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Closing Arguments: 2008's Biggest Villain?

December 30, 2008 11:58 PM

As we reported tonight, 2008 will be remembered by many for its scandals and scoundrels.

So tonight, we ask you: Who caused the most harm? Who caused the most pain? Who was the year's biggest villain?

A reminder of some of this year's shameful subjects:

1. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's alleged plan to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat.

2. Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer's multiple trysts with high-class hookers.

3. The Big Three auto CEOs who flew to Washington in private jets.

4. John Edwards' admission that he lied about an extramarital affair with a campaign employee.

5. Former Lehman Brothers CEO Richard Fuld's decision to defend the $484 million he made at his firm.

6. Bernard Madoff's alleged $50 billion Ponzi scheme.

Or perhaps you have a candidate of your own?

Tell us what you think.

December 30, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (210)

Rest in Peace, Dr. John Pryor

December 29, 2008 6:28 PM

A sad note about a doctor we spoke to in a recent "Nightline" report.

When we read the words Dr. John Pryor wrote for a Washington Post op-ed piece, we knew he was someone the nation needed to hear. He was a trauma surgeon at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, which, due to an unfortunate increase in gun violence, is one of the busiest trauma centers in America. The doctors there treat so many gunshot victims successfully, that it has become a place other doctors go to learn how to treat those kinds of wounds.

We spoke to him about the tragedy of gun violence here, but Dr. Pryor was also known as Major Pryor -- he was in the Army Reserve, and he volunteered to take his expertise in gunshot wounds to the front line, to teach surgeons there how to better care for wounded troops and civilians. 

But on Christmas day in Mosul, while sharing that medical expertise during his second tour of duty in Iraq, Major Pryor was killed by enemy mortar fire.

Pryor's colleagues at Penn, where he served as the trauma program director and a professor of surgery, described him as a "magical man, with boundless energy and goodness," who taught selflessness by example.

In his op-ed piece Dr. Pryor, 42, wrote, "In Iraq, soldiers die for freedom, for honor, for their country and for their buddies. Here in Philadelphia, they die without honor, without purpose, for no country, for no one." 

Dr. Pryor lived, and died, with honor. 

He leaves behind a wife and three children, ages 4, 8, and 10. We offer our deepest sympathy to the Pryor family, and to his bereaved colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania.

December 29, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (21)

Closing Arguments: Where's Our Bailout?

December 23, 2008 11:51 PM

We reported earlier tonight about a Florida man named Ken Strzepka, who was so fed up with the government's billion-dollar corporate bailouts that he painted the simple question "Where's our bailout?" in large white letters on his roof.

So tonight, we ask you: Does he have a point?

Should the government be aiming more of its bailout money at Main Street rather than Wall Street?

Tell us what you think.

December 23, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (94)

Closing Arguments: Topless Obama Pic

December 23, 2008 12:04 AM

Pictures of a bare-chested Barack Obama and his family in swimsuits were splashed across the Internet this afternoon -- after a paparazzo on the beach snapped the future first family during their Hawaiian vacation.

So tonight, we ask you: In this age of celebrity shutterbugs, can the Obamas really expect any privacy?

Or is the future first family -- even the children -- fair game?

Tell us what you think.

December 23, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (28)

Closing Arguments: Madoff's 'Penthouse Arrest'

December 18, 2008 12:03 AM

As we reported earlier, Bernard Madoff left the comfort of his Manhattan penthouse today to face allegations that he is responsible for a scam that cost investors up to $50 billion.

And it was a quite a walk of shame.

Under an agreement reached with prosecutors, he must wear an electronic monitoring device and remain inside the $7-million Park Avenue apartment between the hours of 7 p.m. and 9 a.m.

So tonight, we ask you: Should Madoff have to go to jail while he awaits trial -- like many accused of serious crimes? Or are the terms of his house arrest fair?

Tell us what you think.

And one note: Technical problems on our end made it hard to find the Closing Argument blogs at the end of the show on Monday and Tuesday. For that, we apologize.

December 18, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (37)

Closing Arguments: Fed's Lean New Interest Rate

December 17, 2008 12:02 AM

The Federal Reserve today slashed its benchmark interest rate to between .25 percent and 0 percent -- the seventh cut in 2008 and the lowest rate in the Fed's 95-year history.

The move is designed to free up lending between banks and ultimately improve the economy by making it easier for consumers to borrow.

The news was welcomed on Wall Street -- the Dow Jones closed up some 360 points.

So tonight, we ask you: Do you think this unprecedented rate cut will lead to an economic recovery? Or will this economy in recession sink deeper into a depression?

Tell us what you think.

December 17, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (4)

Closing Arguments: Cheney on Guantanamo Bay

December 16, 2008 12:00 AM

In an exclusive interview with ABC News Monday, outgoing vice-president Dick Cheney defended the Bush administration's controversial anti-terror policies -- including the use of waterboarding -- and the prison at Guantanamo Bay.

"If you're going to close Guantanamo, what are you going to do with those prisoners?" Cheney asked rhetorically, adding that the prison should not be closed until the war on terror is over.

So we ask you: Do you agree with Vice President Cheney that Guantanamo should not be closed until the war on terror is over? Or should Barack Obama move swiftly to close the prison -- action he has indicated he intends to do?

Tell us what you think.

December 16, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (5)

Closing Arguments: Obama and Blagojevich

December 13, 2008 12:02 AM

President-elect Barack Obama, whose vacated Senate seat is at the center of this scandal, has not been accused of any wrongdoing, and has made repeated public calls for Gov. Rod Blagojevich's resignation.

Obama also pledged to reveal to prosecutors any conversations between his staff and the governor's office after conducting an internal review. But until that review is complete, the Obama team is refusing to answer any questions on the topic.

So tonight, we ask you: How has President-elect Barack Obama handled the Illinois scandal? Do you think his team is being forthcoming enough?

Tell us what you think.

December 13, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (109)

Closing Arguments: Bailout Collapse Blame Game

December 12, 2008 12:05 AM

Less than two hours ago, Majority Leader Harry Reid announced on the Senate floor that the proposed $14-billion bailout for the struggling Big Three automakers had collapsed.

The failure came after the United Auto Workers refused to accept immediate wage cuts that Republicans were demanding -- cuts that would bring wages more in line with what the foreign automakers pay their employees at U.S. plants -- from about $70 per vehicle to $45 per vehicle.

Reid ominously said that he will dread looking at Wall Street when the markets open Friday. "It's not going to be a pleasant sight."

A White House spokesman said they were "disappointed" Congress failed to act -- and said they would evaluate their options moving forward.

So tonight, we ask you: Should the auto workers have been willing to take a pay cut to help the bailout pass?

Tell us what you think.

December 12, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (193)

Closing Arguments: Must Blagojevich Resign?

December 10, 2008 11:59 PM

We reported in tonight's show that all 50 Democrats in the Senate today signed onto a request for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's resignation because of the graft allegations he's facing.

The unified call on Capitol Hill followed the same message from President-elect Barack Obama, whose vacated Senate seat is at the center of the scandal.

At this hour, the rallying cry continues to fall on deaf ears, with the governor's office going on with "business as usual."

So tonight, we ask you: Should the embattled governor simply resign? Or should he be allowed to fulfill his duties until convicted in a court of law?

Tell us what you think.

December 10, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (84)