Jake, what is wrong with your advertising for ABC world news tonight? Just saw a commercial that hyped Charlie’s ‘examination’ of the Sotomayor hearing that said “She’s been called a bully, a racist, etc”. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS, OUTLANDISH coverage that does not help the conversation – it just sensationalizes things. Disgusting. Pull it.
Posted by: Ravi | July 12, 2009, 11:36 am 11:36 am
Ravi . . .
Haven’t seen the ad you refer to, but recognize this as a major problem in American society – the media go for the sensational garbage over the rational discussion, thus amping up the extremist rhetoric (and behavior) in the country as people parrot what they hear or see.
Obama in Africa is all well and good. It has it’s time and place. I’m certainly pleased that his children were able to experience what they did. But what about the man on the street, the farmer in the field, the factory worker in the factory, the small businessman working Sundays to catch up? Generally speaking, they have no time for all this political analysis. People like those on this blog spend a great deal of time with it because it interests us. Most people don’t have the time, the interest, or the background for it.
I guess it is to the GOP’s advantage: the longer he tours, the more he looks like he doesn’t care about America. Obama MUST concentrate on the U.S. economy if he is to be an influential and successful president. As the economy goes, so go his poll numbers. He’s already proven that. No amount of touring has changed that. And his agenda is being stalled with his falling numbers.
In my opinion, if he would have stayed in the oval office, called all the leaders and said, “I want to advance the dialogue in the world but I have to get Americans back to work first” – and then spent 2009-2010 doing just that, he could have written his own ticket for the next 6 years. His calculated effort to pass his agenda during the first 6 months is poorly timed and will be ultimately unsuccesful.
Excellent post Traffic Cop Timmy!
I’ll be awfully curious to see if the mainstream media bother to report another aspect of Obama in Africa. In his speech in Ghana, he pledged $63 BILLION for “the world health crisis” is I believe what he said.
$63 BILLION
In the middle of what he has repeatedly claimed to be “The Worst Recession Since the Great Depression.” He used the word crisis and disaster something like 30 times referring to OUR economy in his first prime time speech (which cost the networks millions, by the way).
Hillary pledged 900 MILLION to Gaza, much of which, if not all, will wind up in the hands of the terrorists Hamas.
$64 Billion.
How much has he pledged or sent overseas altogether?
Bush seemed too anxious to be the world’s police, now Obama has made it clear he thinks even when WE’RE bankrupt “We’re out of money” (H/T Obama several weeks ago), he’s sending our money overseas like a Michael Jackson spending spree (who was known to drop millions in a short hour frequently).
He talks about fiscal responsibility and “making the hard choices” but what he actually DOES is quadruple the deficit in less than 6 months in office. Then he claims he’ll cut it in half by the end of his term (or maybe his second) — which leaves the deficit, IF he even manages it, still at TWICE – DOUBLE – the highest its EVER been.
How about a few of those ‘difficult choices?’ I know one way he could make a start. Fire the 30+ CZARS he’s created and all of their staffs. Probably $5 to $10 million budget for each CZAR, 30+ CZARS – That’d probably trim a sweet $150 to 300 Million taxpayer dollars saved right there.
Trim MichelleMyBelle’s staff budget to a bit MORE than Laura Bush’s, and ya add in an extra cool Million right there. And that doesn’t even count the office space, maintenance, chefs, nannies, secret service, etc.
Then how about Obama have his date nights in DC for awhile, there are a TON of things to do there – since this is “The Worst Recession Since the Great Depression” ya know (H/T Obama). The fact is that IT IS NOT the worst recession, most of the time he’s been claiming this it didn’t come close to it. So far, it isn’t as bad as the 80′s, although I don’t know how close we are to that now. TELL THE TRUTH MR. PRESIDENT, PLEASE. Remember, “words matter” (H/T Obama).
Back to date night. I mean, instead of flying on two helicopters & Air Force One along with all the massive secret service & limo’s & what not to Chicago and New York on a whim. Just the trips he’s already done and it’d probably save another half-mill right there. Not to mention the massive costs to those cities, during “The Worst Recession Since The Great Depression.”
But COME ON!!! Has the man no sense of reality, no sense of shame with all this spending taxpayer money????
And don’t even get me started on the porkulus.
16.1 Million for Pelosi’s marsh mouse
13 BILLION for high speed rail — which, by the way, throughout the entire world not ONE has EVER paid for itself, EVER.
1+Mill for a suicide fence on a bridge
I could go on and on. Better yet, just remembered Senator Coburn did a 100 days, 100 projects report highlighting some of the most egregious stimulus projects at that time:
Cripes, I’m starting to think the nutty conspiracy theorists who’ve been on about ‘one world government’ and ‘Cloward-Piven strategy’ and ‘Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals’ may actually be onto something.
Pledges another SIXTY THREE BILLION – not million, BILLION – OVERSEAS, when we’re pushing 10% unemployment!!
Posted by: And Atlas Shrugs Yet Again | July 12, 2009, 5:38 pm 5:38 pm
Timmy . ..
Try to be realistic. All G-8 leaders go to the G-8 meetings and in fact they spent a major portion of their meeting addressing approaches to the current WORLD economic crisis – which directly affects the farmers, factory workers and business people of America. You may not understand it, but that was the point!
The visit to Russia is very straight forward – looking for ways to contain Iran and limit nuclear proliferation. And the first face to face between the leaders.
The visit to Africa is his first as the first American president with African American roots – it was a short 2-day visit.
What is impressive and admirable is the President was able to coordinate all three of these goals into the one trip.
During the time travelling, President Obama ALSO made a direct presentation to the American people on the economy and the Recovery and Reinvestment plan.
You might think Presidents should just sit in the White House (or on their ranch in Texas), put there are important issues to be addressed and the face to face with world leaders, and the addresses directly to the people of Russia and Africa are very important.
“All G-8 leaders go to the G-8 meetings and in fact they spent a major portion of their meeting addressing approaches to the current WORLD economic crisis”
___________________________________
Is that why German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the G8 is no longer adequate and other critics say it is a “dinosaur” but they just go through the motions because they don’t know what else to do?
Obama is creating goodwill around the world at the expense of his domestic good will, which is evident by his falling numbers. He has misplayed his hand.
I guess it doesn’t really matter. His domestic economic policy is the wrong one anyway. Might as well travel.
He is overseas lobbying G-8 countries to help Africa, but he won’t lobby Republicans to pass any bills.
He’s not doing anything about California, the 8th largest economy in the world. That tells me that he supports Arnold’s Shock Doctrine policies. If he lets them fall and they are his base, then he will let anybody fall.
