This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.

Watch Bernanke Debate Live

Tyler Durden's picture




 

The Bernanke debate in the senate has started. Readers can watch it live on CSPAN.

The latest Bernanke tally is as follows (courtesy of Jim Bianco):

Per Dow Jones:

  • Voting “Yes”: 53 (38 Democrats, 14 Republicans, 1 Independent)
  • Voting “No”: 20 (5 Democrats, 14 Republicans, 1 Independent)
  • Officially Undecided: 21 (11 Democrats, 10 Republicans)
  • Unknown: 7 (3 Democrats, 4 Republicans)

Per Bloomberg:

  • Voting “Yes”: 51 (36 Democrats, 14 Republicans, 1 Independent)
  • Voting “No”: 22 (6 Democrats, 15 Republicans, 1 Independent)
  • Unknown/Undecided: 27 (16 Democrats, 11 Republicans)

 

Note Bloomberg includes Paul Kirk of MA (as a yes) and not Scott Brown.

 

- advertisements -

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Thu, 01/28/2010 - 13:59 | 209455 FreakuentFlyer
FreakuentFlyer's picture

is it mapped to any tickers on FreeStockCharts.com?

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:02 | 209461 John McCloy
John McCloy's picture

You may as well chalk Gillibrand up as a Yes because she does whatever Chuck does.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:04 | 209599 johnnyBoy
johnnyBoy's picture

How about prior to the confirmation vote the senators put BB on a speaker phone and asking him to submit the FED to a full and fair audit? If BB says , "NO!",  then vote him out!

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:04 | 209465 JT Marlin
JT Marlin's picture

I kinda' tawk lik a hick.  Seriously, this guy is reading off a fucking piece of paper.  Does he understand a word he's saying?

 

I say keep Bernanke in, prevent the market double-dip for now.  Who else wants this job?  No one.  Not after the average Joe and even the metal bugs and tin-foil loonies on here have criticized perhaps the single hardest position in the world from the comfort of their couches and computer screens, based on what, paranoia?  The market corrected, the bubble popped, deal with it.  Did we forget about the internet bubbles? the Japanese asset bubble? 

 

2 questions:  Does Japan stil exist as a country?  Yes.  Can the people there still buy stuff?  Yes.

 

End of story. 

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:08 | 209475 zice
zice's picture

You are afraid and acting delusional.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:41 | 209550 Ripped Chunk
Ripped Chunk's picture

No, it is the path to ultimate truth.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:10 | 209483 crosey
crosey's picture

And just accept Ben's (et.al.) tomfoolery as a "fact of life"?  Not me!

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:17 | 209497 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

How long has Japan been in a deflationary environment with 0%ish interest rates? When was the last time the Nikkei hit a new high?

The hardest position in the world? Pressing a big red digital "PRINT" button like the staples "EASY" button isn't hard.

How bout you try running a tae kwon do school with a bunch of slacker sub-ordinates?

Haha!

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:21 | 209503 Joe Sixpack
Joe Sixpack's picture
Proclamation on the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America

 

www.RevokeTheFed.com



March 2008

WHEREAS, Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States of America authorizes Congress "To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures";

WHEREAS, on December 23rd, 1913 the US Congress enacted the Federal Reserve System;

WHEREAS, the Federal Reserve System is considered an independent agency within the federal government, with oversight of Congress and containing appointed public officials on its board of directors;

WHEREAS, the Federal Reserve System Controls the Federal Reserve Note, the official currency of the great nation of the United States of America;

WHEREAS, there may be controversies regarding the legality and constitutionality of the Federal Reserve System, it is recognized that the said system has operated continuously as the central banking system of the United States since the inception of the Federal Reserve Act of 1913;

WHEREAS, the Constitution of the United States of America granted Congress the authority to create the current Federal Reserve System, it also does grant Congress the authority to modify or revoke the Federal Reserve System;

WHEREAS, the actions of the Fedreral Reserve System represent the credit and currency of the United Stated of America to the citizens of this great nation and to the world;

WHEREAS, the Federal Reserve System, acting independently within the federal government allowed, supported, and even promoted parasitical and non-productive uses of the money and credit of the United States of America;

WHEREAS, the United States and likely the entire world's financial system is undergoing massive de-leveraging of the said parasitical and non-productive uses of the credit and money of the United States of America (as well as other nations' currencies);

WHEREAS, the US dollar, the "Federal Reserve Note" is declining in value due to these parasitical activites, as well as potentially other causes;

WHEREAS, it is recognized that the citizens of the United States and other nations did willingly participate at some level in the creation and propogation of said parasitical activities;

