C. Dodd - Perhaps it's time to hold people accountable

Senator C. Dodd has been in the news lately in the matter of the AIG bonuses. Herewith a chronology of events courtesy CNN and others:

• June 13, 2008 - From the Wall Street Journal to the Associated Press, the national media were reporting Friday that U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd received favorable mortgage rates from a highly controversial mortgage company (Countrywide Mortgages).
• Sept 23, 2008 - Sen. Dodd notes in Senate banking committee hearing 'Too much power to the Treasury'.
• March 17, 2009 - Christopher Dodd , Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee and recipient of $280,000 in campaign contributions from AIG, adamantly denied that he had anything to do with the clause in the stimulus bill that allowed the AIG bonuses to go forward.
• March 18, 2009 - Hardball with Chris Matthews - Chris Dodd got over $100,000 from AIG. Barack Obama got over $100,000 from AIG. John McCain got almost $60,000 from AIG. Hillary Clinton running for the presidency got almost $40,000. Max Baucus, the top Democrat on Finance, got $25,000. Joe Biden, the VP, got $20,000.
• March 19, 2009 - Senate Banking committee Chairman Christopher Dodd told CNN Wednesday that he was responsible for language added to the federal stimulus bill to make sure that already-existing contracts for bonuses at companies receiving federal bailout money were honored. AIG's derivatives branch is in Dodd's home state. Many of the bonuses in question were awarded to executives at that branch. But in the written statement, Dodd said he had no idea the legislation would impact the company.

It rather reminds me of when young children get caught doing something they shouldn't. First you deny and lie. When that fails you blame someone else. Mr Dodd is a sterling example of what a senior US Senator should be - NOT.

So here's the short version Mr Dodd, Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, took a sweetheart mortgage from Countrywide Mortgage, but hey, it's just business as usual, and the Senate does nothing by way of censure. Then a couple of months later Mr Dodd says the treasure has to much power. Then Mr Dodd denies that he was responsible for the amendment that allowed the outrageous AIG bonusus. Then he says he is but the treasury made him do it.

Common sense suggests that a Senator on the payrole of AIG having conducted himself in this fashion should be impeached. Failing that, he should be censured. He should certainly not be re-elected.

Just some common sense.