Bailout News For Feb.17th: Insolvent Banks, Autos, Ireland and Eastern Europe

Ireland is in trouble and facing default, not too surprising given the blanket guarantee offered for its entire banking system.  Eastern Europe is threatening to implode and take several lender nations along for the ride. General Motors is out of cash and back to the public trough on D-Day for the big three automakers.  California fell one vote short of passing a budget to cut their deficit.  The state of Kansas has suspended all income tax refunds and can't meet its payroll.  The NBA secured a $175 million bailout for 15 of its weaker franchises. South Korea is having a currency moment as Woori bank struggles.  And finally, everyone seems to agree that the US banking system is utterly insolvent.

After the jump, I have all 45 links neatly packaged and ready for your consumption.  We promise it won't hurt.  Just open your eyes slowly, start reading and then call someone in Washington and tell them how you feel.  All the relevant phone numbers and email addresses are inside.

I've changed my mind and decided to waste more inches on my front page.  The links are below. Emails work but a phone call is usually better and more cathartic.  What the hell, let's go ahead and add the phone number for the US Treasury to the mix. Give them a call and ask for Tim Geithner's office. When you get his voicemail, just tell him that the citizenry has begun to pay attention and that he should support taxpayers over bondholders in all future bank bailouts.  Remind him that YOU pay his salary and that you will be paying close attention to his response to the crisis.  Please take a moment to place a call.  I promise you will feel better afterwards.  50 calls will be noticed.  250 will raise some eyebrows and 500 calls will make our presence felt.  We're getting close to 2,500 daily readers now so let's get it done, people. 

Tuesday's 45 links

Whitehouse.gov

Senate.gov

House.gov

USTreas.gov    202-622-2000 (phone)   202-622-6415 (fax)

Comments

[anon]

I called the Treasury and left my messge with the receptionist. Then I did the same with the White House. Thanks for the info.

[B-52]

I called Treasury and they wouldn't give me Tim Geithner's voicemali so I asked for Kashkari instead. Ha. Left my words with the operator.

This is a good idea.

[boo2200]

I called my rep, my senator and the white house. I still can't get through to the treasury. I do feel better surprisingly.

[Brasco]

Made my calls as well. Feel a little better about this whole thing. I'm still very upset that we even need to contact them and tell them. They should automatically be taking our side in bailout discussions.

[Scott]

Some years ago I FAXED a California Congressman after he was spouting off during special orders. To my surprise, the next day I got a call from his Chief of Staff. I didn't live in his district either. A fax is hard to ignore. Someone's got to pick it up and read at least part of it to make sure it isn't important.

[Think4aChange]

Make your calls/faxes. Find out where the money is going. Scrutinize & Repeat.

A new website from the President aims to do just that.

I'm hoping this transparency helps inform the public to scrutinize government. What is clear to me is that this is something we wouldn't have seen with the past administration.

http://www.recovery.gov/

[Weapons of Mass Toxic Assets]

Here is what I think we should do for these toxic assets...

Which probably will be the end solution...

We package them up and send em to space and blow it up in outter space.

Thanks for the noble prize.