Obama’s Casino Royale
ABC News’ John Berman, Sunlen Miller and Ursula Fahy Report: Before a raucous crowd in Westminster, CO, Barack Obama put all his chips on the table, doubled-down, and went all-in on a new line of attack.
Playing off of a New York Times article which outlined McCain’s propensity to gamble (high-stakes craps at Foxwoods in Connecticut), Obama gleefully unleashed a barrage of gambling metaphors on his opponent.
“I read the other day that Senator McCain likes to gamble,” said Obama, “He likes to roll those dice. And that’s ok. I enjoy a little friendly game of poker myself.”
But after that kindly introduction, he lit-in to his foe, “One thing I know is this – we can’t afford to gamble on four more years of the same disastrous economic policies we’ve had for the last eight.”
And in case anyone missed that, Obama went on, “We can’t afford to roll the dice by privatizing Social Security, and wagering the nest egg of millions of Americans on Wall Street. We can’t afford to gamble on more of the same trickle down philosophy that showers tax breaks on big corporations and the wealthiest few."
And then he finished his romp through the political table wit this, “We cant double down on the same things that haven’t work, we’ve got to try something new, and that’s why I’m running for President of the United States.”
As Obama noted, he is no stranger to the tables. Republicans circulated this quote from a USA Today article:
"On Wednesday nights during Illinois General Assembly sessions, a group of lobbyists and lawmakers used to gather at the headquarters of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association for a weekly poker game. Barack Obama, who represented part of Chicago as state senator from 1997-2004, was a regular."
After the event in Denver, Obama heads to Reno, Nevada. It is safe to say the gambling metaphors are not about to stop any time soon.
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I would much rather privitization than socialism.
Posted by: HK, Los Angeles, Ca | September 29, 2008, 3:19 pm 3:19 pm
Hk In LA – Then you’re an idiot if you mean that Wall street should run amok without any checks and balances (i.e. government regulators – - referees!)
Posted by: CMSgt Preston | September 29, 2008, 3:23 pm 3:23 pm
privatization through the same idiot institutions that have mucked things up so badly is not an improvement
Posted by: seansatx | September 29, 2008, 3:24 pm 3:24 pm
I disagree with HK – privitization only benefits the wealthiest 1%, and it puts the rest of us on the dole paying for these executives’ golden parachutes.
Posted by: Joy | September 29, 2008, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm
We cannot save privitisation because of these self centered republicans. Stocks are plunging worldwide as we speak and China is lauging..
Posted by: james | September 29, 2008, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm
Sorry Sen. Obama you may have to resign since you are NOT citizen of the US. By our constitution, you can NOT hold any US Gov’t office.
Since you are a CONSTUTIONAL LAWYER, you should KNOW that.
Please provide your proof of US Citizenship. I will GLADLY show you MINE.
All the SLICK talks will NOT help you if the American FOUND out the truth about you. BTW, we also want to know about your wife position on “WHITEY”
Posted by: Voter In America | September 29, 2008, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm
You people know what Oodles of Noodles are?
…well you’re about to find out.
Posted by: Raider | September 29, 2008, 3:28 pm 3:28 pm
Voter In America. You are not a citizen of America. What is your real name. Where were you born?
John McCain was not even born on US soil.
Posted by: james | September 29, 2008, 3:30 pm 3:30 pm
Obama is playing with a very worn out deck. Even when he re-shuffles it is the same deck that he brought with him from Chicago.
Pelosi just tried a political card today and drew a 2 against the Ace the Republicans now hold. 94 Dems thought giving the banks a credit bailout was not such a good idea.
Wouldn’t you like the government to pick up all your dedt. Try a bill that would that! Or maybe “earmark” that for the voters!
Posted by: anotherview | September 29, 2008, 3:31 pm 3:31 pm
mccain wants to gamble with any big decision because all he knows is rolling the dice
Posted by: Bhrandon | September 29, 2008, 3:31 pm 3:31 pm
THIS mess started with the DEREGULATION ACT in the Carter administration that everyone without income or credit should be allowed to own a home, and then the government run Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were to insure these lousy loans! The Republicans tried to regulate this crisis in 2005 and the Democrats blocked the bill! Use to be to buy a home you needed three things: ten percent down, a stable work history, and a stable credit history and not spending more of your income than what you bring in! SOMEHOW this changed with this “housing act” and then you had people who could not afford to rent getting into mortgages with ARM’s…..NOW we are to bail out the investors who made these bad loans? AND Pelosi wants it to have all these federal earmarks for MORE unnecessary funding of risky mortgages? SHE is an IDIOT!
Posted by: HP Boston | September 29, 2008, 3:31 pm 3:31 pm
THIS mess started with the DEREGULATION ACT in the Carter administration that everyone without income or credit should be allowed to own a home, and then the government run Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were to insure these lousy loans! The Republicans tried to regulate this crisis in 2005 and the Democrats blocked the bill! Use to be to buy a home you needed three things: ten percent down, a stable work history, and a stable credit history and not spending more of your income than what you bring in! SOMEHOW this changed with this “housing act” and then you had people who could not afford to rent getting into mortgages with ARM’s…..NOW we are to bail out the investors who made these bad loans? AND Pelosi wants it to have all these federal earmarks for MORE unnecessary funding of risky mortgages? SHE is an IDIOT!
Posted by: HP Boston | September 29, 2008, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm
Quote: “It is safe to say the gambling metaphors are not about to stop any time soon.”
And that’s ok, cause that’s just what rightfully describes McShame, he likes to gamble and shift positions according to polls. McInsane has been a promotor of deregulation in Washington his whole career and now he wants to act like he’s never been a deregulator when we have videos of him, quote:”I’m always for less regulation…”.
So Obama needs to keep repeating this line over and over so that people really understand what’s at stake in this election…
Posted by: Damon | September 29, 2008, 3:34 pm 3:34 pm
They think that Obama being a regular in a poker game is a bad thing? To me, it makes him sound like an average guy.
As for SS privatization, we would have millions of people who would be losing 90% of their benefits as we speak. Sometimes you have to protect people from themselves and that is part of government’s role.
Posted by: Steve, AL | September 29, 2008, 3:35 pm 3:35 pm
Voter In America
Can’t you come up with something else? It’s clear you hate, but those are all are old lies
Posted by: fempharoh08 | September 29, 2008, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm
Poor Voter in America needs to go to FactCheck.org and do what they advise all of those who insist that Obama is not an American citizen: put on your shiny tinfoil hat and sit quietly in the corner.
Did you hear that McCain sent an e-mail taking credit for the passage of the bailout just before it failed? He said he got the Republicans to vote for it. Well, maybe it got one-third to support their president.
Posted by: Old Vet | September 29, 2008, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm
Look what happens when the Government gets their hands in places where it does not belong. Social security.. broke, medicare …broke, give money to all, even those who could not float a loan for a bottle of pop via, fredie and fannie…now broke. And Dems want a man who has shaken the government money tree hard and often everytime he could.
Good luck with that.
Posted by: david | September 29, 2008, 3:40 pm 3:40 pm
Barack couldn’t bring 40% of his fellow democrats to the table on this bill. That’s some leader alright….NOT!
PUMA!
Posted by: SadStateOfAffairs | September 29, 2008, 3:41 pm 3:41 pm
“Roll the Dice” Isn’t this one of the Bill Clinton lines that offended Obama so mcuh?
Posted by: ch | September 29, 2008, 3:41 pm 3:41 pm
yeah, privatization would be great! Just think, if i had been able to invest my Social Security into the stock market I’d be…..oh yeah…BROKE!!!
Posted by: jt | September 29, 2008, 3:42 pm 3:42 pm
Voter In America, the Obama campaign has released a copy of his birth certificate, clearly showing his birth in Oahu, Hawaii.
http://fightthesmears.com/articles/5/birthcertificate
Posted by: Chris Griffith | September 29, 2008, 3:42 pm 3:42 pm
Have you noticed that the government doesn’t privatize defense monies or retirement funds for government officials?
Posted by: Joel | September 29, 2008, 3:43 pm 3:43 pm
To james,
Judging by the way you write. I must assumed that you are “influenced” by Bristish writing. So you are DEFINITELY NOT an American citizen for sure.
Obviously, you do not know our laws governing children of parents in US military.
Do you know our regulations regarding the IMMIGRATION LAWS?
