Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

Republicans don’t want a speaker to lead them; they want a hostage.

Nothing worth doing is easy.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

Spilling the end game before they can coat it in frankl luntz-approved dogwhistles.

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.

🎶 Those boots were made for mockin’ 🎵

Schmidt just says fuck it, opens a tea shop.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

Whatever happens next week, the fight doesn’t end.

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

Sitting here in limbo waiting for the dice to roll

He really is that stupid.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

Authoritarian republicans are opposed to freedom for the rest of us.

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

Second rate reporter says what?

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

No one could have predicted…

When someone says they “love freedom”, rest assured they don’t mean yours.

Republicans choose power over democracy, every day.

… pundit janitors mopping up after the GOP

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Reader Interactions

69Comments

  1. 1.

    A Mom Anon

    Good God.

    I gotta go clean my brains off the monitor now.

    Seriously,what the fucking fuck?

    If I ever see that guy anywhere I’m kicking him right in the balls.

  2. 2.

    ronin122

    I am torn; is this supposed to be ironic, or not surprising in the least? That’s pretty awesome though, now it all makes sense why AIG always makes me nauseated when it’s in the news.

  3. 3.

    DougJ

    I am torn; is this supposed to be ironic, or not surprising in the least?

    Both at the same time.

  7. 7.

    DougJ

    Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac

    This more like a “save the planet” sticker on a Hummer.

  9. 9.

    ronin122

    @DougJ: Oh I know, just a rhetorical statement. It’s just strange how every day I think it cannot get worse with them, the imaginary gods seem to always find a way to kick it up a notch.

    By the way, I think the "assholes" tag needs a little plastic surgery. I propose that given the increase of assholes in recent months, you guys modify the tag to read "assholes, jack-offs and scumbags" (after the one non-stage skit by George Carlin)

  11. 11.

    burnspbesq

    Just another pathetic attempt at hipness by the terminally unhip. Don’t read more into it than is actually there. The guy probably sent his admin out at lunchtime with instructions to "find me something edgy to wear to this party."

    A pocket square with a linen blazer, a t-shirt and jeans? Srsly, this guy is in line for a visit from the Fashion Police long before the FBI or the SEC get there.

  12. 12.

    SpotWeld

    @cleek

    See, I was going to go with the "Proof that the credit mess is all Obamas fault"

  13. 13.

    Zoogz

    The irony becomes even deeper if you try to think of Che Guevara wearing an "AIG" teeshirt.

  14. 14.

    jibeaux

    Don’t overanalyze…that t-shirt gives you instant asshole cred, bipartisan-like. Add a coppery gold pocket square to your sports coat worn over it and some white pants, and you’ve got so much asshole cred you could open up your own bank and loan it out to the asshole impaired.

  15. 15.

    Ricky Bobby

    A white belt would have completed the outfit, and I think my uncle Murray has some shoes that would have gone well with those snappy trousers.

    Spitting in the eye of Marxism? Or perhaps someone who doesn’t understand what the fuck HE represents in the grander scheme of things. News flash boomer-guy-who-helped-destroy-American-finance… you wear the black hat now, and always have.

  17. 17.

    cleek

    just a note: the theme of the party was "the sights, sounds and tastes of 1940s-era Havana". since Che was born in 28, he was just a student in the 40s. so that shirt’s a little anachronistic…

    of course Che was actually the director of the Cuban central bank. so maybe it’s OK.

  19. 19.

    NonyNony

    @burnspbesq:

    The guy probably sent his admin out at lunchtime with instructions to "find me something edgy to wear to this party."

    It’s worse than that – if you follow the link you see that the pics were taken at a "Fiesta Cuba" charity party where the theme was "Havana in the 1940’s".

    So it’s very possible the guy said "find me something Cuban to wear" and his admin assistant came back with a Che T-shirt. I’d like to believe said assistant did it to make the boss look like a tool, but in fairness there’s a good chance that the assistant was a tool as well.

  21. 21.

    Dennis-SGMM

    An asshole with the capability for introspection of a rutabaga behaves like an asshole with the capability for introspection of a rutabaga. In other news…

  23. 23.

    Olliander

    For the record, he’s only been at AIG since October. He was brought in to "unwind" the derivatives mess they already had. Hasn’t been doing a good job apparently.

  24. 24.

    Michael

    BTW – looking at the pictures, the asshole is the only one at the party dressed like that. The stupid fuckwit (Gerry Pasciucco) couldn’t be bothered to do what everybody else did in terms of theme.

  25. 25.

    Jon H

    Holy crap that photo spread is just a cornucopia of douchebags.

    Never have I been so glad that I’m not rich or born to the kind of family who would participate in such douchebaggery.