I seriously regret voting for Obama. He’s weak and all he does is read a teleprompter. Thanks limousine libs for sticking us with this loser.
” L’AQUILA, Italy –A signal of unity from the Group of Eight industrialized nations will be crucial to ensure a consensus at the next meeting of the Group of 20 countries, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday.
Speaking ahead of the G8 summit from July 8-10 in L’Aquila, Italy, where leaders are expected to take stock of the economic landscape before they convene again at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh in September, Merkel said it’s important to find consensus because otherwise the G20 countries won’t find and agreement.
“We, who have caused so much damage to nature, have of course the duty to be the frontrunners as far as climate protection is concerned,” Merkel said during a visit to the village of Onna, which has been hit hard by the earthquake in April.
“We are those who as industrial nations, via financial markets, have helped cause the world economic crisis,” she said. “That’s why the world is right to expect from us to make our first contribution here. Therefore, it is good that we consult here today, that we will meet tomorrow with the emerging economies and then with many countries when we talk about climate protection and nutrition around the world. This G8 Meeting is an important meeting.”
What was that you were saying about Merkel not valuing the power and importance of the G-8?
I CAN’T DECIDE WHETHER OBAMA IS JUST IGNORANT ABOUT HOW SUCCESSFUL CAPITALISM HAS BEEN FOR US OVER THE YEARS, OR THAT HE WILL JUST TRASH ANY SYSTEM NO MATTER WHAT ITS SUCCESSES HAVE BEEN IF IT GETS IN THE WAY OF HIS SOCIALIST AGENDA. THE LATTER IS EVEN SCARIER!! TIDE IS TURNING BO, LATEST OBAMA APPROVAL RATINGS IN OHIO SHOW LESS THAN 50 PERCENT. MAJOR DROP WITHIN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. STIMULUS IS NOT WORKING AND HAS NO CHANCE OF WORKING WITHOUT STIMULATING THE PRIVATE SECTOR – WHICH HAS BEEN DONE SUCCESSFULLY IN PAST RECESSIONS AND NOT BEING DONE NOW. THROWING OUR CHILDREN’S MONEY TOWARDS “TEMPORARY MAKE WORK PROGRAMS” AND PROPPING UP STATE AND LOCAL GOV ISN’T STIMULATING ANYTHING EXCEPT OUR CHILDREN’S DEBT.
Posted by: Jimbo | July 12, 2009, 7:09 pm 7:09 pm
=====You might think Presidents should just sit in the White House (or on their ranch in Texas), put there are important issues to be addressed and the face to face with world leaders, and the addresses directly to the people of Russia and Africa are very important.======danita
Right. I do not ever ever ever want to read another comment here about how Bush just holed up in his office while the wonderful Obama is always working his tail off to fix our country. What is this great leader doing today? Golfing, again.
The man just got back from a weeklong trip overseas and he spent Sunday, again, on the golf course. This is something like five weekends out of the last seven or something. Don’t have the exact number and I’m too lazy to look it up.
Shouldn’t he be getting ready to dive back into dealing with the big issues going on here like the economy and health care and cap-and-trade, the issues where the Democrats got bogged down in his absence? He golfs almost every weekend. This is getting ridiculous.
GetReal -
Obama has played golf 11 times in 6 months. 3 of those rounds were while he was on vacation.
Even if Obama did really golf “almost every weekend” – who cares?
Posted by: JKS | July 12, 2009, 7:21 pm 7:21 pm
We care because he should be working 24/7 to fix the economy. That’s what he was elected to do. He should be lobbying Congress and meeting with governors, mayors and small business owners. Instead he’s traveling around lobbying for money for Africa. By the time he leaves office we are going to be a third world country.
and a three day weekend in Chicago
and broadway in NY
and one or more trips to Camp David
and parties every Wednesday at the white house
and an ‘off the record, no press allowed’ 4th of july bash WITH reporters from more than 40 MSM outlets – who had to promise up front that they would not talk about or report on the party
He’s only been in office 6 months, and he’s already taken at least one vacation…
and ??
AND he blew off dinner and evening invites from the Russians on one of the only two nights he was there.
AND flies all the way to Ghana to spend less than 24 hours there, but promises $64 billion American taxpayer dollars — while he’s planning to tax us out the wazoo.
Meanwhile, his stance on nuclear is highly questionable.
And I’d sure like to know what his exit plan is for Afghanistan — wasn’t he one on the bandwagon excoriating Bush for supposedly not having an exit plan?
Posted by: And Atlas Shrugs Yet Again | July 12, 2009, 8:06 pm 8:06 pm
Get Real . …
The President can golf every weekend if he wants and I would fully expect him to take some down time after the incredible schedule he just kept up dealing with Russia, the G-8 meetings and the short 2-day trip to Ghana. Do you have any idea how many leaders he met with during that time, how many major policy speeches he made and so on? I don’t think you care because you’re already against the man.
During that time the President also delivered a message directly to Americans about the economic crisis and the Recovery Plan. The man works hard.
By the way, the President and his family will soon take a short summer vacation – can’t wait to hear all the boners on here attack him for that.
At any rate, I’ll be at the ranch if you need me.
JKS, in case you miss my response in the other section, I will copy it here. But first, I want to add that if he has to golf, he should stop golfing with Reggie Love and cabinet members and start golfing with people he needs to lobby, like maybe Republican legislators or mayors or governors. If it were a working golf game, I would not mind so much. Lots of business does get done on the golf course.
Now here’s what I posted in the other section:
JKS inspired me to do the research on the president’s golf games. The article you must have gotten your “11 times in the first six months” figure from is the first one you hit on google. If you read the whole thing, you learn that it was written in mid-June. He’s golfed a few times since then. You also learn that most of the golfing has come in recent months, a fact you ignore to focus on the 3 times being on vacation. So with further research, I learned that the president golfed the last two weekends in May, every weekend in June plus an extra game (he golfed both June 7th and June 9th), and on the Fourth of July before leaving on his trip. He was out of the country doing his job last weekend and got home after midnight this Saturday. He did not make it to church Sunday morning, as you would expect after the long trip, but he did make it to the golf course.
Who cares? I do. I have to read all these messages gushing about what an amazing hardworking perfect person he is. As John Stewart said on the Daily Show, “That’s Great. Now Fix the Economy.”
“The presidential vacation-time record holder is the late Ronald Reagan, who tallied 436 days in his two terms. At 418 days, and with 17 months to go in his presidency, Bush is going to beat that easily.”
and later . .. .
“today’s trip marks Mr. Bush’s 149th visit to the (Camp David) presidential retreat. The planned three-day stay, during which the president is being joined by family and former and current aides, will bring his total time spent at Camp David to all or part of 487 days.