McCain’s parents (BOTH) are American Citizen and were older than 18 when McCain was born. That made him a NATURAL born citizen, you MORON!
Whereas Obama parents (different citizenships) and she was NOT 19 when Obama was born (location still TBD, Kenya?) she MOVED with her second husband, and therefore negated any US Citizenship for Obama.
The so-called birth certificate was for his sister and the dates on it are very troubling.
I have voted since Nixon, so don’t tell me that I am NOT.
Just for my curiosity, how much did Obama campaign pay you to be out on the net spreading these lies?
Posted by: Voter In America | September 29, 2008, 3:43 pm 3:43 pm
Obama = Pelosi’s “Puppet”!
Posted by: Obama'sNemesis | September 29, 2008, 3:45 pm 3:45 pm
For some time now, John McCain has tried to equate himself with country first. Over and over again, his moves and decisions have shown just the opposite. Today he started trying a new line: country first? Or Obama first?
Well, Senator McCain, if country first means choosing McCain the ultimate gambler, by all means, Obama first.
Posted by: chris | September 29, 2008, 3:46 pm 3:46 pm
If the Bailout bill had included a provision for the US Government to zero out each of our personal dedt along with the improperly managed financial institutions dedt the bill would have been supported by the voters.
But who pays for that? We get to pay for mismanagement of others, but who pays for our personal financial errors. NO ONE but US.
And that’s who should take care of this mess, the very people who got themselves there. Obama and the Dems played the cards that got us here, while McCain and Bush were yelling, “Don’t take that bet!”
The Democrats like to gamble because they are using our money to do it. “James”, perhaps can provide some factual insight into this for us all.
Posted by: anotherview | September 29, 2008, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm
“anotherview” says that Pelosi drew a 2 against the Republicans’ Ace. I don’t see it.
The Republicans have a presidential candidate that strode into Washington last week promising to put together a bi-partisan plan as a resolution to a crisis that he had only admitted to over the prior week. He failed – and looks weak.
Furthermore, selfsame economic crisis can be fully laid at the feet of the deregulatory religion of the free market ideologues running the GOP, who didn’t recognize the inherent problems of large financial institutions bereft of oversight.
Aces? No, the Rebublicans have nothing. Deregulation and massive consolidation of the banking and finance industries led to this crisis, and we’ll be paying for it for many, many years.
If you think that’s a winning hand, I’ve got a Bridge To Nowhere I’d like to sell you.
Posted by: Malacandra | September 29, 2008, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm
fempharoh08, Old Vet,
For fempharoh08,
No DEAR. I don’t foster HATRE. That honor goes to the Obamas and their rev. Wright, and Louis Farrakhan.
That’s still being held in the US District Court of Eastern PA.
For Old Vet, (If you are a TRUE Vet, my hat off to you for serving our country, I did mine, now my sons are doing it.)
I would believe it if an independent Org certified it, not by Obama group.
Still, there are OTHER complications brought on by his late mother’s marriages. Still a lot of unanswered questions about Obama.
Posted by: Voter In America | September 29, 2008, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm
Hey repubs… there’s a BIG difference between a friendly poker game and high stakes craps. Poker in its most common form is more of a social event than gambling, not to mention that poker relies heavily on individual skill and strategy. High stakes craps… well, it’s a high stakes crapshoot. If I were the GOP, I would NOT be pushing this issue.
Posted by: Joel | September 29, 2008, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm
Look folks the whole economic mess if “chicken’s coming home to roost.” Anyone who wants 4 more repub years is like the alcoholic that doesn’t know when to quit. How bad does it have to get???
Posted by: Chuck | September 29, 2008, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm
Voter in America, maybe the problem is that you’ve voted since Nixon. Following the same old path, repeating the same old lies is what got us into Iraq and the financial mess we are in today. Judging by the way you write you have either been influenced by a severe mental disorder, or you’re a shill for the traitors who’ve sold us down the river. How much did the McCain campaign pay you to spread your filthy lies?
Posted by: Tbone | September 29, 2008, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
HEY….can you tone down the hate filled messages, they are getting out of hand.
Posted by: kd oklahoma | September 29, 2008, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
There’s a time to holdup and a time to foldup. It looks like McCain was trying to bluff America into thinking he counted for something with the House Republicans. I wonder if McCain will go back to the phony foldup of suspending his campaign or use the aftermath to cancel the Palin debate with Biden.
Posted by: bhciapol | September 29, 2008, 3:56 pm 3:56 pm
MAYBE OBAMA SHOULD PACK UP AND DO WHAT THE ‘GAMBLER” TOLD HIM TO DO IN THE FIRST PLACE.. COME TO WASHINGTON
THE COUNTRY IS ABOUT TO HIT CHAOS..
OBAMA DOES NOT MIND WHAT HAPPENS TO THIS COUNTRY AS LONG AS IT ADDS TO HIS MESSAIHNESS.
HE IS CLAIMING CREDIT FOR THE BAILOUT .. MCCAIN CHANGED THE MINDS OF AT LEAST 60 SENATORS..
WHAT HAS OBAMA DONE??
RIGHT ANSWER: NOTHING!!
ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK!!
THATS ALL HE KNOWS.
HE WONT TELL US WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT OBAMA .. JUST TELLS US WHAT IS BAD ABOUT PALIN AND MCCAIN.
OBAMA DOES NOTHING!
OBAMA DOES NOTHING BUT POINT FINGERS AND PROMISE EVERYBODY THE MOON.
THIS GUY WOULD BE DIRECT FROM THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE.
ONLY MCCAIN CAN HANDLE SUCH A PRECARIOUS ECONOMY WITH DISCIPLINE. LEARNING FROM NISTAKE.. OBAMA WOULD BE HANDING OUT LEFT AND RIGHT..SOCIALISM
Posted by: TJ, THE CLINTONITE | September 29, 2008, 3:58 pm 3:58 pm
MAYBE OBAMA SHOULD PACK UP AND DO WHAT THE ‘GAMBLER” TOLD HIM TO DO IN THE FIRST PLACE.. COME TO WASHINGTON
THE COUNTRY IS ABOUT TO HIT CHAOS..
OBAMA DOES NOT MIND WHAT HAPPENS TO THIS COUNTRY AS LONG AS IT ADDS TO HIS MESSAIHNESS.
HE IS CLAIMING CREDIT FOR THE BAILOUT .. MCCAIN CHANGED THE MINDS OF AT LEAST 60 SENATORS..
WHAT HAS OBAMA DONE??
RIGHT ANSWER: NOTHING!!
ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK!!
THATS ALL HE KNOWS.
HE WONT TELL US WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT OBAMA .. JUST TELLS US WHAT IS BAD ABOUT PALIN AND MCCAIN.
OBAMA DOES NOTHING!
OBAMA DOES NOTHING BUT POINT FINGERS AND PROMISE EVERYBODY THE MOON.
THIS GUY WOULD BE DIRECT FROM THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE.
ONLY MCCAIN CAN HANDLE SUCH A PRECARIOUS ECONOMY WITH DISCIPLINE. LEARNING FROM NISTAKE.. OBAMA WOULD BE HANDING OUT LEFT AND RIGHT..SOCIALISM
Posted by: TJ, THE CLINTONITE | September 29, 2008, 3:58 pm 3:58 pm
Like McCain’s discipline at the Naval Academy? Like his discipline when he screwed up his Naval career? Like his discipline in his first marriage? Like his discipline with Charles Keating? Like his discipline in championing the deregulation in the finance sector that created the current fiasco? Like his discipline in flying back to Washington to influence “his” House Republicans to pass this bill? Yep, that’s the kind of leadership we need.
Posted by: Tbone | September 29, 2008, 4:03 pm 4:03 pm
@james,
From what I hear, McCain’s citizenship is technically in question. He was born on a naval base in Panama Canal region, which, when he was born, was not considered a US territory. So be careful about spreading rumours about Obama’s citizenship. Someone can ACTUALLY challenge McCain’s citizenship in the Supreme Court. It is very likely it will happen if he wins and you will have the hockey mom running the country.
Posted by: ACitizen | September 29, 2008, 4:05 pm 4:05 pm
To Tbone,
Thanks for that compliment!
Well, I guessed you aren’t OLD enough to know anything, just simply spew your hatre.
For your info, I had been a life-long Democrats, my parents, my sibblings, ALL are registered Democrats.
