Branch (to the Republicans first) only YESTERDAY, the 'Pukes voted against the only economic stimulus package currently on the table. After giving Dubya a blank check (which he promptly gave away to his buddies on Wall Street, who instantly blew it on bonuses, dividends and acquisitions) now the 'Pukes won't give Obama one thin dime. Screw America!

Obama angered many in his own Party by reaching out to the 'Pukes, even reshaping his stimulus plan to meet their demands. But that wasn't good enough for the Grand Old Party that America just threw out the windows of the Executive and Legislative branches. They claim that the package gives too much to ordinary working Americans, and not enough to themselves and their rich lazy friends and crooked corporations. But, really, this is the opening shot in the campaign for Congress in 2010.

The Repuke's Reichsmarshall, Fat Herman, er, Fat Rush, shadow Minister of Propaganda of the crypto-Nazi government in exile, has openly called upon his fellow Fascisti to do everything they can to scuttle the U.S. economy, and damn the consequences. Wealth, privilege and power are at stake here for our hereditary parasites and foreign corporations. The people who used to bleat "America First!" are now sniveling "SCREW America."

I really don't see how the Red States, those racist throwbacks who voted for McBush, can stomach their "champions" in Congress and the tame corporate media today. After all, through their own ignorance and stupidity, they are the poorest States in the nation. They'll be the first ones to suffer, they'll suffer the most, and they'll be the last to recover. From Alabammy to Idyho, pointy-headed ignoramuses will be unable to hold onto their jobs and businesses, homes and SUVs, wives and families, guns and dogs. Their life-long desire to live in a Country-Western song will be fulfilled. Then they'll shoot their whole families.

The corporate media are already blaming Obama, in office for one week, for anything and everything. Despite his kow-towing to them on every issue, they're out for his blood, and ours. Despite the fact that Dubya took the Clinton budget surplus and blew it out his psuedo-redneck ass, and pushed deregulation to the point where it crippled the entire economy, sending gas prices sky-high and home prices mud-low, with joblessness headed for 1929 levels, "Obama is at fault." So the Repukelickin's are going to obstruct and punish him, and every living American, until they get back in power and ruin us all over again.

The ultimate goal of today's Party of Lincoln is to enslave all of us, to bring us all down to the economic level of the Red States and lower, the Third World. They want to be slave-masters, hidalgos, patroon's, lords of the manor. They want to roll the clock back to Old Testament times, and they want to be Pharaoh. They always talk about "class-warfare," as if the average American even knew what that was. Well, now they're going to show us.

In the words of George W. Bush, "Bring it on!"

If moderate mild-mannered center-Right Obama and his crew of Republican-Lite DINO's and "Blue Dogs" was too far left for them, then let them have a taste of democratic socialism. Not the Red States, of course: Cut them off completely. If their Representatives in Congress don't want any stimulus, don't give them any. Most of them live in negative-tax States anyway: They pay less in taxes than they receive in Federal moneys. F**k 'em. We obviously don't need their votes. They obviously do not understand the changes that came in November: They lost, we won, get out of the way. If all they're going to do is obstruct us, let's just push them to the side. Raw naked capitalism has simply not worked, ever, for 99% of Americans. It's time we lived as well as people in other advanced industrialized nations. If that means socialism, let's give it a try, with an American spin.

You had your chance, Repukes, and you blew it. Again. You deserve Gitmo, nor more consideration. F**k you!


MCCLATCHY NEW SERVICES
"House passes stimulus plan, but with no Republican votes"
First blood.

' After a sharply partisan debate on Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed an $819 billion economic stimulus package designed to create millions of jobs quickly and give consumers more money to spend. The vote was 244 to 188. None of the House's 178 Republican members voted yes. Despite a fresh plea for cooperation from President Barack Obama , who insisted that "we don't have a moment to spare," Republicans spurned the Democratic bill. The White House tried hard to soften the partisan edges. Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel met privately on Tuesday night with a small group of GOP moderates, but the effort was futile. '

NY TIMES
"Obama, Visiting G.O.P. Lawmakers, Is Open to Some Compromise on Stimulus "
Bearding the weasel in his den?

