They've done a great "job" on Palin's "limitations," alright.

Wonder when they'll get around to Obama. You know, the guy running for President about whom we know virtually nothing?

Hi, More Palin and Couric in the next post. Enjoy. Z

When are we going to learn NOT to allow the anti-social personalities to run the show for any business/industry/politics ... so now the anti-socials left the used car sales business to run Wall Street and what we saw for the last 8 years the highest office in the country.

Sad state of affairs. I hope there will be prison time for the majority of those involved ... the world is watching.

Anyone remember the vices of the world? Anyone remember the mother of all sins "GREED". HOW MUCH MONEY CAN ONE PERSON SPEND IN A LIFETIME? And, why would someone need all that money in the first place than to keep replacing an empty hole inside themselves. Put them in therapy, put them in prison, let them learn to walk a righteous path for once in their lives.

And don't tell me you don't know who is in touch with their emotions versus who isn't? Listen to subordinates complaints over the years and stop kicking the whistle blowers in the butts and destroying their careers and lives.

The whistle blowers of the world are the ones telling everyone "pay attention fools, this or that guy isn't quit right".

Mr. Veleshi let me explain the opinions of a lot of people where I live.Wall Street is broken.The reasons are obvious.The mind set being that since the government wont fix it,the blue collar middle class will.By letting these institutions fail they are utilizing a form of vigilante justice.they dont care if it wipes out their 401ks, it is a price they are willing to pay.So a word of advice to you and CNNs biased reporting, clean up your act.For the record both banks I deal with say no problem business as usual! Former democrat.

I am thrilled the 'bailout' didn't pass. Of course, we know it's going to take the media until Thursday to convince the useful lemmings that government is a savior.

With government 'saving' us, who needs enemies.

When I have a 'credit crunch' on my 'credit card' I don't use it until I've payed it down. But what does our government want to do? They want an extention on their 'credit line' when they can't pay the bill for the credit they've already used.

Federal Reserve: not federal and no reserves. Its existance is unconstitutional.

The new denial for the bailout is just awful, after all, it was the only thing that could save the country from going into a huge depression. This is why I hate politicians so much. Too much ego and too much love of money.

Zurawik's bias and partisanship is glaring. Velshi has done more to report on this crisis than Zurawik or the Baltimore Sun ever will.

It is easy to be a media critic...David let's see you and the Sun do some financial reporting yourself!

Hi, as I think you know but are unwilling to admit, the Sun has done some excellent financial reporting on this story and others. If you really aren't aware of it, for a fast reference, I would urge you to search the work of Jay Hancock. Thanks. Z

I would like to moment on the Wall Street Bailout. I think Wall Street will be alright if they don’t get the money. I know all of these financial annalist are making all of these comments about the market will collapse but these people probably have stock in the market and want there money back. So they tell use regular Americans that the sky is falling. I don’t think they give us enough credit, Americans are smarter than that. Oh and as for getting credit. I think we as a country rely on credit too much, so to not be able to borrow for a while is probably a good thing. It will teach everyone to live within there means. Plus prices are too high for products if we need all of this credit to make simple purchases. It may take some time but the market will correct itself and Wall Street needs to calm down and wait. As for the bail out money use it to help the regular Americans and regular business if need be. I wouldn’t panic just because some people lost some stock and credit is hard to get. Chill out!!!

I agree about the CNN coverage. Anderson Cooper had five guests, all who assume that this bailout bill is a good bill, and he relied on David Gergen and Roland Martin, neither of whom seem to know any more about this crisis than I do.
No interviewing of House Republicans who oppose this bill and are trying to find better options, no discussion of the mark-to-market accounting system.

This is the way CNN tends to cover everything. No facts. No context. I do not know whether there is a market strategy or underlying journalistic philosophy. Or if they are just careless, lazy, and rudderless.

In response to 'Z on TV''s comments about CNN's Reporter, Ali Velshi's, performance regarding the defeat of the 'rescue' or bailout bill:

I was surprised at the attitude Mr. Velshi demonstrated throughout his coverage. His comments, his tone, and his demeanor seemed to be one of arrogance. As if, You uneducated Americans, you just don't get it.

Well, maybe we do. Maybe Wall Street and the speculators got it, too. Maybe the administration, who had tried so tenaciously to rush this bill through, got it, too. Enough is enough.

During the early evening, Mr. Velshi was in a discussion, rather heated, with another gentlemen. Sorry, didn't get his name. He asked Mr. Velshi was his credentials were. That is when I noticed something...Mr. Velshi averted the question...asked to him again...averted again. It made me wonder, what are Mr. Velshi's credentials?