I switched the party, because the PARTY LEFT me in Carter years (if you OLD enough to remember it) Double digit interest rate/inflation.
I am quite stable and sharp, too.
The way you called me “severe mental disorder”, it certainly fits the description of your “call sign” I like to feed you to my dogs. They would enjoy a GREAT conversation with you!
Posted by: Voter In America | September 29, 2008, 4:05 pm 4:05 pm
From:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/09/draw-your-conclusions.html
Monday, September 29, 2008
Draw Your Conclusions
The bailout bill was brought forward by a Republican administration.
Over 2/3rds of Democrats voted for it.
John McCain said that he would deliver the votes of Republicans.
He “suspended his campaign” to do it.
He made this a central test of his leadership by doing so.
He said he would not attend the debate unless the bailout bill passed.
He attended the debate.
He failed to deliver the Republican votes.
The bill did not pass.
Draw your conclusions.
Cite:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/09/draw-your-conclusions.html
Posted by: Cara Prado | September 29, 2008, 4:06 pm 4:06 pm
On Wednesday nights during Illinois General Assembly sessions, a group of lobbyists and lawmakers used to gather at the headquarters of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association for a weekly poker game. Barack Obama, who represented part of Chicago as state senator from 1997-2004, was a regular.”
******************************************* A weekly poker game is quite a bit different than 12-14 hour stretches at the craps table, going through 10′s of thousands of dollars at a time like Senator McDrama Queen does. That is a serious gambling addiction and the last thing I want is a Drama Queen like McCAIN gambling with our country.
Posted by: Truth Matters | September 29, 2008, 4:07 pm 4:07 pm
you idio_s
it was the years 2000 to 2006
where al;l that deregulation let all these new equations and corporate greed run amock
and let the banking industry feel they had little risk because the mortgages could be moved to the financial sector.
because the same guys who brought us the S& L crisis finally got there way…
the last 2 years has been just settling the whirlwind that started…
the problem is the hangover doesn’t set in until (as we see now 2years) later … from those 6 years of deregulation lobby run amock…
as they sit perched all around John mcCain writing his economic plans for the next 4 to 8 years for us.
so don’t believe the spin from some of the same bologne throwers on here…(same ones who gave you all the bull from the last 8 years that has gotten us in so much trouble)
this did not from Jimmy carter…ugh
it did not come from an attempt expanding homeownership…
it did not come from “greed” as a bad thing (a little of it did but very littlwe)
greed makes our country run…it is the American motor to want to achieve.
If the rules and regulators tell you …you are able to do something. Many people thought they could.
IT is deregulation that caused this mess …combined with a democratic notion of trying to help every American be able to “achieve” in a lawful and regulated society…
and nothing else.
A capitalist democracy…needs regulation. don’t let the theorists who think they are so smart try to spin it any other way.
Posted by: dl | September 29, 2008, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm
I used to think the thoery of “dumbing down of america” was only a theory…Anyone who votes for a monkey will make it a reality.
Posted by: susan | September 29, 2008, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm
fempharoh08 – I’m with Voter in America – why won’t this simply be officially addressed by the State of Hawaii? End the so called “lie” once and for all – putting a “birth certificate” online doesn’t do it for me – and it certainly wouldn’t hold up in the legal arena. And then there’s the issue of the Chicago Daley family backing EVERY Democratic nominee – Gore, Kerry and Obama too. The Democratic family is the most dysfunctional family I have ever seen – shove it under the rug and don’t talk about that…. crap is OLD – OLDER than McCain – I’d rather be called a Republican than to be led around by the OLD Democratic ring in my nose.
Posted by: hummingbird | September 29, 2008, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm
McCain rolled the dice and lost with his political “Here I come to save the day” stunt. He said we would not debate until there was an agreement. Seems there wasn’t an agreement Friday night and he debated. McCain is a proven liar, his avarice for the Oval Office is such that he will do anything, say anything to sit there.
He’s getting so erratic many of his party are raising eyebrows, i.e. George Will. He appeared angry, grouchy, condenscending during the debate. Even his old buddy Lindsay Grahman has to admit Obama kick his behind.
Posted by: Tom. Tescher | September 29, 2008, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm
Obama is the right man for this moment.
Posted by: clarity | September 29, 2008, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm
Obama is gambling that the court system in America will DELAY and DELAY his suit. He knows he is not eligible to be President because of his Dual Nationality. He is lying to America and he is putting America on a dangerous road and he does not care!
Posted by: Mike | September 29, 2008, 4:17 pm 4:17 pm
Voter in America, you are a joke. I could care less if you were a Democrat or Republic (as if you could be relied on to tell the truth anyway). Like a playground bully, you turn to threats when someone calls you on your weak arguments and vile lies. I’d really like you to try sicking your dogs on me –they would not be coming home to you. Then you could try to fend for yourself. Like most threatening bullies, you probably fear that more than change. No one’s intimidated by you–you’re wasting space.
Posted by: Tbone | September 29, 2008, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm
To Joel.
Joel, you’re either stupid or just bitter.
Barack was born in Hawaï by an American young woman (young woman of 18 years old when he was born) and an African man (from Kenya).
I was born by an American man (from New York) and an Eurpean woman (from Palerma, Italy).
As much as you or me or anyone else here, Barack is American.
So, don’t be stupid, nobody’s gonna make your eucation here, you need to educate yourself. Stop acting like a fool here, alright ?!
Posted by: Damon | September 29, 2008, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
As someone who has a degree in Political Science and has studied International and Constitutional Law, there are two ways to acquire citizenship.
1. By Blood – your parents are citizens of the country.
2. By place of birth- country you are in at the time of birth.
For example, if your parents are US Citizens and are in Germany at the time of your birth, you technically can claim citizenship in either country.
That is why one of the terrorists at Gitmo is claiming US Citizenship. His parents were here at the time of his birth although he was 2 when they left.
McCain’s father was a US Naval Officer at the time of his birth and was stationed in the Panama Canal Zone. This makes McCain a US Citizen. This applies to the children of all government employees and military stationed around the world. This rule is honored by all nations.
Posted by: mary | September 29, 2008, 4:31 pm 4:31 pm
Tom Tescher – PLEASE look at a video of the debate – don’t close your eyes – LOOK at Obama – obviously frustrated by what he wasn’t prepped on – but you can’t prep experience and sincerity – McCain was not appearing “angry, grouchy, condenscending during the debate.” I saw a smiling face no matter what – especially when he pointed out Obama’s lack of experience, and everything else he’s lacking …
Posted by: hummingbird | September 29, 2008, 4:32 pm 4:32 pm
Hey “Voter in America.” If McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone, does that make him a citizen? Obama was born in Hawaii. The last time I looked, Hawaii is a state and Panama is not. So, which one is really a citizen? Both you idiot. However, only one is good enought to be President…OBAMA!
Posted by: algwriter | September 29, 2008, 4:32 pm 4:32 pm
All I can say is that Hillary looks so much better than the the two choices we are lef with. This is all Obama zombie’s fault that we can not elect the best candidate that was available to us in Hillary.
Posted by: CJ | September 29, 2008, 4:36 pm 4:36 pm
Susan says she “used to think the thoery of “dumbing down of america” was only a theory…Anyone who votes for a monkey will make it a reality.”
One thing this country no longer needs is racists. That, and the fact that he is better qualified, is why I’m voting for Obama and not for the guy loved by the racists.
Posted by: algwriter | September 29, 2008, 4:36 pm 4:36 pm
Obama is terrible at poker. He is bluffing … as usual.
He’s got a “tell”…. everytime he touches his nose, stammers, or says he agrees with you, he is bluffing (i.e. lying).
Posted by: Diamond Lou | September 29, 2008, 4:38 pm 4:38 pm
The Democrats are right – If a person hears/sees something ELEVEN times, they will believe it. Obama was born in Kenya. Maybe I should write that eleven times for the slow learners here.
Posted by: hummingbird | September 29, 2008, 4:39 pm 4:39 pm
Voter In America,
You are a liar.
Do you know what laws made McCain a “Natural Born Citizen”?
Do you know what a “Natural Born Citizen” is?
Do you know that even children of “illegal immigrants” are “Natural Born Citizens” by virtue of the fact that they are born on US soil.
Morons and bigots like you make me sick.