“Yes, that’s 487 days. And Camp David is not even where the president has spent the most time when not at the White House: Knoller reports that Mr. Bush has made 77 visits to his ranch in Crawford during his presidency, and spent all or part of 490 days there.”
Close to 1000 days at Camp David or his ranch is over 1/3 of all the days in President Bush’s time in office. Perhaps he should have worked a little harder and the country wouldn’t have fallen into such bad disrepair.
DANITA – A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON. THE FIRST SIX YEARS OF THE BUSH YEARS WERE GREAT, EVEN WITH 911 AND THE FOLLOWING MID EAST CONFLICT. FULL EMPLOYMENT, GROWING ECONOMY. WHEN THE DEMS TOOK OVER CONGRESS IN 06 THINGS STARTED TO SLIDE. THEN CAME THE HOUSING CRISES IN 08. THE BARNEY FRANKS WERE WARNED BY BUSH A NUMBER OF TIMES BEGINNING EARLY IN 01 THAT THE HOUSING MARKET WAS VERY UNSTABLE WITH POSSIBLE LOAN DEFAULTS DOWN THE ROAD (Ref – NY Times). FRANK INSISTED THERE WAS “NO PROBLEM” AND THE REST WAS HISTORY. MY PROBLEM WITH BUSH AT THAT POINT WAS THAT AFTER HE WAS BRUSHED OFF BY FRANK AND COMPANY, HE SHOULD HAVE GONE DIRECTLY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WITH WARNINGS WHICH HE DID NOT.
Posted by: Jimbo | July 12, 2009, 9:12 pm 9:12 pm
He did not make it to church Sunday morning, as you would expect after the long trip, but he did make it to the golf course. Posted by: GetReal | Jul 12, 2009 8:38:31 PM
_____________________________________
Is this the highly spiritual Christian President who can’t find a church to join in Washington DC and who can’t tell with any specificity at what point a human life is conceived?
Close to 1000 days at Camp David or his ranch is over 1/3 of all the days in President Bush’s time in office. Posted by: danita | Jul 12, 2009 8:48:11 PM
_________________________________
Yea, I’m sure he spent all of that time laying around the family room slugging down Coors Light and watching re-runs of The Dukes of Hazard. Probably never had a meeting or anything.
OBAMA “WE HAVE LOST IN IRAQ.” WHICH WE DID NOT. YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT THE AMERICAN WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE CLUE THAT OBAMA WAS A REAL LIGHTWEIGHT.
Posted by: Jimbo | July 12, 2009, 9:23 pm 9:23 pm
Also Timmy . .. ..
People are carping over a round of golf on weekends, when Bush took over 1000 days at Camp David and his Texas Ranch!
Seventy-seven trips to his ranch in Texas – that’s a trip to his ranch every 5.4 weeks for 8 years. Just keep that in mind while you’re judging the current President.
Just keep that in mind while you’re judging the current President. Posted by: danita | Jul 12, 2009 9:24:31 PM
_________________________________
I will.
Where are the Stimulus Jobs?
Timmy . . . .
Regarding stimulus jobs.
Again, Timmy you seem to think a magic wand can be waived and everybody will have a job, or that all layoffs will magically stop and the economy will miraculously recover.
We’ve talked about this before. How the Recovery and Reinvestment program is structured, how it comes on stream, what the phases of it are.
The initial push of the Recovery and Reinvestment plan was to shore up programs to immediately support those who had lost their jobs or are losing their jobs.
At the same time, Recovery money went out to shore up state and local budgets so that the number of layoffs for police, firefighters, teachers and health care workers was reduced as much as possible.
At the same time, the Recovery plan included $288 BILLION in tax benefits, I believe some $47 BILLION of that has gone out directly into taxpayers hands.
You can read about the next phases coming on stream. President Obama has clearly stated this Recovery plan and the majority of jobs coming out of it come on stream during the first 2 years, accelerating as time goes by.
Fannie Mae CEOs 1991-2008:
James Johnson (picked to help find Obama’s VP until Obama had to throw him under the bus)
Franklin Raines ($90 million)
Daniel H. Mudd ($80 million)
All part of the Democratic regurgitation machine.
I agree, Jimbo, Bush should have stopped this farce.
ANY STIMULUS PACKAGE THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE ACROSS THE BOARD INCENTIVES TO BUSINESS INCLUDING A CUT IN THE CORPORATE TAX RATE IS A COMPLETE WASTE AND A DETRIMENT TO “REAL RECOVERY.” INCENTIVES TO BUSINESS HAS ALWAYS WORKED IN PAST RECESSIONS.
Posted by: Jimbo | July 12, 2009, 9:47 pm 9:47 pm
Timmy . . ..
It’s so sad when the only line right wingers can come up with is “Fannie Mae” – where did you get that one from? Sarah Palin’s speech writers?
Do you not realize Republicans were in just as thick with the Fanny Mae lobbyists and their money?
We’ve talked about this before.
Posted by: danita | Jul 12, 2009 9:40:27 PM
________________________________
Really? I don’t remember the 100 times you’ve pasted these excuses into a comment. I guess I’ve been busy down at the ranch slugging down beers with GWB, or something.
Sure hope them thar jobs git here quick like. Only 18 months to go.
ACCORDING TO MOST ECONOMISTS FANNIE MAY IS NOW COMMONLY CONSIDERED TO BE THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE HOME LOAN CRISES. YES, AND TOP DEMOCRATS WERE IN UP TO EYEBALLS WITH FANNIE MAY DURING THESE CRITICAL YEARS. SARAH PALIN? I DON”T GET THE CONNECTION – EXCEPT SHE STILL SCARES THE HELL OUT OF THE LEFT.
Posted by: Jimbo | July 12, 2009, 9:55 pm 9:55 pm
“It’s so sad when the only line right wingers can come up”
Ah yes, the it’s so sad refrain…
“Do you not realize Republicans were in just as thick with the Fanny Mae lobbyists and their money?”
No. Tell me about it. Name some names. Seriously. I’d like to see them so I can contact them and give them a piece of my mind. Corruption is corruption if you have names.
“Do you not realize Republicans were in just as thick with the Fanny Mae lobbyists and their money?”
Timmy . . .. if you weren’t so busy googling ‘all the things those evil Democrats have done that is evil’ you would know Republicans were just as well-funded by Fannie Mae lobbyists . . . and worked with same.
“Really? I don’t remember the 100 times you’ve pasted these excuses into a comment.”
Timmy . .. outlining how the Recovery and Reinvestment program is structured is not ‘excuses’; it’s a description of how the program was designed. Your use of the word ‘excuses’ only shows a mind limited to it’s own dark corners and biases.
