We're not yet finished with James Stewart's New Yorker story, The Eight Days of the Financial Crisis, in which he takes us through the events of September 12 to September 19, 2008, but so far there's lots of good stuff. Bernanke, who's never yelled before, raises his voice to Hank Paulson, of all people, knowing exactly what the Hammer could do to him with just one hand. Jamie Dimon uses the word "pussyfoot" when telling AIG's Willumstad to get his ass in gear. John Mack's close personal friends call to tell him sorry, but they're pulling their money from Morgan Stanley. An unnamed CEO cries while on the phone with Tim Geithner. And Lloyd Blankfein tells a Master of the Universe to quit being such a puss.
At 11AM, for the fourth consecutive day, investment bankers filed into the New York Fed. "I don't think I can take another day of this, a Goldman banker told Lloyd Blankfein as they got out of the Goldman car."You're getting out of a Mercedes to go to the New York Federal Reserve," Blankfein responded. "You're not getting out of a Higgins boat on Omaha Beach."
Oh, and Hank Paulson smears some on some lipstick.
Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2009 4:19PM
he squeals and looks like a pig
Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2009 4:21PM
what a lovely shade! wherever might I find it?
-sac trader
Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2009 4:22PM
She looks so regal in that picture.
Rev. Sun Young Moon
Posted by Anal_yst , Sep 16, 2009 4:23PM
Blanky is alot tougher than he looks, eh?
Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2009 4:23PM
I didn't say 'pussyfoot' i said 'i will shove my foot up your pussy' if you don't get moving. the latter is more menacing.
-JD
Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2009 4:26PM
fuck yeah blankfein!
Posted by pfluger , Sep 16, 2009 4:28PM
Oh man, this is great stuff.
A Blankfein smackdown, combined with the WWII reference!
I really believe that LB may be the reincarnation of General George S. Patton.
Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2009 4:28PM
Who wants to give me a pap smear?
Dennis Kneale
Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2009 4:31PM
I smacked around some employees, too, I just didn't feel the need to drop WWII references. One blow to the stomach and "get up and take it like a man!" is all you need.
-JD
Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2009 4:32PM
@9 FTW!
Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2009 4:36PM
LBs a little fighter!
Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2009 4:39PM
I'm thinking we need to have CEO deathmatch!!!
Every CEO of the financial crisis, one cage, one broken bottle, and one 35k toilet, in a 15x15 cage. I would say throw in HP and the Beard, but those two would destroy everyone.
Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2009 4:40PM
Blankfein is so Brooklyn. I love that man.
Posted by pfluger , Sep 16, 2009 4:41PM
Dead ringer. Take off the helmet, put some glasses on his nose, and its him - Blankfein in an prior incarnation:
http://www.lbctnz.co.nz/sld/dyslexia/famous/patton.jpg
Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2009 4:41PM
@14 agreed, although blankfein doesn't wear glasses.
Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2009 4:44PM
@13 same.
-gary cohn
Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2009 4:46PM
and as they headed towards the front doors of the Fed LB was seen marching and grabbing his crotch while yelling, "this is my rifle, this is my gun. this is for fighting, this is for fun."
Posted by Inquiring Minds , Sep 16, 2009 4:50PM
Bob Diamond or Jaime Dimon, who's Maria's favorite?
Posted by pfluger , Sep 16, 2009 4:50PM
Oh goody! This military talk makes me hot! Will someone tell me when its BOHICA time???
-DK
Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2009 4:53PM
100 bucks the weeper was John Mack
Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2009 4:59PM
This story about Blankfein is old news - I think EP posted about this way back.
Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2009 5:02PM
@21 yeah, definitely not but thanks for playing.
Posted by highlyconfident , Sep 16, 2009 5:08PM
The weeper was just a hammered Ken Lewis. He calls Timbo alot when he's feeling blue because he "just loves chocolate, but gets upset because it makes him fat..."
Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2009 5:21PM
Anyone else having trouble accessing the article as well?
Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2009 5:41PM
i'm sorry, the goldman boys took a car to the fed? or is LB too much of a celebrity to walk the streets of downtown?
Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2009 5:43PM
@25 they weren't coming from the office, genius. it was the weekend.
Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2009 5:51PM
riiiight...cause no one worked that weekend....
Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2009 6:34PM
Higgins boat comment is from jan wsj story:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123051066413538349.html
Posted by guest , Sep 16, 2009 7:22PM
Dimon = Joaquim de Almeida