Mr. Singer and Mr. Ryan Mr. Singer and Mr. Ryan
The auto bailout bill, proposed by President George W. Bush, passed in December 2008 with only thirty-two Republican votes. Among their number, to the surprise and consternation of the Tea Partiers among his supporters, was Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan. But Ryan’s vote likely came as no surprise to the hedge funders who benefited from it the most—particularly Paul Singer, with whom Ryan has enjoyed a long and cozy relationship. Singer and his firm, Elliott Management, are the No. 1 funders of Paul Ryan’s Prosperity PAC. Indeed, it was Singer, reports The Wall Street Journal, who helped push Ryan onto the national ticket as the vice presidential nominee—but only after Ryan turned down Singer’s suggestion that he run for president himself. Ryan had already shocked his supporters by voting for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, whose funds were used to boost the auto bailout and enrich Singer’s Elliott Management. In addition to pouring $2.8 billion into Delphi, TARP sent $12 billion to Ally Financial, formerly the GM finance unit GMAC. One of the biggest holders of Ally is Paul Singer’s fund.GP
Oct 17, 2012 / Feature / Greg Palast
Bring the Robin Hood Tax to The US Bring the Robin Hood Tax to The US
This tiny proposed tax of less than half of 1 percent on Wall Street transactions can generate hundreds of billions of dollars each year—enough to protect American schools, h...
Oct 17, 2012 / NationAction
Election 2012 and the Missing Millennials Election 2012 and the Missing Millennials
Young voters gave Obama a decisive win in 2008. Four years later, the love affair is on the rocks.
Oct 17, 2012 / Feature / Zoë Carpenter
Hershey’s Charity for Children Became GOP Slush Fund Hershey’s Charity for Children Became GOP Slush Fund
A new attorney general in Pennsylvania could launch a real investigation into the diversion of charitable resources to luxury golf and Republican politics.
Oct 17, 2012 / Feature / F. Frederic Fouad
Binders Full of Distortion Binders Full of Distortion
His debate story about using "binders full of women" to fill government posts got Romney a lot of attention. But it wasn't true.
Oct 17, 2012 / John Nichols
Romney’s False Claims of Bipartisanship in Massachusetts Romney’s False Claims of Bipartisanship in Massachusetts
In both debates, Romney has said he worked with Democrats as governor and would do so as president. His record suggests otherwise.
Oct 17, 2012 / Ben Adler
Suck It, Roth: On Hilary Mantel’s Second Booker Win Suck It, Roth: On Hilary Mantel’s Second Booker Win
Literary prizes aren’t everything, though Mantel’s is worth celebrating.
Oct 17, 2012 / Michelle Dean
Progressives and the Election: A Panel Conversation Progressives and the Election: A Panel Conversation
How can progressives balance support for the Democrats with the need to mobilize grassroots support for social and economic causes?
Oct 17, 2012 / The Nation
Global Student Leaders Join Forces in New York Global Student Leaders Join Forces in New York
How a “beautiful, noble, naïve movement" can be transformed into a "beautiful, noble, effective movement."
Oct 17, 2012 / StudentNation / Isabelle Nastasia
The Police Stop-and-Frisk Numbers Game Corrupts Our Criminal Justice System The Police Stop-and-Frisk Numbers Game Corrupts Our Criminal Justice System
Police officers face tremendous pressure to meet arrest quotas, leading them to "hunt" the very citizens they're supposed to protect.
Oct 17, 2012 / Press Room