As protesters chanted “bailout people not banks,” lawmakers reached a deal to move forward with the largest bailout in our nation’s history. But after being deluged with calls from voters and nervous about a looming election, the House defeated the bill. Today on GRITtv our roundtable takes a look at the protest on Wall Street last week, why most Americans never bought the bailout, and who would have benefited from the legislation. We are joined by Arun Gupta, editor of the Indypendent and one of the protest’s organizers, Robert Kuttner, founder and Editor in Chief of the American Prospect, Robert Johnson, former chief economist of the Senate Banking Committee, and by phone, Rep. Maxine Waters.
We also begin a week of special programming. Live From Main Street goes virtual. GRITtv will be broadcasting special programming all week from the battleground state of Ohio on the issue of voting rights. Today, WILL YOUR VOTE COUNT? We're joined by Bob Fitrakis, author of How the GOP Stole America’s 2004 Election & Is Rigging 2008, Donita Judge, a member of Advancement Project's Power and Democracy team and their lead attorney covering Ohio, and Stephen Hightower from the League of Young Voters.
Finally, a report from the American News Project on anti-immigration activists and the McCain campaign. And footage from last week's protest on Wall Street.
For this week’s special programming on voting GRITtv would like to thank the Progressive Book Club, The Media Consortium, Progress Ohio, and The League of Young Voters.
Right on time….I knew I could count on you people~!
By DavidV on September 29th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Unfortunately, you seem to have left out the bipartisan “fix” on the bailout. To whit: Goldman-Sachs one of biggest contributors to both Obama and McCain. Goldman-Sachs, (prior?) home to Paulson, current Treas. Sec. and Rubin, Treas Sec. under Clinton, major proponent of financial deregulation, including repeal of Glass-Steagall, now involved with Citigroup and economic advisor to Obama. Both Goldman and Citi are major beneficiaries of bailout at a time when some of their rivals have been allowed to bite the dust. Buffett buys in to GS a day after it is allowed to reorganize as a “bank holding company” but GS stocks go up 2 hours before announcement. Who’s the “insider” here?
C’mon guys, this whole things smell from either nostril. Wait and see if Rubin doesn’t wind up as Treas. Sec. if Obama wins. If you want another perspective, why don’t you talk to Kucinich, a Dem. who voted NO on this bailout.
Sorry, I know you guys love Obama, but “he’s no FDR”. I think you are really missing the big picture, here. Your “hope” is as misplaced as would be the $700 billion if this deal had passed.
Don’t get me wrong, McCain is a wolf. But I think you do your viewers a disservice by not pointing out that Obama is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Or, if you prefer another canid, whether blue or red, both foxes are raiding the hen house and are eating both your nest eggs and the chickens who laid them.
By Aquifer on September 29th, 2008 at 9:04 pm