  26. 26.

    jibeaux

    Okay, that theme is idiotic, but at least it heads in the direction of suggesting how that ensemble came to be. Consider the asshole bank to be more of a small local asshole credit union.

  27. 27.

    Redhand

    I have no doubt it’s done in an ironic, "f**k the little people" kind of way.

    I agree. Truly an icon of the age.

    I read in the NYT or WaPo that these scum are now shitting themselves at their CT Wolfschanze, hiring security guards to fend off the mob with pikes and pitchforks. Good training for ’em.

  28. 28.

    Atanarjuat

    Why would any of you leftists scorn Gerry Pasciucco’s party attire?

    It proves that he’s one of yours, which helps to explain why he feels that his company is entitled to taxpayer-funded rewards despite an egregious lack of performance.

    That’s one of the basic tenets of liberalism.

    Viva la Bailout, gringos!

    -A

  32. 32.

    Miriam

    He probably had a Che poster on his wall at Princeton (or wherever) and still thinks of himself as a cool duuude.

  34. 34.

    Glocksman

    @Olliander:

    Pat yourself on the back because you just saved the guy from a beatdown if I ever ran across him.

    Now if you can locate his predecessor for me….

  37. 37.

    Janet Strange

    @cleek: Ah, I see. This is what they are celebrating at their little party (1940’s Cuba):

    Cuba was not greatly involved in combat during World War II. Grau completed his presidential term, and in 1948 was succeeded by Carlos Prío Socarrás, who was disliked by the Communists. Corruption increased under Prío’s administration. Corruption is partially attributed to the influx of gambling money into Havana, which became a safe haven for mafia operations. Prío carried out major reforms such as founding a National Bank and stabilizing the Cuban currency. The influx of investment fueled a boom which did much to raise living standards across the board and create a prosperous middle class in most urban areas, although the gap between rich and poor became wider and more obvious.

    Of course they are. This is their dream for America. Well, except for the "prosperous middle class" part. They’re doing their damnedest to make sure there’s none of that for us little people.

  39. 39.

    Singularity

    Wow. A bunch of upper class assholes celebrating the gangster paradise that was Batista’s Cuba. How fitting.

    You know, old Gerry there could do a lot to set the tone at his new gig by very vocally refusing to accept any bonus. Even if he’s not due one, it would send a message to the rest of the tools in his particular toolbag. Somehow, though, I doubt he’s going to do that.

  40. 40.

    scav

    Remember, these are very important people that deserve these bonuses because otherwise they would leave. I mean, you have to grant that these are not garden variety scumbags and idiots that drove their companies into the ground, these are world class, once in a generation scale idiots that managed to drive both their companies and the world economy into the ground. Tthese are simple epic douches that we may in no way allow the Martians to get their hands on. The thrill, the simple thrill of being allowed to inhabit the space-time continuum with these towering beings, let alone stand near them at a cheesy costume parties.

    Belgium.

    In related news, I think we better pass the hat pretty soon in case Atan. might up-sticks and wander off.

  41. 41.

    Adrienne

    Before everyone gets their panties into a twist, this is the guy who currently heads up that division. IIRC, the previous guy who actually DID all the damage was fired/quit/no longer works there.

    For the record, he’s only been at AIG since October. He was brought in to "unwind" the derivatives mess they already had. Hasn’t been doing a good job apparently.

    That’s not necessarily the case. They were going to lose a shit-ton of money no matter who they brought in and/or what they did. The unwinding of those derivatives, which had already lost a great deal of value, combined with the payouts for the stuff they’d insured is what’s killing AIG. They’re getting hammered from both sides of this thing.

  42. 42.

    Olliander

    @Glocksman: I didn’t mean to imply that he should be getting a bonus. He’s been there since the fall, which means he should get squat as far as I’m concerned.

  44. 44.

    scav

    plus, how many of us haven’t seen raises/cost of living blah-blahs in years "for the good of the company" and furthermore have seen repeated rounds of right-sizing so that the firm’s actual performance manages to match their "plans"?

    Please.

  45. 45.

    Comrade Dread

    Wasn’t Che hunted down and shot?

    If I remember my Latin American history correctly, Che was captured while trying to foment more Marxist revolutions in South America and was summarily executed by the opposition on the spot while trying to bargain for his life.

    As to the photo, this guy should be on his knees praying to God every hour that some modern day charismatic revolutionary doesn’t rise up and attract the masses. Because I imagine anyone who worked for AIG would be the first ones up against the wall.

  46. 46.

    valdivia

    @NonyNony:

    But NonyNony in all fairness there are no Batista t’shirts around (the dictator from the glory days before Castro). Unless the crazy Cubans in Miami wear them or make them? That would have been very appropriate.