It is even more troubling that you claim to have voted since Nixon, so I know you are an old goon.
An old ignorant goon for that matter.
Posted by: Steve_NJ | September 29, 2008, 4:41 pm 4:41 pm
and we won’t be betting on black November 4 either.
Posted by: geevill | September 29, 2008, 4:41 pm 4:41 pm
After reviewing the debate several times, I saw Obama frustrated at the exaggerations and lies that McCain was spewing. McCain appeared to be ashamed to even look Obama in the eye or speak with him. Not surprising because the current version of McCain would be embarrassed to look the 2000 McCain in the eye also.
Prep experience? John McCain has no executive OR strategic military experience. Prep sincerity? I saw a twisted attempt at a smile, but somewhere deep down the good left in McCain just can’t stomach the cynical campaign he’s run.
I wish McCain could prep judgment. Maybe we wouldn’t be in Iraq or this financial mess that we find ourselves in.
Posted by: Tbone | September 29, 2008, 4:44 pm 4:44 pm
. Obama was born in Kenya. Maybe I should write that eleven times for the slow learners here.
===
right this 2000 times: Obama was not born in Kenya, he was born in Hawaii. His mother was an American citizen.
so hurry along, grab some chalk and like a good student start writing!
Posted by: Gus | September 29, 2008, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm
For all you leftist idiots that keep bringing up the bridge to nowhere remember both Obama and Biden voted for it not Palin
Posted by: charles | September 29, 2008, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm
On the Reverand Wright issue: Wright said and I’m paraphrasing: Blacks live in desperate poverty, the govenment is unsucessful at eliminating drug dealers and then Blacks are imprisoned for stealing and drug use. Then he is says “God Damn America” for not taking care of their citizens. Why is this a problem? Although this is an extreme way of presenting it, I think Reverand Wright may have a point. The government should be taking better care of its citizens and he should, we all should be mad-very mad about this.
VOTE OBAMA/BIDEN
Posted by: Once for McCain now for Obama | September 29, 2008, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm
Yep I agree: Palin was always opposed to the Bridge to Nowhere. In fact she NEVER supported it and sent the money back as soon as she became governor. She was so responsible, that she also ordered state contractors to cease work on the Road to Nowhere that was just completed this month.
If you believe that, then I have a Bridge to Nowhere to sell you…
Posted by: Tbone | September 29, 2008, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm
On the Obama comment: “those who cling to their guns and religion.” I think Obama is right. Those individuals who live in poverty and are uneducated must take solace in only those things which they have in their lives as comfort: guns and religion. Why is this considered a bad thing to say? With no intelligence to fall back on, Palin does excatly the same thing, she clings to her guns and religion to win votes.
Posted by: Once for McCain now for Obama | September 29, 2008, 4:58 pm 4:58 pm
Gus-
Palin can’t vote in the senate!
Posted by: Once for McCain now for Obama | September 29, 2008, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
Since the Democrats have made this mess and set it up with Obama chants of “It is bush fault” “It is the governmets Fault” For over 2 years now.
They sure have set the people and the government up for the fall.
Funny if Obama ever Gets elected it will be illegal to Blame him for anything, he will not tolerate that.
Of course if he is elected we will have no first admentment rights to worry about it.
Him writing a new constitution for the black birth right and new government he plans on making will insure no resistance at all.
With his wealthy backers who want to own the banks like soro’s, his communist friends who want a new government, and Michelle obama who want The Norht American Union.
America Will be a pretty bleak place comapared to what is was.
If Mr Obama & company, the chicago mob and his communist friends, and terrorist friends want to do a coup on the government, At least they will have to work for it now. it will not be handed over to them with control of the banks and industry.
Without money to pay the reparations Mr Obama will just give the Blacks the country.
Either way you look at it, The United States of America will be damned under Obama.
Posted by: seah | September 29, 2008, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm
What’s wrong with a little socialism in the US. You don’t see Candians trying to immigrate here. The United States is no longer greatest country on earth. Ask any foreigner and well as US citizens. The Bush admninistration can take credit for this lack of respect for the United States.
VOTE OBAMA. The world loves him!
Posted by: Once for McCain now for Obama | September 29, 2008, 5:05 pm 5:05 pm
WHY DON’T THE CONGRESSMEN THAT MADE SO MUCH, LIKE CHRIS DODD AND BARNEY FRANK AND THE HEAD OF LEHMAN BROTHER AND AIG, BE FORCED TO RETURN THE MONEY AND HELP US OUT OF THIS DEAL. I THINK OBAMA MADE THE 2ND MOST MONEY FROM THEM .. MAYBE THEY CAN HELP.
Posted by: PATSY | September 29, 2008, 5:06 pm 5:06 pm
What lost today’s vote was the current speaker (Nancy Pelosi)! What possessed her to lambast the republicans prior to this critical vote is totally beyond me, BUT SHE IS NO LEADER! Through her partisan speech today, she set up some members who may lose on November 4 — not against them as much as there will be a vote against HER!!
The Good LORD was probably looking down on us, for this was a clear vote NO FOR SOCIALISM!!
There is enough blame to go around on this fiasco. The Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999, started the ball rolling. And while there is a lot of blame to be placed on the Administration for not ram rodding more regulation through, there is a lot of culpability in Franklin Raines (Clinton’s former OMB chief), Jim Johnson (initially Obama’s VEEP search committee chair) and Jamie Gorelick (all over the Clinton administration — DOD & Justice to name two), and their cheer leaders in Congress. Candidly, it is probably time for a new chair of the banking committee. Barney Franks provided a lot of cheerleading to keep lose credit going, as did Chris Dodd in the Senate.
Point being, it is time for new leadership in the House and Senate. We cannot afford the current speaker any longer. In the largest vote of her career — she lost! 40% of the Democrats DID NOT VOTE FOR THE BILL!! Historians will ask the rhetorical question: WHAT WAS SHE THINKING?????
Posted by: jwatl | September 29, 2008, 5:07 pm 5:07 pm
Seah: your commentary is just short of laughable. It would be really scary if I thought you really believed what you just wrote.
Posted by: linda n carolina | September 29, 2008, 5:13 pm 5:13 pm
Our House of Representatives listened to over 200 of America’s top economists and smart people of this country. They did what was right not what was fast and convenient and prosperous to the very rich. The fact that the House of Representatives rejected the bail out is awesome! Here is why. The bill was a just a band-aid that still benefitted the very rich and not the people. It was not a solution to the cause of the problem. This bill would only have postponed the inevitable to just after the next President is sworn in on Jan. 29, 2009. There are real solutions to the cause of the problems of the credit crises not even considered in this terrible fast paced 700 Billion dollar extortion bail out bill for the extremely rich people of this country and around the world.
In January 2009 the 7 trillion dollars in bad mortgage loans that the banks have reported will still be unpaid. Who knows how many trillion dollars of bad mortgage debt have not been reported by the banks. 700 billion dollars won’t even come close to paying for all of this debt. Financial melt down is inevitable. Let it happen now so true recovery can begin. Bush and his Cronies did their best to ram this 770 billion dollar pay off to the rich for making this mess down our throats.
Here is some interesting info. Bush and Chaney have recently purchased homes in foreign counties to for a speedy get away to live in after their terms are over in Jan. 2009. They didn’t want this economy to blow up on them while they were still in office. They didn’t want the blame for their very real immoral, unethical and most likely illegal actions. Yeah they got both.
One last fleecing of the American people was halted by our smart members of the House of Representatives who listened to the people and over 200 of America’s top economists. We can truly thank them for listening to us.
It’s time for the people to march on Washington DC peacefully in protest if they attempt to pass this fraudulent bill again. “The only thing to fear is fear itself.” (President Franklin D. Roosevelt Democrat) Make the members of the House of Representatives and the members of the Senate know they were hired by all of us who voted for them not just a few very rich people. Make them know we are their bosses not a few rich families. We the People: Demand REAL SOLUTIONS FOR ALL PEOPLE not for just a very few extremely rich people!
Posted by: Bob4USA | September 29, 2008, 5:16 pm 5:16 pm
Put it all on black and let it ride!
Posted by: Johnny Vegas | September 29, 2008, 5:17 pm 5:17 pm
Obama, the fledgling idiot!
