think warren will vote for Jack Lew - of course she will because Reid told her too.

Go Liz Go!!!

Behind you 100%!!

Right on ! 

Globe says" WASHINGTON — After campaigning last year as an outspoken consumer advocate and Wall Street critic, Senator Elizabeth Warren was surprisingly quiet during her first month on Capitol Hill. But that changed " Notice the word "AFTER". That means she doesn't have to do anything now but smile for Globe photographers....What's her opinion on Deval's tax hile announcement? You know, the one that will HAMMER the Middle Class?..And what's her opinion on the Chuck Hagel for the next Secretary of Defense? No Opinion is NOT an excuse. She probably does have an opinion but the media won't ask her for one.

Its the same for big corporations as well, there is no "personal responsibility" especially for those "corporations as people" we keep hearing about.  Warren is right about one thing, many of these banks and multinationals make big profits, then pay what amount, to them, tiny fines out of their profits and business goes on.  Until there is some accountability for messes, or some CEO or company REALLY gets sentenced, although how you put a multinational in jail is an interesting concept, nothing will change.  With the revolving door of regulators and government employees who then work for these places nothing will be done.

Iceland put their bankers in jail, let the banks fail, protected the people's money, helped with foreclosures and are doing very well now, unemployment rate is 6% and falling, 2.8% growth expected this year.

Go, for it, Senator Warren!  I am so proud that we have a senator who is standing up for workers. Thank you for doing what you said you would when you were running for office.

It appears Warren is focused upon the issue that she ran on.  The big banks and consumer protection.  Both seem to be laudable interests.  As to other issues folks want to bring up it seems to me one can't really discuss them as she hasn't spoken to them nor have the issues come up.  I always assume that when an article is about one thing and folks comment on another they simply dislike the person about whom the article is being written.  They therefore have no real interest in the subject matter but purely desire the opportunity to vent their dislike.  That's fine it's a free country but it certainly sheds no light upon their position on the subject at hand.  Frankly I enjoy those who disagree with my own position enlightening me on theirs.  But in all fairness it does seem we are getting more objective an interesting comments on the comment section, so type away.

Oh yeah, the big banks.  Go get'em Liz on this particular issue I agree whole heartedly. 

Senator Warren's point about the average citizen being taken to trial but not bankers and other manipulators is a strong one.  Yesterday's article in the Globe about inside trader Fortuna who made an illicit two million dollars being fined $200,000 and getting probation is a case in point.  Why wasn’t the fine two million dollars…or MORE.  That would be a disincentive!  But let someone poach the king’s deer…

I've got to find this hearing on Cspan.

Banks shouldn't be too big to fail or too big to jail. 

You go girl!

excellent sen warran thanks!

I am so glad that Senator Warren is holding all these Obama appointees to task. Of course, the Globe failed to mention the witnesses at the hearing were Obama appointees. I guess they just didn't have enough column space left.

She understands how these banks work. The banks are terrified that the wink wink era of passive opposition to 2 sets of rules has ended. What a concept banks having to abide by the same laws as citizens.

Damn, I love this woman!! Lizzy Baby!! Now I'm just guessing here, but I'm wondering if some of the Repubs, who were questioning her silence during the first month, might be wishing they never opened their mouth? You know what they say about being careful about what you ask for..........lol

As the senior senator from Massachusetts will Elizabeth Warren now chastise Deval Patrick for wanting to hammer the middleclass with his proposed new taxes. Her home state constituants should be her primary concern. Come on Liz get tough on the Governor for this.

Hopefully this is only one sign of many things to come. After Brown sitting on the sidelines for EVERY big debate it's nice to see some substance.

She is right about prosecutions. Corzine should be in jail.

Unfortuantely, Dodd-Frank really did not do anything to stop the Lehman debacle. And as we are seeing,banks are jacking up fees to make up for the lost revenue elsewhere. She should alos ask about mark to market, the Heinz deal, and HFT

Thank you, Carafram.  Just watched EW's questioning.  In the time allotted, she was brilliant.  Now, if only we can get answers to the questions she asked I think that her basic point would be made.  With the glaring exception of Bernie Madoff (who was more of an individual than an institution) most fraudulent bankers and their financial market allies see fraud as a variety of investment rather than a crime for which they should have to do the time.

See Senator Warren’s questioning, starting at 1:34, at

http://www.c-span.org/Events/Senate-Banking-Cmte-Hearing-on-Wall-Street-Reform-Implementation/10737438051-1/

Elizabeth!!!! We are glad we voted for you keep up the good work. Great Job!!!! Thank you!!!

