Sunday, February 1, 2009

Carlyle Group's Rubenstein Speaks, Obama Follows


Will Carlyle Group co-founder David Rubenstein go 3 for 3 from the foul line? He swished the "mother of all stimulus packages" with his October 23rd prediction from Seward's Folly. His second shot rattles around the rim. It's his opinion that "Buy American" steel restrictions won't hold, as the bill snakes through the Capital. Maybe President Obama will tip it in for Rubenstein. Press Secretary Gibbs tried, but he's too short.

Rubenstein's third free throw was launched in Davos, Switzerland at the World Economic Forum. He heads their committee redesigning the global financial system, likely favoring private equity. Bloomberg reported on David's latest call:


Carlyle Group co-founder David Rubenstein said he expected the U.S. government to seek a better understanding of private- equity transactions and operations. What form those efforts will take remains unclear, he said.

“It’s very likely that transparency will be sought, but maybe not required,” Rubenstein said in an interview. “It’s very likely governments will try and do something to restrain leverage and taxation will be modified.”

Oversight to detect unethical financial manipulation, not required? Modified taxation, as in corporate tax cuts? Eight years of Bush tax cuts produced a flagging economy, which later imploded. The Carlyle Group grew from $12.5 billion in assets managed to $91.5 billion. Corporafornication remains alive and well.