Will Europe Survive?

[Giant Communist Robot]

Germany wants the Greeks to give collateral from privatization for a rescue fund. ECB is heading in a different direction, demanding austerity in exchange for loans. None of this looks good for Greece to remain in the EU. Greece may stay, but it won't be pretty.

[Shapley]

I asked some of the locals about the idea of a seisachtheia when I was there. They didn't seem to favour the idea because of its impact on their retirement plans. If they get the sense that those plans are subject to raiding anyway, they may change their opinion and call for one, anyway.

Greek history shows, when the burdens of society become to great, they just cast them off and start over. They've done it many times in their long history. I dont think EU membership will stop them if they decide to do so again.

[Giant Communist Robot]

Germany's 5.2% GDP growth should be able to subsidize Greece.

[Giant Communist Robot]

This problem with Greece isn't going to go away. They need money now to pay their creditors, and a plan for solvency. Maybe their government has just promised too much to it's citizens; too many overly generous entitlements.

[Giant Communist Robot]

The EU plan for Greece includes urging banks to roll over their Greek bonds at maturity and buy more Greek bonds. At least they have a sense of humor.

[Haggis@wk]

Ex-IMF chief gets $1M bail in NYC sex assault case

I'm thinking he'll be smuggled to Quebec then home to Paris, any takers??

[Giant Communist Robot]

Since he's secretly Barack Obama's true father, strings will be pulled.

[Giant Communist Robot]

I know this because I talked to someone who works downtown and saw his real birth certificate.

[piqaboo]

Its even better. He gets a bodyguard and special jewelry and he's going home to live with his wife.
Love those strings!

[Haggis@wk]

You know he must be desperate to get to France where he can't be extradited. Maybe Polanski can give him advice?

Is he desperate enough to forfeit a mil in cash and 5 mil in a bond? Did he have to negotiate with a bail bondsman? THEY won't be deterred to go after him if so. I suspect no where in France would be safe for him if he had the French version of "Dog" looking for him......hmmmmm somehow "Poodle" doesn't sound as daunting as "Dog"!

[Haggis@wk]

At IMF, Men on Prowl and Women on Guard

It is an international island in the midst of the American capital, a sharp-elbowed place ruled by alpha male economists. The days are long, and employees are regularly pressed together for weeks on end during overseas “missions.” It is a climate in which romances often flourish — and lines are sometimes crossed.

Some women avoid wearing skirts for fear of attracting unwanted attention. Others trade whispered tips about overly forward bosses. A 2008 internal review found few restraints on the conduct of senior managers, concluding that “the absence of public ethics scandals seems to be more a consequence of luck than good planning and action.”

This is life at the International Monetary Fund, the lender of last resort for governments that need money and, under the leadership of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, an emerging force in the regulation of the global economy.

...And the French regard us as barbarians.

[jamiebk]

Probably thought that IMF stood for "Impregnate Many Females"............

[Giant Communist Robot]

The media make is sound like he has a very good chance of getting off. My impulse is to believe the maid.

[Haggis@wk]

The media make is sound like he has a very good chance of getting off. My impulse is to believe the maid.

You and me both. She reported the assault immediately, did all the right things, he took off, apparently in a hurry, leaving some stuff behind. NTPD detectives are notoriously skeptical, leading me to believe they've got some killer evidence. Now the question become how quickly can he buy her off, I suspect we'll see those headlines in a few days.

[Giant Communist Robot]

Now the question become how quickly can he buy her off

I doubt he'll have to. His defense team may be too good.

[Giant Communist Robot]

On CNBC they are adding Belgium to Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain. On this debt/GDP ratio idea, the EU countries are limited to debt to 60% GDP. Didn't help.

[Haggis@wk]

I doubt he'll have to. His defense team may be too good.

Apparently the semen has tested to be his....NOW he's thinking "buyoff"

[Haggis@wk]

Fox News reports:

Dominique Strauss-Kahn told a New York City hotel maid, “Don’t you know who I am! Don’t you know who I am?” while pinning her down during the alleged sexual assault, law enforcement sources close to the investigation told FoxNews.com

.

At least John Kerry only uses that line on maître d’s.

[Haggis@wk]

Strauss-Kahn's pals bid to pay off woman's kin

"He'll get out of it and will fly back to France. He won't spend time in jail. The woman will get a lot of money," said the source, adding that a seven-figure sum has been bandied about.

Pardon me, time for my “I told you so” cigar.

I do find it interesting, and slightly offensive to my Libertarian leanings that she’s in “protective custody”.

It’s a little known secret that she can’t stop the prosecution. The offense was “against the state” and only the state can drop the charges. Even it she refuses to testify her prior statement are admissible

[Giant Communist Robot]

Apparently the French are gagging over the German plan to rescue Greece and insisting on austerity as the solution. This may not end well. EU is a looong way from ending it's crisis, just as we have some really big challenges ahead of us.