DeSantis has a few major points. They include: 1) I had nothing to do with my boss Joe Cassano’s toxic credit default swaps portfolio, and only a handful of people in our unit did; 2) I didn’t even know anything about them; 3) I could have left AIG for a better job several times last year; 4) but I didn’t, staying out of a sense of duty to my poor, beleaguered firm, only to find out in the end that; 5) I would be betrayed by AIG senior management, who promised we would be rewarded for staying, but then went back on their word when they folded in highly cowardly fashion in the face of an angry and stupid populist mob.

I have a few responses to those points. They are 1) Bullshit; 2) bullshit; 3) bullshit, plus of course; 4) bullshit. Lastly, there is 5) Boo-Fucking-Hoo. You dog.

Read the rest here.

DEAR Mr. Liddy,

It is with deep regret that I submit my notice of resignation from A.I.G. Financial Products. I hope you take the time to read this entire letter. Before describing the details of my decision, I want to offer some context:

I am proud of everything I have done for the commodity and equity divisions of A.I.G.-F.P. I was in no way involved in — or responsible for — the credit default swap transactions that have hamstrung A.I.G. Nor were more than a handful of the 400 current employees of A.I.G.-F.P. Most of those responsible have left the company and have conspicuously escaped the public outrage.

After 12 months of hard work dismantling the company — during which A.I.G. reassured us many times we would be rewarded in March 2009 — we in the financial products unit have been betrayed by A.I.G. and are being unfairly persecuted by elected officials. In response to this, I will now leave the company and donate my entire post-tax retention payment to those suffering from the global economic downturn. My intent is to keep none of the money myself.

(Read the rest here)

Hulu’s website is truly a step into the future of television shows. It works as both a backup (if I miss a show on TV) and a catch up (ensuring I’ll later tune in weekly to watch).

But what I truly don’t understand is why the networks are reluctant to supply full seasons with regular network-timed commercials. When I run across [a] show on hulu that intrigues me[,] I immediately want to watch the whole story unfold. Not pick up mid season with little or no background on the series.

A very few number of shows on hulu actually have full seasonal episodes. But most of the shows that I’ve come to love are posted on hulu in bits and pieces. Ultimately leaving me with very few options.. Wait for the DVD (who buys those anyways?), wait for repeats, or just go download the episodes via any number of ways on the internet.

Read the entire post here.

Mr. President, you need to forget a bipartisan approach and get on with the business of governing by winning each battle. You will never be able to work with the Republicans because they hate you. Believe me, Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter are the norm, not the exception. James Dobson and the rest are praying for you to fail. The neoconservatives are gnashing their teeth and waiting for you to “sell out Israel” or “show weakness” in Afghanistan, whatever, so they can declare you a traitor.

(read the entire letter)

Dear Senator Feinstein,

It has come to my attention that you are attempting to insert language into the stimulus bill that would endanger net neutrality, the principle that keeps the Internet democratic and prevents corporations from controlling the flow of traffic on the Internet.

Specifically, you seem to be trying to modify the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program so that it “allows for reasonable network management practices such as deterring unlawful activity, including child pornography and copyright infringement.”

I strongly urge you to reconsider this course of action. This country has seen enough grabbing for power under cover of fear-mongering. Evoking the specter of the danger of child pornography is enough to convince many a lawmaker that restrictions on the free flow of information over the Internet are useful and good, but that could not be further from the truth. We have sufficient legislative mechanisms in place to handle the threat of child pornography, not to mention copyright infringement.

I have worked in the Internet industry since 1995. I have a profound understanding of the ill effects the loss of net neutrality would bring. I have written you on this issue before, and I will say it again: your positions on net neutrality are losing you my vote and the votes of all my peers who understand the issue.

You represent California, one of the world’s centers of high tech. We need you to be as well informed as your constituency in order to defend us against corporate interests in government and in telecommunications. Please refrain from endangering net neutrality.

Signed,

Dan Shick

(This letter is being posted on the Internet as an open letter here)

—-

Write her yourself.

Since I stopped following your career shortly after you stopped going on stage wearing a tool belt with cable wrapped around your neck (around your appearance at “Laffs ‘n’ Food” in Enid, Oklahoma Aug 23-26 1999?) I said I wasn’t aware of the article. They went on to tell me that you said basically (and I am not quoting but paraphrasing their recall) that I could kiss your ass, that I’ve never been to one of your shows (true) and that I didn’t know your audience (untrue).

SO, I went and got your book, “Gitting-R-Donned”, and excitedly skimmed past the joke about that one time you farted and something farty happened, on past the thing about the fat girl who farted and finally found it, Chapter 5 – Media Madness. Well, needless to say I farted. I farted up a fartstorm right there in the Flyin’ J Travel Center.

(entire letter is here)

Thank you for writing to share your thoughts about Proposition 8.  I appreciate hearing from fellow Californians about the important issues facing our state.

In 2000, voters approved Proposition 22 – also known as the California Defense of Marriage Act.  Lawsuits contesting the constitutionality of the measure were filed, and on May 15, 2008, the California Supreme Court determined that Proposition 22 was unconstitutional.  Then, through the initiative process, Proposition 8 was placed on the ballot as a constitutional amendment to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in California.

Proposition 8 now appears to have passed, pending certification by the Secretary of State.  Some people, however, have filed lawsuits challenging the amendment’s legality.  Both the official proponents of Proposition 8 and opponents of Proposition 8 urged the California Supreme Court to hear the lawsuits directly, bypassing the lower courts, and I am pleased that the court has agreed to hear the cases in order to provide the people of California with finality regarding Proposition 8.  Whether the Court rules in favor of or against Proposition 8, I will uphold its decision.

Again, thank you for taking time to write and share your comments.

Sincerely,

–Arnold Schwarzenegger

Dear M. LaValley,

I am a longtime resident of the Mission, and I am writing in regard to case #2008.0720C, in which American Apparel intends to open a store at 988 Valencia Street. I strongly oppose allowing them to do so.

These are difficult economic times, and I can imagine that the benefits of having a popular and lucrative business such as American Apparel in the neighborhood are attractive. I also strongly favor healthy competition in business.

But these two factors are not enough to convince me that our neighborhood would be better off with an American Apparel in it. In fact, I think it would suffer.

The Mission in general and Valencia Street in particular both have a well-deserved reputation for its diverse and interesting businesses, an overwhelming proportion of which are locally owned and operated. I feel passionately that our neighborhood benefits from strong local businesses, providing an alternative to the chain stores downtown and keeping our money — not just tax money — within the City.

To admit American Apparel would be a terrible precedent for Valencia Street, one that I feel endangers a precious commercial resource. Once the public perception of Valencia Street is changed to include chain stores, I fear there would be much less resistance to future chains moving in — and ultimately that would be catastrophic for our neighborhood.

When entrepreneurs in the Bay Area feel they have a path forward and a chance to succeed in opening a local business in San Francisco, the City benefits. Too often, prospective business owners see San Francisco, and certainly Valencia Street, as a too-steep step to take and would open their business elsewhere. Competing with chain stores is one more disincentive, and a large one. Showing them that Valencia Street is safe from chains is, in my view, a huge incentive to forge ahead.

Please do not allow American Apparel to open a store on Valencia Street. Thank you.

Signed,

Dan Shick

(for more info)

Dear President Bush:

I am glad you are, at 62, still a relatively young man. I am glad you are in robust health. This means there is a good likelihood of your being with us for decades yet to come, and I dearly want that. You see, history’s verdict is on the way, and I want you to see it for yourself.

Read the entire excoriating letter here.