Welcome to this 2nd edition of The WeeklyBIug; where we sum up the previous days Bad, Ugly and Good (trying to end on a positive note - even though the Good, the Bad, the Ugly works better from our memories).
THE BAD
Barry Bonds found Guily of Obstructing Justice
We begin this week, the big Bad news that Barry Bond's has been found guilty. He was not found guilty on Perjury, or using steriods (though there are many reasons why). The Judge dismissed several of the indictments, the jury only convicted Barry Bonds on the issue that he Obstructed Justice by giving an "evasive" answer. A charge so flimsy, chances are the appeals court will have a field day with it; maybe even all the way to the US Supreme Court (so that those justices can put in their 2 cents about steroids). The fact the Government has wasted the tax payers dollars on this one is Absurd! Regardless of what you think of Bonds and his enhancing; the fact of the matter is - no beef up = less balls out of the park!
Here in the WSJ Law Blog article by Nathan Koppel refers to another WSJ reporter article ( here) that quotes what one juror was saying;
One juror, a 25-year-old woman who gave only her first name, Jessica, said she believed Mr. Bonds was "intentionally evasive" when he answered yes-and-no questions about steroid use with long, rambling responses about his childhood and other tangential matters.
We are sorry that we cannot provide pictures; PhotoBucket is having problems!
THE BAD
(cont.)
Senator Levins recommends SEC & DOJ charges for Goldman Sachs etc
Meanwhile, a Senate hearing has referred Goldman Sachs and other entities to the DOJ and SEC to investigate indicting them on schemes to defraud the public. Apparently, while Goldman Sachs was selling investors into CDO's and other items; the firm was "brilliantly" betting that they would fail - by selling the issue short.
Hats off to fellow Kosser bobswern and his wonderful Diary
"Sen. Levin's Cmte Refers Criminal Fraud, Perjury -- Goldman Exec's --"
In bobswern's Diary, he points out that he thought he must be dreaming, as he read the Financial Times and a story that lambasted Goldman Sachs and others. Kudos to his denoting the Financial times story and we repeat the Big Deal of his blockquote here;
Goldman criticised in US Senate report
By Tom Braithwaite in Washington and Francesco Guerrera and Justin Baer in New York
Financial Times
Published: April 14 2011 00:15 | Last updated: April 14 2011 00:15
US Senate investigators probing the financial crisis will refer evidence about Wall Street institutions including Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank to the justice department for possible criminal investigations, officials said on Wednesday.
Carl Levin, Democratic chairman of the powerful Senate permanent subcommittee on investigations, said a two-year probe found that banks mis-sold mortgage-backed securities and misled investors and lawmakers.
“We will be referring this matter to the justice department and to the SEC [Securities and Exchange Commission],” he said. “In my judgment, Goldman clearly misled their clients and they misled Congress.”
Last year, Goldman paid $550m to settle SEC allegations that it defrauded investors in Abacus, a complex security linked to subprime mortgages.
The bobswern's Diary also links to the Senate report provided by the Financial times ( here). It will take a while to download, it is 650 pages long. Meanwhile Demand Progress is circulating a grass roots effort to Demand the DOJ investigate Goldman Sachs ( here). We most certainly agree ( here).
Victims of ponzi schemes getting fleeced by those sworn to protect
In other Bad news, attorneys for the SEC and Ritchie Cap were successful in halting the Trustee and Receiver Doug Kelley from making a settlement to give a schemer (Quan) some money; so that the Receiver/Trustee could keep some. What is Bad News here, are the facts that MSM keeps being tools for the shark feeding piss ants. The local MN MSM press seems to think it is Okay and even defends Kelley. Putting out a story that has a misleading title;
"Lawsuit holds up deal for Petters' victims".
When this blogger called the reporter, the writer did appear to have sincere and genuine remarks - though they were obviously naivete'. TwinCities.com reporter John Welbes said that I did not fully understand the details (evidently he really has no idea who I am). John Welbes said "didn't you see that I said Kelley was out of town and could not be reached".
