Enjoyed it, though I don’t necessarily agree with all of his comments. Especially regarding stuffing the banks. But its interesting hear a “big player” (vs. insider) perspective. Something we average American’s haven’t seen & heard much.

It certainly makes more sense than just throwing money at the same people who ran it down in the first place…

Exactly how many homes has Obama bought…..without the help of Rezko?

And as far as casinos having a tough time right now….lol….you do realize gambling isn’t a necessity?

It might be easy to START with money when you “come from money” as it would be if someone handed you a bucket of money. But the landscape is littered with the failures of people who inherited fortunes.

Now, the Donald is not one of my favorite people, merely because of the comb-over; real men don’t need it. Even Trump Tower has a slight sense of plastic to it, to me, and I’ve been in that board room.

But he speaks cogently about the subjects in the interview. Isn’t that the point?

Is it not possible for someone with money to say something that makes sense (cents)? Is wisdom reserved for the poor?

Another comment makes the case (what case?) that the Donald has made and lost a lot of money over time. I’m sure the Donald would agree. I’m not sure how that is an example of what’s “wrong” with our economic system, though. The opportunity to make and lose money is, too simplistically but close, the actual foundation of our system.

Who’s begrudging someone the chance to make money? Well, some are. They think they should have a piece of everybody else’s pie sliced off for them and sent to them every month so they don’t have to worry about buying gas or paying for NetFlix.

Yet, it’s the opportunity to LOSE money that we’re talking about in the current crisis. The government (meaning those supposedly running it at the moment — though it looks much more like it’s running them) is proving incapable of standing behind capitalism when it operates to correct economic errors, mistakes and, yes, fraud.

This government seems to think that it is the government’s responsibility to stop the harsh, stark realities of the market, to make the hurt go away. Economic hurt DOES NOT GO AWAY. It’s a zero sum game, folks.

The hurt is merely moved somewhere else.

Do the people who want a slice of the pie want a slice of the losses suffered every day by entrepreneurs in America as well?

In this case, to future generations and current taxpayers (supposedly the “rich” but it’s going much farther down the totem pole than that in the end).

In trying to stop the flood from topping the dam by pouring more water into the upstream river (tell me how that makes sense), these fools may well succeed in drowning what we used to think of as America.

It seems to me that the Donald gets it.

Why is that a problem?

His hair; now that is a problem, but not what’s inside his head.

Final point. Think about this.

If Barack Obama were a contestant on The Apprentice, do you think for a second that DT would hire him?

I don’t think so. So, let’s elect Don Trump President (insane thought, I know, but it would definitely be interesting) and send BHO back to school, or back to Chicago, who cares. Then Donald could fill his cabinet through a prime time network show, The Cabinet, running from the election to inauguration day, with the audience getting to call and e-mail their votes.

Now, THAT would be cool.

And probably better for the nation.

But it’s not our government’s job to “prop up the banks.” Their job and oath is the Constitution, including the General Welfare clause of the Preamble… and to enforce the regulatory laws, many of which have been broken flagrantly.

[imagine all caps] Put the banks, including the Fed Reserve system under bankruptcy reorganization, sort out the legit. stuff from the crap (derivatives and other ponzi scheme gambling stuff) and freeze the crap to deal with as things get better under control [end all caps]. We do have enough people that know how to do this.

Here – Video, audio or transcript of Feb 10 interview:
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/2/10/economist_james_galbraith_bailed_out_banks

or Google “Homeowners and Bank Protection Act.”

He also does not seem to get involved in politics too often so his firm negative assessment of Obama’s policies should be seen in that context.