WHEREAS, it is also recognized that the United States of America, a sovereign nation, has the legal, moral, and God given authority to take actions to benefit its citizens and to protect its good name, credit and money in times of difficulty;

WHEREAS, it is recognized that the current time is such a time of great difficulty;

WHEREAS, it is recognized the parasitical financial institutions and their activities are at odds with citizens of the United States of America and the good credit and money thereof;

WHEREAS, the current indications are that the Federal Reserve System is acting to preserve the financial system currently flooded with the parasitical activities;

WHEREAS, the current indications are that the neither the Federal Reserve System, nor the Congress of the United States, nor the people of the United States have access to the books of the institutions being preserved by the Federal Reserve, and therefor the degree of inter-connectivity and risk associated with the institutions and other entities cannot be determined;

WHEREAS, the Federal Reserve System is accepting non-performing assets as collateral for credit with ultimate taxpayer responibility to entities not under its legislative mandate;

IT MUST BE CONCLUDED, that the Federal Reserve System is not acting to the benefit of the people of the United States of America, its credit, money, and good name;

WHEREAS, it is recognized that the political will and capability of the government of the United States of America may not be up to the task of prosecuting this proclamation ; It is also recognized that this may be the only hope for the continued survival of the United States of America as the great nation as it has historically existed.

NOW THEREFORE, it is PROCLAIMED by those supporting this Proclamation that the Congress of the United States of America FULLY NATIONALIZE the Federal Reserve System, and take full control of the credit and money of our great nation; The Congress must take whatever action necessary to seperate out, sequester, disown, or otherwise neutralize the effect of the parasitical financial activities which led to the current crisis; The Congress of the United States of America must reorganize, replace, or terminate the Federal Reserve System as appropriate; or otherwise devise a system for creation of the national currency.

IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED, that the Congress of the United States of America in cooperation with the Executive of the United States of America contact allied nations and any other nation willing to participate in the overhaul of the failing and parastical financial sytem currently in operation and create new treaties and alliances as necessary to create a sane and productive system of finance with the express goal of supporting a productive national, and by extension and through voluntary cooperation, world economy;

FURTHERMORE, it is PROCLAIMED that it should be the goal of such an international effort to maintain fair international trading practices allowing for protection in national interest of labor, resources, and productive capabilities;

WHEREAS, it is recognized that such a move on the part of the United States of America may result in the necessity of an isolationist policy IF the other developed nations do not follow our lead; If such occurs, so be it.

SO HELP US GOD!

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:24 | 209507 FreakuentFlyer
FreakuentFlyer's picture

the most realistic comment on this blog, yet. i think. (and i mean what marlin wrote before this paste job)

kinda like that one line from the movie about microsoft, when steve says apple makes better products, and gates responds that it does not matter.

actually, now that i think about it, mike tyson made a perfect comment for all the ZH perma whiners: "they all have a plan until they get hit." lest not forget - the ppl in the public eye are getting hit all the time.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:15 | 209742 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

It's really not about realistic comments, it about a guy who had a job to do and didn't do it. If you think the economy is on the track to recovery consider this: every post war recovery was led by residential construction (and somewhat manufacturing-yeah that's gonna happen in America today). Residential Construction hit a new ALL-TIME LOW in December. Until all the oversupply in housing; single family, condos, vacation homes, dog houses, ect gets worked off the economy is basically going nowhere. And that won't happen when no one has a job or a loan to buy those domiciles. So, Bernanke already blew the house bubble now what? Just sit back and wait, because Bernanke has a plan to fix it all for you trust me. Really. That's Reality.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:33 | 209529 cougar_w
cougar_w's picture

Fed policy is likely destroying the national economy in the interest of keeping a few TBTF banks hanging on life support.

That is not paranoia. That's what they say they are doing. Their reason for doing so is open to debate, that's all.

BB was creating Fed policy for a decade. He knows what he wants. But his solutions are wrong and damanging. Get rid of him, start over.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:46 | 209562 faustian bargain
faustian bargain's picture

End of story? That's pretty presumptuous.

The market corrected? The bubble popped? When? It hasn't even come close to correcting.

Bernanke won't be satisfied until the boom-bust cycle is stuck permanently on "bust".

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:59 | 209587 JT Marlin
JT Marlin's picture

Really?  So what happened in March?

Everyone knows that unemployment is highest right before the beginning of an economic turn around.  Before companies start hiring, they need to cut jobs.  It takes several months to get them hiring again. 

And then people have jobs again.  And people spend, and credit loosens.  Our economy is cyclical, it goes up and down. 