He is Canadian. He is an Ismaeli Muslim (a branch of the Shiite). He has a degree in Religious Studies from a branch of Queen's College. He traveled across America to interview small business owners and discuss issues with them and business mentors.

I am not impressed by his resume. I am astounded at his lack of appropriate credentials to be an economic analyst or advisor to the American people. I am sure he is intelligent. But his slanted views are obvious. His behavior in discussions lacks courtesy. I won't be watching him in the future, and if today was any example, that would include much of CNN's broadcasts.
Surely, CNN has better to offer than this.

Hi Sherri, Thanks. I will inquire further about some of the issues you raise. Z

jjackson, maybe you should have been paying attention for the past 13 months like the rest of us. Go read about Obama is you missed all the vetting. The public is satisfied, as evidenced by the polls showing Obama with a significant lead.

If you are not satisfied, go vote for Palin and against your own economic interest.

The little Hen that could
Body: Once upon a time, there was a little hen who decided she would form a corporation to make bread. She asked the Dog for a loan but he was barking up a tree and said no, so she went to the fat cats for financing. She asked the ox to help her plough but the ox had an IRA with the dog barking up a tree and he didn’t need any bread. She asked the cow to help her plant seeds but the cow couldn’t because she had her bread in a 401 K held by the fat cats, so the little hen planted her seeds herself. When it came time to harvest she asked the sheep who were frolicking, if they wanted to help, but they just laughed at her because they had there bread with the fat cats. Who were trading there sub prime mortgages to the dog barking up a tree. So the little hen ground her wheat and made some bread and the IRS taxed the little hen heavily just to level the playing field, so the little hen moved to Ireland where taxes were much less. The sheep couldn’t make there house payments because there was no bread. The fat cats were in panic because there was no one to cover the loans made to the dog barking up a tree. So the Dog who had been barking up a tree, stood on its hind legs and begged Congress for the Ox’s IRA and Cows 401 K to cover their loans and bail out the fat cats, who were holding the sub prime mortgages of the sheep who were frolicking. And Congress said No.

Hi Lee, very good. But I think it stops at the part where the person telling the fable (fabulist?) is supposed to say, "and the moral is....." This is, after all, a newspaper blog. So, the moral is? Thanks. Just trying to make sure we all get the right point. Z

Yesterdays lows were nothing more than a protest from the market because they didn't get their money. This bailout will do abosolutely nothing to stop job loss or the foreclosure rate or the price of housing. The big boys will still continue to outsource, the homes will still be foreclosed on and because of that the price of homes will still continue to fall. The market will survive, it always has. What goes up must come down and in the market the reverse also occurs.

HI Allison and thanks for the straightalk, easy-to-understand analysis. Do you think we are not hearing this kind of critique from TV analysts because it is not rosy enough? Thanks. Z

This Ali Valshi is an idiot! and WAY out of touch...he has no clue that most American's felt this huge "crash" years ago. And forcasting doom & gloom? We've already been there, Ali...get over it.

The opinion driven newscasts on CNN and FOX news have driven me to get my information from PBS's The News Hour and BBC America. I enjoy the news when you don't have people shouting with one another and every disagreement becomes adversarial.

I think a lot of journalists were upset that the expected story of the bailout passing didn't happen and weren't up to the job of explaining what did occur.

the coverage of palin has been embarrassing -- condescending, mean spirited, and very biased.

Joe Biden says something dumb EVERY DAY and no one cares.

Barak Obama hsa less relevant experience than Palin and no one cares. He's never accomplished anything, never challenged vested interests in his party, never worked on important legislation in bipartisan fashion. Palin has accomplished a lot in a short career. She's unafraid to challenge the power brokers around her and has worked across party lines. Ditto for John McCain.

It would be refreshing if the mainstream media would remind America of Candidates Zero's "limitations." But don't hold your breath.

the coverage of palin has been embarrassing -- condescending, mean spirited, and very biased.

Joe Biden says something dumb EVERY DAY and no one cares.

Barak Obama hsa less relevant experience than Palin and no one cares. He's never accomplished anything, never challenged vested interests in his party, never worked on important legislation in bipartisan fashion. Palin has accomplished a lot in a short career. She's unafraid to challenge the power brokers around her and has worked across party lines. Ditto for John McCain.

It would be refreshing if the mainstream media would remind America of Candidates Zero's "limitations." But don't hold your breath.

I think it is a shame that in the absence of facts, the media tends to sensationalize events. I tuned in to CNN to get news. What I got was scary, gloom and doom, armegeddon talk. I turned it off. I'm already nervous. Can somebody tell me how this bailout is going to stop home foreclosures? I don't have a mortgage, but I can see that one of the main economic issues we face is how to fix the mortgage crisis. Anyway, glad to find straight talk here.

