'Cause an AIG party don't stop:
Even as the company was pleading the federal government for another $40 billion dollars in loans, AIG sent top executives to a secret gathering at a luxury resort in Phoenix last week.
Reporters for abc15.com (KNXV) caught the AIG executives on hidden cameras poolside and leaving the spa at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort, despite apparent efforts by the company to disguise its involvement.
"AIG made significant efforts to disguise the conference, making sure there were no AIG logos or signs anywhere on the property," KNXV reported.
A hotel employee told KNXV reporter Josh Bernstein, "We can't even say the word [AIG]."
A company spokesperson, Nick Ashooh, confirmed AIG instructed the hotel to make sure there were no AIG signs or mention of the company by staff.
"We're trying to avoid confrontation, keep our profile low," said Ashooh. "Some of our employees have been harassed."
"What do they have to hide," asked Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) who said he had been promised by AIG CEO Edward Liddy that the company would stop such "junkets."
"They came to us and said they were drowning and needed help. A person who is drowning doesn't jump up and start partying," said Congressman Cummings.
You were doing so well there, Elijah, and then you screwed up the metaphor. A better way to put it would have been, "A person who is drowing doesn't jump up and sodomize the person who threw them the life preserver with a five battery Maglite."
We saw the story on the news last night, and were barely finished rolling our eyes when ABC followed it up, unironically it would seem, with this piece:
Three years behind schedule and almost $360 million above budget, the Capitol Visitor Center prepares to open its doors to millions of tourists who now must endure long lines without food, restrooms or shelter to catch a glimpse of the halls of Congress.
The underground center, the largest single construction project in the Capitol's two-century history in terms of size and expense, is to open to the public on Dec. 2. The final cost of the project is put at $621 million, more than double the $265 million estimated cost had the center been completed on schedule in December, 2005.
And I'm driving an eight-year old car.
Lay off these AIG guys. As any high priced hooker will tell you, after earning a hefty payday by blowing a couple dozen congressmen you deserve a little to relax with a spa day.
Lay off these AIG guys.
Can we do that? We are their bosses now…
They must have a brilliant marketing team. I hear for Thanksgiving they are planning an event where they burn wads of cash in front of a homeless shelter.