OH, Danita, you sell the president’s critics way short. First of all, we are not all “right wingers”– no matter how you insist we must be. And secondly, Fannie Mae is not the only line of criticism we can come up with. You said, “It’s so sad when the only line right wingers can come up with is “Fannie Mae” – where did you get that one from? Sarah Palin’s speech writers?” So now your derangement syndrome has expanded from BDS to PDS, as you have begun to throw Sarah Palin into conversations for no logical reason simply because you do not care for her and consider any association with her an insult to the person with whom you make the connection?
Finally, I’ll join the chorus of those challenging you on your repeated– and I DO mean repeated– insistence that the Republicans were as well-supported by Fannie and Freddie lobbyists as Democrats were. That is factually incorrect and you know it– or at least, you should know it.
Oh, and you really need to give that “magic wand” shtick a rest. It’s getting really tired. The only one commenting here who sounds like he or she believes in waving a magic wand to solve the world’s problems is you.
“Do you not realize Republicans were in just as thick with the Fanny Mae lobbyists and their money?”
Timmy . . .. if you weren’t so busy googling ‘all the things those evil Democrats have done that is evil’ you would know Republicans were just as well-funded by Fannie Mae lobbyists . . . and worked with same.
Posted by: danita | Jul 12, 2009 10:06:03 PM
____________________________________
I know who the Republican lobbyists are. I can find them just as easily as you can. I point out the Democrats because I am hoping that just once you will recognize some Democratic culpability on an issue. Just once.
So my last question to you for the night is:
You honestly don’t think Barney Frank, Maxine Waters, Chris Dodd, Franklin Raines and Daniel Mudd were at least partially negligent in the roles that they played in the subprime mortgage mess?
PREACHERS, TEACHERS AND POLITICIANS
Preachers, teachers and politicians
Too many times turn out the same.
Forecasting predictions of what lay ahead
Confused by self-love, ego and shame.
Forewarning of judgment and our own unawareness
Blaming others for corruption and the mayhem of war
They seek our endowment of revenue and support
As volunteers e-mail or beat on our door.
Thank God for each and every individual
That prays for wisdom, repentance and grace.
Not perfect though remorseful, repentant when wrong
As their devotion radiates from their face.
Listen and watch carefully the shepherds of man
Judging them by what they practice not preach.
Do they make you wonder about their purpose?
As they communicate, inspire and teach.
By Tom Zart
Most Published Poet
On The Web
Posted by: Tom Zart | July 12, 2009, 11:47 pm 11:47 pm
Freddie Mack
Contributions to Political Parties
1990 – 2010
To Democrats: $4,250,497
To Republicans: $5,600,846
(Data for the current election cycle was released by the Federal Election Commission on May 12, 2009).
“The numbers on this page are based on contributions of $200 or more from PACs and individuals to federal candidates and from PAC, individual and soft money donors to political parties, as reported to the Federal Election Commission.”
Posted by: danita | July 13, 2009, 2:58 am 2:58 am
“Finally, I’ll join the chorus of those challenging you on your repeated– and I DO mean repeated– insistence that the Republicans were as well-supported by Fannie and Freddie lobbyists as Democrats were. That is factually incorrect and you know it– or at least, you should know it.” Posted by: moderate | Jul 12, 2009 10:51:09 PM
Since the 1990 election cycle, Freddie Mac and Frannie Mae’s employees and political action committee have given $19.5 million to federal candidates and committees, 53 percent of which has gone to Republicans.
Posted by: danita | July 13, 2009, 3:50 am 3:50 am
“You honestly don’t think Barney Frank, Maxine Waters, Chris Dodd, Franklin Raines and Daniel Mudd were at least partially negligent in the roles that they played in the subprime mortgage mess?”
I would take out the word “partially”. They were all negligent.
Posted by: Danilo | July 13, 2009, 9:07 am 9:07 am
danita…Please cite your source for Freddie Mac contributions…
Let’s include Fannie Mae shall we: According to FEC, 4.8 million was donated to both Dems and Repubs with Dems receiving 57% of contributions which include money from floundering companies PAC’s and employees. Top three, figures include PAC money, were Dodd, Chris…$165,400. Obama, Barack….$126,349. Kerry, John…$11,000.
Source: OpenSecrets dot com
It’s all about whose side your on… doesn’t matter if their right or wrong..Party A or Party B…VOTE INDEPENDENT/LIBERTARIAN FOR A REAL CHANGE….
Danita, my question to you is:
Are Barney Frank, Maxine Waters, Chris Dodd, Franklin Raines and Daniel Mudd at least partially negligent in the roles that they played in the subprime mortgage mess?
“Since the 1990 election cycle, Freddie Mac and Frannie Mae’s employees and political action committee have given $19.5 million to federal candidates and committees, 53 percent of which has gone to Republicans.”
Source: OpenSecrets dot org
Um, Danita, your numbers aren’t adding up, and you didn’t provide a link to the page you got them from as someone else already asked.
Your initial post claimed under 10 Million, for Freddie Mack (Mac) alone.
Now you’re claiming $19.
What I’m finding does NOT match your claim. It clearly states Democrats got 57% of the donations, from 1989 thru 2008. I can’t imagine there’s been more than $9M donated in a single year, a non election year at that.
The numbers DO match those posted by Parallax View, a little under 10M total, and right down to the top 3 who recieved the largest total contributions being:
*Dodd, Chris…$165,400.
*Obama, Barack….$126,349.
*Kerry, John…$111,000 (he just missed a 1 in there).
Posted by: And Atlas Shrugs Yet Again | July 13, 2009, 7:35 pm 7:35 pm
Donations can easily make one wonder if a congressman has been “bought” on particular issues, but of course its not a smoking gun in and of itself (regardless of party). Its smoke maybe, but not the actual gun. I mean, to some extent, the big lobbying groups tend to donate at least a little to almost everyone, regardless of party, just to cover their bases so to speak. The larger the donations, and the narrower the focus of the lobbying group, the worse it looks of course.
I know that Barney Franks and Chris Dodd, and perhaps Pelosi & Reid but I’m not sure of them, poo-poo’d Bush’s warnings. They even went so far as to claim the very idea ludicrous, stating that Fannie and Freddie were completely healthy and no risk at all. I recall hearing actual clips of them on the issue. So those guys, AND ANYONE ELSE who came out verbally that way are definately bad guys in this story.
I also read WSJ and a few other articles on the issue at the time. I don’t recall if Bush mentioned the problem in any of his speeches, or if the WH was behind those press stories – if not, then I wish he had done more to communicate it to the public. Then when a little while, a few years went past and the market hadn’t blown, I put it in the back of my mind and quit worrying about it. Then it blew up.
