I agree with a couple of the commentators there. The deal is so ridiculously favourable to Citigroup that every failed group is going to put their hand out for the same deal. GM will be next, and they’ll use the argument, quite reasonably, that more employees would be affected by their demise than Citigroup and that the Government should support them in exactly the same way.

The worst possible aspect is that the deal is so inept that the markets might lose confidence in the soundness of economic decisions being made by the Government re the bailout, and spark another plummet in the markets.

I guess the Bush administration figures that they have no chance of relection in 2012 anyway, so they might as well abuse the power while they have it. Here are some reactions to the deal:
http://economistsview.typepad.com/economistsview/2008/11/the-citigroup-b.html

Note that even the Wall Street Journal thinks this deal is dodgy.

Diog , mention to G Island that there claim of Gitmo “is technically US soil ” , would makeo Abu Ghraib prison (Iraq) “technically US soil” , Subu base (Manila) also ….making them what , under “homeland security”….but there’s ywellow arch ‘Macca’s’ there thats th giveaway …so Gittmo & renditions ar SOS…..you’re just jealous your love Hillary will fix these problems quick & well

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/02/26/obama_270208_narrowweb__300×512,0.jpg

or a selection like this:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/231/463506745_8ed842c2f0_o.jpg

I gave you rendition didn’t I? That was the negotiation. I’m a tough negotiator.

In fairness to me, I think Condi was frozen out of the torture briefs. Gitmo is technically US soil so the SOS isn’t involved.

They were areas of international concern, but I think Condi/SOS was more having to sell them to the world as an international spokesman for US domestic policy, rather than them being examples of US foreign policy.

You know how much I love pedantry.

“They look even cheaper by posing in front of a card board cut-out of the famed Maccu Picchu and NO knowledge tree.”

Yea , knew it was fake when there no diog signs in th background

http://www.apec2008.org.pe/apecsystem/gimagenes/imagen2497_det_real.jpg

“I heard the ponchos were made in the famous Peruvian Alpaca wool. The naughty alpacas”

Understand ponchos ar of pure alpaca wool , th most expensive potato sacks I’ve cast eyes upons

Now Amigo , hav been trying to follow diog’s literery Hillary’s SOS responsibilities offers , but they seem to change every time he gets codes from G Island , just look:

diog #771 I’m OPEN to negotiation on torture, Gitmo, rendition and unlawful detention …….they ARE within SOS CONDI’s remit.

So Amigo #772 agrees , yep thats SOS responsibility , so fine OK SOS Hillary should gets those responsobilities

diog #773 “Torture, Gitmo and tribunals really come under Defence or Justice so they’re Obama ”

Well Amigo ? , #771 and #773 posts ar diferent , but seemingly written by diog , what do th “knowledge trees” say

http://www.apec2008.org.pe/apecsystem/gimagenes/imagen2497_det_real.jpg

They look cheap as per observed by the OZ:

PERU broke new ground in drabness overnight by cladding world leaders in brown ponchos that looked like potato sacks. Perhaps it was the austerity of these difficult financial times. Each year the biggest secret of the leaders' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation group (APEC) is what colourful national costume will be provided for leaders to wear to the official photograph sessions.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24696859-16953,00.html

I heard the ponchos were made in the famous Peruvian Alpaca wool. The naughty alpacas.

http://home.hetnet.nl/~tyeslemore-voskuil/tyeslemore/alpacas/alpaca123.jpg

Now the question is whether these were pure alpaca wool that would cost a fair bit or they were the el-cheapo mixed with synthetic fibre. Even better, were they made with baby alpaca wool that would cost 10 times more than pure alpaca wool.

One alpaca wool shop in Cuzco told me to watch the Australians, he said in the next twenty years Australia will rival Peru in the production of the alpaca wool.

They look even cheaper by posing in front of a card board cut-out of the famed Maccu Picchu and NO knowledge tree.

Next year, APEC will be held in Singapore, the la la land. It will be interesting to see what silly dress the Singaporeans will come up with.

Richardson has Trade. No SOS there.

Arms control in US = Obama. Arms, nukes in rest of world, including Pakistan and North Korea = Hillary. Good luck there!

Anything in the UN, including Israel and Palestine is Hillary. Tough hey.

Torture, Gitmo and tribunals really come under Defence or Justice so they’re Obama. But if there’s a rendition, I’m blaming Hillary.

it always is of concern when you become reasonable in negotiations , sort of like i may hav missed something along line therein th oratory

Yes Condi as SOS has to take that stain on Gitmo, torture, rendition etc , its not Defense or NSA as she had to be not only in policy but worse in ‘very hard selling’ thu SOS diplomocy it abroad to alleged ‘allies’ so its Hillarys SOS to fix and fix properley (except current military tribunals , diferent jurisdiction)

You havn’t mentioned Doha trade deals and gun control Guess SOS having UN appointee under State Dept unlike last admin means SOS wears those rotten veto votes on Isreael returning to 1967 border withdrawals , but Palestinian resolution itself is grey demarcations

I didn’t include the economy as I thought that it went without saying that Obama takes full responsibility for that.

Kyoto wouldn’t normally be a SOS job would it. Smith didn’t go to Bali, but Wong/Garrett did. I don’t think Condi was there. Obi takes the rap on CC.

I’m open to negotiation on Gitmo, torture, rendition and unlawful detention as I think Obama has made the running on those issues but they are within Condi’s remit.