You mention the number of people writting in with negative votes. How many of those people really understand the real problems
and have a feasible plan to correct it, other than just doing nothing.

I just watched Steve Cardasco tear Ali Velshi apart. The man spews garbage and needs get a little more educated. Have Ron Paul on CNN and maybe more people will understand monetary policy and economics better then the clowns they have on CNN. I am amazed that people take the opinions of reporters over those of actual economists.

the coverage of palin has been embarrassing -- condescending, mean spirited, and very biased.

Joe Biden says something dumb EVERY DAY and no one cares.

Barak Obama hsa less relevant experience than Palin and no one cares. He's never accomplished anything, never challenged vested interests in his party, never worked on important legislation in bipartisan fashion. Palin has accomplished a lot in a short career. She's unafraid to challenge the power brokers around her and has worked across party lines. Ditto for John McCain.

It would be refreshing if the mainstream media would remind America of Candidates Zero's "limitations." But don't hold your breath.

In response to the comment: "Wonder when they'll get around to Obama. You know, the guy running for President about whom we know virtually nothing?" This criticism of Obama is old and, quite frankly, ridiculous. If you don't know anything about Obama, you have only yourself to blame: didn't you follow the debates during the primaries? What about last week's debate b/w Obama and McCain? What about flipping through the newspaper, reading the Economist, or just watching the evening news? There is plenty of coverage of him and his platform each and every day. Palin is perhaps getting more attention now because she is new to the campaign scene. That is quite obviously not the case with Obama.

PLEASEEE explain more to us everyday 'Joe Bloes' that have NO extra money to put in stocks....us everyday people that live DAY to DAY that dont have extra money for new car buyers and SUCH. How this Bailout DENIED will effect us. Ive been watching CNN for the latest and catching it here and there. I REMEMBER the NECESSITY of congress to vote to PASS the BAILOUT and if NOT passed how it will effect people in ALL corners!!! Im looking at stocks....seems FINE....and NOT seeing people lossing jobs anytime soon. soooooooooo WHERE was the 'NECESSITY'? My opinion is that the people that have the EXTRA money to put in stocks YESS will be effected,...but im seeing us EVERYDAY people arent REALLY going to be effected? its rather INSULTING that they made it SUCH a DIRE need to pass this...but ya know??!!!?? the world is NOT coming to an end. We will still live Day to Day and carry on with our lives *sighs*

Re-The little Hen that could
And,
The moral is, Sheep stop frolicking and pay attention to your financial situation, Fat cats stop selling short, and dog stop barking up the tree. Us Ox's, Cows and the IRS need to help the little Hen get started back making bread, so that there will be enough dough to go around, before we all lose our IRA's and 401 K's.

Hi Lee, sorry for the delay in getting back. Thanks so much for spelling it out for folks like me. Nice rhyme, too. Given the woeful lack of economics education in our schools, maybe there is part-time career here for you with Fables of a Failing Economy. Thanks. Z

I was flipping channels on TV last night when I came across Charlie Rose calmly interviewing two experts about the failed bailout.

I was stunned. Civilized discourse on TV? No way.

I immediately changed the channel, because I don't understand the news unless some biased talking head screams it at me.

simply take back all the monies that these ceo's have stolen and return that to the coffers of these failed companys. after that is done then and then only will i agree to help them.

Hey Velthsi, or whatever your name is, don't potest so much, you sound too desparate and you are not convincing me. I don't give a shit for wall stret. Main st has felt the crunch for sometime now and are out for blood. The assholes on wall street have been making millions for the past eight years wile main street sufered. At this point WE don't care. I will not buy a car, I will not sell my house, we will not go shopping for crup, just the essentials, and we will go thought it as I allways have.

Mr. Velshi
Get another song, This crisis should be evidence enough that Americans have bee living on credit for far too long.If you don't have good enough credit to buy that house you should rent until you do. Since banks are in buis to make money they will lend only to those who can afford to repay the loan period,also if a buisness has to borrow to make their payroll they need another line of work.
What office ore you running for? you sound like you are in the scare buisness..

I agree with Charlie's comments above. Although this guy often dresses in an expensive pin-striped suit looking like a banker, he appears to have zero training in banking and finance. He's not even American, and he's arrogantly pontificating on what the American people should be doing (i.e., supporting the bailout) as if he were an "expert" on perhaps one of the most important pieces of legislation in our lifetimes.

What a joke.

