Conservatives Suggest Torture Tactics For AIG Execs: ‘Exemplary Hanging,’ Guillotine Party, ‘Boiling In Oil’
Conservatives Suggest Torture Tactics For AIG Execs: ‘Exemplary Hanging,’ Guillotine Party, ‘Boiling In Oil’
Politicians and pundits from both sides of the aisle have expressed outrage at the recent news that bailed-out insurance giant AIG will be paying $165 million in bonuses to the same executives who “brought the company to the brink of collapse.” President Obama and members of Congress are trying to figure out a way to revoke the bonuses while others have called for top executives to be fired.
While conservatives have joined in the mass discontent with AIG, some are taking their anger a bit too far. Yesterday on a local Iowa radio show, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) suggested that AIG executives consider committing suicide. And last night on Fox News, far right pundit Charles Krauthammer and his milder counterpart Mort Kondracke argued that some should be put to death:
KRAUTHAMMER: I’m all in favor of keeping this heaping opprobrium. I would deny them the bonuses if possible. I would be for an exemplary hanging or two. Have it in Times Square, invite Madame DuFarge. You borrow a guillotine from the French and we could have a party. If that’s what it takes to maintain popular support, let’s do it. But it’s not going to change anything economically. [...]
KONDRACKE: I was going to recommend boiling in oil in Times Square, but look, because these are the people who invented these crazy credit default swaps that are leading to the whole disaster.
Watch it:
Whether it’s terrorism, international crises, domestic crime or, in this case, excessive corporate greed, some conservatives seem unable to see problems as anything other than a nail for which the only solution is a hammer.
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Anticipating restrictions on bonuses, officials at Citigroup Inc and Morgan Stanley are exploring ways to sidestep tough new federal caps on compensation, the Wall Street Journal said.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:47 amlet apply these tactics to charles Krautz and his company first. they have failed america in the last 8 years and are continuing to fail her.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:51 amThe anger is real. Jokes like this are dangerous. These guys are playing with matches.
http://www.pufferfishblog.com/
March 17th, 2009 at 9:52 amWhen a hammer is the only tool you have, everything becomes a nail.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:52 amWell, they’re just going with what they know — to the Cancervatives, the solution to everything is violence and torture, after all…
As for me, I’d prefer to see something a little more constructive. For example, how about we just fire all the top execs at these companies that received bailout funds, and give them new jobs working at homeless shelters?
March 17th, 2009 at 9:52 amWell, apparently torture and sadism are part of those conservative “family values”.
It’s scary that the solution conservatives first think of invariably involves some sort of physical punishment. Even better if it can be done publicly.
Whether terrorism, international crises, or excessive corporate greed -at least they are consistent. Goes with their authoritarian mind set, I suppose.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:55 amAs usual we see a conservative solution which serves no real purpose. These buffoons have no ideas on jump starting the economy, putting forth a working budget or solving the housing crisis. Conservatives are devoid of ideas and yet they want desperately to govern. Why?
March 17th, 2009 at 9:56 amI’ll go and watch if Krauthammer joins them on the gallows.
Maybe Rush could get on board, too. If he does, use a 1/2″ steel cable. A rope isn’t near strong enough for a 400 pounder.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:57 amOnce again fomenting hatred and violence, it’s just a matter of time before one of the wingnuts shows up on Wall Street with a gun. Seriously, with people hurting and scared, please STFU!
I’m just as pissed as the next person, but I would never advocate violence or the taking of one’s life.
PEACE
March 17th, 2009 at 10:01 amWhen it comes to their money, the rightwingers are furious, wishing for a return to the days of the French revolution, guillotines, and the like.
While it’s not a bad idea to tar and feather these greedy and tonedeaf CEOs, I can’t help but recall that when Bush&Co were leading us into illegal war, when they were destroying the Constitution, eliminating individual rights and liberties, giving our tax payments to the rich in the form of tax cuts for them, and corrupting the justice system, the rightwingers were stone silent.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:02 amAlthough I generally don’t approve of violence, I wouldn’t protest it in this case. Still, if it comes down to that, I think the reichwing deregulators, etc. ought to join the execs at the gallows.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:05 amHow about 100% Tax ?
