A preview of what Republicans will use to impeach Obama

Nothing is certain in this crazy mixed up world, but for three things – death, taxes, and the GOP eventually trying to impeach Barack Obama. This story should give an inkling into how it will happen:

WASHINGTON (CNNMoney.com) — The top cop tracking the government’s $700 billion bailout program said Tuesday that he has opened 20 criminal investigations and six audits into whether tax dollars are being pilfered or wasted.

Neil Barofsky, the special inspector general overseeing the Troubled Asset Relief Program, released a 250-page report detailing a long list of concerns about government efforts to prop up hundreds of banks, Wall Street firms and auto companies.

Barofsky, whose investigations could lead to criminal charges, told CNNMoney.com in an interview that he wants taxpayers to understand where their money is going. At the same time, he wants to alert officials to weaknesses in TARP that could invite corruption or fraud. …

“Our recommendations are forward looking and there are no vulnerabilities that can’t be addressed,” Barofsky said. “The balance of what we’re trying to do is to inform, bring transparency and make appropriate recommendations.”

The report reveals that Barofsky is looking into whether bailout decisions were influenced by those who stood to benefit from them and whether companies receiving bailout dollars are adhering to caps on executive pay.

Obviously, this particular investigation is a net-plus for the Obama Administration and shows a transparency many Americans are unaccustomed to. Nonetheless, it reminds me of something told to me by Sam E. Antar (who will be profiled on this site later today), who made a very good point – should Obama be a two-term President, by year six or seven, many of the stimulus package deals could come back to haunt him.

Antar’s opinion is well-taken. In his stimulus package, Obama pushed down the accelerator to get stimulus funds into the economy as quickly as possible. It would be literally shocking if corruption issues didn’t come up. And with Tim Geithner, Larry Summers and others in bed with the financial industry at the helm with billions of bailout money floating around, it’s impossible to see a scenario where corruption won’t occur, as the above story shows us.

Basically, Team Obama will need to account for all federal monies going into the public sphere. Because it’s a guarantee that the GOP is watching and waiting. And unlike Democrats, they don’t need any encouragement when it comes to impeachment.

HT Crooks & Liars

–WKW