Bonus Baby Douglas Poling Cowers and Begs.
The breaking news that the powerful Banking Chairman Senator Chris Dodd was the man who adjusted the legislation that permitted the AIG executives to take their bonuses is now overwhelmed by the breaking news that Chris Dodd was a recipient of campaign money from many of the biggest AIG executives who got the biggest bonus money. The number one bonus baby at AIG, Fairfield Connecticut citizen Douglas Poling, 48, now cowers and begs to be permitted to give back his $6.4 million swag. Poling begs us to take it back. Odd behavior for a homo sapiens sapiens isn't it? Why would a regular kind of walking around 21st century rich person from Fairfield County throw $6.4 million back over the garden wall? Too rich already? Stupid? Generous? Frightened? Of what? A quick search shows that the comfortably bizarre Mr. Poling gave a mere $4600 to Democrat Larson and Democrat Dodd in the 2008 cycle (see below). Suddenly, the suggestion of a motive. It gets much worse for Senator Dodd. In his 2008 presidential campaign, Mr. Dodd received $103,000 from AIG executives, most of it from a dozen AIG executives whose bonuses are protected under the legislation that Dodd now admits he wrote. Dodd is shouting that he will give the money back. It is way too late for throwing money back over the garden wall. Do you think the public outrage on TV is faked? One day, there was gloom and confusion. The next day, there was a mob and a scapegoat. This is melodrama we all understand. Douglas Poling is only the first name below, and none of these men have talked yet, nor have they been stalked, mocked, forced to hire armed guards because of bomb and arson threats, fled the country for exile. AIG executive "Bonus Villain" Jonathan Liebergall is also said to be another of Dodd's contributors. Expect several lush estates in Fairfield County to be on the market pronto. According to the Connecticut Post, the list of the about to be harassed by TV includes:
Douglas Poling, of Fairfield; Christopher Phole, of New Canaan; Steven Pike, of Stamford; Robert Powell, of Westport; Joseph Rooney, of Fairfield; Gregory Ruffa, of Darien; Christian Toft, of Weston; Steven Wagar, of Norwalk; Jonathan Liebergall, of New Canaan; Leonid Shekhtman, of Redding; and James Haas, of Fairfield. Three of these executives, Poling, Haas and Liebergall, were outed as possible recipients of bonuses on Wednesday.
The Torricelli Moment.
The time has arrived for the Democratic Party to let Chris Dodd face the camera and say, "This is the end." The Clinton fund-raising scandal with the Chinese, shrug, the Countrywide influence-peddling scandal with Friends of Angelo Mozila, wink. But AIG execs renting a friend in high places who crosses the "T" for "Tough" in his own Federal legislation that guarantees them their cash -- that is one sought favor too far. Chris Dodd stood by while President Obama signed this clever prank into law. Tough, tough. Hard guy, Chris Dodd. Major leaguer: missed your calling: Tammany Tough. In New Jersey, this is called the Torricelli Moment, named for a banal and creative politician, Bob Torricelli, who was so twisted up in scandals of influence peddling during his 2002 senatorial campaign that he decided, for the good of the party, to take himself out of the race. He was replaced by the inert and retired Frank Lautenberg, who won the race easily. Because he knew when to fold, Bob Torricelli was permitted to go back to his useful life as fixer and all was forgiven. This may be Chris Dodd's fate, if he is lucky and hurries off the stage well before his 2010 re-election contest. The one time rep for dating Bianca Jagger and Carrie Fischer no longer work as a buffer. Like father, like son is the unspoken curse of the moment. You will recall that Senator Dodd's father, Thomas J. Dodd, (above) two-term senator from Connecticut, was disgraced by a campaign fund scandal in 1967 and chose, after a health collapse, to retire from the Senate rather than run again in 1970. Now Chris Dodd is preparing himself to walk the same walk as his father, into retirement, despair, blame-shifting and, after a decent interval of about three months, into lobbying for the rich men he serves so well. Unless Chris Dodd chooses another way, known as martyrdom for principle. Can we be so lucky?
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FAIRFIELD, CT 06824 |
AIG Financial/Attorney |
$500 |
08/18/2008 |
G |
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FAIRFIELD, CT 06824 |
AIG Financial/Attorney |
$2,000 |
04/27/2007 |
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FAIRFIELD, CT 06824 |
AIG Financial |
$2,100 |
11/21/2006 |
P |
It’s gratifying to see some of these sanctimonious pols beginning to get all tangled up in their own artifice. But note, Dodd tripped over his own two feet; Republicans had nothing to do with bringing his clumsy, self-serving shenanigans to light. In fact, even with now undisguised duplicity and clear evidence of outright corruption mounting daily on the Capitol and White House steps, Republicans (even Thaddeus) are no where to be seen. Why?
There’s a problem in this country that goes beyond the economy. As various groups are being targeted, everyone is beginning to feel vulnerable. The people are beginning to understand the capriciousness of rent-a-mobs.
All of us are flawed in some way. It is what makes us human. As such, we all will at some point be required to face judgment. All we ask is that the judge not be named ‘Barrack Obama’, ‘Chuck Schumer’, ‘Nancy Pelosi’ or ‘Barney Frank’.
I wouldn't count on Chris Dodd stepping aside. He may just figure that 2010 is a long way off, people's memories are short and that insurance companies are an important Connecticut industry.
Despite what you assert, Dodd's father didn't resign before his term ended. He chose not to run for renomination, changed his mind after the primary and entered the race as an Independent, losing to Lowell Weicker.
House passes "you just got hosed bill" (my words) to retake the bonuses by the ways and means of taxing them that got the dough. You all just got hosed! Dom P said "We want our money back for the taxpayers" Huh?
'We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.' AESOP
'Tis is a fairy tale, indeed.
Isn't it just delicious melodrama as we witness again and again the exposed inner workings of the political class. "Why the American people are outraged that these perps!" And I'm not talking about AIG exec's. Come on America, wake up to what is being done to our country by the sleazeball [or is slimeball a better descriptor?] politicans. I use to say throw the bums out of office. Now it's "bring on the firing squad". Are we getting what we deserve, Republicans? You are the ones who didn't stand up for your principles, and now we the real American people, get to reap this nonsense and finanical disaster.
What did deep throat say? Oh yes, "Follow the money". I say keep you eye on the real money, and it isn't the AIG bonuses.
And presidential approval is still hovering around 60%. A guy named Lenin had a name for about six out of ten of us.