March 17th, 2009 at 10:07 amSurely, if right wingers are this pissed off they would have no problem being in favor of a 100% tax on these specific bonuses? Obviously, for them, such a tax would not be nearly as fun to watch or implement, but it would get all of our tax money back.
I don’t give a g*d damn what happens to the Geniuses. All of the above is fine with me. Just get them away from our money. ASAP isn’t soon enough.
Obama is playing with fire if he thinks he can thread this needle. The Geniuses got their screwing in, (with gov’t nodding approvingly). They’re getting paid to have provided the screwing. And nobody is telling them they can’t screw again. Seems like they’re being told to go for it after taking a good scolding. Just let things calm down and it’ll be back to biz as usual.
We’ll see how that works out.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:08 amDeath is to easy of an out for these people that gambled with peoples’ livelihoods.
They need to be sent to prison, it’s that simple.
The worst thing you can do to people like this is strip them of their wealth and privilege.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:11 amFunny, it was Bill Maher that suggested something similar a few weeks ago; but now the right wing have shed their pro-business, pro-greed, pro-cronyism, pro-compassion conservatism to try to seize the mantle of radical populists. You can’t make this stuff up. Desperate times call for desperation.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:12 amConservatives Suggest Torture Tactics For AIG Execs: ‘Exemplary Hanging,’ Guillotine Party, ‘Boiling In Oil’
– - In this case, Conservatives may be on to something.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:14 amCan’t you feel the love? I guess ‘The Masters of the Universe’ are shaking in their thousand dollar loafers.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:14 amPublic caining, followed by prison – and I’m a dyed-in-the-wool liberal.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:14 amEven though I grudgingly accept that the failure of AIG could cause a disastrous domino effect through the financial world, I am as outraged as anybody else about the vast amount of money being funneled to AIG — AND seeing failed executives being rewarded for their incompetence with more money than I will ever see in my lifetime (and I do MY job well!).
That said — I find it just as disturbing that others are trivializing torture (even mocking it!) by suggesting these execs be subjected to it. This is as tasteless as those who make comparisons to the Holocaust of scenarios that don’t even come close.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:15 amI dont know…..it stuns me to be thinking this, but…..I actually agree with those 2 neocon idiots in this specific case.
Apparently ya gotta do something drastic to get the attention of the wall street morons. While kinda drastic, maybe this would get their attention.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:15 amGuido@21, Don’t forget ACORN.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:18 amScrewBush Says: How about 100% Tax ? Surely, if right wingers are this pissed off they would have no problem being in favor of a 100% tax on these specific bonuses? Obviously, for them, such a tax would not be nearly as fun to watch or implement, but it would get all of our tax money back.
Best idea I’ve heard in a while, ScrewBush…
March 17th, 2009 at 10:18 amWhat?? Reaganomics said the the capitalist system was self regulating. Now it seems deregulation created fertile ground for fraud, corruption and legalized theft. What a surprise.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:19 amTrusting people with money that they didn’t earn was their first mistake.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:20 amExpecting some sort of completely out of character moral behavior from these corporate execs is just plain stupid.
These guys have made a living out of slitting peoples throats just to see the look on their faces.
The folks handing out the money had to know this was coming.
Wow! Tone down the rhetoric, please!
Rather than violence and death, how about indepth investigations, prosecutions, trials and convictions, then strip them of all of their assets and throw them in regular prisons with the general population?
Now, if they are forced to parade, naked, down Wall Street next January, I’ll be there to watch. But no violence, please.
PEACE
March 17th, 2009 at 10:21 amConservative thinking:
Stealing money= Boiled in Oil.
Stealing Oil= Boiled lobster on beachfront property in a tax shelter.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:22 amTP, Stop posting things about Conservatives that I agree w/. It makes me feel all yucky.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:29 amAs far as Krauthammer goes, I wouldn’t mind someone taking a hammer to HIS pointy head.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:29 amI have no sympathy for these people. I doubt Krauthammer and Kondracke aren’t serious, and obviously the US is not going to hang these execs (although they deserve it well). I see nothing wrong with entertaining the idea of fa slow and brutal torture. Just a fantasy, right?
