They should give it all back. I am so frustrated with these executive who take advantage are only concerned with their personal interest under the guise of corporate or fiduciary responsibility. I work for a $3 Billion company that filled for Chapter 11 protection. (BearingPoint, Inc) My employer has agreed to see that company at a fraction of the $3 Billion and the executive are petitioning to the bankruptcy court to be paid Tens of Millions of Dollars. How bold does one have to be to mismanage a company to the point of bankruptcy and ask for Millions of Dollars in Bonuses and Severance. This is IRRESPONSIBLE....at best.

Rick, hell yes I would!!!! Considering the fact that all these CEO`s have fat salaries, bonuses for them is icing on the cake. These same CEO`s have no problem eliminating thousands of jobs so they can retain their wealth, its simply disgusting! By the way Rick, I say fire that fat cat who runs the USPS, freaking guy makes more that the Prez, whats up with that? He needs $160,000 a year for his security detail, what the hell is that? People lining up to pick off the Postmaster General, come on! What about the ones in Congres both state and federal, no word on any pay cuts for them. In my state of Michigan if you get elected to the state congress you have health benifits for life, simply disgusting!

i think aig execs. should pay bonuses back and if they don t they should be held accountable by the government

Rick, they call in retention bonuses, isnt having a high paying job enough retention? They act as if these people are irreplaceable, biggest load of crap I`ve heard of in a long time. I say if you are a company that recieves one red cent from me the tax payer then there shouldn`t be any bonuses or perks for anyone in that company!

The board of directors for many of these companies appear to see that position as a high paid vacation day. From the standpoint of corporate management and responsibility they appear to be worthless.

Until the stockholders unite and demand, by their proxy votes, a say in executive compensation, that will continue. all of these people, like our elected officials, have forgotten that they are the hired employees of the people who own the corporation.

Hi Rick–love your show! Of course I'd give the bonus back–it's a no-brainer! But then again we know these people have more greed than brains.

HEY RICK,ENJOY YOUR SHOW. WHERE'S THE NATIONAL GUARD IN NORTH DAKATO,SEEN ALL THE FLOODING BUT NO NATIONAL GUARD

Rick,

*Please* don't call it "uber-regulation"! It is getting regulation "right-sized". We're repeating now the robber-baron era of the early 1900s and if we don't get it right, we'll be seeing another global depression in 20 years time. Those are the true stakes of this point in time.

*All* innovation, freedom and creativity occur within limits. Simple example, free speech is moderated by laws against libel and inciting to riot. My hope for this administration is that we actually apply the lessons from the past to set intelligent floors and ceilings within which much positive (and reasonably lucrative) innovation, freedom and creativity can occur. If we cannot learn from the past, we're doomed to repeat these painful cycles of boom-and-bust.

Thanks.

The government needs to give more money back to taxpayers instead of the "pockets of wallstreet rich people." The problem is not the banks, it is the borrowers who cannot pay their loan payments. And another point that is wrong with the government, I am a veteran of the Army and i am disabled. I have been waiting for over 3 years for social security. It just goes to show that the government is not doing its job when they are this far behind in this one area.

Hey Rick it's been 2 months since Mr. Obama has been in office, and as far as I know I haven't seen one proposal for anything from the Republicans. Is this party dead?

Rick, you're correct. Power corrupts! And it's the power that Wall Street had that became corrupted. Greed destroys! That's why we need regulations in place to deal with corruption when it occurs, and before it crashes the system.

Rick,
No one should be taking a bonus at this time, especially those that work for companies that lost money. A bonus should be for positve gains not net losses.

Why does no one seem to understand the real issue?
ABOLISH THE FEDERAL RESERVE and most of the problem will be fixed. The FED does whatever it wants and answers to no one. The countries monetary system should be handed over to the control of WE THE PEOPLE... Never should we have to answer to a private corporation that doesn't have the interest of the people in mind.