Posted by: Obama'sNemesis | September 29, 2008, 5:19 pm 5:19 pm
i guess the market didn’t think bush was crying wolf.
last night mccain and the gop committed to providing 80 votes. they are using the speaker’s comments as cover for their own sheeple and to provide reasons for lying or not being able to deliver on their commitment.
we all know every vote is stage managed. folks who would be hurt by their vote are the last to vote so they can position against the issue if their vote is not needed. my friends last week the congress was not negotiating a bill, they were negotiating how many votes each party was going to provide to pass this ‘crap sandwich’.
mccain has messed this up at every stage. this morning he took credit for a deal and was stabbed in the back by his own party. and don’t forget it was this internal gop fight that forced mccain to dc last week. then they contrived the wh meeting to drag in obama for some political cover.
obama managed the situation and his party brilliantly. he set clear & limited principles and then stayed the heck out of the way of the technical negotiations.
had the dems passed the bill soley on their own vote the gop machine would be popping corks and preparing tv ads attacking the dems for the ‘bush bailout’. and they would have used the vote to tar and feather the dems all the way to nov 4th.
Posted by: rascalofearth | September 29, 2008, 5:19 pm 5:19 pm
Either way you look at it, The United States of America will be damned under Obama.
Posted by: seah | Sep 29, 2008 5:03:28 PM
I TOTALLY AGREE!
Posted by: Obama'sNemesis | September 29, 2008, 5:21 pm 5:21 pm
133 republicans voter to kill the bill. What a shame when this could lead to another depression.
Posted by: krista | September 29, 2008, 5:23 pm 5:23 pm
The Fundamentals of the Economy Are Strong, But Only When I Say So.
Guess who picked a day that the Dow dropped 688.08 (at this moment) to declare, “After this immediate problem, we’ve got the long-term fundamentals that will really make sure this economy grows”?
Barack Obama.
Posted by: I'm Barack Obama, and I Approve this Hypocrisy | September 29, 2008, 5:24 pm 5:24 pm
At rascalofearth :
Two years ago, McCain went AGAINST his party and told them that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were in trouble. Pelosi, Reid, and Dodd laughed him off and now with Pelosi showing her butt, the last laugh is on the DemWits and Pelosi, along with her puppet, Obama!
Posted by: Obama/Pelosi | September 29, 2008, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm
All LIBERALS are LIARS!!!!!!!!! The Democrats that did not vote with their party were not even LIBERALS!!!!!!!!! What does that NOW TELL YA you LIBERAL NUTS !!!!!!!!!!! HYPOCRITES YOU ALL ARE!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: HOW ABOUT THAT | September 29, 2008, 5:27 pm 5:27 pm
Pelosi should be ousted now! She deserves to go after this, along with Obama, Reid, and Dodd!
Idiots…all of them!
Posted by: Obama/Pelosi | September 29, 2008, 5:28 pm 5:28 pm
Voter in America, James, your 401k just went down the toilet, SSN does not actually belong to you until you retire, 65, 67 or maybe 70, so maybe you should go back and get McCain and Boehner to deliver the votes they bragged about. Don’t blame Obama, because Republicans in swing states thought they would keep there seats in November if they said No. But when people’s retirements and investments are all gone, they won’t be reelected regardless. See you all in welfare line.
Posted by: UtahforObama | September 29, 2008, 5:28 pm 5:28 pm
I applaud McCain for suspending his campaign and going back to Washington to do everything he could to get this bill passed. Obama, did nothing…until the last minute, upon the Presidents request. McCain, reaching across the party aisle, doing everything he could to get the bill passed, while Obama continued to “suck” up to Pelosi. Now, let the “sucking” continue…Obama, you’re the number 1 idiot in America now!
Posted by: Trevor | September 29, 2008, 5:31 pm 5:31 pm
How about that Boehner speech right before the vote. He spoke after Nancy not before. Boehner is very “Jerry Springer”-like. He did not deliver his people. He is no leader.
Posted by: UtahforObama | September 29, 2008, 5:32 pm 5:32 pm
Pelosi is seeing that her “boy” NoBama will NEVER get elected, so she tried to stab the Republicans, but got it thrown right back in her face! Now, her “boy”, Obammy will just be another page in history, as a lowly senator from Chicago that was controlled by a power hunger idiot that caused his demise!
You DemWits are ridiculous!
Posted by: Trevor | September 29, 2008, 5:34 pm 5:34 pm
Many more members of the Republicans also were saying the same thing about the coming crises like J. Watts. And don’t forget Mr. pressed suit Bernie of the Dem’s also saying there was no evidence of problems from what he can see, LOL. It’s all coming out now, and you liberals are hurting now.
Posted by: HOW ABOUT THAT | September 29, 2008, 5:35 pm 5:35 pm
Dont blame republicans for THIS mess.
Obama got over $100,000 from Fannie and Freddie. McC got under 9k.
The push to low income risky mortgages was a democrat push.
The banking rules were set up by the finance committe run by Barney Frank.
The liberals trying to buy everyone a home is what got us here.
Posted by: Sirlanse | September 29, 2008, 5:38 pm 5:38 pm
Just a thought? Where was Pelosi, Reid, and Obama when they were hearing about this crisis from the Republican’s before and during their two year’s of Congressional Power? I know, writing and on book tours. Sorry about the earlier typo on my post(crisis).
Posted by: HOW ABOUT THAT | September 29, 2008, 5:43 pm 5:43 pm
If you want to have SS privatized and don’t mind handing your money over to corporations you didn’t choose through fund managers you don’t see and can’t control, every 2 weeks for the rest of your working life, McCain is your candidate.
If you would like to have a portion of your hard-earned wages go into the same mortgage-backed securities at the root of the financial crisis, McCain is your candidate.
If you don’t mind that the government is spending 10 billion dollars a month in Iraq when the Iraqi government has a surplus and the main threats to our national security are in Afghanistan/Pakistan and on Wall Street, McCain is your candidate.
Posted by: Paul Franklin | September 29, 2008, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm
Why did 2/3 of republicans vote against this bill. Dont they realize they will plunge America into another Great Depression.
Posted by: krista | September 29, 2008, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm
Trevor, you’ve been bamboozled. John McCain said his campaign was suspended, however, his campaign ads continued in swing states and he took every photo op he could get. Sen. McCain arrived late in the process and John Boehner said “Who knows?” when asked whether McCain had helped matters. The senators and representatives on the relevant committees (neither McCain nor Obama serve on those committees) had already put over 100 hours into the bailout effort. Obama went to the Capitol because McCain chose to waste everyone’s time with this bit of political theater.
Posted by: Paul Franklin | September 29, 2008, 5:55 pm 5:55 pm
I was in a large covered market in CT when the OJ Simpson’s “not guilty” verdict was announced. To my surprise, all the black cashiers in that market burst into applause and yells like they’ve just won the lottery.
I have lost my respect to what I think was brazen racial prejudice.
I’m Asian-American who canoot vote for Obama.
Posted by: disgruntled | September 29, 2008, 5:55 pm 5:55 pm
Paul… Nice liberal Democratic talking points, LOL. That just proves liberals have no commonsense in judgement and reality, you must really want to live in a socialist society, so keep on talking about government control and waste spending. Because a socialist society is just that when it comes wasteful spending and control over Americans lives and decision’s.
Posted by: HOW ABOUT THAT | September 29, 2008, 5:58 pm 5:58 pm
The Banks of the United States have reported 7 Trillion Dollars in bad mortgage debt. Let me ask all you geniuses out there what good is it going to do to have the tax payers buy 700 Billion Dollars of this 7 Trillion Dollar debt. Who knows how much more debt the banks and financial institutions have not been reported. Spending this 700 Billion Dollars on this debt is like throwing kerosene, dynamite and gasoline on a wild fire storm. It only makes the fire hotter and more dangerous and destroys those who fueled the fire just like giving the extremely rich this 700 billion dollars. The tax payers debt, the nation debt will just go up and prolong the tax payers suffering, starving, and wreak havoc on their physical, mental and financial health.