March 17th, 2009 at 10:30 amCorretion: I doubt Krauthammer and Kondracke *are* serious.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:31 amHow can anyone seriously propose “pay for performance” after a ten year record of widespread cheating on executive stock options and the Wall Street implosion/AIG bonus debacles?
It’s bad management theory. Add the gross misbehavior cases and it boggles the mind that President Obama wants to deform education and healthcare with P4P.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:31 amD-g, I suck today.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:33 amThis is a real demonstration that rather than solutions, all they can produce is over the top rhetoric.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:38 amThey are just stretching their rhetoric to make a point. They are obviously not serious. Yes, they are full-time hypocrite & jackasses, but puffing up & making more of their statements than is really there does not ultimately help the overall debate.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:45 amspencers mom Says:
Once again fomenting hatred and violence, it’s just a matter of time before one of the wingnuts shows up on Wall Street with a gun.
____________
Like Jim Atkisson?
March 17th, 2009 at 10:48 amThis narrative needs to be tamped down a little before some kook does something awful.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:48 amFeeding the populous anger. And Im angry.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:49 amThis is over the top.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:53 amI see it isn’t just sarah palin who likes to incite.
Don’t these people know that there are idiots who MIGHT do what call for? Or do they not care?
ScrewBush Says:
How about 100% Tax ?
Surely, if right wingers are this pissed off they would have no problem being in favor of a 100% tax on these specific bonuses?
_____________
Well… if the Chinese get too uptight about the TRILLION dollars of US debt they’re holding and decide to quit buying anymore… you’re liable to see something akin to the 92% top rate that was in effect during the Eisenhower years.
I’ve read more than once over the last few years that the secret GOOPer plan was to run up such a huge debt at the Federal level that the govt would be be forced to cut discretionary spending way back, sell off all its assets to satisfy its creditors (think national parks), and retract permanently.
And when you think about the amount of debt the last three GOOP presidents managed to run up, culminating w/ Botch…
It would be the height of irony if the profligacy of the Botch Admin eventually resulted in the highest tax rates on the rich seen in the this country since Eisenhower, huh? Another probable outcome would be the downsizing of our military. WTF do we NEED 11 carrier groups for?
How… how… stunningly appropriate it would be.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:56 amSo I gather being forced to go on the Daily Show to be publicly humiliated by Stewart just isn’t punishment enough after all, huh?
March 17th, 2009 at 10:59 amHabib Says:
Wow, another post loaded with liberal hypocrisy. It’s ok for you loons to call for their heads, but, anyone with an (R) after their name ask for accountability and look out!
___________
Wow… another pointless comment from “habib’… who could have predicted that?
Gee… apparently the fact that people like Krauthammer & Company, and even more so, Grassley – AN ELECTED OFFICIAL MAKING THE SAME SORT OF COMMENTS – get national media podiums to make their comments, whilst we’re just blogging, is lost on a mindless hypocrite like you.
We’re just Cheetos-chomping hippies hiding in our mummies’ basements, habib… not extremely well paid nationally known experts w/ television shows at our disposal… it’d be interesting to see which of those Fox pundits also DEFENDED these very same Wall Streeters, until recently.
Blither on, habib. Just like a blind pig looking for an acorn, you’ll manage to make a “Real Point” one of these days.
BTW – “you loons”? Please define that meaningfully, so we know what the F you’re talking about. Otherwise, it comes across as hysterical hyperbole.
March 17th, 2009 at 11:06 amCUCKOO! The loons have finally flown WAAAAY over the cuckoo’s nest. Real classy bunch they are …
March 17th, 2009 at 11:27 amChuck Feney Says:
Funny, it was Bill Maher that suggested something similar a few weeks ago; but now the right wing have shed their pro-business, pro-greed, pro-cronyism, pro-compassion conservatism to try to seize the mantle of radical populists. You can’t make this stuff up. Desperate times call for desperation.
It is all faux outrage on their part. Just imagine what they would be saying if President Obama had somehow been able to stop the bonuses. They would have been screaming socialism…communism…anti free-market, etc.
March 17th, 2009 at 11:33 amGotta love the republicans – the party of fear and smear and intimidation and domination and retribution. Looks like they all have taken The Hypocritic Oath.
March 17th, 2009 at 11:34 amI would recommend that we get back to basics.