The US political system is broken. Money owns the government, and the ones who have the most are the corporations and banks (also groups like the NRA). Most elected to office do not have the guts to risk loss of campaign money. Sixty years of tax breaks for corporations, corporate tax fraud all covered up by clever scapegoating public assistance programs. Not many in DC know anything about the machinations of Wall St. and the banks, so they bring in people from these businesses creating huge conflicts of interest. The SEC still working on prosecuting culprits re the 2008 crash. Give me a break. The political deadlock we have now is a direct result of the appearance of people like Warren and Obama who are willing to fight for the people. This is generating tremendous pushback from the GOP. The republican party is infected by tea party people who think its really a hoot to stop government. The tea party people are those who have bought the big money propaganda that low income people are stealing thier money. What were the losses caused by irresponsible financial practices? Banks were given what they always wanted, the ability to gamble and play fast and loose, unhindered by rules. Less government, the gift that keeps on giving. Look what it cost. 

Again it's all the banks fault. This senator put's no responsibility at all on the consumer of the mortgages. The banks have paid for their folly in losses so let us move on.

If you sign for a mortgage and then cannot pay it you lose the house. It is the legislature that let people aqcuire mortgages they could not afford. Bank regulations were not in place so they kept on banking.

She at least has done what she campaigned for. She is now in serious hot water in Congress as everyon there knows you're just not supposed to ask this type of question - in public - to these kinds of people. Call me a pessimist - I'll accept it. But this is all about playing ball and EW wasn't playing during this hearing. For that she has my respect. Let's hope she continues.

 Previous post about the witnesses being Obama apointess is spot on. Obama, like Reagan, Clinton and both Bush's understands completey that *many* Americans simply want their job/home/personal life. They will keep their head down/mouth shut about pretty much every other detail involving their neighborhood, town, state or country. The only thing that get's them to even engage in politics is typically one of the gut-check issues (gays, religion, race, etc).

Obama understands that to have let these banks 'fail' would have caused a situation that would have required SERIOUS sacrifices from all of us to get through - possibly for a generation. And who wants to ask that?

So instead, we let them walk and hold our breath hoping it won't cause too much of a stir. And everyone reading this page (left or right) knows that is the only way to get back to *normal*.

But on a Micro level, Many qualified & current borrowers still can't get mortgages or refis. The less than successful government modification programs are laden with onerous disqualifying fine print as well. Alas, the CPB hasn't yet been the advocate for trapped borrowers either. More needs to be done to help ameliorate the many still soft pockets of the RE market.

The reason why there have few if any indictments are not for lack of effort on the part of the SEC and Justice.  Perhaps although banks may have engaged in unethical practices, they may not have violated any laws.   It doesn’t make sense that such an anti-Wall Street administration such as the current one would let banks off the hook.   I’ll guess the current administration dug like crazy to find something and came up empty.  So like most senators, Warren can only engage in political theatre to assuage the base.  Additionally, there is ample data available showing that multiple branches of government (and supporters of both parties) played significant roles in creating this mess along with greedy mortgage brokers, banks, real estate agents,  uniformed buyers and buyers knowingly gaming the system.

While I am happy that Senator Warren is speaking up as she was elected to do, and I think she is sincere in her posistions regarding our financial system, I am certain nothing will ever come of it. Big money owns our federal government, and in a capatalist system, money begets money and that is being rapidly accelerated by modern technology. Don't look to Obama, he talks a good game but I question how sincere HE is, and even if he is, I don't think he has a clue how to get started. So far all he has done is hired the foxes to gaurd the hen-house. I am afraid that Marx was right that this will continue until the divide between the haves and have-nots become so wide that civil society becomes untenable. We the people are too ambivilent and even those that pay attention are too divided to take a unified position to try to mitigate the influence of money on our government. I am afraid that is just human nature. And, I don't know that there is a good answer to the problem posed by the natural evolution of capatalist societies. Certainly Marx's solution has proven not to work for anyone. Geez, I just ruined my own lunch time.

The reason why there have few if any indictments are not for lack of effort on the part of the SEC and Justice. Perhaps although banks may have engaged in unethical practices, they may not have violated any laws. It doesn’t make sense that such an anti-Wall Street administration such as the current one would let banks off the hook. I’ll guess the current administration dug like crazy to find something and came up empty. So like most senators, Warren can only engage in political theatre to assuage the base. Additionally, there is ample data available showing that multiple branches of government (and supporters of both parties) played significant roles in creating this mess along with greedy mortgage brokers, banks, real estate agents, uniformed buyers and buyers knowingly gaming the system.

Sounds like Warren has been watching the PBS documentaries on Obama's lack of accountability for the excessive about of tax-payer bailout to corporate banks!

The extreme left wing of the demorcratic party needs show trials to lend credibility to their claim of outright criminality in the financail services industry.  The market crashed in 2008; almost 5 years ago.  How many hearings, investigations and audits have taken place since? If there is evidence of wrong doing, convene grand juries,  present the evidence and if needed, issue indictments.   The justice department is well funded and staffed by some of the brightest leagl talent in the country.  They don't take the settlement route too often. Only when they know they know they don't have a air-tight case. 

Thank you Elizabeth Warren! Now, can you take a look at credit card companies and their fees for making payments by phone? The Republicans beat down your consumer watchdog ideas once before, but I sure hope Washington listens to you now.

Thank you, Senator Warren!  Let's hope your courage and sense of justice inspire your colleagues to speak out for what's right!