Enrongate gets bloody

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― Ned Raggett, Friday, 25 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I figure if they can make conspiracy theories about that one guy in the White House who killed himself in 1993, they can do it with this guy.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 25 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

They shredded the documents that said too much, now they're shredding the people. The paper trail has become a flesh trail. It'll still lead to the White House, though, I reckon.

― Momus, Friday, 25 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Jesus. The more I hear about this, the more horrible it gets.

― Dan Perry, Friday, 25 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

If someone else actually knocked this guy off, that's the stupidest thing I've heard in a long while. We're so sensitized to the idea of corruption and conspiracy that this is precisely what a lot of people will immediately conclude. (Of course, that then means a double-bluff and blah blah blah until we're all just playing Illuminati!.)

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 25 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Shocking, but typical.

― mike hanle y, Friday, 25 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Hang on, can someone tell me what this is all about? I do follow the news but somehow knew nothing of Enron until Anthony mentioned it the other day, and now this.

― DG, Friday, 25 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Well, here's some further detail. Kerry or Maura would be able to explain all this with better detail than I.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 25 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm sure there's a link to a good comprehensive rundown somewhere but I'm too lazy to look here's a nutshell:

Enron was one of the largest energy companies in the world. They broke ground by the speculative trading of energy. Sound iffy? Gets worse. Apparantly they've been burying debt all these years in off books partnerships and avoiding paying income taxes (while getting hundreds of millions in refunds) with the help of some creative accounting via Arthur Andersen (one of the top five consulting/acct. firms in the US).

They filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy recently which was a shock to the people who were holding shares of their overly inflated stocks. Thousands of employees found themselves out of work and holding worthless retirement portfolios that had been heavily invested in Enron stock.

Enron was one of the largest contributors to US polticial campaigns. Practically everyone took money from them -- both parties -- although they usually supported Republican candidates more. The Bush family has close personal ties to them. Sentaor Phil Gramm (R-TX)chaired a commission that brought about public utility deregulation which went along way to helping Enron build their business. Not only did Gramm get lots of dough from them for campaigns but his wife Wendy is on their board of directors.

Since all this has come out the white house has tried to distance themselves from Enron (to the extent that Bush misstated how long he knew former CEO Leay and who Enron supported during his gubnatorial race.)There are a dozen or so congressional enquiries into their accounting practices currently underway, a lawsuit against top executives being brought by stockholders and a federal criminal investigation.

In light of all that Attorney General Ashcroft, some federal judges and the entire Houston district attorney's have recused themselves from the investigation due to conflict of interest. Last week (?) Arthur Andersen fired the head Enron accountant (who then plead the fifth in front of the congressional hearing committee). Day before yesterday CEO Ken Leay resigned. Today the former vice-chariman committed suicide. He resigned last year after trying to warn the company they were headed for disaster. He was one of the execs named in the lawsuit.

I would speak to my personal opinion on what this might lead to and my feelings about the "poor employees" but Hank is here to pick me up and has no time for this nonsense. Later. Hope that helps.

― Samantha, Friday, 25 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

(arthur anderson = has fingers in many brit pies also, from de lorean to nu-labour via patricia hewitt: private eye is always putting the boot in)

― mark s, Friday, 25 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Not any more it won't. At the very least Andersen has lost so much business they're fucked, which is terribly amusing.

I'm waiting for the distancing between Bush and Lay to grow to the point where Lay figures he has nothing left to lose and decides to take Bush down.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 25 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Not any more it won't.

Have fingers in pies, I should say. Private Eye will doubtless keep putting the boot in.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 25 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

couldn't they just build a time machine in the de lorean and go back and fix this?!

― ethan, Friday, 25 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Hi Samantha, I want to say a quick "thank you" for going to the trouble of writing out your informative report. I feel badly for the family of the young man who took his own life. Can things really get that bad?

Gale.

― Gale Deslongchamps, Friday, 25 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

isn't "gubnatorial" a GRATE word, kind of makes me wish we had governors in the uk so we could use it more :)

― CarsmileSteve, Saturday, 26 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Should Ken Lay be tried as a terrorosit? He seems as deadly as Osama Bin Laden.

― mike hanle y, Saturday, 26 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The trial of oily Ken Lay will happen, but it will be like trying Osama in a Taliban court. According to the New York Times, 'of the 248 senators and House members on the various committees investigating Enron's collapse, 212 have received contributions from Enron or Arthur Andersen since 1989.'

― Momus, Saturday, 26 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

arthur anderson has been getting an huge amount of new business since enron , i will have to find the link , but if its true then well frankly we are beyond fucked .

― anthony, Saturday, 26 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

arthur anderson has been getting an huge amount of new business since enron

*scratches head* Since they started working with Enron or just over the past few weeks? Right now I find that hard to believe. If nothing else, the drain on lawsuits and the like alone, not to mention peeving other companies, would seem to work against them.

Lay will actually go down hard, I'm figuring. He's a perfect target, the more so if the White House can pretend to wash their hands of him. Ultimately I think there's a lot of bluffing going on between the various camps.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 26 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Now I am starting to wonder if that other executive really commited suicide or was bumped off so he wouldn't spilll any beans

― mike hanle y, Saturday, 26 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

It was 'pour encourager les autres'.