Number one being that you shouldn’t expect anyone to do anything you are not willing to do yourself.
That being the case, it’s time for Krauthammer et.al., to STFU.
His 15 minutes are up. He F’ed it up with every self serving disingenuous web of lies he’s spun from his lips so far.
March 17th, 2009 at 11:42 ampastcaring: Krauthammer’s 15 mins??? This guy’s been wrong for 25 years!
March 17th, 2009 at 11:55 amHey, wait a minute. I just heard Jabba the Rush say (my ears are still bleeding) that the AIG bonuses were just fine and this whole anti-bonus sentiment was just a librul plot. Who’s leading those conservatives anyway?
March 17th, 2009 at 12:18 pmRepukes, neanderthal hive-mind at work…
…but to be sure, all this is, is a cash grab by the AIG people before the company goes bankrupt…
…insurance people have no morals, well, most of them it seems.
March 17th, 2009 at 12:32 pmmk3872 Says:
pastcaring: Krauthammer’s 15 mins??? This guy’s been wrong for 25 years!
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Disclaimer: the 15 minutes referred to above was in no way meant to be taken in a literal sense. Please do not interpret 15 minutes to actually be a measurable time frame of 15 minutes.
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March 17th, 2009 at 12:34 pmHAHAHA…I CAN SEE THE HEADLINE NOW:
REPUBLICAN MULLAHS JOIN AL QAEDA AND CALL FOR BEHEADINGS AND JIHAD AGAINST AMERICAN ELITES.
THOSE CHRISTO-FASCIST TERRORISTS….YOU CAN’T REASON WITH THEM AND THEY DON’T DESERVE ANY RIGHTS.
March 17th, 2009 at 12:35 pmI can’t believe that a neo-con actually suggested borrowing a guillotine from the FRENCH!?! What is their world coming to, anyway? I thought anything using French was tantamount to high treason? Am I wrong here, or has the whole world turned inside-out?
March 17th, 2009 at 1:07 pm…Using any thing French… Fast fingers, slow proofreading.
March 17th, 2009 at 1:08 pmHuh? I thought it was Fannie and Freddie that led to the mess that we’re in.
March 17th, 2009 at 1:15 pmThey all deserve jail time that’s for damn sure. Goddamn scammers.
March 17th, 2009 at 1:23 pmawh man.
karuth is one snotty sob.
All repugs know is torture and blood.
his kind caused this economic downfall.
March 17th, 2009 at 1:30 pmIs investigating fraud too radical? What has AIG been saying their worth during all this time that they were hemorrhaging billions.
March 17th, 2009 at 2:01 pmI don’t like FOX much either, but the idea of some angry mob going after the bankers appeals to me. I don’t think I’ve hit the point in human evolution where violence never appeals to me, the kinds of people who serve no other purpose than destroying this country, the bankers, deserve what’s coming to them and regardless of the actual outcome will always deserve more. Their families however should be taken care of, the hope is though that many of them do not have children, or at least aren’t a huge influence on them.
March 17th, 2009 at 2:10 pmAs bad as the misuse of bailout funds is, it doesn’t compare to the shredding of the Constitution by the Bush Cabal.
So when can we waterboard Bush ?
I’d pay a lot more to attend that event than I would to attend a Bush speech.
March 17th, 2009 at 2:17 pmDo conservatives get off on torture?
March 17th, 2009 at 2:33 pmHabib Says:
Wow, another post loaded with liberal hypocrisy. It’s ok for you loons to call for their heads, but, anyone with an (R) after their name ask for accountability and look out!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
What do you know another astonishingly stupid post by Habib. Can you cough up the Liberal Pundits calling for violence against these guys basically thier murders? Take your time. Then when you CANT show calls for violence admit you are a moron and show yourself out in disgrace. By the way that word Hypocrisy? I dont think it means what you think it means. You really are a moron. You do know that right?
March 17th, 2009 at 9:42 pm100% tax on the bonuses does not go far enough. I recommend the same sort of assets forfeiture that we currently use againse (non-CIA) drug dealers. Strip them of every cent and in-kind asset they own, and permanently ban them from holding _any_ job that entails handling _any_ amount of money.
March 18th, 2009 at 3:53 pm