' President Obama made a campaign trip of sorts on Tuesday to seek bipartisan support for his economic stimulus plan, visiting Republicans on Capitol Hill and suggesting that he was open to some limited revisions that would address their demands for more tax cuts. But, Republicans interviewed after the meeting said, Mr. Obama told them he would listen to proposals to expand on provisions cutting taxes for small businesses and would be opento corporate tax cuts as well if Republicans cooperated to close tax loopholes for big business. Democrats said Mr. Obama could also support a demand from a senior Senate Republican, Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, to add a provision adjusting the alternative minimum tax so that it does not hit millions of middle-class taxpayers this year. That would add costs of nearly $70 billion over 10 years to a package that Republicans already say is too big. Trying to forestall other Republican attacks, Democrats also stripped out $200 million for restoring the National Mall, another provision that the minority had mocked. '

MIAMI HERALD
"Obama urges Democrats to dump family planning from stimulus"
The Great Compromiser strikes out. Well, he tried, didn't he?

' President Barack Obama is urging congressional Democrats to drop a proposal to spend money on family planning from the proposed $825 billion package to stimulate the economy, a symbolic gesture that could help him make inroads into Republican ranks. With the move to drop the controversial family-planning money from the stimulus package - as well as cordial lunch meetings at the Capitol with Republicans - Obama started selling himself to the opposition party as a good cop to the bad cop of congressional Democratic leaders such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. "The key right now is to make sure that we keep politics to a minimum," Obama said as he traveled between his Capitol meetings. "There are some legitimate philosophical differences with parts of my plan that the Republicans have, and I respect that. ... I don't expect 100 percent agreement from my Republican colleagues, but I do hope that we can all put politics aside and do the American people's business right now." Republicans were pleased with the outreach from the Democratic president, comparing it favorably with what they say is the cold shoulder they've received from Democrats who are running Congress. "We are grateful," said Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind. "House Democrats have completely ignored President Obama's call for bipartisan compromise." '

TRUTH OUT
"Obama: Urgent Action Needed for Economic Recovery"
From the horse's mouth.

' We start 2009 in the midst of a crisis unlike any we have seen in our lifetime - a crisis that has only deepened over the last few weeks. Nearly two million jobs have now been lost, and on Friday we are likely to learn that we lost more jobs last year than at any time since World War II. Just in the past year, another 2.8 million Americans who want and need full-time work have had to settle for part-time jobs. Manufacturing has hit a twenty-eight year low. Many businesses cannot borrow or make payroll. Many families cannot pay their bills or their mortgage. Many workers are watching their life savings disappear. And many, many Americans are both anxious and uncertain of what the future will hold. I don't believe it's too late to change course, but it will be if we don't take dramatic action as soon as possible. If nothing is done, this recession could linger for years. The unemployment rate could reach double digits. Our economy could fall $1 trillion short of its full capacity, which translates into more than $12,000 in lost income for a family of four. We could lose a generation of potential and promise, as more young Americans are forced to forgo dreams of college or the chance to train for the jobs of the future. And our nation could lose the competitive edge that has served as a foundation for our strength and standing in the world. In short, a bad situation could become dramatically worse. '

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
" 'Limbaugh: I Hope Obama Fails' ... but Rush's recent record stinks"
Rush is WAAAAAAAY Right!