Of course there wasn’t much Bush could do beyond warning Congress, but I’m pretty sure McCain wrote and submitted a few bills trying to increase oversight and rein in Fannie/Freddy.
So here’s where the rubber meets the road – WHO killed the bills, and who is each and EVERYONE who voted against them? If someone voted to kill one of those and put forward their own version trying to accomplish the same thing, then I’d let ‘em off the hook. But anyone who voted to kill those bills, THOSE ARE THE BAD GUYS. FOR SURE. SMOKING GUN.
Posted by: And Atlas Shrugs Yet Again | July 13, 2009, 8:27 pm 8:27 pm
Email
CPAC: Romney Struggles to Convince Voters 
Obama Backs Off Birth Control Battle?
Jake, what is wrong with your advertising for ABC world news tonight? Just saw a commercial that hyped Charlie’s ‘examination’ of the Sotomayor hearing that said “She’s been called a bully, a racist, etc”. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS, OUTLANDISH coverage that does not help the conversation – it just sensationalizes things. Disgusting. Pull it.
Posted by: Ravi | July 12, 2009, 11:36 am 11:36 am
Ravi . . .
Haven’t seen the ad you refer to, but recognize this as a major problem in American society – the media go for the sensational garbage over the rational discussion, thus amping up the extremist rhetoric (and behavior) in the country as people parrot what they hear or see.
Posted by: danita | July 12, 2009, 3:00 pm 3:00 pm
Obama in Africa is all well and good. It has it’s time and place. I’m certainly pleased that his children were able to experience what they did. But what about the man on the street, the farmer in the field, the factory worker in the factory, the small businessman working Sundays to catch up? Generally speaking, they have no time for all this political analysis. People like those on this blog spend a great deal of time with it because it interests us. Most people don’t have the time, the interest, or the background for it.
I guess it is to the GOP’s advantage: the longer he tours, the more he looks like he doesn’t care about America. Obama MUST concentrate on the U.S. economy if he is to be an influential and successful president. As the economy goes, so go his poll numbers. He’s already proven that. No amount of touring has changed that. And his agenda is being stalled with his falling numbers.
In my opinion, if he would have stayed in the oval office, called all the leaders and said, “I want to advance the dialogue in the world but I have to get Americans back to work first” – and then spent 2009-2010 doing just that, he could have written his own ticket for the next 6 years. His calculated effort to pass his agenda during the first 6 months is poorly timed and will be ultimately unsuccesful.
Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | July 12, 2009, 4:18 pm 4:18 pm
Excellent post Traffic Cop Timmy!
I’ll be awfully curious to see if the mainstream media bother to report another aspect of Obama in Africa. In his speech in Ghana, he pledged $63 BILLION for “the world health crisis” is I believe what he said.
$63 BILLION
In the middle of what he has repeatedly claimed to be “The Worst Recession Since the Great Depression.” He used the word crisis and disaster something like 30 times referring to OUR economy in his first prime time speech (which cost the networks millions, by the way).
Hillary pledged 900 MILLION to Gaza, much of which, if not all, will wind up in the hands of the terrorists Hamas.
$64 Billion.
How much has he pledged or sent overseas altogether?
Bush seemed too anxious to be the world’s police, now Obama has made it clear he thinks even when WE’RE bankrupt “We’re out of money” (H/T Obama several weeks ago), he’s sending our money overseas like a Michael Jackson spending spree (who was known to drop millions in a short hour frequently).
He talks about fiscal responsibility and “making the hard choices” but what he actually DOES is quadruple the deficit in less than 6 months in office. Then he claims he’ll cut it in half by the end of his term (or maybe his second) — which leaves the deficit, IF he even manages it, still at TWICE – DOUBLE – the highest its EVER been.
How about a few of those ‘difficult choices?’ I know one way he could make a start. Fire the 30+ CZARS he’s created and all of their staffs. Probably $5 to $10 million budget for each CZAR, 30+ CZARS – That’d probably trim a sweet $150 to 300 Million taxpayer dollars saved right there.
Trim MichelleMyBelle’s staff budget to a bit MORE than Laura Bush’s, and ya add in an extra cool Million right there. And that doesn’t even count the office space, maintenance, chefs, nannies, secret service, etc.
Then how about Obama have his date nights in DC for awhile, there are a TON of things to do there – since this is “The Worst Recession Since the Great Depression” ya know (H/T Obama). The fact is that IT IS NOT the worst recession, most of the time he’s been claiming this it didn’t come close to it. So far, it isn’t as bad as the 80′s, although I don’t know how close we are to that now. TELL THE TRUTH MR. PRESIDENT, PLEASE. Remember, “words matter” (H/T Obama).
Back to date night. I mean, instead of flying on two helicopters & Air Force One along with all the massive secret service & limo’s & what not to Chicago and New York on a whim. Just the trips he’s already done and it’d probably save another half-mill right there. Not to mention the massive costs to those cities, during “The Worst Recession Since The Great Depression.”
But COME ON!!! Has the man no sense of reality, no sense of shame with all this spending taxpayer money????
And don’t even get me started on the porkulus.
16.1 Million for Pelosi’s marsh mouse
13 BILLION for high speed rail — which, by the way, throughout the entire world not ONE has EVER paid for itself, EVER.
1+Mill for a suicide fence on a bridge
I could go on and on. Better yet, just remembered Senator Coburn did a 100 days, 100 projects report highlighting some of the most egregious stimulus projects at that time:
Cripes, I’m starting to think the nutty conspiracy theorists who’ve been on about ‘one world government’ and ‘Cloward-Piven strategy’ and ‘Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals’ may actually be onto something.
Pledges another SIXTY THREE BILLION – not million, BILLION – OVERSEAS, when we’re pushing 10% unemployment!!
Posted by: And Atlas Shrugs Yet Again | July 12, 2009, 5:38 pm 5:38 pm
Timmy . ..
Try to be realistic. All G-8 leaders go to the G-8 meetings and in fact they spent a major portion of their meeting addressing approaches to the current WORLD economic crisis – which directly affects the farmers, factory workers and business people of America. You may not understand it, but that was the point!
The visit to Russia is very straight forward – looking for ways to contain Iran and limit nuclear proliferation. And the first face to face between the leaders.
The visit to Africa is his first as the first American president with African American roots – it was a short 2-day visit.
What is impressive and admirable is the President was able to coordinate all three of these goals into the one trip.
During the time travelling, President Obama ALSO made a direct presentation to the American people on the economy and the Recovery and Reinvestment plan.
