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HomeWill the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission ‘Name Names’?
Posted by Larry Doyle on January 26th, 2011 9:25 AM |
Tomorrow the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission will release its widely anticipated report investigating the causes of our financial crisis. While many on Wall Street would like to promote the fact that the financial crisis was nothing more than ‘the perfect storm,’ we know that is not the case. The New York Times has received a preview of the FCIC’s report and highlights the fact that the Financial Crisis Was Avoidable, Inquiry Finds,
The 2008 financial crisis was an “avoidable” disaster caused by widespread failures in government regulation, corporate mismanagement and heedless risk-taking by Wall Street, according to the conclusions of a federal inquiry. (more…)
Whom Should Darrel Issa Investigate?
Posted by Larry Doyle on January 4th, 2011 6:47 AM |
Darrell Issa, Republican Congressman from California, will be the new chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Early indications are that he will pursue investigations of Wikileaks, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, perhaps the Food and Drug Administration, and the failures and ineptitude of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission.
Is there any doubt that Issa and his committee could work around the clock pursuing a wide array of investigations? I have no doubt. The question begs, though, will Issa specifically lead this committee in an overly partisan fashion as it has operated in the past? Will Issa pursue investigations without generating real truth, transparency, and integrity? Will he unearth the ‘smoking guns’? Will he ask the hard questions and demand the real answers? (more…)
Is Ferdinand Pecora Rolling Over in His Grave?
Posted by Larry Doyle on November 19th, 2010 6:57 AM |
Where are our statesmen?
Where are the individuals who would choose to sacrifice personal gain for our national welfare? I am not talking about mere public policy implementation. I am talking about those who would choose to pursue and embrace the truth while exposing the incestuous Wall Street-Washington relationship that has brought our nation to its knees.
Where is today’s Ferdinand Pecora when we need him? I shudder to think that the great Pecora, who led the investigation of Wall Street practices which brought on the Great Depression, might be rolling over in his grave right now. Why’s that? (more…)
What Wall Street Secrets Will FCIC Reveal?
Posted by Larry Doyle on September 2nd, 2010 10:06 AM |
Information is everything.
There is no doubt that the development of the internet and a wide array of websites has led to a significant increase in the amount and quality of information accessed and processed by many. That said, there is also no doubt that there is an equally aggressive, if not public, effort to protect information, privileged or otherwise. Industry and company specific trade secrets can often be the key to developing and maintaining a hard earned competitive edge in the marketplace. I fully support and appreciate those ‘secrets.’ On the other side of this coin, though, there are ‘secrets’ which can often be the key to unlocking bad practices, if not much worse.
On this note, after a day’s worth of travel yesterday, I was particularly intrigued to read the Financial Times’ Probe Chief to Issue Wall Street Data. A few comments. Why is it that the FT’s electronic delivery entitles this article as such, while the hard copy entitled it, Probe Chief to Issue ‘Secret’ Wall Street Data? That one little word, ‘secret,’ is exceptionally powerful. What is Wall Street hiding? Why are they hiding it? Who specifically is hiding it? Do the secrets entail illicit and fraudulent activities? So many questions. (more…)
Goldman Sachs Stonewalling Highlights Trading Mentality
Posted by Larry Doyle on June 8th, 2010 3:30 PM |
Did Goldman Sachs ‘flip the bird’ at the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission and, in turn, America by its handling of the commission’s request for information? The fact that the FCIC felt it necessary to issue a subpoena to Goldman is an indication as to how serious the commission is handling this issue. Why would Goldman be so brazen and bold in its dealing with the commission?
Nathaniel Popper of the Los Angeles Times wrote a comprehensive article on this Goldman bombshell this morning, Goldman Sachs Stonewalling, Federal Panel Says:
Goldman Sachs Group Inc., already under fire for its actions leading up to the financial crisis, came under attack from a federal commission that accused it of refusing to divulge information, including documents detailing its controversial bets on the mortgage market. (more…)
Is the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission Providing Cover for FINRA?
Posted by Larry Doyle on May 6th, 2010 11:03 AM |
The Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission is charged with the following:
… a bipartisan commission that has been given a critical non-partisan mission — to examine the causes of the financial crisis that has gripped the country and to report our findings to the Congress, the President, and the American people.
So far, I would grade the Commission’s work as an F, as in failing . . . as in f@*%ing pathetic. Why so harsh? 
(more…)
Citigroup: The Blind Leading the Blind
Posted by Larry Doyle on April 7th, 2010 1:28 PM |
When in doubt, hire a consultant.
When something fails, blame the consultant.
Shirk responsibility and pass the buck.
When will somebody with a set of balls on Wall Street stand up and take responsibility for the massive failures of risk management and business execution which led to the economic crisis which brought our country to its knees? (more…)
Mary Schapiro and Mark McGwire
Posted by Larry Doyle on January 15th, 2010 10:22 AM |
“I’m not here to talk about the past.”
Mark McGwire, the steroid abusing home run hitting phoney, may have issued a massive mea culpa this week, but his career will forever be defined by his March 2005 Congressional obfuscation.
In my strong opinion, Mary Schapiro is the financial industry’s equivalent of Mark McGwire. How so? In McGwire’s 2005 testimony, he very much wanted to position himself as a positive influence for future developments regarding the use and abuse of steroids in baseball. Fast forward to January 14, 2010 and we witness Mary Schapiro very much trying to assume the same positive position in her testimony and answers to the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission. In Schapiro’s opening statement, Testimony Concerning the Financial Crisis, she states as much:
To assist the Commission in its efforts, my testimony will outline many of the lessons we have learned in our role as a securities and market regulator, how we are working to address them, and where additional efforts are needed. I look forward to working with the FCIC to identify the many causes of this crisis.
Oh, how kind. (more…)
Can Mary Schapiro be in Two Places at Once?
Posted by Larry Doyle on January 14th, 2010 9:24 AM |
Mary Schapiro is going to be very busy today. How so?
Her presence will very much be a factor in two venues which are holding public hearings. What venues? What hearings? What will the public learn from and about Ms. Schapiro today?
Most eyes will be on Washington where Ms. Schapiro, the current SEC Chair, will be a witness in the second day of hearings of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission. The Commission is charged with unearthing the truth in the factors that led to our economic crisis. Should we expect any grand mea culpas from Ms. Schapiro in front of the Commission? I think not.
Ms. Schapiro and her former FINRA colleagues have proven to be artful dodgers when it comes to skirting the tough questions. Avoiding tough questions is not difficult when the questions themselves are softballs offered by her incestuous partners in Washington. When did we first witness this reality? A year ago tomorrow. (more…)
