Overstock.com CEO: "I'm not vindictive"

Ian Lamont — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:43:26 -0700

Patrick M. Byrne, the colorful CEO of Overstock.com, is in the midst of a Wall Street "Crusade" targeting practices and policies that he claims have undermined the U.S. financial system. In an essay published yesterday entitled "A Message of Peace to Wall Street," he describes a potential financial crisis involving a complex mix of unsettled trades, Contracts For Difference, and the Continuous Net Settlement system.

Byrne goes on to admit that no one has a birds-eye view of the situation, yet that doesn't stop him from estimating it's a $30–$120 billion problem. Seldom one to mince words, Byrne draws a comparison to mismanagement at a poorly designed and managed nuclear reactor:

Byrnes concludes by saying that he doesn't want anyone to get hurt. "I'm not vindictive," he says.

So, does this mean all of the earlier vitriol directed against the hedge funds that allegedly shorted Overstock.com earlier in the decade is water under the bridge?

Not quite. Byrne's "Message of Peace" is part of Deep Capture, a "work of investigative journalism examining the growing threat to our financial system posed by illegal naked short selling." Reading through the posts, it's clear that hedge funds are in the center of Deep Capture's crosshairs. The blog also takes aim at their supposed allies and fronts, including CNBC, suspicious Wikipedia editors, and people who are allegedly manipulating investor opinion through Yahoo Finance message boards.

More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:

Special Feature: Where are they now? The Industry Standard tracks down 10 dot-coms from the Web bubble of the late 1990s
Analysis: Chavez, China, and the coming startup squeeze
Analysis: Social networks: The users revolt II

Overstock.com CEO: "I'm not vindictive"

Ian Lamont — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:43:26 -0700

Byrnes concludes by saying that he doesn't want anyone to get hurt. "I'm not vindictive," he says.

So, does this mean all of the earlier vitriol directed against the hedge funds that allegedly shorted Overstock.com earlier in the decade is water under the bridge?

More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:

Special Feature: Where are they now? The Industry Standard tracks down 10 dot-coms from the Web bubble of the late 1990s
Analysis: Chavez, China, and the coming startup squeeze
Analysis: Social networks: The users revolt II

Overstock.com CEO: "I'm not vindictive"

Ian Lamont — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:43:26 -0700

Byrnes concludes by saying that he doesn't want anyone to get hurt. "I'm not vindictive," he says.

So, does this mean all of the earlier vitriol directed against the hedge funds that allegedly shorted Overstock.com earlier in the decade is water under the bridge?

More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:

Special Feature: Where are they now? The Industry Standard tracks down 10 dot-coms from the Web bubble of the late 1990s
Analysis: Chavez, China, and the coming startup squeeze
Analysis: Social networks: The users revolt II

Overstock.com CEO: "I'm not vindictive"

Ian Lamont — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:43:26 -0700

Byrnes concludes by saying that he doesn't want anyone to get hurt. "I'm not vindictive," he says.

So, does this mean all of the earlier vitriol directed against the hedge funds that allegedly shorted Overstock.com earlier in the decade is water under the bridge?

More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:

Special Feature: Where are they now? The Industry Standard tracks down 10 dot-coms from the Web bubble of the late 1990s
Analysis: Chavez, China, and the coming startup squeeze
Analysis: Social networks: The users revolt II

Overstock.com CEO: "I'm not vindictive"

Ian Lamont — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:43:26 -0700

Byrnes concludes by saying that he doesn't want anyone to get hurt. "I'm not vindictive," he says.

So, does this mean all of the earlier vitriol directed against the hedge funds that allegedly shorted Overstock.com earlier in the decade is water under the bridge?

More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:

Special Feature: Where are they now? The Industry Standard tracks down 10 dot-coms from the Web bubble of the late 1990s
Analysis: Chavez, China, and the coming startup squeeze
Analysis: Social networks: The users revolt II

Overstock.com CEO: "I'm not vindictive"

Ian Lamont — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:43:26 -0700

Byrnes concludes by saying that he doesn't want anyone to get hurt. "I'm not vindictive," he says.