― Momus, Saturday, 26 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Mmm...yeah, that works.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 26 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Why would he kill himself? He quit to distance himself from unsavory business practices - he was in the clear anyway. No motivation, and too convieniant. Unless this is to throw us off the scent of someone else. Clear-cut murder, but then, what's new?

― Sterling Clover, Saturday, 26 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

This is so fucking cool! It's like 'Parallax View' or something. One day a horse's head will turn up in the Oval Office, I can't wait!

― dave q, Sunday, 27 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

anderson and co were aslo responsible for the books in asutralia's largest insurance company collapse last year.

― goeff, Sunday, 27 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Ahh.... Geoff, I did not know that, but it makes far too much sense.

― Tim, Sunday, 27 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Top Conspiracy Theory:
Vince Foster *was* murdered, NOT by Hillary Clinton obv but by Ken Lay and Arthur Anderson!!! To look like HC dunnit, superficially, but suicide when you looked deeper. So when this poor guy turned up dead, everyone would think *BLOODY MURDER*, except then they'd remember VF, and how that was suicide after all, and be confused and back off on this too.

― mark s, Sunday, 27 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

it was "pour faire la tête éclater"

― mike hanle y, Sunday, 27 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

what the fuck - you telling me a chocolate eclair is involved?

― goeff, Sunday, 27 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

four years pass...

Ken Lay, dead of a heart attack.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 13:23 (nineteen years ago)

If he wasn't living under a bridge clutching a bottle of Strawberry MD 20/20, it hardly counts as justice.

― 100% CHAMPS with a Yes! Attitude. (Austin, Still), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 13:27 (nineteen years ago)

Will his family have access to his assets/estate or are those still frozen due to the court case?

― Jesus Dan (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 13:29 (nineteen years ago)

Huh...somebody who looks an awful lot like him will probably turn up in South America in a year or two.

― I will commence to drop a knowledge bomb. (Rock Hardy), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 13:31 (nineteen years ago)

I can't wait for all the clever headlines.

― DAVE, for #1 Hits of yesterday and today! (dave225.3), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 13:44 (nineteen years ago)

Lay narrowly escapes lengthy prison term

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 13:46 (nineteen years ago)

ENRON FOUNDER SUFFERS ENERGY CRISIS

― I will commence to drop a knowledge bomb. (Rock Hardy), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 13:46 (nineteen years ago)

looks like someone shoulda "Layed" off the pork rinds amirite

― the splash of latebloomer's napkin falling onto an ego in the sea (latebloomer), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 14:24 (nineteen years ago)

LAY RESTS CASE THEN LAID TO REST THEN LAUNCHES MISSLE INTO SEA OF JAPAN

― laurence kansas (lawrence kansas), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 14:44 (nineteen years ago)

Worth noting that he died in his Aspen vacation home. How long before someone accuses the Liberal Media of murder?

― Mike Dixn (Mike Dixon), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 14:51 (nineteen years ago)

Ken Lay spotted in Ottawa
http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Canada/2006/07/04/winsunnews.jpg

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 14:53 (nineteen years ago)

Also this:
May 9: "God has blessed me and my family enormously. He's been in that courtroom every day. He has a plan and a purpose in this and I have complete confidence it's going to come out fine," said [Enron Chairman Kenny-boy] Lay as his case went to the Jury.

May 25: Lay, upon receiving guilty verdicts in two separate trials: "Certainly this was not the outcome we expected. I firmly believe I’m innocent of the charges against me, as I have said from day one. I still firmly believe that as of this day. But despite what happened today, I am still a very blessed man. I have, on my left, this beautiful lady that's my wife. I have a very warm and loving and Christian family that supports me, a lot of friends, including some out there in the audience right now. And most of all, we believe that God, in fact, is in control, and indeed He does work all things for good for those who love the Lord. And we love our Lord, and ultimately all of these things will work for good. Thank you so much for all of your courtesies, all of your interests, and obviously as time goes on we'll have more things to say, but that's all I want to say today. Thank you.

― Mike Dixn (Mike Dixon), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 14:55 (nineteen years ago)

Did someone say murder?

http://www.rikksrevues.com/quincy_me_dvd.jpg

― laurence kansas (lawrence kansas), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 14:55 (nineteen years ago)

an early case of corporate/republican/cheney-relatd seppuku?

― kingfish du lac (kingfish 2.0), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 14:57 (nineteen years ago)

He didn't even have a chance to enjoy his retirement savings, the poor guy.

― StanM (StanM), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 15:06 (nineteen years ago)

It sounds like Lay imagines God as a kind of ultimate Mafia don.

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 15:17 (nineteen years ago)

In this case, God was more of a Sonny Corleone.

― GILLY'S BAGG'EAR VANCE OF COUPARI (Ex Leon), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 15:26 (nineteen years ago)

He didn't even have a chance to enjoy his retirement savings, the poor guy.

He hardly even had a chance to enjoy the retirement savings of his employees and investors.

