« June 2009 | Main | August 2009 »

Closing Arguments: What Recession? More Million-Dollar Bonuses

July 31, 2009 11:41 PM

The month ended with the Dow's strongest July in 20 years -- up nearly 9 percent.

But while there are signs of a rebound, the recession is not over.

So it came as a surprise this week when it was revealed that the nine banks in need of the most government bailout money awarded more than 5,000 employees $1-million-plus bonuses -- each.

Today, an outraged House of Representatives passed a bill to prevent banks from awarding bonuses for financial risk-taking that could have severe consequences for the overall economy.

So tonight, we ask: Are the bankers back to business as usual, and should the government step in? Or is this just the free market at work?

Tell us what you think.

You can follow "Nightline" anytime on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Nightline.

July 31, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (36)

Closing Arguments: More Cash for Clunkers?

July 30, 2009 11:34 PM

Less than one week after launch, the government's "Cash for Clunkers" program is in danger of stalling out.

The reason? It has been too popular. Too many Americans were taking advantage, turning in old cars for big rebates on new, fuel-efficient vehicles. And the program was speeding toward its 25,000-vehicle, $1-billion cap.

Now, Congress and the White House will have to decide whether to allocate more money.

So tonight, we ask: Should this program be continued? Or has the government put enough money toward this particular cause?

Tell us what you think.

You can follow "Nightline" anytime on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Nightline.

July 30, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (54)

Closing Arguments: Punch-Drunk by Beer Diplomacy?

July 29, 2009 11:28 PM

It's just about time for a beer.

That's right -- black Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates and the white police officer who arrested him, Sgt. James Crowley, will meet tomorrow evening with President Obama at the White House over some suds.

"The Audacity of Hops," is what our colleague Jake Tapper called it -- an informal way to ease the tension stemming from the incident.

Today, a new controversy -- who's drinking what? Red Stripe for the professor; Blue Moon for the cop; and Bud Light for the president -- all beers brewed by foreign-owned companies.

So tonight, we ask: Should the beer summit be American brewed? Or has this whole thing left us all a little punch-drunk?

Tell us what you think.

You can follow "Nightline" anytime on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Nightline.

July 29, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (29)

Closing Arguments: Bernie Speaks Behind Bars

July 28, 2009 11:31 PM

In a first prison interview today with an attorney in North Carolina, a reportedly buff-looking Bernie Madoff said he could not believe his massive Ponzi scheme succeeded for so many years.

Madoff allegedly said, "There were several times that I met with the SEC and thought 'They got me,'" according to a San Francisco lawyer who met with Madoff for more than four hours on behalf of victims of the scam.

So tonight we ask: Does Madoff's apparent surprise indicate the incompetence of the SEC or his own expertise as a fraud?

Tell us what you think.

You can follow "Nightline" anytime on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Nightline.

 

July 28, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (9)

Closing Arguments: Obama's Beer Diplomacy

July 27, 2009 11:27 PM

Cambridge officials today released the 911 call that preceded the arrest of black Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates by white police officer Sgt. James Crowley.

And contrary to the police report, the caller did not identify Gates by race.

Local officials say they're eager to clear the air. As is President Obama, who will host Gates and Crowley at the White House Thursday night at 6 p.m. for a conciliatory beer.

So tonight, we ask you: Is bringing the two together for a beer a contrived attempt to solve what is a deeper problem?

Tell us what you think.

You can follow "Nightline" anytime on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Nightline.

July 27, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (39)

Closing Arguments: Obama's Job Approval - Your Take?

July 23, 2009 11:46 PM

Today, President Obama talked about the importance of passing health care reform; his strategy for the war in Afghanistan; and his deepening spirituality in the White House.

Earlier this week, an ABC News poll found that the president's job approval numbers are slipping -- with increasing skepticism about the economy and his health care proposal.

So tonight, we ask: Given what you heard today in our time with the president, and based on what you've seen of how he works -- do you think he's doing a good job?

Tell us what you think.

You can follow "Nightline" anytime on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Nightline.

July 23, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (23)

Closing Arguments: Obama's Take on the Gates Arrest

July 22, 2009 11:28 PM

Last night, we asked if you believed black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. deserved the apology he was demanding -- even after prosecutors dropped his disorderly charge.

A reminder: Gates was arrested inside his own home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, after a white police officer responded to a call of two black men trying to break into the house -- and Gates grew angry when confronted. He was handcuffed at the scene.

We received an overwhelming response. Most said yes, he deserved an apology. But many said no, the police officer was just doing his job.

Tonight, President Obama weighed in on the issue during his prime time press conference. "I think it's fair to say, number one, any of us would be pretty angry,” Obama, a friend of Gates, said when asked about the arrest. “Number two, that the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home."

So tonight, we ask you: Do you agree with President Obama's assessment of the police reaction? Do you think racial profiling by police is still a big problem in America?

Tell us what you think.

You can follow "Nightline" anytime on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Nightline.

July 22, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (96)

Closing Arguments: Does Gates Deserve an Apology?

July 21, 2009 11:29 PM

Prosecutors today dropped a disorderly conduct charge against Henry Louis Gates Jr., a prominent black scholar at Harvard. 

Gates was arrested last week after a white passerby reported two black men -- Gates and his driver -- trying to break into a Cambridge, Massachusetts home.

The house, in fact, is his -- and Gates grew incensed when a white officer responding to the call asked for his identification. The officer described Gates' behavior as belligerent.

Today, the charge was dropped and police called the incident "regrettable." 

For his part, Gates is reportedly demanding an apology for what he calls racial profiling.

So tonight, we ask: Do you think he deserves an apology?

Tell us what you think.

You can follow "Nightline" anytime on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Nightline.

July 21, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (323)

Closing Arguments: Obama's Dwindling Approval

July 20, 2009 11:31 PM

As President Barack Obama tries to sell his health care proposal, he does so with dwindling support among Americans. 

An ABC News-Washington Post poll released today shows that just 49 percent approve of how he's handling health care, down from a high of 57 percent.

And while he remains personally popular, his overall job approval has sunk by a 10 points -- from a high of 69 percent to 59 percent.

The nation's struggling economy isn't helping. Earlier this year, Obama had an approval rating of 72 percent on his economic plan. That is down 16 points to 56 percent. 

So tonight we ask you: How much confidence do you have in the President?

Tell us what you think.

You can follow "Nightline" anytime on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Nightline.

July 20, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (63)

Closing Arguments: From Bailouts to Billions

July 13, 2009 11:25 PM

It's earnings week for many Wall Street banks and the Dow soared today on news that Goldman Sachs will announce huge quarterly profits tomorrow -- reportedly some $2 billion -- even after taking $10 billion in government bailout money. (Bailout money that has since been repaid.)

It is likely that such a profit could only be achieved through substantial risk, perhaps the same type of risk that contributed to the financial collapse.

So tonight, we ask you: Does the bank's big quarterly profit bother you? Should taxpayers have a say about how much risk they take?

Tell us what you think.

You can follow "Nightline" anytime on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Nightline.

July 13, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (18)