Has anybody noticed that seniors are left out in any discussions on the stimulus. I wrote Lindsy Graham, John Spratt and no reply.
Carl H
SC

I would give it back, full of the relief I wasn't being prosecuted for stealing taxpayer money. I would consider I got off easy.

Rick, while I understand the anger towards AIG execs getting bonus' paid via bailout monies, my anger is with Congress for not specifying what AIG could use the bailout funds for. Wake up folks and hold our elected officials responsible. They're a tricky bunch so keep your eye on the ball.

Come on Rick....if you're going to promote Barak Obama and his agenda, then say it up front.
You leave no stone unturned in finding Republican dirt or conteoversy. And you bring on Democrats...White House spokespersons...or their supporters to elicit the comments you want.
You like to refer to yourself as a journalist....you never be one until you drop the biased coverage.
Paul DeCourcy, Toronto, Ont.

While I understand that regulating corporations is distasteful I think it should be stresses that some of the companies are as large or larger than many governments.

For example the losses at AIG easily dwarf the deficits of many of the state governments. Regulation is mandatory.

But in this case I think you are not paying enough attention to the failure of the regulators to follow the existing regulations. I wouls ask that you dig much deeper in to this story.

Rick – Will you quit interrupting the people you are interviewing! You keep "stepping" all over their words. If what you have to say is so much more important than what they have to say why bother having them on your show? Half the time I end up switching you off because you are so annoying.

I do not understand why AIG executives fromthefinancialproducts dept are not in jail next to Madoff - after all, they took premiums without being able to cover any losses– that's thievery - and now the tax payer has to pay up –

AS for the blog about regulation on the horizon of financial institutions, bring it on. A stable atmosphere has got to be better than the meltdown that has taken place! In the early 70's, my girlfriendwent to Los Alamitos High School in CA - they started a policy of not taking attendance with the reasoning that the students would realize that being in school was to their advantage and that they were old enough to know that they should be there - giess what? The 'honor 'system failed– no one showed up,not even the 'good' students! We all need rules!!

I would like to know where the O'bama critics and nay sayers have been for the last 8 years. Why wasn't there this type of feedback and outrage during the Bush administration when it was really needed. This large whole O'bama is trying to fill was dug by Bush and cronies. Why don't people get it? Or, is it really a racial thing.

Is the Mexician violence and drug trafficking, something new ? This country should not have anything to worry about. We have been secure, since 911, or have we?

We are a corrupt goverment! It will not matter if big banks are regulated or not. AIG spit in out faces and basically said we do not care we know we cannot fail the goverment we paid off will not let us.

Hey Rick, tell us how the drugs from mexico are distributed in the USA
we all kno the bad guys in mexico, but what about here, where is the drugs coming from Mexico?.
thank you
s.romo

'Running the white house' is such a stupid comment. He should be staying in the white house and running it – He runs the country – How stupid are americans. He is not dumb like many others who have been in the office – he hired the right people and he needs to address the people and he cannot that from the white house.

Rick: Just think about the millions of seniors on Social Security and how lucky they are that the country did not privatize Social Security! The current economic downturn proves that our investment industry can not be trusted to operate without regulations. Regulations are needed to protect the average citizen, investor and non-investor worker. If we did not deregulate the banks under Reagan we would be earning 5% on everyday savings account. Unchecked industry leads to unchecked greed and UNCHECKED ECONOMIC disaster for everyone.,

Hey Rick. You do a great segment on CNN, but I have to say that the comments that come across Twitter/Facebook/Spacebook are annoying. If the American people are not intelligent enough to support the President Of The United States, they should not comment on your show. Let's put the responsibility in "their" hands. You'll see this country go to hell – QUICK.

WGS
Pittsburgh, PA

Isn't it interesting that the main problem with Mexico is job creation. One of the biggest obstacles to job creation in Mexico is NAFTA. NAFTA was signed into law by Bill Clinton. Hillary Clinton, as Sec of State is now calling the border situation, "A problem, but not an immediate problem."
What ????