And then what? 

Life still goes on.  You work, you play, you eat, sleep, have sex, etc.   You buy stuff, you sell stuff.  The economy goes up and the economy goes down. 

And then, like Keynes said it, in the long run, we're all dead.  So what?

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:39 | 209689 Masked Man
Masked Man's picture

Gee whiz, so what if the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. So what if our manufacturing base has been hollowed out over the last 30 years. So what if we now have trillions in government debt as a result of the bank bailouts. So what if the FHA is taking on the role of sole subprime lender and the taxpayers will be holding the bag a few years from now. So what if we have to institute a federal value added tax to pay for the interest on the national debt. So what if this country is going down the tubes. Just live, eat, have sex with a greatly reduced standard of living. Bread and Circus.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:51 | 209710 zice
zice's picture

You are captured, and your walls appear to be windows.

Do not commit the crime for which you now serve the sentence.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:08 | 209728 faustian bargain
faustian bargain's picture

March means whatever you want it to mean, I suppose. Good luck with your rosy outlook.

The only way we'll all be dead is if the world destroys itself. Which, under Keynes' watchful eye, may just happen.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:39 | 209797 Commander Cody
Commander Cody's picture

Serf.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:56 | 209847 Monday1929
Monday1929's picture

Jamie Dimon, is that you? Oh, and sub-prime is contained.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:41 | 209692 masterinchancery
masterinchancery's picture

Boy, you don't ask much; your 2 questions were yes after WWII when both countries had been bombed flat and near starvation.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:49 | 209705 chumbawamba
chumbawamba's picture

Is anyone so foolish to think that replacing Bernanke will fix anything?

This is all just masturbation.

I am Chumbawamba.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:09 | 209729 faustian bargain
faustian bargain's picture

No, but I think we all just want to see him suffer.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:25 | 209763 chumbawamba
chumbawamba's picture

Me too, but any suggestion of lamp posts and rope is still considered "over the top" by some.

I am Chumbawamba.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 18:10 | 210026 faustian bargain
faustian bargain's picture

I'd be happy if he just ended up bagging groceries at super walmart.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 18:51 | 210116 chumbawamba
chumbawamba's picture

And then gets fired (and arrested) for stealing from the till.

I am Chumbawamba.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 23:18 | 210415 Hephasteus
Hephasteus's picture

Hi. I'm Ben Bernanke. I'm here at paper goods aisle where we are secretly switching peoples regular toilot paper for our super aborbant Federal Reserve Notes.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:20 | 209754 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

you are right screwing the americans out of 14 trilliom dollars cannot be easy. especailly when you try and sleep at night. Japan still exists yes but for how much longer in its present form. Its stagnated for 20 years
when if they hadn't of medelled they would be ok now
all they have to show for it is a load of debt

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 17:06 | 209884 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Last time I checked, the Yen wasn't the world's reserve currency, and oil trade wasn't done with petroyens, so not exactly an appropriate comparison...

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:08 | 209473 SDRII
SDRII's picture

JT Marlin: your accent has nothing to do with your intelligence

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:10 | 209481 John McCloy
John McCloy's picture

Menendez:

"Bernanke will corrall bulls on wall street"

"Bernanke has worked to keep inflation low"

Wow red is blue. Now he is disgracing Kennedy quoting him. Saying we must" Not act for the moment but for the time" and Kennedy was well aware of not wanting to mortgage futures.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:11 | 209487 deadhead
deadhead's picture

Bunning "I was right 4 yrs ago. Bernanke is a failure"

 

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:17 | 209494 Selah
Selah's picture

 

I've always thought of Bunning as only a baseball player.

He really knows what is going on, or reads ZH...

 

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:17 | 209496 John McCloy
John McCloy's picture

I have no idea why these guys dont call out their fellow Senators as being bought and paid puppets. Bunning just simply say, " And I want the American people to be well aware of the majority who are voting in favor of Bernanke are voting with their wallets and the contributions made to them by banking. And I hope every 5pm news network sound bites this clip so they understand a vote by any elected Senator for Bernanke is a vote AGAINST their constituents. Wall Street just received record bonuses courteousy of their money. They caused this mess and YOU are suffering for it and all of you still unemployed look no further to the TARP payments and 0% rates and stolen wealth.And I am telling you as evidenced by Brown in MA anyone who votes for Bernanke will not be allowed a pass by the American people and the silent inflation Bernanke perpetuates.