― Hunter (Hunter), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 15:45 (nineteen years ago)

This is hardly necessary or relevant, but still enjoyable on some level.

ihttp://www.yesbushcan.com/falseDocs/BushDocuments/KenLay/0708042lay1.gif

― John W. Smoke, Jr. (Uri Frendimein), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 15:53 (nineteen years ago)

Wow! That's really old!

― San Diva Gyna (and a Masala DOsaNUT on the side) (donut), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 15:58 (nineteen years ago)

thank goodness you have such a young, beautiful wife

― caitlin oh no (caitxa1), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 15:58 (nineteen years ago)

is it just me or is that kind of disgusting. maybe it's just me!

― caitlin oh no (caitxa1), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 15:59 (nineteen years ago)

What's weird is that Bush was only 3-4 years younger than that "really old!" age when he wrote that.

― San Diva Gyna (and a Masala DOsaNUT on the side) (donut), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 15:59 (nineteen years ago)

arithmetic is HAWRD WORK

― jacques lu c on t (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 16:00 (nineteen years ago)

BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE A YOuNG WIFE!

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 16:00 (nineteen years ago)

haha maybe he was makinng a joke and his wife was really old and fat

― caitlin oh no (caitxa1), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 16:01 (nineteen years ago)

Bush is so damn witty.. it's no wonder that people want to have a beers with him. Haha! Old!

― DAVE, for #1 Hits of yesterday and today! (dave225.3), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 16:02 (nineteen years ago)

Aw Lay, all you needed was to view the personals at http://denver.craigslist.org/ or http://rockies.craigslist.org/

― San Diva Gyna (and a Masala DOsaNUT on the side) (donut), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 16:05 (nineteen years ago)

wait, he was not married at all?

― caitlin oh no (caitxa1), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 16:09 (nineteen years ago)

not to a young, beautiful wife apparently. Bush's witty comment could have driven him to insanity.

― San Diva Gyna (and a Masala DOsaNUT on the side) (donut), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 16:12 (nineteen years ago)

This all reminds me of that Jackofficers song ("Time Machines Part 1"?) where Oliver North is sampled saying "she was a beautiful secretary... and the good Lord gave her the gift of beauty... and the you know Oliver North doing the hanky panky with his secretary."

― San Diva Gyna (and a Masala DOsaNUT on the side) (donut), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 16:14 (nineteen years ago)

he's gay? gay lay?

― caitlin oh no (caitxa1), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 16:15 (nineteen years ago)

betcha can't eat just one

― Bea Arthur - Lost COmic GEnius ? (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 16:17 (nineteen years ago)

why, does he have ruffles, or just ridges?

― kingfish du lac (kingfish 2.0), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 16:22 (nineteen years ago)

I can't be the only one thinking "faked own death".

― Toad Roundgrin (noodle vague), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 16:27 (nineteen years ago)

LAY CHEATS DEATH, ABSCONDS WITH GRIM REAPER'S 401(k) PLAN

― laurence kansas (lawrence kansas), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 16:36 (nineteen years ago)

I can't be the only one thinking "faked own death".

No, I got to that one already upthread.

― I will commence to drop a knowledge bomb. (Rock Hardy), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 16:44 (nineteen years ago)

Did he die of the same heart attack that killed Slobo Milosevic?

― Dickerson Pike (Dickerson Pike), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 16:51 (nineteen years ago)

http://cache.gawker.com/images/2006/07/drudge.jpg

You gotta love Drudge.

― GILLY'S BAGG'EAR VANCE OF COUPARI (Ex Leon), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 16:56 (nineteen years ago)

The thing is: how easy could it be to reproduce a convincing wounded Lay mannequin?

― San Diva Gyna (and a Masala DOsaNUT on the side) (donut), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 17:02 (nineteen years ago)

Or is this some more Courtney Love bullshit again?

― San Diva Gyna (and a Masala DOsaNUT on the side) (donut), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 17:02 (nineteen years ago)

David Ferrie, Kenneth Lay, Slobodan Milošević, etc

― Machibuse '80 (ex machina), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 17:05 (nineteen years ago)

They should put his body in jail for 20 years, just in case.

― StanM (StanM), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 17:05 (nineteen years ago)

AEBARMAN, AEFOX, AEROPLANE, AVBLIMP, AVBRANDY, AVBUSY, CABOUNCE, CLOWER, ECJOB, ESGAIN, ESODIC, ESQUIRE, FJDEFLECT, GOLIATH, HBDRILL, HOPEFUL, JUBATE, JUBILIST, KUHOOK, KUJUMP, KUPALM, KURIOT, KUTUBE, LCPANES, LICOZY, LITEMPO, ODIBEX, PBCABOOSE, PBPRIME, QKENCHANT, SECANT, SEQUIN, SGRANGER, SUMAC, ZPSEMANTIC, ZPSECANT, ZRBEACH, ZRBRIEF, ZRMETAL

― Machibuse '80 (ex machina), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 17:08 (nineteen years ago)

Death of Slobodan Milošević

― Machibuse '80 (ex machina), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 17:08 (nineteen years ago)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/86/Ciravolo.jpg

― Machibuse '80 (ex machina), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 17:10 (nineteen years ago)

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