Don't get mad, get Madoff

A toy company is marketing "Smash-Me Bernie" -- a model of Bernie Madoff and a hammer, the New York Times reports. For only $99.95 plus shipping and handling, you get a 7-inch miniature of the New York financier whose mammoth Ponzi scheme swindled an estimated $50 BILLION from investors. You use the hammer to pound the little guy.

The doll is made by Mini-Me ModelWorks of Phoenix, which custom-makes dolls, the Times reports. And, it says, the company just got an order for 50 dolls that look like John Thain, the former Merrill Lynch chief executive who got canned last month.

We can think of a few other folks who might make good Smash-Me targets. Bet you can, too. One of them might be named Ken. Or maybe Alan? Or ... Actually, Time magazine has come up with its list of 25 people to blame for the crisis. Ken Lewis and Ken Thompson aren't on it, but the founders of Golden West, Marion and Herb Sandler, are. So are Angelo Mozilo, founder of Countrywide (now owned by B of A), and the CEO of Beazer homes (with a tip of the hat to the Observer's investigations of Beazer). But Time isn't offering dolls and hammers.
- Posted by Mary Newsom