Then I pointed out the title to his story was not anti Kelley and his line in the middle of his story is totally incongruous with the facts. Doug Kelley pushed a Coordination Agreement that gave only $15 million to the victims - when he and his associated shark frenzy firms - got over $50 million in fees. When I reiterated verbatim reporter John Welbes writing, he got pissed. I even emailed him and told him that he was going to be featured; but I would give him a chance to explain. When I said in the phone call - that I was sorry to have upset him and made him angry - he said that was a cop out - and then he cop'd out and Hung Up! Read the line yourself - does it seem like he ripped REceiver Doug Kelley a new arse-hole or made him out to be the good guy?
"The court-appointed trustee in the Petters bankruptcy case, Doug Kelley, has led an effort to return money to the net losers in the scam".
The fact of the matter is, Big Corporate Business supports corrupt politicians who support them in turn. Goldman Sachs, Bernake, $1 billion dollars from the SEC's SIPC fund to pay Madoff's attorneys (doen't that make for a strange incentive for SEC willful blindness). All of these aree BAD schemes to bilk American Citizens of their hard earned monies so these Good Ole Boy Networks can go to the Hamptons on the weekend and party at our expense.
Many of us who commented on bobswern's Diary, all seriously doubt that Goldman Sachs and gangs will get anything more than a slap on the wrist.
That --- Really pisses me OFF!
THE UGLY
One Fan beaten by Thug Fans - another Fan beaten by Pittsburgh Police
Last week we reported on the nasty and ugly brutality at Dodger's stadium of 2 young thugs beating an innocent man (Stow). Instead of getting their act together in national baseball stadiums; the Pittsburgh authorities decide to beat the thugs to the punch (or in this case using a Stick) to beat up a fan.
The YouTube video speaks for itself.
Birther Battle gets ugly AZ push
In other ugly issues this Birther thing is Getting Out of Control. Trump (
and his birther banter) should concentrate more on using the money to make his hair look better; than all this narcissistic conjecture and hyperbole on the issue of what the framers may have meant by "natural born" Bull Shit. After all, he was born to an American citizen; of that there is NO DISPUTE. Get on with it already. Sheesssh. Now Jonathan Turley has brought it to my attention that Arizona has its own narcissism quest for front page headlines; as it seeks to make a State Law usurp on federal issues (see Jonathan Turley's blog story (
here)) - that they will make it a Law that AZ's AG must inspect the birth certificate.
Bull Shit - Bull Shit - Bill Shut Shit UP!
It is as if Arizona nut bags want to threaten the President; if you don't let AZ' bill on immigration bullying go forward - we will harrass you to the ends of the earth. They need to flush their manure or put it out in the desert and grow something - DAM! To show how ridiculous the whole thing is - the Law AZ seeks says the AG must inspect the Birth Cert - OR - they will accept a BATISM Certificate. I will admit the story gave me pause in the beginning; but I have come to my commen senses. All politicians have to make deals with the other side, it is Necessary. It actually serves us all well - that we are forced to mediate to the middle on issues; as extreme'isms never serve anyone well. But all this bull is a waste of time and money. The majority voted him in and the certificate WAS an issue at the time; it simply did NOT matter. Though we are all somewhat miffed at what has happened; and I even have more insight into the White House than most - it Still does not matter.
Obama and his Administration has made a difference. They are doing good, even though AG Holder has greatly pissed me off; I can see that they are crawling in the right direction. What we avoided - and everyone left & right seems to forget - is that BUSH tried to push us off the deep end with his Bailouts.
Give me a F----- BREAK! DAMNNNN!
Also this birther nonsense solves nothing. It is an idiots way to try to make an illegal recall occur. It also intrudes on other States; as if Arizona can dictate to Hawaii, New York or California etc - that you MUST provide our acceptable form of Birth Certificate. BS BS BS! You can see the actual Bill and/or summary of the language at Jonathan Turley's Blog ( here).
Rolling Stone's -- The Kill Team Photos
Not much you can say about this issue, it almost makes me ashamed to be an American. I realize we have enemies. But I do not believe that Osama B Laden is even alive. Russia got its ass kicked in Afganistan; because we funded the fight to stop their brutality. If Manning keeps getting abused and much more is reported such as pictures like these - will there be parties out there - have the legitimate right to fund Afgan's to defeat us? I cannot put the pictures up (and in a way I am glad that Photobucket is bugged this day) - but you should see the bad taste deplorable - that is exhibited by those lacking decency and common sense ( Rolling Stone's photos ( here).