Tom Foreman and the DEA are most certainly confused.
Mr. Foreman said that the DEA knows that the drugs are being put in trucks of coffee that are being driven through Central America to Mexico and then on to the USA. There is no road from Colombia to Panama.
So, how do the drugs get from Colombia to Mexico?

WHAT A STUPID COMMENT FROM MANUEL PEREZ ROCHA. I CAN'T IMAGINE THE ARMY ASKING TO A CRIMINAL..."MAY I ARREST YOU, PLEASE?" HERE IN MEXICO, MOST PEOPLE PREFER THE ARMY ON STREETS RATHER THAN THE CARTELS TAKES THE CONTROL.

REGARDS.....

CARLOS LOPEZ FROM MONTERREY, MEXICO.

Rick:

If you wish to place blame for the drugs for guns and violence problems at our Sourther Border, digest this: More than 7 years after 9-11, we still have made no real effort to secure that border! If you and Drew Griffin want to blame guns and gun owners, then you are showing your liberal media bias and your personal agenda. Blame the US Chamber of Commerce, The Business Roundtable, the Hispanic Caucus in Congress, and illegal alien advocacy groups, who have deliberately stood in the way of securing that border. Oh, and I forgot... Since Rick Sanchez is an "open borders" advocate as well, blame yourself!!! Had we made a concerted effort to secure the border, this problem would not exist. Hillary is correct - we are to blame, but what she doesn't get is... "Open borders" Hillary is more to blame than most.

I just watched Mr. Bernstein on your show – he's saying the same old tired excuse/story for bailing out the "banking crooks". I find it insulting for him to keep rehearsing this "too big to fail" thing. I understand that the citizenry will be hurt if AIG goes under; people may not be able to get a loan, students may not be able to get a school loan....etc. – we understand that! STOP THE NONSENCE NOW!!! Either this is a capilalistic society or socialistic – it can't be both – we can't keep privatizing profits and socializing loss! – that crazy. If a private company wants to be gigantic and give billions of dollars in bonuses to their employees, that's their business..... but they are in the business to make money......if they fail, they fail... period! – no government bailout! On the other hand, if taxpayers are forced to salvage currupt businesses.... then lets go ahead and admit that we are now a socialistic society, it's better than what we're doing now.

AIG and BearingPoint executives are the same...thieves. They used the Bankruptcy Court to cheat employees and investors. Now want multi-million dollar bonus for their management or lack thereof. Shame on the bankruptcy judge if he approves their motion.

Hey Rick,

Great show! I'm not much for big brother snooping into our lives but it seems to me that if they are going to do it anyways maybe they should start with Facebook, MySpace, and the rest! Any kid showing themselves openly online with weapons like the 16 year old kid that killed the DJ, should be investigated and NOW!!!! If they post it on the web they should be subject to investigation and that evidence should be allowed in evidence against them. Pre-emptive strikes will help to stave off the next unnecessary massacre! JLC – BC Canada

Yes I do feel that AIG should give back the bonus money and I also feel that President Obama should be given a fair chance to do the job he was elected by the people to do but should not be expected to have every problem solved in the sixty-six days he has been if office. It took Bush eight years to send our country to the poor house, so give our new President the opportunity to begin rebuilding this country in an equitable yet sensible amount of time with out being put under such a high powered microscrope and scrutinized at every turn. As the saying goes, Rome was not built in a day and neither is the rebirth of this great nation!

AIG and BearingPoint executives are the same...thieves. They used the Bankruptcy Court to cheat employees and investors. Now want multi-million dollar bonuses for their management or lack thereof. Shame on the bankruptcy judge if he approves their motion.

These people are nothing but crooks. They say they're trying to help steer things back on track, but they've needed so much money from our tax dollars and they have the audacity to give out more bonuses? Disgusting.

The AIG execs deserve nothing but condemnation and the people's anger. They're sapping everything from the working people, including workers in AIG, and are sucking up to the politicians. The whole thing is a mess.

