Watching this AIG bonus mess reminds me the movie “Groundhog Day”—partly because I keep reliving the same headlines over and over again—but mostly for that memorable line that Larry (the camera man) delivers to Rita (the producer) about Phil, the weatherman:

Did he actually refer to himself as “the talent”?

Admittedly, it takes a rare kind of talent to drive the world economy into recession; but it’s not the kind of talent any rational person wants to retain. AIG should have refused to pay the bonuses, and dared anyone with a contract to sue for it. Additionally, anyone who actually penned these bonus contracts should be dismissed—without severance.

Still, I wonder whether this whole “bonus-gate” is just a red herring to throw the media off the trail of graver issues that will now go unreported?