LA Times Questions The Timing Of IG Affair

If questions like these are being raised by the LA Times this early on, I'd say the smoke is getting pretty thick in at least one aspect of the now on going IG affair for the Obama administration. Not only are they concerned over an AIG link, but the integrity of the process going forward. These are not the types of stories a new administration wants to see. And certainly not the ones to which this administration has grown accustom. Also, the Walpin affair represents another just as potentially troubling issue, if not more so.

A Treasury Department challenge to the authority of government bailout watchdog Neil M. Barofsky came just as he had begun a sensitive investigation of the department's role in approving bonuses to executives of insurance giant AIG, sources said Thursday.

But the proximity of the department's challenge to Barofsky's investigation has raised concerns about the timing of the two events.

And though the matter was resolved for the AIG inquiries, it leaves open the possibility of conflict in the future as audits of the massive program multiply.

Asked why Barofsky's legal authority was challenged by the department just as the AIG inquiry began, Treasury Department spokesman Andrew Williams said: "It is entirely a coincidence."

The audit of the AIG bonuses may be among the most sensitive. It occurred after public outrage emerged over the payments to individuals who worked in AIG. In mid-March, it was revealed that the top recipient at the firm received a bonus of $6.4 million and 73 received bonuses of more than $1 million.

Comments

[lala]

I was reading the Virginian - Death is cheaper http://moneyrunner.blogspot.com/2009/06/death-is-cheaper.html and I saw a Day by Day frame on the side in which Damon says he is reading "not Tucker Carlson" So of course I had to go first to Day by Day http://www.daybydaycartoon.com/2009/06/19/#005235 and then on to www.ntcnews.com where there is an article on IG bailout probe, with a link to Riehl World View on the side.

An interesting journey.

[Tom Royce]

The liberal media world view has been stretched beyond even their comfort zone with the new administrations hubris. Expect the push back, however gentle in Bush terms, to commence soon.

[bandit]

Don't hold your breath. Remember that the media is like a reverse roach motel - once you're out you can't get back in and these people aren't going to risk their futures and they've already sold their pathetic souls to BO.

[rrpjr]

No pushback. Not going to happen. Conservatives have to get over their illusion of a "tipping point," of a miraculous recovery of conscience and mission by the media. I see this illusion everywhere. It's lazy, blind and dangerous. The media is gone, beyond hope.

[seekeronos]

The only pushback there might be will come possibly from Fox.

And even that is suspect - they are much more in the mold of centrist/statist liberal-leaning McCain type (R)s than true conservatives.

The rest of mass media and Hollywierd is in lock-step with liberal academia and the Zerobama Party.

[mark l.]

"The only pushback there might be will come possibly from Fox."

don't panic...

the only pushback in 94 was talk radio. fox is now the most watched cable news channel and conservative talk radio has twice as many listeners as 94.

off-year elections are for diehards, and while obama is popular, we are going to get a good chance to see how many diehards the dems have actually created. Given the paltry support for his healthcare, at least relative to 94 and the increase in gop diehards the obama policies themselves create, the wave that breaks on this admin and the dems is going to make 94 look like a tiny ripple.