THE GOOD
Where is Mrs. Goldstein?
I will start this one off with a personal item that is a quandry for me. Those that have followed me, know that I try to make my life meaningful by doing some works for others. Sieverdings, Ricks, Lanson, Pam and her dog rescue are just many of the issues/cases that I promote and draw attention to. Additionally, I had helped some senior citizens, a 75 year old with 2 evil sons who evicted him from his house and an 87 year old - who survived the holocaust and cancer 4 times. Andrew Goldstein is like an adopted grandmother to me. Recently, after moving her to a place she loved - 6 months later she began to show signs of mean and dementia. She starved herself down from 88 lbs to below 70; because she could not remember how to feed herself. So I was forced to call the state on her, 911, 211 and many agencies. They came and removed her - for her own safety. You can see a picture of her on my Facebook ( here). She always warmed my heart and gave me a chance to feel like a human being.
But the DAM BASTARDS Won't tell me where they took her. If anyone has been through this type of scenario before; please advise me how to solve the problem. She is jewish and we have to make sure (G-d forbid) - that if anything happens; she does NOT get cremated (the standard procedure for wards of the state).
J Town is a wonderful Group and so is DailyKos
It was the discovery of J Town as a group, that led to me beginning The WeeklyBUG as a group. At their quaint realm, they talk about the weather, say hello, encourage us to pimp our diaries and discuss decorum. They are mostly pet lovers and I believe the founder is from Wisc.
Here is a neat pic they heisted and I have done the same - that made me chuckle
KUDOs to fellow Kosser's, DailyKos and Matt Taibbi
Hat's Off and Tip to the founders of Daily Kos. A place that encourages truth, the ability to gather grass roots strength; and a place for a putz like me - to have hope that there are others out there - not totally insane! Anywhere that MSM fails, encourages readerships to entities like these. Truth and discussion, the Real News.
Hat's off as well - to bobswern and his Diary on Goldman Sachs, it is Good that he sees and found other Kosser's who see the real world we live in and the failures of our public servants to protect us from the nefarious modern day Robber Baron hordes like Goldman Sachs.
RS Matt Tabbi article on Welfare Checks bailout money to millionaire wives
You have the links to bobswern's great Diary above and we would also like to link to Matt Tabbi's recent article on the a germane issue. In his recent Rolling Stone article on April 12; Matt Tabbi reports how the Federal Reserve forked over $200 million in bailout money to the wives of two Morgan Stanley big wigs. (See the article (
here)). Tabbi writes in a candid and off beat fashion that endears him to grass root activist like DailyKos users. He points out that the Feds basically gave the two millionaire wives a welfare check in the millions upon millions of dollar range as Matt Tabbi so poignantly states;
It's hard to imagine a pair of people you would less want to hand a giant welfare check to — yet that's exactly what the Fed did. Just two months before the Macks bought their fancy carriage house in Manhattan, Christy and her pal Susan launched their investment initiative called Waterfall TALF. Neither seems to have any experience whatsoever in finance, beyond Susan's penchant for dabbling in thoroughbred racehorses. But with an upfront investment of $15 million, they quickly received $220 million in cash from the Fed, most of which they used to purchase student loans and commercial mortgages. The loans were set up so that Christy and Susan would keep 100 percent of any gains on the deals, while the Fed and the Treasury (read: the taxpayer) would eat 90 percent of the losses. Given out as part of a bailout program ostensibly designed to help ordinary people by kick-starting consumer lending, the deals were a classic heads-I-win, tails-you-lose investment.
IRS grants Tax Deadline extension to Everyone until April 18th
Finally, we leave you with this Great News. All of us who would normally panic today and bitch extra; because IRS Day (April 15) fell on a Friday (meaning paycheck and movies might have to suffer - and dinner out would Suck). You can breath in extra air and extra time. The NEW deadline for filing your taxes personally; has been extended to April 18th (see IRS website ( here)).
Go out today and do something nice for someone. This makes sure you are not one of the assholes of the world. If you really want to earn a silver star in the Universe; do something nice for someone no one else does. When I win a poker tourney, I don't tip the house - I tip the guys and gals who clean the bathroom. They take our crap for a living and always smile (tipping them also make's sure that I Never have to sit upon a dirty seat :0P )