Posted by: Bob4USA | September 29, 2008, 6:22 pm 6:22 pm
Breaking News… Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has just been charged with an indictment by the FBI for fraud. Detail’s have not been released yet. And guess who is closely tied to the Governor, that’s right, OBAMA! The Governor and Obama is tied to the corrupt Chicago Machine of Politics. They also closely worked together in the Illinois Senate on bills for Chicago politicians and earmarks for other Chicago institutions just like ACORN, hmmm! No wonder he voted present 135+ times in the Illinois Senate. I wonder what bills those were he worked on? Yes, that’s right, those bill’s that have not yet been released to the American People, along with all his other transcripts from college, and when he worked on the committee board with Ayers as community organizers. Why did Ayers and Obama both move to Chicago and work on the same committee board after leaving Columbia University, Obama had no ties to Chicago(other than maybe Ayers). If anybody wants to know about Obama’s view’s and polices but can’t find it in his state Senate records, just google Ayers and research his past, they both have the same political views and idea’s.
Posted by: HOW ABOUT THAT | September 29, 2008, 6:24 pm 6:24 pm
The Banks of the United States have reported 7 Trillion Dollars in bad mortgage debt. Let me ask all you geniuses out there what good is it going to do to have the tax payers buy 700 Billion Dollars of this 7 Trillion Dollar debt. Who knows how much more debt the banks and financial institutions have not been reported. Spending this 700 Billion Dollars on this debt is like throwing kerosene, dynamite and gasoline on a wild fire storm. It only makes the fire hotter and more dangerous and destroys those who fueled the fire just like giving the extremely rich this 700 billion dollars. The tax payers debt, the nation debt will just go up and prolong the tax payers suffering, starving, and wreak havoc on their physical, mental and financial health.
Posted by: Bob4USA | September 29, 2008, 6:29 pm 6:29 pm
“We cant double down on the same things that haven’t work, we’ve got to try something new, and that’s why I’m running for President of the United States.”
and that is why I am voting obama.
we don;t need grandpa simpson with his 40 year old ideas and failed ones at that doing even more damage to the country.
It’s time to let new blood and ideas to come in.
It’s Obama time.
Posted by: vwcat | September 29, 2008, 7:07 pm 7:07 pm
ANOTHER BIG ANTI-PALIN RALLY IN ALASKA THIS SATURDAY!!!
There was another big anti-Palin, anti-troopergate rally in Alaska this weekend. They say it was even bigger than the last one!!
After all that has happened, Alaskan’s can’t stand her either!
Lot of pictures and I just loved the homemade signs! “No more lies Palinoccio” and “Palin Humiliating Alaska” and lots more!!
She is even a BIG JOKE in her own state of Alaska! When this is all done in November, she won’t be able to get elected Dogcatcher in Wassilla!!
http://www.themudflats.net/2008/09/27/alaskans-demand-accountabili
Posted by: Davis | September 29, 2008, 7:07 pm 7:07 pm
For all you leftist idiots that keep bringing up the bridge to nowhere remember both Obama and Biden voted for it not Palin
Posted by: charles | September 29, 2008, 7:16 pm 7:16 pm
Bob… This is just a plot by the liberals to gain power in all three branch’s of government, to change it into a socialist society. Their first plot is to gain Congressional control, which they have now, then to pass bad bills and then turn around and block good bills that would regulate and reform. Then set up and ruin financial institutions from insiders(corrupt employee’s and connections)wrong doings to gain more power and say so, by controlling real estate and financial institutions before a Presidential election(they are trying to control everything and everybody, that’s socialism). And then blame the Republicans for the crisis. They are just trying to show how corrupt a capitalistic society is by greed of ceo’s, and then how their greed causes you hardships financially, and then once again blame the Republicans while wiping their hands clean with their lies. But the crisis here is on the liberal Democrats hands, because the institutions were in control of corrupt liberal Democrats now supporting Obama, and also now working on the Obama campaign as advisers(Franklin Raines and Jim Johnson, go figure!), LOL. Then the liberal Democrats will tell the American People the Republicans don’t care about you, because they are going to give big tax breaks to the rich who have a house and then kick you out of the house you can’t afford, that the DEMOCRATS ACTUALLY PUT THEM INTO. It’s all about VOTES! Then when the Democrats get their Presidential candidate into the oval office, their next CHANGE will be the Supreme Court. That is actually the CHANGE Obama and the liberal Democrats are talking about, WAKE UP AMERICA! That is also why the liberals didn’t want Hillary as their nominee, she is to moderate and conservative on too many views which they are not, which is why they say she’s to hawkish. Why do you think the majority of the Clinton voters were moderate, conservative, and mainly women, by which Obama received almost all of the liberal and race votes. The liberal Democratic controlled Congress is the main example to really understand this situation, Pelosi(liberal) and Reid(liberal) never supported Hillary, and were the one’s asking Hillary to step down and give the Democratic nomination to Obama for the betterment of their Party. It really makes you think about reality, when you have people like this in power thinking the American People are not smart enough to see what is really going on. TO ALL YOU LIBERAL DEMOCRATS, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL NOT FALL INTO THE TRAP OF THINKING YOU LIBERALS ARE SMARTER THAN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF THIS COUNTRY, WHICH WILL ALWAYS BE A CAPITALIST REPUBLIC. GOD BLESS AMERICA AND IT’S FUTURE WITH McCAIN/PALIN 2008.
Posted by: HOW ABOUT THAT | September 29, 2008, 7:24 pm 7:24 pm
You can really tell were the liberals get their information. Personal attacks and twisted lies is what they live on, which shows everyone why they don’t believe in GOD.
Posted by: Vote for the Maverick | September 29, 2008, 7:34 pm 7:34 pm
Davis – I thought you liberals thought Alaska was a big state with a small population? So I guess the 20% that did not approve of Gov. Palin were the protesters(80% approval), LOL. Where did they come from, and how many were there, because I know you libs love talking about big numbers. Did you libs send some west coast libs up there to protest, LMAO. There are protesters for every candidate, your post is irrelevant.
Posted by: Vote for the Maverick | September 29, 2008, 7:45 pm 7:45 pm
Friends of Obama: Meet Franklin D. Raines
Franklin D. Raines, former chief executive of Fannie Mae, and two other top executives are paying a total of nearly $31.4 million over their roles in a 2004 accounting scandal in a settlement that the government announced Friday.
Mr. Raines; the former chief financial officer, J. Timothy Howard; and the former controller, Leanne G. Spencer, were accused in a civil lawsuit in December 2006 of manipulating earnings over a six-year period at the company, the largest American financier and guarantor of home mortgages.
Mr. Raines, a prominent Washington figure who was President Bill Clinton’s budget director, has agreed to pay $24.7 million, including a $2 million fine. Mr. Howard is paying $6.4 million and Ms. Spencer $275,000.
Mr. Raines will also give up company stock options valued at $15.6 million.
Fannie and Freddie both had multibillion-dollar accounting scandals that stunned Wall Street and brought record civil fines against them in settlements with the government.
Ofheo had sought fines of around $100 million against the three and restitution totaling more than $115 million in bonus money tied to an improper accounting scheme.
The regulators said an accounting fraud at Fannie Mae included manipulations to reach earnings targets so that Mr. Raines, Mr. Howard, Ms. Spencer and other company executives could pocket hundreds of millions in bonuses from 1998 to 2004.
- New York Times, April 19, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/19/business/19fannie.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Posted by: LightSeeker | September 29, 2008, 7:49 pm 7:49 pm
Democrat Attacks Regulator Detailing Financial Fraud At Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac
“As well as the fact that I’m just pissed off at OFHEO, because if it wasn’t for you, I don’t think that we’d be here in the first place, and now the problem that we have and that we’re faced with is: maybe some individuals who wanted to do away with GSEs in the first place, you’ve given them an excuse to try to have this forum so that we can talk about it and maybe change the, uh, the direction and the mission of what the GSEs had, which they’ve done a tremendous job. There’s been nothing that was indicated that’s wrong, you know, with Fannie Mae! Freddie Mac has come up on its own. And the question that then presents is the competence that — that — that — that your agency uh, uh, with reference to, uh, uh, deciding and regulating these GSEs. Uh, and so, uh, I wish I could sit here and say that I’m not upset with you, but I am very upset because, you know, what you do is give — you know, maybe giving any reason to, as Mr. Gonzales said, to give someone a heart surgery when they really don’t need it.”
- Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), 2004 Hearing
http://tinyurl.com/3nkrp7
Posted by: LightSeeker | September 29, 2008, 7:52 pm 7:52 pm
McCain Warned of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Meltdown in 2006 (Democrats and Media Ignored Him)
Mr. President, this week Fannie Mae’s regulator reported that the company’s quarterly reports of profit growth over the past few years were “illusions deliberately and systematically created” by the company’s senior management, which resulted in a $10.6 billion accounting scandal.