 

Lets see how many Yes votes we see then.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:28 | 209517 John McCloy
John McCloy's picture

Funny how the supposed "simple" Americans are well aware of what is right and what is wrong and the elite privileged do not:

Dodd: Inherited his father's seat

Menendez: Appointed by Corzine. No 2. contributor Goldman Sachs

Schumer: Wall Streets best friend, voted to Repeal Glass-Steagall

 

 

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:14 | 209625 Cursive
Cursive's picture

His "colleagues" in the Senate would censure his ass in a heartbeat.  Hell, there'd be impeachment hearings. Look, Barney Frank can run a gay brothel out of his district office, but Bunning can't call his fellow senators out.  

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:30 | 209520 Selah
Selah's picture



BUNNING BUNNING BUNNING!!!


HIP HIP HURRAH!!

 

I am glad we still have people in Washington with some sense of America and Freedom.

 

Now we can listen to Dodd, who should help water the tree of Liberty...

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:31 | 209524 Cistercian
Cistercian's picture

Bunning was great.2 minutes of dodd was 2 too many...what a corrupt ass.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:13 | 209488 crosey
crosey's picture

Have some fun today.  Put on equal trades/risk/trailing stops with both SSO and SDS, and watch what happens after the vote.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:21 | 209505 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

When Jim Bunning is the sane one, I fear for the Republic..

With this exception, he lost his fastball years ago..

But, Hopefully he can win One More Game at 3:20..

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:23 | 209510 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

The banks control the Federal Reserve, and they consistently engineer the appointment of "leaders" who favor the profitability of the banks over the welfare of the American people. How can this be a good thing for anyone other than the banksters?

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:30 | 209522 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Dodd is pulling the Bernanke saved us from a great world depression. Wow, I wonder what we are facing now.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:35 | 209533 Rick64
Rick64's picture

Dodd makes me sick. He doesn't even address that Bunning asked that the documents concerning AIG (that he had to view with the understanding that he couldn't divulge any of the information) be made available to all before confirming BB.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:43 | 209553 John McCloy
John McCloy's picture

Agreed. I do not know why he is under the impression that the LOUDER YOU SAY THINGS THE MORE BELIEVEABLE THEY ARE.

I had to pull out my headphones for Judd Gregg I despise his Mr. Burnsishness

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:36 | 209536 John McCloy
John McCloy's picture

I think  Sheldon Whitehouse just went from undecided to NO LOL

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:38 | 209539 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Blah blah blah...

Americans are soooooooooo DUMB... weak... spineless... and asleep...

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:40 | 209546 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Went to watch Bernanke show on Cspan. Could only find someone called Barack Obama making a campaign speech in Tampa.He running for something?

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:44 | 209558 crosey
crosey's picture

HA!  Yeah, he's running against Bush.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:01 | 209593 cougar_w
cougar_w's picture

Maybe he's just on the run.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:31 | 209673 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

The Bernanke hearing is on C-Span 2.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:40 | 209547 Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh's picture

GoGo Bailout Ben...

start of hearings: XLF down over 1.7%, on over 100M shares

an hour later:  XLF up, on a few million shares

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:43 | 209551 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

This is Amusing, all arguments supporting Bernanke renom are: "He is a Too Big to fail"... "World will end without the guy of the year".

Terror tactics, America is held hostage by congress terrorists.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:43 | 209552 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Judd Greg is an asshat, saying Bernanke pulled us back from the precipice. He is not up for reelection so is probably looking for a cushy job in the banking industry.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:43 | 209554 Ripped Chunk
Ripped Chunk's picture

He's in.

Do you want to bitch and moan? Or do you clean out all accounts you have in TBTF's??  Fix that Mr. Chairman.

Someone with a better mode of protest please speak up before 2:00.

Thanks

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:44 | 209557 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't tell me you morons are clinging to some kind of irrational belief that you still live in a democracy?!?!?

What a very sad state America has become, a nation of morons ruled by the thieving elite; and not only do the morons accept it, they fight for it...

I will laugh as I watch babylon burn from the inside out...

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:14 | 209737 A tumor named Marla
A tumor named Marla's picture

When Rome fell, its light was extinguished and the entire Western world went dark for a thousand years.

Are you really so stupid as to wish for the end of the modern Rome?  What on earth do you think will happen if we really do fall?

Don't know where you are, but it is inferior to the United States and likely benefits a great deal from we morons.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:42 | 209808 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

So you think America is the modern Rome, and it's existence benefits the entire world. Let me guess, you also believe in the Tooth Fairy, Santa Clause, and the Easter Bunny right? I'm guessing you also believe you live in a democracy; which is my point, it is you and morons like you that have allowed the U$$A to be taken over by the banks so you can stuff your fat face with McDonalds while you watch the latest episode of the biggest loser on your XL HD TV...

