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Why Geithner's Bank Fix Will Fail

Posted Feb 17, 2009 03:43pm EST by Henry Blodget in Investing, Recession, Banking
Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner released his desperately awaited banking-system fix last week...and the market immediately dropped several hundred points. 

Why? 

Because the plan lacked what the market needs most right now: clarity.  And, says our guest Chris Whalen of Institutional Risk Analytics, because it is just another half-measure that will attempt to prop up zombie banks and preserve the status quo. 

Even as Geithner puts the finishing touches on his new hybrid public-private rescue, Whalen thinks the idea is doomed.  But, he says, Geithner needs to do something, soon, or the stock market will continue to collapse.
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385 Comments

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday February 17, 2009 03:49PM EST

I have no confidence in Geithner.

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday February 17, 2009 03:50PM EST

The GREED and CHEATING and LYING from BUSINESS and GOVERNMENT in America has finally hit the fan and caused this country and the WORLD to fail! As usual, the people and businesses and government that has been CHEATING us for decades are still the RICH ones, and they could care less if they DESTROY America and the rest of us! No REAL ACCOUNTABILITY in business and government. And the **(CONSERVATIVES and the REPUBLICANS)** want to have LESS REGULATIONS, so that businesses can CHEAT us even MORE!

maicaray
maicaray - Tuesday February 17, 2009 03:54PM EST

Leave the thing alone...that way nobody will "anticipate" anything and so nothing can go wrong. If you have a bad business model, get out and/or change it. It is not the gov't or taxpayers problem.

NeilB
NeilB - Tuesday February 17, 2009 03:55PM EST

The government keeps giving good money after bad. Perhaps it time for them to say "enough is enough. Solve your own problems that YOU created". Our kids, grandkids, & great grandkids will be saddled with the incredible debt that the government is creating. Is it worth it??

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday February 17, 2009 03:58PM EST

Well, what do you expect from someone who doesn't really respect the system to begin with. You've got to love having a tax cheat run the department that collects taxes. Another good definition of irony.

maicaray
maicaray - Tuesday February 17, 2009 03:58PM EST

Scotttrade: motto is " "more broker for your money." If I become any "more-broker" with my money, why, I won't need a "broker."

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday February 17, 2009 03:58PM EST

The proposal was very short on details. Wall Street sold off because the banks weren't consulted in the construction of the new program, so if Wall Street didn't have a hand in the creation they sold. Wall Street had a big hand in TARP, need I mention Goldman, AIG etc...Personally I don't think any of the crooks in financial services should have any input because they will steal everything as evidenced in TARP 1 and 2.

Ed
Ed - Tuesday February 17, 2009 04:00PM EST

The same bunch of pseudo experts that dug the economic trench we are in is now trying to get us out. This is the epitome of a shovel-ready project. Turn 'em under.

Dave
Dave - Tuesday February 17, 2009 04:01PM EST

Just because it lacked clairty does not mean it's going to fail. All investor want a clear crisp answer to exactly what's going to make them money, and they are not going to get that....from any company/government. Traders are way overreacting to a piece of information that was just not clear.

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday February 17, 2009 04:02PM EST

I guess there is no point in getting bogged down in the facts of the regulations you want to expand. Prior to the congress pushing for home ownership for all, regardless of their ability to actually pay the mortgage, the housing market had not gone into its ballistic growth mode. However, when the politicians (Democrats in this case) forced the lending institutions to lower qualifications and created the sub prime mortgage markets, house prices skyrocketed, mortgages took off and this the created the credit default swap market also. But, hey the same folks who pushed these regulations will push the future regulations you seem to be longing for. This will continue to artificially create boom and bust cycles that are the root cause of the economic problems right now. Everyone must qualify for everything for it be fair in our new socialist view of things. Until we get reality back in the equation, expect a lot more of the same.

DannyBoy
DannyBoy - Tuesday February 17, 2009 04:03PM EST

"Because the plan lacked what the market needs most right now: clarity." How can the author state that plan will fail when there is no clarity about what it is going to be. Don't we already have enough political hacks?

PeterF
PeterF - Tuesday February 17, 2009 04:04PM EST

I find it fascinating that Henry Blodget can state with perfect assurance that a plan that hasn't been completed never mind tested will fail. How does someone know what isn't? I can not remember when so many people have been so sure that we are heading to financial Armageddon and based on what facts.

John
John - Tuesday February 17, 2009 04:05PM EST

Henry Blodgett!!! Isnt he the douche bag Technology analyst that was busted for selling research to the I bankers??? And he is posting to the masses about the viability of a bank proposal?? What a DOUCHE!!

Hecham
Hecham - Tuesday February 17, 2009 04:05PM EST

America failed to monitor wall street bogus and inflated securities made of garbage loans. All banks who got involved with this garbage should be allowed to fail. Their management should be fired. Alan Greenspan thought Banks would regulate the theft to protect their interests. Well, seems like human being greed wins again.

julia
julia - Tuesday February 17, 2009 04:06PM EST

Finally a clear voice. Grown up conversations is what is needed. Enough with the bs from banks and financial companies. Come clean and lets deal with this. 9/11 happened and we put our big girl panties on and dealt with it. We can deal with this. Lets ROLL!!!!

Jeff  Ross
Jeff Ross - Tuesday February 17, 2009 04:06PM EST

Want to get even with the crooks that caused this? Take your money out and never put a nickel back in. Find small, private companies, invest in them and sell 'em to the fat cats to make a mint. Relying on the criminals to 'do better next time' is a foolish idea.

Cory
Cory - Tuesday February 17, 2009 04:07PM EST

These are times that try Mens souls. we are at the precipice of a major depression and the rogue government has planned this all along. Wake up my fellow Americans, join the info war, awaken from the matrix that is around you. Knowledge is power, awaken at infowars.com and prisonplanet.com. Google Endgame: blue print for Global Enslavement, and Loose change final cut. As thomas Jefferson said "The tree of liberty must be sprayed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Now is one of those times!!

julia
julia - Tuesday February 17, 2009 04:07PM EST

Finally a clear voice. Grown up conversations is what is needed. Enough with the bs from banks and financial companies. Come clean and lets deal with this. 9/11 happened and we put our big girl panties on and dealt with it. We can deal with this. Lets ROLL!!!!

Yahoo! Finance User
Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday February 17, 2009 04:08PM EST

I am really disapointed with Geithner. He is not well prepared. He does not have any effective paln at all. That really have investors lost confidence on him. Wish Obama group can come out some new ideas. Don't rely too much on him

julia
julia - Tuesday February 17, 2009 04:08PM EST

Finally a clear voice. Grown up conversations is what is needed. Enough with the bs from banks and financial companies. Come clean and lets deal with this. 9/11 happened and we put our big girl panties on and dealt with it. We can deal with this. Lets ROLL!!!!

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