With many of the government's past failings in recent years, the public has an overwhelming lack of trust for their government. The rallying cry has been that the American people as a whole, we are skeptical and are suspicious of many of the proposals that are being discussed by the government. Media organizations should realize that now is an opportune moment to regain clout with the public. By reporting informative, truthful and unbiased reports, the media could reconstruct their image and regain trust with the people at a time when they feel taken advantage of by wall street and their government.

although cnn does a great job in many areas, when it comes to politics
the coverage is so bias against republicans and conservatives.
most of us, half your audience, go to other sources to get fair reporting.

I don't know why you don't just admit
you don't serve half of the population

cnn does a great job in reporting the news in many areas.
However when it comes to politics it is so bias, I have watched for years and to get fair coverage I go else where. What a shame you are loosing half the american population
viewers.

Thank you for your article.

CNN has rammed Velshi Bailout opinions down our throats.

The show he is on is suppose to be the news. At least, they should have a differing opinion on the same show to represent us.

Move all your money into Irish banks as they are protecting ALL your money UNLIMITED in their banks...with no ceiling do it now.

I follow www.money.cnn.com. I have 7 years of graduate and postgraduate education in Economics and Business. I work at the financial department of a Fortune 200 company, I think I understand the current economic situation. My conclusion of CNN's job reporting the "credit squeeze", "bailout" and "money crisis" is that they have become a tabloid in the course of only 2 weeks!

Let's see who owns CNN? Hmmm do they have a stake in seeing the bailout pass?

Did anyone watch any nbc owned stations on wednesday when GE rumours were flying? The reporter was trying to talk people into saying they needed the bailout. The CEO of Mattel just kept saying "no we're ok."

I didn't expect Washington to become a pawn shop for the banks. "Here, what will you give me for this stuff? Just hold it and if I can I'll come back and get it, or after awhile you can try to sell it."

I like Ralph Nader myself.

Why on earth would anyone assume that CNN isn't slanted? They are a large corporation with their own axe to grind - the public interest doesn't matter to them. People need to consider the notion that networks push their own agendas. Fox is CNN is ABC is Hearst is Clear Channel - it's all the same. We're on our own, and we need to think for ourselves.

Part of Velshi's job is to include context... that comes in the form of his opinion that rejecting the bailout would result in a major crisis extending to Main Street. The reason he is able to provide a viewpoint, which is shared by economists around the world and not just the top brass on Wall Street, is because he understands what he's reporting on. I don't think you can say the same for the fashion models puppets on Fox.

quick call obama (you have his # don't you) he said that he was standing by for important calls, tell him to get all his dem followers and send more money. the bill that reid rammed through is not enough. he said he had the answers.
but he also said that he did not trust the bush adm. but he jumped through the hoop when he called to sellout the taxpayers.
what a bunch of---------- you know what i mean.

Sherry took the exact words out of my mouth. I heard the heated exchange on CNN about the financial crisis/bailout this week, and also wondered about Ali Velshi's credentials. He was screaming in a panic-stricken Chicken-Little way during the interview! I did a bit of research and also found that he has a degree in theology, and a glaring lack of education in finance, economics or even management. He is NOT capable of analyzing complex financial problems for ANYONE. He should not be on the airwaves in any way related to financial topics, let alone during an economic crisis where he is propped up as a credible resource for viewers. Valshi was desperately screaming propaganda--not news. I now know he was acting as a mouthpiece for his elitist friends in the financial industry--those friends who like Velshi, belong to the New York Economics club, and who embrace anything and everything George Bush. Velshi pointedly and aggressively brought the message of George Bush to CNN viewers. Further, he applied immense pressure to nervous viewers and thus Congress, to push through a bailout on an imaginary timeline, before Americans could gain their footing and cry foul. "Disaster Economics", as economist Naomi Klein would call it. How deplorable. CNN needs to fire this Bush idealogue. Velshi is completely incompetent to begin with, and he is the Bush mouthpiece, yet CNN doesn't seem to realize it. Are they that dumb about economics at CNN? Why not hire a real economist? I will turn off immediately any show that is stupid enough to put this incapable Bush/Paulson lapdog on the air.

Ali I have enjoyed your segment on Give Me My Money Back. However I would like to know how we can get it across to Washington that I think one of the best ways to help us middle class is to give tax deductionback on car payment interest like they did in 50's and in addtion since all are living on credit cards the interest there should also be tax deduction.

Some of us that are in retirement and have zapped by the Federal Govermnet for off sets on our retirement pensions have no alternative but to use credit cards now with our pension to keep us going.

To me this should help the economy and the middle class people a great deal. We have nothing to deduct any more. Thanks for listening