The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight’s report goes on to say that Fannie Mae employees deliberately and intentionally manipulated financial reports to hit earnings targets in order to trigger bonuses for senior executives. In the case of Franklin Raines, Fannie Mae’s former chief executive officer, OFHEO’s report shows that over half of Mr. Raines’ compensation for the 6 years through 2003 was directly tied to meeting earnings targets. The report of financial misconduct at Fannie Mae echoes the deeply troubling $5 billion profit restatement at Freddie Mac.
The OFHEO report also states that Fannie Mae used its political power to lobby Congress in an effort to interfere with the regulator’s examination of the company’s accounting problems. This report comes some weeks after Freddie Mac paid a record $3.8 million fine in a settlement with the Federal Election Commission and restated lobbying disclosure reports from 2004 to 2005. These are entities that have demonstrated over and over again that they are deeply in need of reform.
For years I have been concerned about the regulatory structure that governs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac–known as Government-sponsored entities or GSEs–and the sheer magnitude of these companies and the role they play in the housing market. OFHEO’s report this week does nothing to ease these concerns. In fact, the report does quite the contrary. OFHEO’s report solidifies my view that the GSEs need to be reformed without delay.
I join as a cosponsor of the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005, S. 190, to underscore my support for quick passage of GSE regulatory reform legislation. If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system, and the economy as a whole.
I urge my colleagues to support swift action on this GSE reform legislation.
- Senator John McCain, Congressional Record, May 25, 2006
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/record.xpd?id=109-s20060525-16&bill=s109-190
Posted by: LightSeeker | September 29, 2008, 7:57 pm 7:57 pm
Claim: McCain championed legislation that would have prevented the current financal meltdown
Fact: False/Misleading
In his September 19th speach in Arlington, VA., Sen. McCain states:
“Two years ago, I called for reform of this corruption at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Congress did nothing. Senator Obama did nothing, and actually profited from this system of abuse and scandal”
What he is referring to is a Senate bill (S.190[109th] Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005) which was originally authored by Sen. Charles Hagel and co-sponsored by Sen. Sununu and Sen. Dole. It was not until after a 2006 Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight Report to Congress outlining problems with the two organizations that Sen. McCain decided to add his name to the bill as a co-sponsor. The bill never made it out of committee (Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs), which was at the time controlled by a
Republican majority and chaired by Republican Senator Richard Shelby. The statement about Congress and Sen. Obama doing nothing is true, but misleading, since there was nothing that they could have done until the bill came to the floor of the Senate, which it never did.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s109-190
http://www.ofheo.gov/AnnualReports.aspx
Posted by: Concerned American | September 29, 2008, 8:52 pm 8:52 pm
Playing poker with lobbyists…. What a way to take a bribe. They lose you vote. Certainly doesn’t smack of impropriety.
If McCain wants to play craps at a casino… No lobbyists can be colluding to influence him. In these examples who is showing the greater judgment?
By the way what were the stakes…. I have seen 50k pots in the back of a car dealership. Whose to say Obama wasnt taking home 50k in carefully laundered bribes? “Dang Obama you must have trips again I’m gonna fold. About that bill that is gonna cause us to quit polluting….”
Posted by: Arthur | September 29, 2008, 8:52 pm 8:52 pm
Maxine Waters Criticized Regulator Testifying About Financial Fraud At Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac
“Through nearly a dozen hearings where, frankly, we were trying to fix something that wasn’t broke, Mr. Chairman, we do not have a crisis at Freddie Mac, and particularly at Fannie Mae, under the outstanding leadership of Mr. Frank Raines.
Under the outstanding leadership of Mr. Frank Raines, everything in 1992 has worked just fine. In fact, the GSEs have exceeded their housing goals. What we need to do today is to focus on the regulator, and this must be done in a manner so as not to impede their affordable housing mission, a mission that has seen innovation flourish from desktop underwriting to 100% loans.”
- Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), 2004 Hearing
http://tinyurl.com/3nkrp7
Posted by: LightSeeker | September 29, 2008, 8:55 pm 8:55 pm
Congress must attach a rider to any bailout legislation bill. The rider should establish new regulations for securing mortgages, credit cards and any credit applications. The rider should establish a 40% down payment for any mortgage that is personal or for business with an income requirement of at least 60% of the remainder of the mortgage. Credit cards can only be issued in the amount of no more than 10% of personal income. Only one credit card per married family members living in the same household. No child under the age of 18-years-of-age shall be issued a credit cards unless they can show a constant income of no less than 80% of the credit cards value. If the juvenile cannot maintain gainful employment, then the credit card shall be cancelled. At no time shall credit be more than 50% of a married couple’s income, that includes mortgages, credit cards, car purchases and whatever else is that can be purchased with credit.
Remanding personal and business credit totals should be entered on every income tax filed in each quarter or at the end of the year. The rider would track American credit use with the threat of perjury that includes fines and possible jail. You say that is too harsh a treatment. Well, so is the complete collapse of America at the hands of foreign countries buying American properties at give-away-prices.
The Americans have complained about the bailout legislation. They only point their finger in the direction of President Bush, Wall Street and the banks. It is time for the taxpayers to assume the brunt of the problem by using credit without consideration and no thought of tomorrow . Well, tomorrow has arrived and it is a financial mess created by everyone.
Posted by: Judge | September 29, 2008, 8:58 pm 8:58 pm
Sadstateofaffairs: You are correct. He did bring 40% he brought 66%. John McCain could not bring 40%. He brought 33%.
Posted by: For Truth | September 29, 2008, 10:05 pm 10:05 pm
A 700 billion bailout is one hell of a tax break to me Barack! Maybe it isn’t much to you robbing from Peter to pay Paul, and pushing for welfare for the rich, but I’ve got a big problem with it pal! You have LOST ANY chance at my vote with this pathetic excuse to send a windfall of cash to those who have already robbed mainstreet Americans who’s only mistake was saving and having that money available for you to steal in the 1st place. You should be ashamed. You and John are SCUM… It’s a shame one of you pathetic individuals will get to sit in the oval office. 3rd party for me… all the way!
Posted by: hmn | September 29, 2008, 10:05 pm 10:05 pm
Connecting The Dots (Since The Media Won’t): Barack Obama and the Strategy of Manufactured Crisis
http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/09/barack_obama_and_the_strategy.html
Posted by: LightSeeker | September 29, 2008, 10:20 pm 10:20 pm
Concerned American – Why don’t you include the House of Representatives conversations on this subject in your post? Hmmm, I wonder why you lib.
McCain/Palin 2008
Posted by: Vote for the Maverick | September 29, 2008, 10:28 pm 10:28 pm
How many times did the liberals filibuster when the Republicans were in Power? I know that’s not a question you libs like to talk about or even answer.
Posted by: Vote for the Maverick | September 29, 2008, 10:31 pm 10:31 pm
Hey dont gamle on another four years of the same vote Obama 08
Posted by: Norma | September 29, 2008, 11:18 pm 11:18 pm
Norma – No commonsense is your disease.
Posted by: Vote for the Maverick | September 29, 2008, 11:58 pm 11:58 pm
“…Use to be to buy a home you needed three things: [1]ten percent down, [2]a stable work history, and [3]a stable credit history and [4]not spending more of your income than what you bring in!…”
Posted by: HP Boston | Sep 29, 2008 3:31:41 PM
®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®
Oh My, another Retarded Republican, dabbling at philosophy with poor grammar and typical Republican “fuzzy” math…
ΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔ
It really does boggle the mind when so many “mindless” individuals attempt to “think” out loud.
ΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦΦ
We truly have become a nation of morons. We talk about how “great” we are, when we rely on the “next” guy to actually do something. That “next” guy is invariably Chinese these days…
ΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣΣ
We think just because we fell out of our mother’s uterus and plopped on the ground that we are somehow great as well, all because we landed on American soil.
∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫∫
Name 3 great things Republicans have done for America since the Civil War (crediting Lincoln as the last great Republican).
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I know, we started a bunch of failed wars… No, that’s not it.
Hmmmm, we caused the collapse of the Soviet Union… No, Russia is more of a threat today, now that they shed the excess baggage (which all seem to be joining NATO…)
We increased the National Debt to a new record high, where the Chinese are our creditors… Well, that’s not it either.