We need bailouts for working people, not the rich. Everyday me and my neighbors are suffering while we see crooks get loads of our money to "save the system." This system is done for, and its up to us working people to create a new one. I say, don't starve, organize!

Love your news show, But noticed a negative future campaign add in

the 3 pm hour that blended in with your reporting or was it just a slam

at the Obama presidency's slogan "change we can believe in"

without the usual this add paid for by announcement. Not

appreciated with out a factual rebuttal. thank you

Rick,

I am embarrassed to mention this, but: "WHY is nobody talking about bombing the ice in FARGO?
Canada, Russia, China, ... all do this. Why so many humble heroes, damages, and losses and not a few good bombs when good men could use them?

I WOULD KEEP IT!!

It was the law of the land at the time it was negotiated, reviewed and sanctioned by congress the FED and Mr. Obama, and at the time it was paid.

Why give it back? So that we can give it to another bank bailout. So they can sit on, or invest a US bailout in another country.

PLEASE, was not born yesterday.

Right now I am actively looking for a new job. I have been out of work for over 1 year. Therefore I, like many people have fallen off the radar screen since we are no longer able to draw unemployment. One of the problems that most concerns me is the outsourcing of many job overseas to take advantage of the lower cost of labor.
I think there should be some sort of tax, or penalty, for companies that lay off people hear and outsource them overseas. IBM is one example that was in the news today but there are hundreds, if not thousands of companies that have been doing this. It makes it much more difficult to get an engineering job when many have been shifted overseas.

I first heard of a storyon your program today about a nfl player being stoppped by police and not allowed to visit his dying mother -in-law.that is all I know about because the story has been teased at least 6 or 7 times but I am still waiting to hear and see it. Should I wait for tomorrows newspaper, This is why cable news will never replace my newspaper,at least in the newspaper I caN TURN TO ANOTHER PAGE, iVE BEEN WAITING FOR THREE HOURS NOW,

Of course I'd give the bonuses back. I went to one of the top 10 business schools in the country and suspect that many of these people didn't. I got in an arguement with the Corporate Strategy professor when he tried to teach ethics. I said "If you don't have ethics at this point, there's little chance you can learn". His response has stuck with me – "The goal is not to teach and train you expecting ethical behavior. The goal is for you to understand the perspectives of those viewing your company nad how it acts or behaves. If you understand the consequences of your actions, your choices will be optimized."

All of this can be simply solved – let retetntion bonuses do what they are intended to do – retain. The money should ALWAYS be put in trust and paid out at the point of a turn around in the company. If it never turns around or those named to get the bonuses leave, no one gets rewarded for the wrong reasons.

This stuff is actually so easy it's no wonder that Congress can't seem to figure it out.

Keep up the good work, RIck. Love your perspective and the honest approach to whatever you encounter. You may not always be right, but as long as you continue to realize the possibility exists that you could be wrong, you'll never fail.

Legally NO...Personally YES....Here is a problem, the government should not stepped in from the beggining. Legal challenges not only costing both sides dearly, morelikely, those with contracts will win. Personally, my conscious will tell me that the company is not doing so well, many peoples in the company are facing lay-offs, for good deeds, I would modify this year contract and return the money to the company. Both inexperience prez and liberal congress (whom pushing these bail-out monies, maybe most of them invested heavily in these companies) are stepping over the fine line of challenging the constitution of this country.

BTW, CNN need to add when reported the housing market is up, YES, but need to incorporate that FORECLOSURE (INVESTMENT) HOUSING MARKET ARE UP, THOSE WITH MONEY ARE BUYING LEFT AND RIGHT AT 10K-40K A HOUSE. Please clearify that to the audience. The worsts are not yet arrived.

LAY-OFF = DELINGQUENT PAYMENT in BOTH MORTGAGES & CREDITS = BANKRUPT (PERSONAL and FINANCIAL INSTITUTION)

Thanks,

Tom from Chucktown

Considering it was a legal contract, the executives @ AIG are entitled to their bonuses, however, the average american doesn't make nearly as much as these guys! Is it really going to hurt their pockets by declining the bonuses? Im sure that if they do, they won't be homeless lor out of work like so many ppl I know! Do something bigger than yourself and help the AMERICAN PPL!