' The next two days of Obamapalooza will be filled with good feelings and positive vibes. Except from one man, Rush Limbaugh. The other day, Rush related how a publication asked him -- to mark Tuesday's inauguration -- for 400 words on his hopes for the Obama Administration. El Rushbo, take it from here: "My hope, and please understand me when I say this. I disagree fervently with the people on our side of the aisle who have caved and who say, 'Well, I hope he succeeds. We've got to give him a chance.' Why? They didn't give Bush a chance in 2000. Before he was inaugurated, the search-and-destroy mission had begun. I'm not talking about search-and-destroy, but I've been listening to Barack Obama for a year-and-a-half. I know what his politics are. I know what his plans are, as he has stated them. I don't want them to succeed "If I wanted Obama to succeed, I'd be happy the Republicans have laid down. And I would be encouraging Republicans to lay down and support him. Look, what he's talking about is the absorption of as much of the private sector by the U.S. government as possible, from the banking business, to the mortgage industry, the automobile business, to health care. I do not want the government in charge of all of these things. I don't want this to work. So I'm thinking of replying to the guy, 'Okay, I'll send you a response, but I don't need 400 words, I need four: I hope he fails.' (interruption) What are you laughing at? See, here's the point. Everybody thinks it's outrageous to say. Look, even my staff, 'Oh, you can't do that.' Why not? Why is it any different, what's new, what is unfair about my saying I hope liberalism fails? Liberalism is our problem. Liberalism is what's gotten us dangerously close to the precipice here. Why do I want more of it? I don't care what the drive-by story is. I would be honored if the drive-by media headlined me all day long: 'Limbaugh: I Hope Obama Fails.' Somebody's gotta say it." '

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HAWAIIAN RAINBOW AT THE END OF THE WASHINGTON POT OF GOLD

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ALOHA STATE GETS SENATE APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR

UNCA DAN, AKA CAPT. PORK, WILL CONTROL FEDERAL CASH MACHINE



I, Cosanostradamus, Foresee An H-4, H-5, H-6 and H-7 Freeway And An All-State Bridge

It's only fifteen hundred miles from the Big Island to Midway. Why not a bridge, linking all the main islands in between? Or maybe a tunnel? Hell, why not both? And another one to California. And one to Japan! And Tahiti! Woo-Hoo!!!

Corrupt, incompetent local construction firms are already ejaculating over this one. The biggest pork-barrel spender in Congressional history now has the power of the purse in his own pocket. Uncle Dan Inouye, Hawaii's senior U.S. Senator and local power-broker since the invention of volcanoes, has provided jobs and infrastructure for people and places here in the Islands (whether they needed them or deserved them or not) so reliably over the years, that he can single-handedly be held responsible for 10-20% of the State's entire local economy. Not bad for a one-armed man, or as some low-life called him, a one-armed bandit.

Inouye lost his right arm fighting for our side in The Big One, the Tom Hanks movie war. Hard to say no to a Japanese guy who lost his arm fighting for your side, once he starts twisting yours. Inouye is one of the last of the WWII guys left in Warshenden. He was awarded the Medal of Honor belatedly, after being denied it due to his ancestry. Largely because of this, he commands far more respect in the Senate than his legislative abilities merit.

An officer in the legendary 442nd Regimental Combat Team that, to hear them tell it, single-handedly won the War, Inouye and his men went on to take over the Democratic Party once they got home, and then the Territory, and then the State of Hawaii. They were the vanguard of a political and socio-economic revolution that forced accommodation upon the old "haole" ascendancy (whites, foreigners, greedy racist bastards) and Hawaiian ali'i (aristocracy, parasites, traitors). "Lowly" Asian and Pacific Island cane-cutters and pineapple-canners entered the worlds of politics and business, academia and the professions for the first time. Meanwhile, the local Japanese ended up pretty much running things, so long as they were willing to accommodate the remains of the old elite, still in place behind the scenes today.

Unfortunately, that revolution has sputtered out. It never quite reached much beyond the new local Japanese elite. Other Asians and Pacific Islanders are still shut out. There are precious few good jobs here, other than those that are directly or indirectly dependent upon the government. After 50 years of representing the 50th State and its' ruling Democratic Party, Dan Inouye has yet to help foster the creation of one new industry to replace the old dying ones, and few new businesses or jobs outside of government itself. When he dies, Inouye will leave a legacy of dependence upon Washington, which, without him in place, will result in a huge deficit of cash to the Islands, and nothing to replace it.