You might think Presidents should just sit in the White House (or on their ranch in Texas), put there are important issues to be addressed and the face to face with world leaders, and the addresses directly to the people of Russia and Africa are very important.
Posted by: danita | July 12, 2009, 5:46 pm 5:46 pm
“All G-8 leaders go to the G-8 meetings and in fact they spent a major portion of their meeting addressing approaches to the current WORLD economic crisis”
___________________________________
Is that why German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the G8 is no longer adequate and other critics say it is a “dinosaur” but they just go through the motions because they don’t know what else to do?
Obama is creating goodwill around the world at the expense of his domestic good will, which is evident by his falling numbers. He has misplayed his hand.
I guess it doesn’t really matter. His domestic economic policy is the wrong one anyway. Might as well travel.
Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | July 12, 2009, 6:21 pm 6:21 pm
He is overseas lobbying G-8 countries to help Africa, but he won’t lobby Republicans to pass any bills.
He’s not doing anything about California, the 8th largest economy in the world. That tells me that he supports Arnold’s Shock Doctrine policies. If he lets them fall and they are his base, then he will let anybody fall.
I seriously regret voting for Obama. He’s weak and all he does is read a teleprompter. Thanks limousine libs for sticking us with this loser.
Posted by: bubbles | July 12, 2009, 6:21 pm 6:21 pm
” L’AQUILA, Italy –A signal of unity from the Group of Eight industrialized nations will be crucial to ensure a consensus at the next meeting of the Group of 20 countries, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday.
Speaking ahead of the G8 summit from July 8-10 in L’Aquila, Italy, where leaders are expected to take stock of the economic landscape before they convene again at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh in September, Merkel said it’s important to find consensus because otherwise the G20 countries won’t find and agreement.
“We, who have caused so much damage to nature, have of course the duty to be the frontrunners as far as climate protection is concerned,” Merkel said during a visit to the village of Onna, which has been hit hard by the earthquake in April.
“We are those who as industrial nations, via financial markets, have helped cause the world economic crisis,” she said. “That’s why the world is right to expect from us to make our first contribution here. Therefore, it is good that we consult here today, that we will meet tomorrow with the emerging economies and then with many countries when we talk about climate protection and nutrition around the world. This G8 Meeting is an important meeting.”
What was that you were saying about Merkel not valuing the power and importance of the G-8?
Posted by: danita | July 12, 2009, 6:30 pm 6:30 pm
I CAN’T DECIDE WHETHER OBAMA IS JUST IGNORANT ABOUT HOW SUCCESSFUL CAPITALISM HAS BEEN FOR US OVER THE YEARS, OR THAT HE WILL JUST TRASH ANY SYSTEM NO MATTER WHAT ITS SUCCESSES HAVE BEEN IF IT GETS IN THE WAY OF HIS SOCIALIST AGENDA. THE LATTER IS EVEN SCARIER!! TIDE IS TURNING BO, LATEST OBAMA APPROVAL RATINGS IN OHIO SHOW LESS THAN 50 PERCENT. MAJOR DROP WITHIN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. STIMULUS IS NOT WORKING AND HAS NO CHANCE OF WORKING WITHOUT STIMULATING THE PRIVATE SECTOR – WHICH HAS BEEN DONE SUCCESSFULLY IN PAST RECESSIONS AND NOT BEING DONE NOW. THROWING OUR CHILDREN’S MONEY TOWARDS “TEMPORARY MAKE WORK PROGRAMS” AND PROPPING UP STATE AND LOCAL GOV ISN’T STIMULATING ANYTHING EXCEPT OUR CHILDREN’S DEBT.
Posted by: Jimbo | July 12, 2009, 7:09 pm 7:09 pm
=====You might think Presidents should just sit in the White House (or on their ranch in Texas), put there are important issues to be addressed and the face to face with world leaders, and the addresses directly to the people of Russia and Africa are very important.======danita
Right. I do not ever ever ever want to read another comment here about how Bush just holed up in his office while the wonderful Obama is always working his tail off to fix our country. What is this great leader doing today? Golfing, again.
The man just got back from a weeklong trip overseas and he spent Sunday, again, on the golf course. This is something like five weekends out of the last seven or something. Don’t have the exact number and I’m too lazy to look it up.
Shouldn’t he be getting ready to dive back into dealing with the big issues going on here like the economy and health care and cap-and-trade, the issues where the Democrats got bogged down in his absence? He golfs almost every weekend. This is getting ridiculous.
Posted by: GetReal | July 12, 2009, 7:14 pm 7:14 pm
GetReal -
Obama has played golf 11 times in 6 months. 3 of those rounds were while he was on vacation.
Even if Obama did really golf “almost every weekend” – who cares?
Posted by: JKS | July 12, 2009, 7:21 pm 7:21 pm
We care because he should be working 24/7 to fix the economy. That’s what he was elected to do. He should be lobbying Congress and meeting with governors, mayors and small business owners. Instead he’s traveling around lobbying for money for Africa. By the time he leaves office we are going to be a third world country.
Posted by: bubbles | July 12, 2009, 7:38 pm 7:38 pm
and a three day weekend in Chicago
and broadway in NY
and one or more trips to Camp David
and parties every Wednesday at the white house
and an ‘off the record, no press allowed’ 4th of july bash WITH reporters from more than 40 MSM outlets – who had to promise up front that they would not talk about or report on the party
He’s only been in office 6 months, and he’s already taken at least one vacation…
and ??
AND he blew off dinner and evening invites from the Russians on one of the only two nights he was there.
AND flies all the way to Ghana to spend less than 24 hours there, but promises $64 billion American taxpayer dollars — while he’s planning to tax us out the wazoo.
Meanwhile, his stance on nuclear is highly questionable.
And I’d sure like to know what his exit plan is for Afghanistan — wasn’t he one on the bandwagon excoriating Bush for supposedly not having an exit plan?
Posted by: And Atlas Shrugs Yet Again | July 12, 2009, 8:06 pm 8:06 pm
Get Real . …
The President can golf every weekend if he wants and I would fully expect him to take some down time after the incredible schedule he just kept up dealing with Russia, the G-8 meetings and the short 2-day trip to Ghana. Do you have any idea how many leaders he met with during that time, how many major policy speeches he made and so on? I don’t think you care because you’re already against the man.
During that time the President also delivered a message directly to Americans about the economic crisis and the Recovery Plan. The man works hard.
By the way, the President and his family will soon take a short summer vacation – can’t wait to hear all the boners on here attack him for that.
At any rate, I’ll be at the ranch if you need me.