Yes I really wish for the end of Modern Rome, as well as the ultimate freedom of the people and the return to a true democracy. Now go bury your head in the sand and repeat...

"If i don't see it, it doesn't exist"

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:46 | 209560 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Bernanke reappointment: all the arguments “for” Bernanke are based on counterfactuals. We actual entered a recession, and it is well documented that he was involved in decisions that caused it to be so bad. We know this, it happened. But the augments for him are based on things that didn’t happen. He saved us from something that didn’t happen. But you can’t prove this. You can’t prove that we would not be in the same situation today, if he did nothing to support the financial system. You can’t prove a parallel history. So we have people voting for Bernanke on something you can’t prove, instead on empirical evidence.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:13 | 209735 faustian bargain
faustian bargain's picture

Further, it's likely provable that we're in worse shape now than we were before, i.e. less prepared for a catastrophic black swan, which by definition means we are creating our own black swan.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:27 | 209768 faustian bargain
faustian bargain's picture

Which, by the way, is why Taleb bugged out.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:51 | 209568 DaveyJones
DaveyJones's picture

So Senator Judd Gregg agrees that it was a "mistake" to keep interest rates "too low for too long" but he should be reconfirmed for "managing the crisis that insued." - Is he listening to his own words?  I think bulimics could get a lot of use out of these hearings.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:51 | 209570 Tommy
Tommy's picture

Merkley is actually coherent ;^)

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:52 | 209571 Rick64
Rick64's picture

In response to Judd - Yes it was the Fed fault as much as anyone because they fought to stop legislation of the derivitives market in 1998 by Brooksley Born CFTC.

 Geitner head of the FED in NY watched this whole thing transpire on his watch without uttering a single warning.

Greenspan in front of the senate said his ideas about the market were wrong after almost 2 decades. All these financial wizards and yet no warnings. Are you kidding?

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:52 | 209572 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Judd Gregg is an idiot

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:52 | 209573 E. D. nation
E. D. nation's picture

Shorter Judd Gregg: Populism sucks when it hurts my future employers in the banking cartel. I'm an obfuscating sack of garbage but there's nothing my constituents can do about it. I'm OUT.

 

See Taibi

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:55 | 209582 virgilcaine
virgilcaine's picture

Dodd is  a drunkard and corrupt Pol.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 17:10 | 209894 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Heh, I've said that for many years about my senator, Kit Bond. My guess is that it's an apt description of many in the Senate.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 14:57 | 209585 Tommy
Tommy's picture

If CSPAN gets overloaded and crashes before the vote, we could see BB go down.

I wonder if they can stick to the schedule?   You'd think they would wait to vote after the markets close.  It's as though the markets are poised to just love BB being reconfirmed.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:02 | 209594 John McCloy
John McCloy's picture

What the hell was that from Pryor?

He may as well have read a recipe for Crab cakes with aioli.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:07 | 209605 Rick64
Rick64's picture

Somebody put dodd in a wheelchair and push into an intersection.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:03 | 209597 Missing_Link
Missing_Link's picture

Holy crap.  Kay Bailey Hutchinson is a hell of a lot smarter and clued-in than I ever realized.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:18 | 209638 Cursive
Cursive's picture

Didn't she vote for TARP?  These senators can turn it off and on like a faucet.  It just so happens that she thinks she has an opportunity to gain some votes and she has the luxury of being in the minority position right now.  If Bush were in office, you can bet she'd be lobbing softballs.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:10 | 209730 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Kay Bailey Hutchinson was a cheerleader at the University of texas. Texans are simply smarter than most.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:07 | 209598 Missing_Link
Missing_Link's picture

Seriously. Why are the Republicans even talking about Sarah Palin when they have somebody like Kay Bailey Hutchinson to work with?  KBH has about 1000 times Palin's single-digit IQ.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:51 | 209711 Orly
Orly's picture

Get a grip, hoss.  She won't even be Governor of Texas...and I will dare to say neither will Rick Perry.

It is high time to get rid of this rampant "club" of thieves and Texas will demonstrate to the rest of the nation how it is done- again.

Vote Medina!

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:42 | 209806 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

I hope Medina kicks butt and takes names tonight!

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:05 | 209603 John McCloy
John McCloy's picture

So what is going on with Sheldon Whitehouse ?

WSJ has him marked as a yes but he sounded as no if I ever heard one.

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2010/01/22/tally-of-senate-vote-count-on-...

