A GANG OF LOSERS

The Rev. Dana Prom Smith, S.T.D., Ph.D. (3/20/09)

Rather than assuming blame for legislation authorizing the scoundrels at A.I.G. to receive millions in bonuses, the House of Representatives set out on an anti-constitutional binge of revenge. They looked pathetic, like a gang of losers in a fit of pique pissing on a flower bed.

As a group, they're unimpressive, like a grade school reunion. They began weaseling about their hand in creating the mess, and, then, when they didn't have the decency to own up to their own malefic behavior, they set about to harm those who benefited from their ineptitude.

About the only one so far who has made noises about coming clean is President Obama. He said he was responsible, but he fell short of saying he was guilty. "I assume responsibility" is a non-content phrase used by politicians who should say "I am guilty" but can't hack full disclosure. It's a weasel phrase.

Of course, it's true that former President Bush and his Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Paulson, are the chiefly guilty, along with Senators Kyl and McCain. They began the process of letting the scoundrels in A.I.G. fix the mess they created.

Mysteriously, the government allows half-made executives to remain on the job. After receiving $40 billion in bailout bucks, the chairman of Citibank, Vikram Pandit, asked to be given another chance and then authorized $10 million to refurbish his offices as well as ordering a $50 million company jet.

It's a contest as to who's the worst, Congress or the CEO's.