Greenwich Roundup: 07/20/08 More On Senate Banking Chairman Dodd

Friday, July 25, 2008

07/20/08 More On Senate Banking Chairman Dodd

THE KINGDOM OF DODD

Chris Fountain covers "Our man in Washington" at his excellent news and commentary website called," For What It's Worth " the web address is Greenwichrealestate.blogspot.com.

Our man in Washington

There's an interesting discussion going on in the comments section of the previous post concerning Wall Street, Washington and in general, pigs at the trough. In the meantime, the question of Senator Chris Dodd coming up, I thought to confirm my suspicion that his "presidential nomination campaign" served as nothing more than a sop to his ego and a sponge for the campaign contributions he could solicit (or extort) because of his position as Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. As for ego, there's no doubt that every boy and girl serving in the Senate believes, deep down, that he's qualified to be President. But it takes an ego of truly gargantuan dimensions to act on that belief when polls list you at 1% voter recognition. That didn't stop Dodd, of course, particularly when he could indulge his aspirations at the expense of the financial community he regulates. Sure enough, the senator put the touch on his new best friends. Try this or, for a general overview from years past (I believe this latter doesn't include his presidential campaign contributions, which are tabulated separately) this.

Dodd learned from his father, of course, that direct solicitation of bribes leads to trouble, but squeezing folks you can choose to put out of business, well that's just Washington politics. Years ago, William F. Buckley pointed out that our Senator from New London regularly voted against every single defense appropriation except those supporting new nuclear submarines. It's certainly possible, as Buckley posited, that the senator truly believed that the only weapon that could protect our nation from its enemies was the nuclear sub. On the other hand, cynics might be forgiven for suspecting that the man was just a hollow, greedy shill who looked out for his interests and his interests only. I was one of those cynics oh so long ago and I've never changed my opinion.

Previous Posts From For What It's Worth.

If you are relively new to Greenwich you spend a few hours on a Sunday afternoon and read all or most of Mr. Fountain's Previous Columns.

Note To Greenwich Roundup Readers:

I have been thinking about starting a blog roll of local blogs for along time, but I have just been too lazy. However, I am going to officially start a blog roll today with the very insightful and informative blog - For What It's Worth.

Any Greenwich single family home-owner and taxpayer that fails to read For What It's Worth is truly uninformed about what is really going on in town.

Mr. Fountains excellent reporting got him relived of his duties at a local weekly newspaper, that could not handle the heat that the truth sometimes brings to an editor or publisher.

Please also see yesterday's article on Christopher Dodd:

07/24/08 John Dyment Of Cos Cob Can't Talk About How His Hedge Fund Is Helping To Bail Out The Senate Banking Chairman

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