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:37 | 209680 earnyermoney
earnyermoney's picture

What does that Yes vote refer to? Cloiture so that we can proceed to up and down vote? Some Senators could vote Yes for cloiture and proceed to up and down vote then switch to No on the official vote. They could have 50 Yes and 50 No with Joe Biden casting the 51st vote for confirmation

 

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 17:00 | 209863 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

I think it's to stop the debate or filibuster, which they need 60 votes to do, then they only need a simple majority to reconfirm.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 17:02 | 209810 madRazor
madRazor's picture

 Haha, politics.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:11 | 209607 deadhead
deadhead's picture

don't watch now, Chuck Schumer is sucking up now.

he says yes, but then points out the crap that Bernanke did wrong and says Benny is learning the lesson.

And, Chuck, get off the "independence" thing with Congress as Bernanke has lobbied over 20 Senators for this job.  real independent, Chuck.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:11 | 209615 John McCloy
John McCloy's picture

Mr. Wall Street.

He's gone his next election.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:08 | 209608 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Calling all yes senators asking which Bank owns the good senator; I suggest you all do the same, especially judd gregg

(202) 224-3324

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:10 | 209611 Rick64
Rick64's picture

Schumer - we the politicians are worse than the FED. Yea we know.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:10 | 209613 faustian bargain
faustian bargain's picture

I have a quibble with the way some people are approaching their critique of the Fed. To say that Bernanke should be tossed because he 'failed to regulate' or 'didn't regulate [x] innovation enough' really misses the point. Yes the banks were given lots of leeway, but that in and of itself is not a problem. The problem is, the Fed and/or government backstops the banks' risk, either implicitly or explicitly, publicly or in secret. They remove the risk.

I contend it is more harmful to believe the system can be totally regulated and controlled to good effect. It is impossible for this to be done centrally. I believe the market would be better able to determine every factor that the Fed purportedly tries to control, yet fails miserably over and over.

The charge is not 'he didn't do enough'. It's that he's doing too much. Shouldn't be doing anything at all.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:17 | 209634 Rick64
Rick64's picture

One of the problems I have is that apparently he didn't see this coming and even went so far as to say that everything was fine. I know at some point he had to spin it that way to reduce the collateral damage, but how about a little foresight.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:12 | 209618 E. D. nation
E. D. nation's picture

Shorter Schumer: I don't have to worry about losing my seat over this vote because my career has been bankrolled by Wall St. and their continued fraud. They know who works in their best interest. I'm never going to held accountable for repealing Glass-Steagal and I won't hold Bernanke responsible for his regulatory "failures." It wouldn't be fair.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:12 | 209619 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

I'm starting to think the only way political motivation to change things will appear is through targeted physical action. What that looks like is a matter of debate.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:15 | 209628 Zro
Zro's picture

Sen. Kyl is a sellout.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:18 | 209636 John McCloy
John McCloy's picture

Wow just lost Kyl. What a scum. I suppose Dodd is relieved he may not have to don that moustache and hat afterall so he could vote twice.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:05 | 209724 phaesed
phaesed's picture

If Kyl sold out then there's a good chance McCain will as well. Someone should check their bank accounts.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:16 | 209630 Tommy
Tommy's picture

Kyl made the best argument for: Who the hell would replace him?

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:19 | 209640 John McCloy
John McCloy's picture

  Who could not?

You could press the make 100 copies button just as well as the honorable Chairman.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:25 | 209764 Assetman
Assetman's picture

1. John Taylor.

2. Stiglitz.

3. Assetman.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 17:10 | 209888 WaterWings
WaterWings's picture

Nah, just #3.

Although Chumba with a bunch of rope-laden knaves would go well, too.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 19:31 | 210179 chumbawamba
chumbawamba's picture

Hey, if you need someone to press buttons, I'm so it!

I am Chumbawamba.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:29 | 209776 Screwball
Screwball's picture

While he might be right, you vote him out anyway. Letting him back in is like rewarding failure.  We've seen how that turns out.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:17 | 209633 deadhead
deadhead's picture

I'm sooo sick of everybody talking about how bernanke "rescued" us from the abyss.

1. we are still on the abyss.

2. any phucking moron can print zillions of zimbabwe dollars and hand them over to the banks. any phucking moron can print willions of weimar bucks and monetize the debt of politicians.  what the phuck is so hard about that?

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:18 | 209637 Rick64
Rick64's picture

Ditto. That doesn't take a financial genius.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:23 | 209758 Assetman
Assetman's picture

Sure, Bernanke rescued us from the abyss.

