While it looks bad, and I too want the feel good warm and fuzzy of jumping on the band wagon and demanding the money back. When I stop and think about what has happened, and really think about it, somethings pop out that make me look at this a little different.
1. I understand that these executives had a legal contract, that is binding to AIG.
2. Everyone knew about this, AIG did not hide it from view.
3. Timing. People that knew this was coming and had mentioned it prior, suddenly claim they knew nothing about it and are screaming. This is to take the attention off the recent poles that shows Obama's popularity slipping.
AIG should have been allowed to fail. Not governments place to bail out private industry. Look at Chrysler, They got bailed out once, now they are right at the trough between General Motors and Ford.
Saw a political cartoon this morning that really hits home. The lady asks her husband.
"Now that we have decided to buy American. Do we buy the Chevy made in Mexico, or the Honda made in Ohio".
I'd like to add to that, "The Ford built in Canada, or the Nisson built in Tennessee".