Banks Giving up on TARP

Today's must-read is this column by Victor Davis Hanson about President Obama's first 70 days.

 

Four small banks have given back their share of the TARP money because they don't want to deal with regulations or worry about tax cheat Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner firing their CEO.  Fox's Judge Andrew Napolitano called TARP "extortion" against the banks.  The Treasury Department still won't release details of where our money has gone, despite the fact that total government pledges are now $12,800,000,000,000.

 

At the G-20 summit, the French and Germans are working together to introduce draconian regulations of the financial sector, and the G-20 themselves are going to commit $1,000,000,000,000 to the IMF and the World Bank in an attempt to "stimulate" the world economy.  Apparently Barry isn't as popular as he thought he would be.

 

Remember the story earlier in the week about Barney Frank and the House Democrats trying to control the salaries of anybody who works at a bailed-out company?  That bill passed the House, with the support of 10 Republicans and most Democrats, including Marshall and Bishop.

 

OPEC says that oil is not to blame for "climate change."  They're right, but I have a feeling they don't know what they're talking about.  More notable is the fact that the sun is the quietest it's been in a century.

 

The American people are voting with their feet against the bailed-out auto companies. 

 

More incompetence from the administration (or is it?):  the White House messed up the phone number of an on-the-record conference call and sent the press to a sex line instead.

 

Here is the list of what was on the iPod that Obama gave Queen Elizabeth II.

 

Clown Prince Vice President Joe Biden is giving credit to the "stimulus" package for projects that were funded under the Bush Administration.

 

The "fact" that the Obama administration keeps using to justify gun control that 90% of the guns in Mexico come from the United States is not even close to being true.

 

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) wants to raise taxes on every American making more than $104,425.

 

Barney Frank says that Republicans suffer from a "psychological disorder."  At least I think that's what he said.

 

The Atlas Shrugged movie could be coming.  Unfortunately, I have a feeling that it won't take to film very well.

 

An envelope with a tea bag in it caused a panic in the district office of a member of Congress yesterday.  This is why I'm not crazy about the idea of sending them tea bags.

 

Oh boy, Chris Matthews got another thrill.

 

The state Senate passed a bill yesterday that would take road money away from local governments that fail to check workers, inmates, and those who receive taxpayer dollars to ensure that they are here legally.

 

The House and Senate are being stubborn on their competing T-SPLOST plans.  The talks in the conference committee have stalled again.

 

Budget negotiations started today.  They have to hurry, not only because tomorrow is the last day of the session, but also because nobody wants to miss the Masters next week.