But he pushed us into the abyss to start with.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:19 | 209639 THE DORK OF CORK
THE DORK OF CORK's picture

Sen. Kyl is doing that Greek logic thing again

Lists BBs mistakes(crimes) but votes him in - please explain dork not understand

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:24 | 209655 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

I think what he was trying to say was although BB made lots of mistake, he made them independently.

In laymen's terms, somebody greasd his palms.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:20 | 209642 DaveyJones
DaveyJones's picture

Holy Cow. Sen. Conrad is blaming it all on 911.  

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:24 | 209650 BlackBeard
BlackBeard's picture

they should cut the verbal diarrhea rhetoric and just get to the vote already.  It's bad enough he might be reconfirmed, but to let a bunch of fools speak publicly about things they know nothing about it just absurd.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:26 | 209657 John McCloy
John McCloy's picture

I have faith in free markets. They eventually break free of the shackles. You can toy with them and fool them temporarily however you cannot destroy what they do naturally such is the law of supply and demand. These politicians needs a depression and it is worth it simply just to hear their excuses and ensure we purge this once great nation of bought & paid for politicians now that we have Incontrovertible truth of their guilt. As evident by Tyler's and ZH's fine illustration the entire economy for decades has been built on consumer credit and that jig is more certainly up and each foreclosure,bankrupcty and default ensures this for the future.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:27 | 209662 BlackBeard
BlackBeard's picture

The question is, will it happen in our lifetime?

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:41 | 209690 John McCloy
John McCloy's picture

uuggghhhh..I dont know. All I can say is that I have become more politically involved than  as far as educating family and friends and have been contemplating not pursuing a career in finance/business and looking to politics because I love this nation. Hopefully others are beginning to think similarily and are recognizing the correlation between economic liberty and personal liberty. These people are evil. We are not all without fault. We all make mistakes but I believe regardless of faults people are either inherently evil or good natured. For someone like Chris Dodd to stand up there along with Gregg and vote in favor of something that benefits a few especially himself over the many is evil intent. If he does not know it is evil (Which I do not subscribe to) then he is too fucking stupid to be a barista let alown a Senator. What else would one expect however from political nepotism with Dodd making a term like epitome look like an understatement.

God Bless America since lately our politicians do seem to.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:47 | 209701 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Uh, somebody didn't get the memo... even the braindead free-market knee-jerks at the Chicago school admit there is no such animal as a "free market". Although I agree with your other conclusions.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:32 | 209664 THE DORK OF CORK
THE DORK OF CORK's picture

How do you increase demand in a economy when you protect unproductive debt and then double your debt with increased sovereign debt and also devalue the currency by producing more currency in exchange for counterfeit currency/debt

Please explain how you save a economy in such a way............ let me think.............

O I get it, the FEDs role is not to protect the economy but to protect private bank bondholders/equity holders

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:30 | 209669 John McCloy
John McCloy's picture

Maybe we will be so lucky to have a number of Senators "absent" in order to avoid commitment

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:21 | 209755 Psquared
Psquared's picture

Dodd just finished and noted the absence of a Quorum. Clerk is now calling the roll. Hell, its almost 3 pm in the afternoon. Where the hell are they and what does it mean? Is this a closet vote against BB?

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:27 | 209771 earnyermoney
earnyermoney's picture

This is a vote to end the filibuster against BB. Then they might have to wait 30 hours to vote on confirmation. There are negotiations on how long they have to wait for the up or down vote.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:24 | 209762 Psquared
Psquared's picture

They waived the presence of a quorum and are proceeding to vote on the Cloture motion.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:38 | 209687 jimcg
jimcg's picture

Bernanke is a major tool for the international banking cartel that owns and controls most central banking systems worldwide.

That should get him reconfirmed for sure.

 

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:41 | 209691 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Face it folks, America is FAIL!

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:42 | 209695 Masked Man
Masked Man's picture

There's no suspense here. All they're doing with the hearing is just going through the motions.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:46 | 209699 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Hurray for DeMint -- what we need is a full audit of the Federal Reserve. We can't confirm Ben Bernanke without knowing what is going on at the Fed.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:48 | 209702 THE DORK OF CORK
THE DORK OF CORK's picture

Yee have a good man in South Carolina at least

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:48 | 209703 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

LET THE BERNANKAKKE BEGIN!

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 15:49 | 209706 John McCloy
John McCloy's picture

The "Socialist" sounds the most sane on the Senate floor. The United States Senator floor. McCarthy would be rolling over on his Jack Daniels.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:02 | 209720 Miyagi_san
Miyagi_san's picture

B. Sanders VT. wants zero% loans for small business. BB doesn't know any lobbyist from the "small business" sector. I vote Nea 

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:06 | 209725 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Brownback sounds like a no.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:13 | 209736 phaesed
phaesed's picture

ROFL....