Inouye & Co. have presided over the death of agriculture, once our main industry, and the sputtering of tourism, pretty much all we have left. The military, which is a huge part of the local economy, will be cutting back now. They spend most of their time and more of their money on their endless deployments since 911, anyway. This leaves only low-paying retail and government-dependent health care as major components of our local economy. And of course, construction, which is utterly dependent upon all of the above. And your tax dollars, Mainlanders. T'anks, eh?

This past Tuesday, a new revolution was narrowly averted by Dan & company. The overwhelming force of new & disaffected voters that made it to the caucuses and the primaries did not quite overwhelm in the general election. Bad ballot measures passed, the same old same old will be returning to power in even greater numbers. (Not that the wacky Republicans had anything better to offer.) Nothing is going to change here any time soon: Especially not with the oldest same-old same-old of all handing out the candy on Capitol Hill.

It's too bad. The entire nation may experience the same disappointment once the dust settles in DC. Obama is only one man, beholden to many, especially the many who run the old Democratic machine, more especially in Congress. There is already talk of "moving to the right," and "governing from the center." Obama's first picks for his White House staff are old-school Clintonians, abrasive power-brokers who have worked better with conservatives than liberals in the past. Whether Obama is simply making calming gestures to a newly nervous Wall Street, or signaling a quick end to talk of change of any real sort, I guess we'll find out.

Meanwhile, back in Paradise, the celebrations can continue. And thanks for picking up the check, America! We couldn't live without ya! Or your money! MWA! Mahalos! Aloha! Suckers!


POLITICO
"Byrd will voluntarily give up chairmanship"
Revenge of the ninja's! HAIIIIII!!!!!!

' Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), who is 84, will take over for Byrd on the powerful panel, which oversees hundreds of billions of dollars annually in federal spending. Byrd will officially hand off the gavel on Jan. 6, 2009. And in a sense, it is a very Byrd-like move to step aside in favor of Inouye. After all, Inouye served with Byrd in the leadership for years, only to lose out when he tried to move up after Byrd stepped down as majority leader in 1988 to take the Appropriations Committee post. In doing so, Byrd stepped in front of Inouye, who would have otherwise succeeded then-Appropriations Chairman John Stennis (D-Miss.), and at 84, he has waited a long time for some time at the helm. '

HONOLULU ADVERTISER
"Inouye takes over powerful Senate committee"
Senators suddenly reminded: Inouye is still alive.

' Democratic Sen. Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii will become the next chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee with an announcement today that Sen. Robert Byrd would step down from the position Jan. 6. Byrd, who is 90, said it was time for Inouye, 84, to take over the committee. He will also continue as chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. Inouye has been a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee since January 1971. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., confirmed that Inouye would be chairman in the next Congress that convenes in January. Inouye will be taking over at time when the Democrats will have increased majorities in the Senate and the House, and Hawaii native son Barack Obama, also a Democrat, is in the White House. The senator will preside over a committee that decides how hundreds of billions of federal dollars are spent annually. For Hawaii, it means the senator could build on his successes in steering hundreds of millions a year to the state for various projects from Native Hawaiian health care to brown tree snake control. But the congressional appropriations process has been coming under greater scrutiny in the past few years over the billions of dollars federal lawmakers divert to special projects, known as earmarks. Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, said there will be a change in the top leadership of the committee but "certainly Inouye has not been any slouch in delivering the bacon to Hawaii and I think that is going to continue." "I don't think Senator Inouye is about to pick up that mantle of reform or change. He is a member of the old guard." '

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
"Embattled Alaska Sen. Stevens Tops List for Earmarks"
So, we're in good company here. Good thing the local Democrats didn't take a look at Uncle Dan's finances...