Hey Ric, has the Search & Destroy Mission to uncover whomever it was that inserted that February 11th clause whereas the AIG bonuses where untouchable, was it dis-banded? Was it swept under the rug by the media?
I figure that W. Blitzer is in The handbag of the Speaker of the House, but certainly not you Ric.
??? What happened to the investigation ???

Vincent Lehotsky & his dog; Woody the Dog of the Redneck Riveria, SC

Rick, I like watching your show and appreciate your enthusiasm BUT when you ask a guest a question it would be nice if you let them respond without interupting and trying to lead the "witness".

Maahalo

Mike Shanin

I am sick of hearing about AIG bonuses. And even more sick of AIG VP quitting in protest of bonus "unfairness"- he got a $750K bonus and no doubt can afford to quit! In contrast, my husband, a NAVY vet, after being misplaced by H1B visa workers 2 months ago from a Technology Industry Co, is rejecting 14 weeks of desperately needed pay (gag-statement) in protest and in order to be able to tell our story to the media. The waiver effectively strips him from all constitutional rights, including Freedom of Speech. We are rejecting 30K even though we will lose our house, will not have med. insurance that I dearly need (disabled without disability pay), without any kind of income, & without any job openings in the area. What is the big deal about the rich guy who got 750K bonus and quits in protest? Protest of what?
My husbands company has $1.54 Billion in cash, pulled in $200 Million profits and the very next week after laying off 6% of employees gave out 6.75% BONUSES. Moreover, in recent years the company received $300 Million in incentives in return for creating 1000 jobs & a new factory. Never happened. Instead, it is laying off Americans while applying for H1B visas. Rick, do you want to hear the full story that will blow your mind away? ...A huge contrast from AIG VP who grabbed 750K and is protesting now.

IF the congressman that took money from AIG GIVE IT BACK .. I WOULD THEN GIVE MY MONEY BACK..
this is a smoking screen - STOP FOCUS ON THIS AND FOCUS ON
CONGRESS SPENDING ALL OUR MONEY -– !!!!!!!!
2010 BUDGET IS OUTLANDISH

Most of the rage and anger on "Main Street" that you talk about has been generated by the over-exposure by the media, especially CNN, of the AIG story. Had this not happened, most of us would have looked at the story, said that is just noi right and forgotten all about it.

I am tired of this class warfare. I am not a wealthy person and I dont' give a rip how much an executive makes. If he or she has a valid contract then pay them and the next time write the contract correctly based on performance. If this doesn't satisfy those of you who are jealous of people who are successful with their finances then I suggest that you go find homless person and give them your means as I am sure they think your rich too.

Attention President OBAMA,

I have the ANSWER to the US economic problem.

According to the CIA World Factbook (2008) there is approx. 304 million people in the United States. Of course, they are not all US Citizens.

My proposal is..... INSTEAD OF GIVING BILLIONS AND BILLIONS to BIG business....the Government should give each Head of Household US Citizen ONE MILLION dollars. It will be distributed in the form of paying people credit cards and bills off first. Then the rest will be used to STIMULATE the economy...THAT MEANS.... the Government would save BILLIONS and the BIG BUSINESS executives could fund their own vacations.

Regarding, the Government comments on Auto Workers should give up more ... I have yet to hear any of our Government
Representatives, Senators, nor even the PRESIDENT comment on their Raises received in January of this year. ... WHY aren't they declining their raises? ... Our governement representatives are no better than the greedy AIG THIEVES! - and the real Laborers are the ones who PAY! ...

You know what? I have yet to hear any of our government Representatives, Senators, nor even the PRESIDENT comment on their Raises received in January of this year. ... WHY aren't they declining their raises? ... Our governement representatives are no better than the greedy AIG THIEVES! ... Although, the money difference here is hugh between the two comparisons, ... it is the same thing - ergo - stealing from the common laborer!

