U.S.: (Ken) Lay looked out for No. 1 (Details of Lavish Spending)

[RamboLiberal]

http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/01/news/newsmakers/enron_trial/index.htm?cnn=yes

Government prosecutors concluded their cross examination of Enron founder Kenneth Lay Monday but not before painting a portrait of a man who put himself and his financial interests ahead of his own employees.

<snip>

Hueston presented evidence that while Lay was selling Enron stock starting in early 2001, he was making buying things like a $200,000 chartered boat trip for his wife's birthday (ironically, the vessel was named Amnesia), and a $12,000 resort trip for Lay's birthday in April.

"As you can see my birthday was a lot cheaper than my wife's," Lay said, trying to lighten the mood, but with no response from the jury box.

Hueston also showed that Lay took trips to the French Riviera and made large antique purchases while Enron had cancelled the company's holiday party and was laying off employees.

Lay said while he didn't feel it was fair to question his personal expenditures, he conceded he "was living the American dream," and that it was "hard to turn it on and off like a spigot," once Enron's troubles started escalating.

[madame defarge]

1. Oh my heart goes out to Ken Lay...

NOT!!!

[MuseRider]

2. Man, I don't know about

living the American dream. My dreams are extravagant but not like that!

Poor guy, must be tough. Just wait until his vacations are just a trip to spend a 1/2 hour in the prison yard.

[Punkingal]

What an A-hole!

I guess the employees would have liked the American dream of continuing to have a job, not to mention their pensions and stocks, while he was living like a king. I can see why Bush called him "Kenny-Boy" because they are two of a kind.

[tabasco]

21. Two of a kind. You got that right.

Two dirty rotten stinking treasonous republican RATS !!

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Sob, sob, sob....nothing so horrible than only $12K for a birthday party.

[celestia671]

22. I know!

Let me get my tiny violin out for him!

Seriously, what a bastard! My baby's birthday's coming up, and I'll be lucky to have $50 to spend on her!

[tabasco]

26. I really like your signature line quote.

I'm going to find some of Russell's work to read.

[robbedvoter]

4. His wife was complaining about selling the house in Aspen

at the time all employees were facing loss of pensions

[Bridget Burke]

9. They had to sell TWO houses in Aspen....

Plus two in Galveston....

[ldf]

15. and how many did that leave them with?

:shrug:

[UpInArms]

5. looking a lot like his fellow crooks

and iirc, Koslowski was convicted

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8474930

Ex-Tyco CEO Dennis Kozlowski found guilty
Former finance chief Mark Swartz also convicted of looting firm

NEW YORK - Former Tyco International CEO Dennis Kozlowski and a subordinate were convicted Friday of looting more than $600 million from their company to pay for lavish parties, fancy art and an opulent Manhattan apartment that featured a $6,000 shower curtain.

Kozlowski and former Tyco finance chief Mark H. Swartz joined a string of executives convicted in recent years in high-profile corporate wrongdoing cases, among them former WorldCom CEO Bernard Ebbers and Adelphia Communications Corp. founder John Rigas and his son, Timothy.

...more...

[Rex]

6. Wonder how many people in the jury box live in 200,000 dollar

homes? Lay is pulling a DeLay and will end up paying for his hubris later. I hope they are jail house roommates.

[saigon68]

7. Even if convicted this Mother Fucker will get chump change time

He has no criminal history points to extend the length of his sentence

[Rex]

8. $10,000 for pain killers a week; we would be facing hard time

no matter what our criminal history says. Rush? Back out on the golf course and 'getting on with his life'.

[saigon68]

10. It's the "Golden Rule"

He who HAS the gold MAKES the rule or rules !!!!

[spindrifter]

12. Depends on the number of counts he is convicted of.

[KDLarsen]

19. Even then..

.. * is going to pardon him, unless we can get him (* that is) impeached before '08.

[spindrifter]

23. Pardoning Lay would be far

different than pardoning one of the politicos.

[KDLarsen]

25. Are there rules, as to who * can & can't pardon?

I faintly remember the "outcry" when Clinton pardoned Mark Rich, but looking it up on Wikipedia I can't really find anything other than a rought "guideline" as to who are usually granted a pardon.

Either way, come 2008, * has probably secured himself a cushy job on a few boards, where his connections to Washington will be greatly appreciated (like Daddy did), so I wouldn't be surprised if he did it anyway. It's not like the sheeps have dared opposing him yet anyway.

[superconnected]

11. This is why I no longer own a maid firm.

Seriously, I got to the point where I hated my customers.

I employed spanish women to clean the homes, and they did a great job but still the customers said mean things behind their back simply because they were spanish.

Most people don't know how vulgar a lot of the rich are. I found out, and some were okay, but over half weren't.

[KansDem]

13. They didn't get rich being nice!

...some were okay, but over half weren't.

[Overseas]

14. I wanted to watch Lay and Skilling on trial on TV -- where are they?

It would be far more interesting to see their appalling arrogance than a lot of the other cases we see. I think a lot of people would be riveted to see that testimony about what a tough time poor Kenny-boy had... It is far more relevant to our lives than the Holloway or Petersen mysteries... Obscene inequities in wealth are all around us-- the gaps are growing-- yet we don't get to see that testimony...

[madmark]

16. any company that has any dependency on its share price for its continued

operation is a fraud.

[oscar111]

17. 9 million starve to death yearly: homeless die twice normal rate: 36 milli

"on the edge of hunger" in USA, says our USDA.

The nine million starving to death is worldwide, the other figures are US only.

So the american dream is to live in luxury while this carnage is going on right in front of us?

A non-human dream.

[oscar111]

18. 2 million dollar birthday party.. Kozlowski

how did you miss that? LOL

i missed the six thou shower curtain tho, so i forgive you.

How about the thousand dollar omlet at NYC's Parker Meridian hotel? I always list that in my lists of absurdities.

[oscar111]

20. Kozlowski... details

He jetted, for free, guests to the party.

It was on some Mediterranian island, i think.

Had strolling musicians, and a large ice statue of Michalangelo's David with vodka pouring from a certain male opening.

My entry for the most costly and vulgar luxury of our age.

As nine million starve to death each year.

[DesEtoiles]

24. Dear Ken, How many homeless did you drive by on way home? Bastard.