Finally, Waters went after fees that she said the banks paid themselves for processing the bailout money. "I don't know what you're talking about," Lewis said. "Do any of you understand what I'm talking about?" she asked. Pandit offered that what Waters was talking about was "underwriting fees" paid to a "number of underwriters," including Citigroup. "You absolutely collect fees," Waters concluded, as her time ran out.Lewis's reaction is appropriate. Pandit was describing underwriting fees on the company debt guaranteed by the FDIC's guaranty. Waters called for a "roundtable discussion" on those fees. Not the brightest bulb in the chandelier, is she?
This article available online at:
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2009/02/more-maxine-waters-craziness/521/
