Fairfield County

Goldman Sachs cash-out boy Jim Himes narrowly ousted Chris Shays from the 4th District after the financial meltdown last fall. Now he's being blamed by those sorts of voters for pouring his own gasoline on  the fire. 

About 65 residents of area communities gathered at the Wilton public library Sunday for what turned out to be a heated town hall-style debate headed by freshman Congressman Jim Himes...

Himes called last week's outcry in Washington over the $200 million bonuses, "a week-long distraction," which sidetracked legislators from working to fix the broader economy. Still, residents, many of whom admittedly work for TARP recipient companies, wanted to know why Himes voted for the bill, which the Congressmen himself admitted was hastily introduced and emotionally approved."This legislation had all the hallmarks of something that wasn't thought through,'" said Himes, of the tax bill. He voted on it, he said, because he is confident that the bill passed last Thursday would not become law..

One Greenwich resident, who said he works for a TARP recipient, said the market downturn last week was evidence that the tax bill wasn't the way to go. "This country has done as well as it has for so long because of contract law being upheld," said the Greenwich resident, who didn't wish to be named. "If we move away from contract law, that will significantly weaken this economy."Himes, a former Goldman Sachs executive, tried to regain control over the forum as concerned residents shot back over the AIG bonuses. "What about our contracts as voters?" said one concerned resident. "I thought as an American citizen, I could rely on our system of checks and balances in everything our government passes."

As Francis Cionfrrocca points out, the proposed limit on TARP firm compensation is now proposed to be only $250,000, which is not a lot of money in high cost areas like suburban New York. 

Like we've been trying to tell the yuppies with "Bush Lied" stickers on their Infinitis, when the Democrats talk about rescinding "tax breaks for the rich", they mean you. Not the firm in Bermuda  Mrs. Dodd managed.

I also note 65 folks showed up to dress down Himes in Wilton, while only 40 showed up to hassle AIG executives, hmmm. Jim Himes. The next cycle's "3 M".  Screwing your own consituents isn;t a good political move, Jim. You'll have lots of time for reflection after the next election.