' On the House side, the biggest earmarker was again Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. John Murtha , with $111.1 million, according to the data compiled by TCS. The spending bills will fund disaster aid, Defense, Homeland Security, military construction and Veterans Administration budgets for fiscal year 2009. Other big earmarkers in the House were Rep. C.W. “Bill” Young (R., Fla.), with $99 million; Rep. Jerry Lewis (R., Ca.), $78.2 million, and Rep. David Obey (D., Wisc.), $51.5 million. Senate standouts included Sen. Thad Cochran (R., Miss.), $238.5 million; Sen. Robert Byrd (D., W.Va.), $224.9 million; and Sen. Daniel Inouye (D., Hawaii), $222.2 million. '

PACIFIC BUSINESS JOURNALS
"Inouye brings home the pork"
Oink, oink.

' A government watchdog group said Tuesday Sen. Daniel Inouye is one of Washington’s top five pork-barrel spenders. Citizens Against Government Waste criticized the Hawaii Democrat for $182 million in wasteful spending, including $23 million for the Hawaii Federal Healthcare Network, $10 million for the Hawaii Technology Development Venture, and $3.6 million for Intelligent Decision Exploration. Inouye is chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. Despite the reduction, Citizens Against Government Waste said at least seven legislators appropriated more than $100 million, including Inouye. They other top pork-barrel spenders were Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska; Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss.; Sen Robert Byrd, D-W. Va.; and Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla. '

HONOLULU ADVERTISER
"Isle economic outlook lowered by economist"
Welcome to the Pearl-Diving Economy: Please bring us your money, we have none of our own!

' Hawai'i's economy is reeling from a number of shocks to tourism and jobs brought on by a slowing U.S. economy, high oil prices, subprime mortgage problems and in recent weeks, a financial market crisis. That resulted in visitor arrivals tumbling 19.5 percent and unemployment reaching a seven-year high in September. Brewbaker's revised forecast is similar to other forecasts this year in that it lowers most projections. While some of his estimates — he forecasts visitor arrivals will drop by 10.6 percent this year and the number of jobs will shrink by 0.4 percent — are slightly more negative than other economists locally, the state and the University of Hawai'i Economic Research Organization are expected to revise their numbers downward in coming weeks. '

HONOLULU STAR BULLETIN
"Little relief seen for Hawaii real estate"
After 50 years of Uncle Dan, we still don't make anything we can sell elsewhere. We have no local economy. We have only that portion of YOUR econonmy that you're willing to export here.

' Hawaii's slumping visitor industry may be one of its greatest commercial real estate concerns during the current cycle, said Jonathan D. Martin, principal author of the report, which is based on surveys from more than 600 leading real estate experts from investors to developers, brokers and consultants. "Given Honolulu's dependence on tourist travel, the market could face headwinds next year - companies will cut back on corporate events and individuals will be scaling back vacation plans," Martin said. "As a result, the local economy is probably more vulnerable to recessionary impacts, and that will hurt hotels and shopping centers especially." '

PACIFIC BUSINESS NEWS
"Maui Land & Pineapple CEO stepping down"
Lotta land. Not so much pineapple.

' The executive changes were announced along with the Maui Land & Pineapple’s third quarter results, which showed a drop in profits amid Hawaii’s slowing real estate and tourism markets. Maui Land & Pineapple (NYSE: MLP) reported a net loss of $8.7 million, or $1.09 per share, for the third quarter, compared with a net loss of $155,000, or 2 cents per share, during the same period last year. Revenues were $19.1 million, compared with $28.5 million during the third quarter last year. “Results reflect deteriorating market conditions in the Hawaii real estate and hospitality segments, including $2.5 million in severance costs and a $4 million increase in reserves for potential defaults on closings,” Cole said in a statement. “The Residences at Kapalua Bay, a project that is continuing despite the bankruptcy of its lead lender, recorded $11 million of sales in the third quarter.” The company’s resort business reported an operating loss of $5.7 million for the third quarter, compared with a loss of $3.1 million for the same period in 2007. The company noted a reduction in visitor arrivals and occupancy at the resort combined with higher operating costs and higher fuel and energy prices were responsible for the increased operating loss. '

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
"Economy at a Glance"

USBLS
"HONOLULU CONSUMER PRICE INDEX"
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