So, does this mean all of the earlier vitriol directed against the hedge funds that allegedly shorted Overstock.com earlier in the decade is water under the bridge?

More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:

Special Feature: Where are they now? The Industry Standard tracks down 10 dot-coms from the Web bubble of the late 1990s
Analysis: Chavez, China, and the coming startup squeeze
Analysis: Social networks: The users revolt II

Overstock.com CEO: "I'm not vindictive"

Ian Lamont — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:43:26 -0700

Byrnes concludes by saying that he doesn't want anyone to get hurt. "I'm not vindictive," he says.

So, does this mean all of the earlier vitriol directed against the hedge funds that allegedly shorted Overstock.com earlier in the decade is water under the bridge?

More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:

Special Feature: Where are they now? The Industry Standard tracks down 10 dot-coms from the Web bubble of the late 1990s
Analysis: Chavez, China, and the coming startup squeeze
Analysis: Social networks: The users revolt II

Overstock.com CEO: "I'm not vindictive"

Ian Lamont — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:43:26 -0700

Byrnes concludes by saying that he doesn't want anyone to get hurt. "I'm not vindictive," he says.

So, does this mean all of the earlier vitriol directed against the hedge funds that allegedly shorted Overstock.com earlier in the decade is water under the bridge?

More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:

Special Feature: Where are they now? The Industry Standard tracks down 10 dot-coms from the Web bubble of the late 1990s
Analysis: Chavez, China, and the coming startup squeeze
Analysis: Social networks: The users revolt II

Overstock.com CEO: "I'm not vindictive"

Ian Lamont — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:43:26 -0700

Byrnes concludes by saying that he doesn't want anyone to get hurt. "I'm not vindictive," he says.

So, does this mean all of the earlier vitriol directed against the hedge funds that allegedly shorted Overstock.com earlier in the decade is water under the bridge?

More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:

Special Feature: Where are they now? The Industry Standard tracks down 10 dot-coms from the Web bubble of the late 1990s
Analysis: Chavez, China, and the coming startup squeeze
Analysis: Social networks: The users revolt II

Overstock.com CEO: "I'm not vindictive"

Ian Lamont — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:43:26 -0700

Byrnes concludes by saying that he doesn't want anyone to get hurt. "I'm not vindictive," he says.

So, does this mean all of the earlier vitriol directed against the hedge funds that allegedly shorted Overstock.com earlier in the decade is water under the bridge?

More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:

Special Feature: Where are they now? The Industry Standard tracks down 10 dot-coms from the Web bubble of the late 1990s
Analysis: Chavez, China, and the coming startup squeeze
Analysis: Social networks: The users revolt II

Overstock.com CEO: "I'm not vindictive"

Ian Lamont — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:43:26 -0700

Byrnes concludes by saying that he doesn't want anyone to get hurt. "I'm not vindictive," he says.

So, does this mean all of the earlier vitriol directed against the hedge funds that allegedly shorted Overstock.com earlier in the decade is water under the bridge?

More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:

Special Feature: Where are they now? The Industry Standard tracks down 10 dot-coms from the Web bubble of the late 1990s
Analysis: Chavez, China, and the coming startup squeeze
Analysis: Social networks: The users revolt II

Overstock.com CEO: "I'm not vindictive"

Ian Lamont — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:43:26 -0700

Byrnes concludes by saying that he doesn't want anyone to get hurt. "I'm not vindictive," he says.

So, does this mean all of the earlier vitriol directed against the hedge funds that allegedly shorted Overstock.com earlier in the decade is water under the bridge?

More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:

Special Feature: Where are they now? The Industry Standard tracks down 10 dot-coms from the Web bubble of the late 1990s
Analysis: Chavez, China, and the coming startup squeeze
Analysis: Social networks: The users revolt II

Overstock.com CEO: "I'm not vindictive"

Ian Lamont — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:43:26 -0700

Byrnes concludes by saying that he doesn't want anyone to get hurt. "I'm not vindictive," he says.

So, does this mean all of the earlier vitriol directed against the hedge funds that allegedly shorted Overstock.com earlier in the decade is water under the bridge?