Hmmmm… A little help here people!
Posted by: MIG | September 30, 2008, 12:04 am 12:04 am
Norma – No commonsense is your disease.
Posted by: Vote for the Maverick | Sep 29, 2008 11:58:47 PM
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++=
Here’s an idiot driving a Pinto looking to upgrade to a Maverick.
Posted by: HAL | September 30, 2008, 12:05 am 12:05 am
The Banks of the United States have reported 7 Trillion Dollars in bad mortgage debt. Let me ask all you geniuses out there what good is it going to do to have the tax payers buy 700 Billion Dollars of this 7 Trillion Dollar debt? Who knows how much more debt the banks and financial institutions have not been reported. Spending this 700 Billion Dollars on this debt is like throwing kerosene, dynamite and gasoline on a wild fire storm. It only makes the fire hotter and more dangerous and destroys those who fueled the fire just like giving the extremely rich this 700 billion dollars. The tax payers debt, the national debt will just go up and prolong the tax payers suffering, starving, and wreak havoc on their physical, mental and financial health.
Posted by: Bob4USA | September 30, 2008, 12:53 am 12:53 am
Our House of Representatives listened to over 200 of America’s top economists and smart people of this country. They did what was right not what was fast and convenient and prosperous to the very rich. The fact that the House of Representatives rejected the bail out is awesome! Here is why. The bill was a just a band-aid that still benefitted the very rich and not the people. It was not a solution to the cause of the problem. This bill would only have postponed the inevitable to just after the next President is sworn in on Jan. 29, 2009. There are real solutions to the cause of the problems of the credit crises not even considered in this terrible fast paced 700 Billion dollar extortion bail out bill for the extremely rich people of this country and around the world.
In January 2009 the 7 trillion dollars in bad mortgage loans that the banks have reported will still be unpaid. Who knows how many trillion dollars of bad mortgage debt have not been reported by the banks. 700 billion dollars won’t even come close to paying for all of this debt. Financial melt down is inevitable. Let it happen now so true recovery can begin. Bush and his Cronies did their best to ram this 700 billion dollar pay off to the rich for making this mess down our throats.
Here is some interesting info. Bush and Chaney have recently purchased homes in foreign counties to for a speedy get away to live in after their terms are over in Jan. 2009. They didn’t want this economy to blow up on them while they were still in office. They didn’t want the blame for their very real immoral, unethical and most likely illegal actions. Yeah they got both.
One last fleecing of the American people was halted by our smart members of the House of Representatives who listened to the people and over 200 of America’s top economists. We can truly thank them for listening to us.
It’s time for millions of people to march on Washington DC peacefully in protest. The puppets of congress of the extremely rich are going attempt to pass this fraudulent bill again. “The only thing to fear is fear itself.” (President Franklin D. Roosevelt Democrat) Make the members of the House of Representatives and the members of the Senate know they were hired by all of us who voted for them not just a few very rich people. Make them know we are their bosses not a few rich families. We the People: Demand REAL SOLUTIONS FOR ALL PEOPLE not for just a very few extremely rich people!
Posted by: Bob4USA | September 30, 2008, 12:54 am 12:54 am
Read about the Despicable organisation called ACORN and the Huge VOTER fraud Going on right now.
http://www.rottenacorn.com/activityMap.html
Posted by: Aden | September 30, 2008, 2:00 am 2:00 am
The McBlunder campaign is running on an empty tank. His last week’s performance to play the role of Hero in “The John McCain Theater Of The Absurd” was a colossal flop. The failure of the bailout bill to pass the House belongs to the Bush Administration and their ignorance regarding governance, a problem the nation has suffered under for nearly 8 years. Obama is correct in saying American cannot stand a continuation of the same. The manner in which the McCain campaign has been managed since inception indicates he also would govern in the same sloppy way as GWB. Enough is surely enough!
Posted by: Lou R | September 30, 2008, 2:18 am 2:18 am
“VOTE OBAMA. The world loves him!
Whats wrong with a little socialism.”
Sean_
_____________________________________
Do you see anything wrong with this abc? This is the kind of people supporting Obama. Yet the heads in the sand approach the MSM have taken is shamefull. His campaign is already sending lawyers out to stop television ads, print and radio? Do you see a pattern? The brown-shirt thugs have you intimadated. The glaring fact is the MSM does not want to appear racist. So they do polls that state Americans are racist. Look in the mirror. Was Germany the same? Why didn’t the press out Hitler while they had the chance? Obama is a risk the U.S.A. can’t take. I doubt this post will do any good but this election will be rife with voter fraud via Obama’s community organizing days with ACORN. We are being sold a mirage that is backed by the same power hungry people that has brought down this economy! The same people that knew where those toxic paper were buried are the same people behind Obama. Funny how he begins to lose in the polls and the market melts huh? Buffet’s 5bil buy in to Goldman Sac and then he is on the phone with The Dem leadership in Congress crafting the bailout? Insider Trading anyone? BTW here is a story for you the Democratic Leadership were major shareholders in those failed banks as of 12/31/07 last FEC report. Question for you George how many got out and when did they get? Obama’s biggest bundles were for Fan/Fred/ 500K!
Why don’t you people report the facts!
The problem with Obama is he will not govern, the shadows behind him will.
Posted by: Mike Michaels | September 30, 2008, 3:26 am 3:26 am
–( His campaign is already sending lawyers out to stop television ads, print and radio? )–
His campaign is sending out lawyers to make local law enforcement officials actually enforce their existing laws against false and deceptive advertising.
(what a novel concept, huh?)
You know, like the false ads that the NRA have been running for a while now:
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/nra_targets_obama.html
And if you think the post you were complaining about was an Obama supporter, think again.. it’s the same fear and ignorance card being pulled by republicans everywhere. The get more vocal the lower the poll numbers go (can you say ‘grasping at straws’?)
Posted by: TruthHurts | September 30, 2008, 5:00 am 5:00 am
Sorry Sen. Obama you may have to resign since you are NOT citizen of the US. By our constitution, you can NOT hold any US Gov’t office.
Since you are a CONSTUTIONAL LAWYER, you should KNOW that.
Please provide your proof of US Citizenship. I will GLADLY show you MINE.
All the SLICK talks will NOT help you if the American FOUND out the truth about you. BTW, we also want to know about your wife position on “WHITEY”
Posted by: Voter In America | Sep 29, 2008 3:27:38 PM
———————
dude, stop talking to the plants.
Posted by: GIGI - FREE SARAH | September 30, 2008, 5:19 am 5:19 am
I would much rather privitization than socialism.
Posted by: HK, Los Angeles, Ca | Sep 29, 2008 3:19:21 PM~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unless it’s taking taxpayer money and passing it along to corporations. Right? That’s the trouble with the GOP. They believe in capitalism as long as they’re making money but when they’re losing money, they want socialism.
Posted by: Johnny Madison, Alabama | September 30, 2008, 7:12 am 7:12 am
Voter in America: perhaps you should go back to Jr. High Civics. Hawaii is a state. Obama was born in HI. Therefore Obama is a citizen.
Posted by: William J. LePetomaine | September 30, 2008, 9:04 am 9:04 am
“Obama is terrorist’s best friend!” I keep thinking of the sign on the kid’s shirt at Fox News I saw a week ago!
The only way terrorists can infiltrate to the heart of this country is to pour money to Obama campaign so they can take over the government without firing a single bullet!
Americans will wake up one day and regret for what they have done if Obama get elected!
Posted by: HillMcCain | September 30, 2008, 11:43 am 11:43 am
I wonder if “Voter in America” ever graduated from a high school. Hater like him should be banned from posting hatred.
Posted by: leighg1 | September 30, 2008, 3:45 pm 3:45 pm
Hey any one who would leave their career in the hands of some of the clever crew here has got to be a gambler.
I don’t mind if I’m not at the table but I resent being on the menu. Let’s move on and get something done.
Posted by: Rodger Lemonde | September 30, 2008, 4:41 pm 4:41 pm
“For all you leftist idiots that keep bringing up the bridge to nowhere remember both Obama and Biden voted for it not Palin.”
Charles your problem is that you deal in facts, while the leftwing twits on this thread deal in fiction.
Posted by: Paul | September 30, 2008, 6:54 pm 6:54 pm