    (Edit–for the historical record–Batista was really the all powerful Dictator in Cuba since the late 30s until 59 even if others were officially in office, he controlled them. Che was killed in Bolivia where he had been trying to stir up a revolution, this was after his Angola adventure)

  48. 48.

    zirconium

    Viewing the linked party photos, many of the people attending look just like the upper crust, ruling class folks you’ll find in wealthy summer communities like Newport or Watch Hill.

  49. 49.

    Comrade Darkness

    It’s a disguise so no one can identify him on the street.

    No one expects the Che Guevara t-shirt.

  50. 50.

    passerby

    @dollar general spice:

    Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac

    @Atanarjuat:

    Viva la Bailout, gringos!

    @Zoogz:

    The irony becomes even deeper if you try to think of Che Guevara wearing an "AIG" teeshirt.

    Brilliance a-go-go.

    It’s hard to pick a winner this morning. Balloon Juicers are rockin’ ! !

  51. 51.

    Phoebe

    I can’t analyze the motivation right now because I can’t get past the ugly wrongness. My brain is like a skipping cd, stuck on that.

  52. 52.

    passerby

    Speaking of tattoos…

    Little known fact that C Dodd of Connecticut (insurance capital of the world) has AIG tattooed on his (war) chest and Joe the Biden of Delaware (credit card capital of the world) has VISA tattooed on one butt cheek and MasterCard on the other.

    Bet you didn’t know that.

  54. 54.

    passerby

    @Comrade Darkness:

    It’s a disguise so no one can identify him on the street.
    No one expects the Che Guevara t-shirt.

    Ha! With the death threats and subsequent pumped up security around the AIG offices, I am inclined to agree with your assesment.

    My brother, who spent a few days in a Mexican jail for some gringo reason, once told me that if you’re ever in a Central American riot, grab a stick or stave (preferably something on fire) and join in by saying "Che Guevara es mi amigo!"

  57. 57.

    Bubblegum Tate

    I didn’t think it was possible, but now I’m somehow even more embarrassed to be from Fairfield.

  58. 58.

    Seanly

    Give Vincent Vega a break. He & Jules were coming back from retreiving a briefcase for Marcellus when Vincent accidently shot Marvin in the head. The t-shirt was the only thing Jimmie had to replace the awesome Cuban-themed shirt covered with Marvin’s brains.

  60. 60.

    Will

    You know what strikes me about those linked photos? All of the "staff" aren’t named. They are pictured without comment, like the other decorations. Even for a frou-frou online social magazine, that’s incredibly telling.

  61. 61.

    passerby

    @Delia:

    "The first thing that would make me feel a little bit better toward them (is) if they’d follow the Japanese example and come before the American people and take that deep bow and say, I’m sorry, and then either do one of two things: resign or go commit suicide," Grassley said.

    I find myself a sudden huge fan of Chuck Grassley.

    Me too. Sprayed coffee all over.

    An Iowa Republican at that. I had to check and make sure I wasn’t on The Onion site when I read that.

  63. 63.

    drunken hausfrau

    He appears to be drinking a mojito… not a cuba libre. The cuba libre would be more apropos the Cuba in the "40s theme. Wonder if the party also had casino tables? It’s so very Marie Antoinette of them to celebrate this way…

  64. 64.

    guesti

    reads like the graphic equivalent of:

    socialize losses, privatize gains

    let’s party! is this country great or what?

  65. 65.

    JWW

    Well at least Tupac knew what he was saying, but only 10% of those listening had the slightest idea. The other 90% thought it was cool.

    Kinda reminds me of the current president.

  66. 66.

    dj transit

    "@Glocksman: I didn’t mean to imply that he should be getting a bonus. He’s been there since the fall, which means he should get squat as far as I’m concerned."

    if you read any serious news about this situation this week, you would know that he was not one of those getting a bonus

  67. 67.

    dj transit

    @ Adrienne

    "Before everyone gets their panties into a twist, this is the guy who currently heads up that division."

    sorry adrienne, but that ship has sailed.

    only a few months ago, the posters here were the ones reading the daily kos and getting themselves in a froth over sarah palin’s daughter having a baby. that redneck!

    now that they have their hope and change, they are fixing their sights on people brought in to stop the bleeding at aig. why? because some idiot blogger found a photo somewhere and didn’t do any research besides seeing the guy’s name and aig in the same sentence.

    the outrage shown here, and in many other blogs, should be directed at those (who are long gone from aig) who drove the company into the ground. not at those (like pasciucco and liddy) who came in to clean up the mess left behind.

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