More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:

Special Feature: Where are they now? The Industry Standard tracks down 10 dot-coms from the Web bubble of the late 1990s
Analysis: Chavez, China, and the coming startup squeeze
Analysis: Social networks: The users revolt II

Overstock.com CEO: "I'm not vindictive"

Ian Lamont — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:43:26 -0700

Byrnes concludes by saying that he doesn't want anyone to get hurt. "I'm not vindictive," he says.

So, does this mean all of the earlier vitriol directed against the hedge funds that allegedly shorted Overstock.com earlier in the decade is water under the bridge?

More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:

Special Feature: Where are they now? The Industry Standard tracks down 10 dot-coms from the Web bubble of the late 1990s
Analysis: Chavez, China, and the coming startup squeeze
Analysis: Social networks: The users revolt II

Overstock.com CEO: "I'm not vindictive"

Ian Lamont — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:43:26 -0700

Byrnes concludes by saying that he doesn't want anyone to get hurt. "I'm not vindictive," he says.

So, does this mean all of the earlier vitriol directed against the hedge funds that allegedly shorted Overstock.com earlier in the decade is water under the bridge?

More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:

Special Feature: Where are they now? The Industry Standard tracks down 10 dot-coms from the Web bubble of the late 1990s
Analysis: Chavez, China, and the coming startup squeeze
Analysis: Social networks: The users revolt II

Overstock.com CEO: "I'm not vindictive"

Ian Lamont — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:43:26 -0700

Byrnes concludes by saying that he doesn't want anyone to get hurt. "I'm not vindictive," he says.

So, does this mean all of the earlier vitriol directed against the hedge funds that allegedly shorted Overstock.com earlier in the decade is water under the bridge?

More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:

Special Feature: Where are they now? The Industry Standard tracks down 10 dot-coms from the Web bubble of the late 1990s
Analysis: Chavez, China, and the coming startup squeeze
Analysis: Social networks: The users revolt II

Overstock.com CEO: "I'm not vindictive"

Ian Lamont — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:43:26 -0700

Byrnes concludes by saying that he doesn't want anyone to get hurt. "I'm not vindictive," he says.

So, does this mean all of the earlier vitriol directed against the hedge funds that allegedly shorted Overstock.com earlier in the decade is water under the bridge?

More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:

Special Feature: Where are they now? The Industry Standard tracks down 10 dot-coms from the Web bubble of the late 1990s
Analysis: Chavez, China, and the coming startup squeeze
Analysis: Social networks: The users revolt II

Overstock.com CEO: "I'm not vindictive"

Ian Lamont — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:43:26 -0700

Byrnes concludes by saying that he doesn't want anyone to get hurt. "I'm not vindictive," he says.

So, does this mean all of the earlier vitriol directed against the hedge funds that allegedly shorted Overstock.com earlier in the decade is water under the bridge?

More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:

Special Feature: Where are they now? The Industry Standard tracks down 10 dot-coms from the Web bubble of the late 1990s
Analysis: Chavez, China, and the coming startup squeeze
Analysis: Social networks: The users revolt II

Overstock.com CEO: "I'm not vindictive"

Ian Lamont — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:43:26 -0700

Byrnes concludes by saying that he doesn't want anyone to get hurt. "I'm not vindictive," he says.

So, does this mean all of the earlier vitriol directed against the hedge funds that allegedly shorted Overstock.com earlier in the decade is water under the bridge?

More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:

Special Feature: Where are they now? The Industry Standard tracks down 10 dot-coms from the Web bubble of the late 1990s
Analysis: Chavez, China, and the coming startup squeeze
Analysis: Social networks: The users revolt II

Overstock.com CEO: "I'm not vindictive"

Ian Lamont — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:43:26 -0700

Byrnes concludes by saying that he doesn't want anyone to get hurt. "I'm not vindictive," he says.

So, does this mean all of the earlier vitriol directed against the hedge funds that allegedly shorted Overstock.com earlier in the decade is water under the bridge?

More news, commentary, and predictions from The Industry Standard:

Special Feature: Where are they now? The Industry Standard tracks down 10 dot-coms from the Web bubble of the late 1990s
Analysis: Chavez, China, and the coming startup squeeze
Analysis: Social networks: The users revolt II