Please take my Email address off your site.

The corruption in Washington just does not stop! The Federal Rerserve should be replaced with new people. They are more at fault than AIG regarding bonuses. However, the greedy souls at AIG need to return all bounuses, be fired and AIG should never ask for another penny from the government!

AIG has squeezed every dim that they can out of their profits for bonuses..when does it start to hit you that you destroyed your company because of it?

About these bailouts. I am just your average small business man, owning a business in Florida. In 2005, I had a payroll company doing my payroll and federal taxes for me. They stole 11 grand from my business. The IRS gave me thirty days to pay it. I paid the 11 grand, plus penalty and interest, dipping into my savings, and selling what I could. I recovered on my own with no help from the government, because the simply did not care, they just wanted the money. After everything said and done, it cost my small company over 20 thousand dollars. And I say to our new Commander and Chief "How are you going to protect small business like us from the IRS?"

Hi, My father in law had AIG as his insurance company. They had canceled his policy for no reason. He paid it on time and never missed a payment. They will not give him any reason why it was canceled. I am hoping that someone can give us some answers about this.

Since we the taxpayers are suppose to own 80% of these businesses, where is our share of the bonus? We should all be entitled to a bonus under this bailout plan. Everytime a company, Fanny Mae, Freddie Mac, or a bank gives out a bonus, we should get one also. WHERE IS THE FAIR SHARES AT??????

is it true that aig controls the retirement funds for the U. S. congress

No they should not have to give it back. You will see that Fannie and Freddie Macwill not give their's either. We are paying those as well,

Why won't anyone in the media talk about the oil fields in North Dakota? They are talking about off shore drilling, but no one brings up the fact that we have oil fields in North Dakota that have more oil than Alaska. Why not increase drilling there? What we need is refineries in the middle of the country and that oil field could feed them a lot cheaper, and without using as much fuel to transport the oil.

I think it is wise for the President and staff to not comment at length about the pirates holding an American. What you do NOT want to do is to escalate the situation or give the pirates more publicity. It is better to stay calm, using the resources they have to solve the problem and free the captain.

I always considered Rick Sanchez a guys guy until I heard his newscast today, 03.09. 2009, where he essentially said that the Congressional Black Causcus were the wrong people to send to meet with Castro and instead someone like Dick Lugar should have been sent, essentially a white guy.

I thought I heard incorrectly, until he chose to air a viewer comment echoing the same thing, where an obviously white fan said the black guys should not have met with the Cuban leadership. And just now another!

He just lost a fan.

Besides, I think he's ill mannered and lacks the etiquette to not interrrupt guests.

Rick, How can you be soo stupid? You don't even know how to go on line to find out what the specs. on the life boat you keep calling anything from a skiff to a zodiac ! Get your crap to gether and STOP asking questions that, IF answered could compromise Security and lives ! You and no one else has the need to know methods and procedures that the Spec Ops or any other military use ! Just the fact that you are broadcasting this info, could compromise the lives of the hostage and their rescuers now and in the futer! As a retired NCO I take grate offense at the way YOU and K.P., who should know better, are are acting little childern . Please keep your stupid questions to your selfs, the military will handel the situation just fine. You would be the first one to throw up your hands should one of the hijackers be killed. That is the only thing they understand, they should all be executed ASAP! Just a dumb old SSG. PDRL

Rick Sanchez: In the interests of journalistic integrity and transparency, you should disclose to your viewers that you yourself are a Cuban American when you report news concerning the country of Cuba. I do NOT share your opinion about the Bobby Rush group visiting that country, nor do most Americans. Your views on this subject are strongly influenced by your own ethnicity. For too long, Cuban Americans have led the rest of us around by the nose when it comes to our perceptions about Cuba. That time is coming to an end, thankfully. Time for you to be upfront about your bias in this case.