A possible way that congressional Democrats can pass the bailout *AND* win the spin

[scheming daemons]

Pass the bailout with these provisions:

A. No company receiving bailout money can pay any executive more than 7-times what the lowest paid employee in the company makes (the Japanese model). This includes stock options.

B. The Federal Treasury gets an ownership stake in every company that gets bailout money. The Treasury then gets the proceeds if the company is sold, or when it gets dividends.

C. The Treasury must face full and open oversight.

D. Every homeowner with one of the at-risk mortgages will be given an opportunity to refinance at very favorable terms so they can stay in their homes.


Then... we sell this to the American people this way:

"Today, without any help whatsoever from Congressional Republicans or the McCain campaign, the Democratic party saved the banking system of the United States and averted plunging this nation into a deep Depression. The Congressional Republicans put their party before their country today - and just like 75 years ago, the Democratic Party saved this country. We've protected the interests of the American taxpayer... and in the end, this will be profitable for the US Treasury and ultimately, the American people."

That's what needs to happen.


Our nation is on the brink... this bailout NEEDS to happen. A lot of you don't seem to "get" how important this is.

This is bailing out us, the American people... our savings and our jobs... not Wall Street fat-cats.


The Democrats need to lead... and then sell what they've done. It's an easy sell if it is explained properly.

[leftofcool]

1. No bailout period!

Loan them the money, but no bailout taxpayers have to pay for.

[lapfog_1]

Loaning them billions does absolutely nothing to save them.

It doesn't change the balance sheet of any bailed out firm.

[DJ13]

2. While I like your proposals, the Republicans would never vote for it

[gatorboy]

3. America doesn't want it to happen.

The bailout might make sense. It might make good sense. But this bailout is VERY unpopular with alot of regular folks and that's why the Republicans hightailed it out of there. This is going to be a lousy election for them and they are trying to find ways to make it less lousy. Jumping ship on this is all they have left.

[Andy823]

4. And as has been stated many times

Here and by some democrats in congress, don't give them the whole $700 billion. Just give them enough to make it through the next 4 months, then let the next president, Obama, put in his own people to decide if it is working, or if it was a sham the whole time.

[whistle]

5. Add also that to get a bailout, the investment bank must apply and answer a questionaire

...as to the original owner of the debt, its real market value, the risk of the debtor to default, how the bailout fund will be used and who will make up the difference when the bailout is to be repaid to the Federal Government.

[pocoloco]

6. "Our nation is on the brink... this bailout NEEDS to happen"

Can you please explain why you believe this?

Also can you explain why we should believe that you know more than the economists on the five page list who are calling bullshit on the bailout while you are at it.

[scheming daemons]

8. A) For every economist on that list, there's a dozen who say we need this and B)

I have two close family members who work in the industry.

I've never seen my brother this scared. He's been a corporate banker for 15 years.

He's always voted Republican.

He says... if we don't do this bail out... unemployment will reach 12% within 6 months and the Dow will plummet down to about 7500.

If you work for a company that needs to borrow to make payroll... you'll be laid off.


This is not a fucking drill.

[TheDoorbellRang]

10. Amen. I'm hearing the same from folks I know in the industry

[Statistical]

7. So what about people that paid their mortgage....

Someone who borrowed too much got in over there head and likely had poor credit now gets to "re negotiate" to favorable terms.

What about the 95%+ of us who did the right thing, saved, put a down payment, decided on 30yr fixed, and made every payment on time?

[scheming daemons]

9. 1) You'll benefit by having your home values start to go up again. and 2)

You'll benefit by not being on the unemployment line within 6 months because your company lays you off because it can't borrow money to meet payroll.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

12. 3) You won't have the value of your home drop by 20%

ny

[TNMOM]

14. if we let it "fail" then maybe companies won't borrow

more than than they can pay back in the future. Why put a bandaid on a failed system. I say let it fail. Create a new system that works better.

[scheming daemons]

17. Fine. You'll be unemployed in 6 months.... read up on the 1930's... you'll be living it.

[TheDoorbellRang]

13. You'll also benefit because your bank won't have to call you

next week and tell you the rest of the money you owe on your 30 year mortgage is due NOW because they need the cash.

[TNMOM]

15. yeah, right. And they are going to do that to every American who has a mortgage?

[TNMOM]

11. bailing out us? ... not me

I pay my bills on time. I live in a modest house, and cling to a lifestyle that is far short of lavish.

If you fail on the job, you are fired. This is what happens in the real world. If you are not good at something, you find something else. You move on. you certainly don't expect/demand that the governement hand you a loan so you can continue your lavish lifestyle and hold others accountable for your ongoing incompetence.

Do I own stock? Yes. But honestly, I'd rather lose it all than bail these greedy bastards out. I say give them enough to keep the lights on so they can keep working, but no more. Let the chips fall where they may.

[scheming daemons]

16. You'll be out of work in 6 months.... you won't be able to pay your bills anymore...

[slick8790]

18. Posts like this show absolutely no knowledge of how the economy works whatsoever. n/t