Memo to Greenspan: Enough already.

The unseemly, globetrotting, money-grabbing, legacy-spinning, responsibility-denying tour of Alan Greenspan continues, as relentless as a bad toothache. It brings to mind the words of the great Ring Lardner: " 'Shut up,' he explained."

I mean, Alan, please. Enough. How can we miss you if you won't go away?

If you missed it (and that would make you lucky), Greenspan is out and about, bloviating with renewed fervor, explaining that he is not to blame, even in a small way, for the housing and credit crises.

Earlier this week, writing in the Financial Times, he blamed "the misjudgments of the investment community" for the mortgage mess. A Wall Street Journal reporter emerged today from three interview sessions with Greenspan to report, "Mr. Greenspan says he doesn't regret a single decision." Today in Tokyo, Greenspan gave one of his typical speeches that drive copy editors nuts trying to pull a headline out of his wooly headed thinking.  I believe he said housing prices will stabilize "well before" early 2009. Unless they don't.

My foggy memory of American history from school is that public servants were supposed to serve for a while and then go home to their farm or their village. I don't remember the chapter that says ex-presidents and ex-Fed chairmen join some sort of permanent government for millionaires, flying around the world in private jets, invariably accepting suitcases full of cash for trading on their memories of working for the taxpayers. (Yes, that was a shot at the $100-million man, Bill Clinton, who seems to work very hard every day to make me regret twice voting for him).

Cranky today? You bet I am. My DVR cut out with 10 seconds left in the Memphis-Kansas game. That's my excuse. Your thoughts? Comments? E-mail story tips to peter.viles@latimes.com.
Photo Credit: Bloomberg News.

Comments

[Jenna]

Peter, I agree with big mean dog. I'm with you until you started talking about BIll. Why all the hate directed at Bill? Is it because he has gotten rich after leaving office?

[Bubble Boy]

its amazing how he left office just in time. Just like his predecessor Paul Volker

[Tom The Patriot]

Greenspan did what he wanted to do - obsequiously aid the rich and the mega-corporations take from the poor and middle class and give to the rich. The poor and middle class have lost a larger and larger share of income since the Reagan 80s. The disparity between rich and poor has never bee greater than since the days of the robber barons @ 1900. Government unemployment no longer records people who are actually unemployed, only those looking for work lately, because the true numbers would scare people to death. Anyone over 40 is let go by the big companies, they can get somebody younger and cheaper they can work into the ground. Americans work harder, have less time off, fewer vacations and spend less time with their families than any other industrialized nation. Greenspan made lots of money for his friends on Wall Street in the dot-com and real estate bubbles. The rest of us got screwed.

[Michael Snyder]

Earth to Greenspan: If you put food in front of a hungry animal it will eat it.

Translation to Greenspeak: Given the current market conditions that may indicate a slight retraction in the nutritional sector; some investors may seek to leverage their perceived opportunities beyond their means resulting in a small dis-comforture that may have a minimal ripple effect.

Translation to "ranchspeak" Get the mop Alan, your dog's barfing again.

[Carl Heldmann]

I remember when public servants were called "public servants"!..certainly not "leaders".
Cub Scouts have "leaders"!
It's sad these obfuscating, duplicitous, and disingenuous (ODD fellows) cretins keep getting appointed and/or elected.
We ARE a nation of sheep after all.
Bah!
Carl heldmann