 

Dodd just said "short-term politics should not be the motivating factor"

That's such a funny fucking thing to say because that's exactly what they're using to push his renomination.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:23 | 209760 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

LOL I was thinking the exact same thing as he said this. We can't make decisions based on short-term politics, but we must confirm Bernanke because Buffet says the markets may move down today if we don't.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 18:31 | 210070 phaesed
phaesed's picture

LOL I forgot to point that out!

+1

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:14 | 209738 chindit13
chindit13's picture

"We need to conclude this debate and vote before the market closes".

Interesting.  The market is rallying in anticipation of the confirmation rally.  Who is left to buy when the vote is finished?

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:18 | 209749 John McCloy
John McCloy's picture

Amazing how "Investing" has become contingent upon nothing more than day to day fluctuation. There is about as much trust in this market as their is the government, economy and the politicians. That is why this market is very sick

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:14 | 209739 lizzy36
lizzy36's picture

i can't watch dodd.  this is fucking offensive to anyone with 1/2 a memory and a 1/4 of a brain. 

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:14 | 209740 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Dodd just said Bernanke saves us from a 911-type event...

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:15 | 209743 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Dodd just said Bernanke saved us from a 911-type event...

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:31 | 209783 faustian bargain
faustian bargain's picture

...which is effing rich, seeing as ZimBen is actually setting us up for a 9/11 type event.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:16 | 209746 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Oh yeah, Dodd, Bernanke is imaginative all right. In fact, he lives in his own little fantasy world, like you, Chris.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:16 | 209747 earnyermoney
earnyermoney's picture

Dodd   "...Buffett asked for 2 days notice on failure to confirm BB so he could sell some stock." All the more reason the sack the bastard.

 

Quick, Quick, close debate so we can confirm prior to market close

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:20 | 209752 John McCloy
John McCloy's picture

I heard that disgraceful remark. The markets need major reform after the elected officials. One step at a time but lets make the steps loud.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:18 | 209750 BlackBeard
BlackBeard's picture

Dodd is a whore. A dirty one. A double penetrated one.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:19 | 209751 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Dodd pulling a Paulson, saying main street will be doomed if BB not reconfirmed. Huh? What shite.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:20 | 209753 jimcg
jimcg's picture

These blowhard fools really do like to hear themselves babble...Don't they?

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:29 | 209774 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

are they still threatening to collapse the market if the fed doesn't get its way and have their boy bernake in.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:27 | 209769 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

How many times has bernake threatened to collapse the ponzi scheme markets today. Screw the ponzi scheme markets. If people can't handle their own money they deserve to loose that money.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:28 | 209772 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

How many of them are actually there to vote? The place looks empty.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:30 | 209778 wang
wang's picture

politics notwithstanding I am with Leo (as in bullish sentiment (at least for the shorterm))  the climb to SPX 1200 will likely begin with Bennys reappointment.

 

(caveat - or it won't)

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:30 | 209779 economessed
economessed's picture

I sure hope the MSM runs with the headline tomorrow:  "Bernanke Sentenced to 4 Years"

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:36 | 209791 Cursive
Cursive's picture

@ economessed

Brilliant.  If only you had control of the copybook headings.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:30 | 209780 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

"The Chair will note the absence of a quorum."

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:32 | 209785 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

To heck with the ponzi scheme markets. The markets are a fraud run by crooks. Anyone thats invested in the markets deserves to loose all their money. learn to take care of your own money. NOt some crooks on wall street. Americans are just stupid children alot of times. Led by the nose.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:32 | 209786 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Seriously, where are they all? How can there be enough votes if they aren't there? They aren't allowed to cast votes for each other are they?

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:34 | 209787 chindit13
chindit13's picture

There is a surprising lack of size on both the bid and offer side many price levels above and below the current market in many usually high volume stocks.  Up or down, we could see a 2% move in the last fifteen minutes today.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:39 | 209796 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

Neither of my Senators were there to vote. Cowards!

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:40 | 209802 Anonymous
Anonymous's picture

It looks like a bunch of them just showed up and are voting now.

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:42 | 209805 arkady
arkady's picture

I still cant figure out why some of the most liberal Senators are voting NO.  What are they angling at?

Thu, 01/28/2010 - 16:44 | 209814 phaesed
phaesed's picture

Because real liberals realize the damage that Bernanke and the Federal Reserve do to our economy and our freedom.... such as I do.

Don't mix up socialism and communism.

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!