Posted by: danita | July 12, 2009, 8:36 pm 8:36 pm
JKS, in case you miss my response in the other section, I will copy it here. But first, I want to add that if he has to golf, he should stop golfing with Reggie Love and cabinet members and start golfing with people he needs to lobby, like maybe Republican legislators or mayors or governors. If it were a working golf game, I would not mind so much. Lots of business does get done on the golf course.
Now here’s what I posted in the other section:
JKS inspired me to do the research on the president’s golf games. The article you must have gotten your “11 times in the first six months” figure from is the first one you hit on google. If you read the whole thing, you learn that it was written in mid-June. He’s golfed a few times since then. You also learn that most of the golfing has come in recent months, a fact you ignore to focus on the 3 times being on vacation. So with further research, I learned that the president golfed the last two weekends in May, every weekend in June plus an extra game (he golfed both June 7th and June 9th), and on the Fourth of July before leaving on his trip. He was out of the country doing his job last weekend and got home after midnight this Saturday. He did not make it to church Sunday morning, as you would expect after the long trip, but he did make it to the golf course.
Who cares? I do. I have to read all these messages gushing about what an amazing hardworking perfect person he is. As John Stewart said on the Daily Show, “That’s Great. Now Fix the Economy.”
Posted by: GetReal | July 12, 2009, 8:38 pm 8:38 pm
“The presidential vacation-time record holder is the late Ronald Reagan, who tallied 436 days in his two terms. At 418 days, and with 17 months to go in his presidency, Bush is going to beat that easily.”
and later . .. .
“today’s trip marks Mr. Bush’s 149th visit to the (Camp David) presidential retreat. The planned three-day stay, during which the president is being joined by family and former and current aides, will bring his total time spent at Camp David to all or part of 487 days.
“Yes, that’s 487 days. And Camp David is not even where the president has spent the most time when not at the White House: Knoller reports that Mr. Bush has made 77 visits to his ranch in Crawford during his presidency, and spent all or part of 490 days there.”
Close to 1000 days at Camp David or his ranch is over 1/3 of all the days in President Bush’s time in office. Perhaps he should have worked a little harder and the country wouldn’t have fallen into such bad disrepair.
Posted by: danita | July 12, 2009, 8:48 pm 8:48 pm
DANITA – A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON. THE FIRST SIX YEARS OF THE BUSH YEARS WERE GREAT, EVEN WITH 911 AND THE FOLLOWING MID EAST CONFLICT. FULL EMPLOYMENT, GROWING ECONOMY. WHEN THE DEMS TOOK OVER CONGRESS IN 06 THINGS STARTED TO SLIDE. THEN CAME THE HOUSING CRISES IN 08. THE BARNEY FRANKS WERE WARNED BY BUSH A NUMBER OF TIMES BEGINNING EARLY IN 01 THAT THE HOUSING MARKET WAS VERY UNSTABLE WITH POSSIBLE LOAN DEFAULTS DOWN THE ROAD (Ref – NY Times). FRANK INSISTED THERE WAS “NO PROBLEM” AND THE REST WAS HISTORY. MY PROBLEM WITH BUSH AT THAT POINT WAS THAT AFTER HE WAS BRUSHED OFF BY FRANK AND COMPANY, HE SHOULD HAVE GONE DIRECTLY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WITH WARNINGS WHICH HE DID NOT.
Posted by: Jimbo | July 12, 2009, 9:12 pm 9:12 pm
He did not make it to church Sunday morning, as you would expect after the long trip, but he did make it to the golf course. Posted by: GetReal | Jul 12, 2009 8:38:31 PM
_____________________________________
Is this the highly spiritual Christian President who can’t find a church to join in Washington DC and who can’t tell with any specificity at what point a human life is conceived?
Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | July 12, 2009, 9:12 pm 9:12 pm
Close to 1000 days at Camp David or his ranch is over 1/3 of all the days in President Bush’s time in office. Posted by: danita | Jul 12, 2009 8:48:11 PM
_________________________________
Yea, I’m sure he spent all of that time laying around the family room slugging down Coors Light and watching re-runs of The Dukes of Hazard. Probably never had a meeting or anything.
Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | July 12, 2009, 9:16 pm 9:16 pm
SINCE WHEN WERE TRIPS TO THE BUSH RANCH AND CAMP DAVID VACATION TIME?? DUH??
Posted by: Jimbo | July 12, 2009, 9:18 pm 9:18 pm
Timmy . . .
President Bush is the winner though! All time record for the most holidays taken by a President.
Give credit where credit is due!
Posted by: danita | July 12, 2009, 9:19 pm 9:19 pm
OBAMA “WE HAVE LOST IN IRAQ.” WHICH WE DID NOT. YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT THE AMERICAN WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE CLUE THAT OBAMA WAS A REAL LIGHTWEIGHT.
Posted by: Jimbo | July 12, 2009, 9:23 pm 9:23 pm
Also Timmy . .. ..
People are carping over a round of golf on weekends, when Bush took over 1000 days at Camp David and his Texas Ranch!
Seventy-seven trips to his ranch in Texas – that’s a trip to his ranch every 5.4 weeks for 8 years. Just keep that in mind while you’re judging the current President.
Posted by: danita | July 12, 2009, 9:24 pm 9:24 pm
Just keep that in mind while you’re judging the current President. Posted by: danita | Jul 12, 2009 9:24:31 PM
_________________________________
I will.
Where are the Stimulus Jobs?
Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | July 12, 2009, 9:31 pm 9:31 pm
Timmy . . . .
Regarding stimulus jobs.
Again, Timmy you seem to think a magic wand can be waived and everybody will have a job, or that all layoffs will magically stop and the economy will miraculously recover.
We’ve talked about this before. How the Recovery and Reinvestment program is structured, how it comes on stream, what the phases of it are.
The initial push of the Recovery and Reinvestment plan was to shore up programs to immediately support those who had lost their jobs or are losing their jobs.
At the same time, Recovery money went out to shore up state and local budgets so that the number of layoffs for police, firefighters, teachers and health care workers was reduced as much as possible.
At the same time, the Recovery plan included $288 BILLION in tax benefits, I believe some $47 BILLION of that has gone out directly into taxpayers hands.
You can read about the next phases coming on stream. President Obama has clearly stated this Recovery plan and the majority of jobs coming out of it come on stream during the first 2 years, accelerating as time goes by.
Posted by: danita | July 12, 2009, 9:40 pm 9:40 pm
Fannie Mae CEOs 1991-2008:
James Johnson (picked to help find Obama’s VP until Obama had to throw him under the bus)
Franklin Raines ($90 million)
Daniel H. Mudd ($80 million)
All part of the Democratic regurgitation machine.
I agree, Jimbo, Bush should have stopped this farce.
Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | July 12, 2009, 9:43 pm 9:43 pm
ANY STIMULUS PACKAGE THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE ACROSS THE BOARD INCENTIVES TO BUSINESS INCLUDING A CUT IN THE CORPORATE TAX RATE IS A COMPLETE WASTE AND A DETRIMENT TO “REAL RECOVERY.” INCENTIVES TO BUSINESS HAS ALWAYS WORKED IN PAST RECESSIONS.
Posted by: Jimbo | July 12, 2009, 9:47 pm 9:47 pm
Timmy . . ..
It’s so sad when the only line right wingers can come up with is “Fannie Mae” – where did you get that one from? Sarah Palin’s speech writers?
Do you not realize Republicans were in just as thick with the Fanny Mae lobbyists and their money?
Posted by: danita | July 12, 2009, 9:48 pm 9:48 pm
We’ve talked about this before.
Posted by: danita | Jul 12, 2009 9:40:27 PM
________________________________
Really? I don’t remember the 100 times you’ve pasted these excuses into a comment. I guess I’ve been busy down at the ranch slugging down beers with GWB, or something.
Sure hope them thar jobs git here quick like. Only 18 months to go.
Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | July 12, 2009, 9:52 pm 9:52 pm
ACCORDING TO MOST ECONOMISTS FANNIE MAY IS NOW COMMONLY CONSIDERED TO BE THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE HOME LOAN CRISES. YES, AND TOP DEMOCRATS WERE IN UP TO EYEBALLS WITH FANNIE MAY DURING THESE CRITICAL YEARS. SARAH PALIN? I DON”T GET THE CONNECTION – EXCEPT SHE STILL SCARES THE HELL OUT OF THE LEFT.
Posted by: Jimbo | July 12, 2009, 9:55 pm 9:55 pm
“It’s so sad when the only line right wingers can come up”
Ah yes, the it’s so sad refrain…
“Do you not realize Republicans were in just as thick with the Fanny Mae lobbyists and their money?”
No. Tell me about it. Name some names. Seriously. I’d like to see them so I can contact them and give them a piece of my mind. Corruption is corruption if you have names.
Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | July 12, 2009, 9:57 pm 9:57 pm
“Do you not realize Republicans were in just as thick with the Fanny Mae lobbyists and their money?”
Timmy . . .. if you weren’t so busy googling ‘all the things those evil Democrats have done that is evil’ you would know Republicans were just as well-funded by Fannie Mae lobbyists . . . and worked with same.
Posted by: danita | July 12, 2009, 10:06 pm 10:06 pm
“Really? I don’t remember the 100 times you’ve pasted these excuses into a comment.”
Timmy . .. outlining how the Recovery and Reinvestment program is structured is not ‘excuses’; it’s a description of how the program was designed. Your use of the word ‘excuses’ only shows a mind limited to it’s own dark corners and biases.
Posted by: danita | July 12, 2009, 10:22 pm 10:22 pm
OH, Danita, you sell the president’s critics way short. First of all, we are not all “right wingers”– no matter how you insist we must be. And secondly, Fannie Mae is not the only line of criticism we can come up with. You said, “It’s so sad when the only line right wingers can come up with is “Fannie Mae” – where did you get that one from? Sarah Palin’s speech writers?” So now your derangement syndrome has expanded from BDS to PDS, as you have begun to throw Sarah Palin into conversations for no logical reason simply because you do not care for her and consider any association with her an insult to the person with whom you make the connection?
Finally, I’ll join the chorus of those challenging you on your repeated– and I DO mean repeated– insistence that the Republicans were as well-supported by Fannie and Freddie lobbyists as Democrats were. That is factually incorrect and you know it– or at least, you should know it.
Oh, and you really need to give that “magic wand” shtick a rest. It’s getting really tired. The only one commenting here who sounds like he or she believes in waving a magic wand to solve the world’s problems is you.
Posted by: moderate | July 12, 2009, 10:51 pm 10:51 pm
Danita told Timmy, “Your use of the word ‘excuses’ only shows a mind limited to it’s own dark corners and biases.” I think that was his point, danita.
Posted by: moderate | July 12, 2009, 10:57 pm 10:57 pm
“Do you not realize Republicans were in just as thick with the Fanny Mae lobbyists and their money?”
Timmy . . .. if you weren’t so busy googling ‘all the things those evil Democrats have done that is evil’ you would know Republicans were just as well-funded by Fannie Mae lobbyists . . . and worked with same.
Posted by: danita | Jul 12, 2009 10:06:03 PM
____________________________________
I know who the Republican lobbyists are. I can find them just as easily as you can. I point out the Democrats because I am hoping that just once you will recognize some Democratic culpability on an issue. Just once.
So my last question to you for the night is:
You honestly don’t think Barney Frank, Maxine Waters, Chris Dodd, Franklin Raines and Daniel Mudd were at least partially negligent in the roles that they played in the subprime mortgage mess?
Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | July 12, 2009, 10:59 pm 10:59 pm
PREACHERS, TEACHERS AND POLITICIANS
Preachers, teachers and politicians
Too many times turn out the same.
Forecasting predictions of what lay ahead
Confused by self-love, ego and shame.
Forewarning of judgment and our own unawareness
Blaming others for corruption and the mayhem of war
They seek our endowment of revenue and support
As volunteers e-mail or beat on our door.
Thank God for each and every individual
That prays for wisdom, repentance and grace.
Not perfect though remorseful, repentant when wrong
As their devotion radiates from their face.
Listen and watch carefully the shepherds of man
Judging them by what they practice not preach.
Do they make you wonder about their purpose?
As they communicate, inspire and teach.
By Tom Zart
Most Published Poet
On The Web
Posted by: Tom Zart | July 12, 2009, 11:47 pm 11:47 pm
Freddie Mack
Contributions to Political Parties
1990 – 2010
To Democrats: $4,250,497
To Republicans: $5,600,846
(Data for the current election cycle was released by the Federal Election Commission on May 12, 2009).
“The numbers on this page are based on contributions of $200 or more from PACs and individuals to federal candidates and from PAC, individual and soft money donors to political parties, as reported to the Federal Election Commission.”
Posted by: danita | July 13, 2009, 2:58 am 2:58 am
“Finally, I’ll join the chorus of those challenging you on your repeated– and I DO mean repeated– insistence that the Republicans were as well-supported by Fannie and Freddie lobbyists as Democrats were. That is factually incorrect and you know it– or at least, you should know it.” Posted by: moderate | Jul 12, 2009 10:51:09 PM
Since the 1990 election cycle, Freddie Mac and Frannie Mae’s employees and political action committee have given $19.5 million to federal candidates and committees, 53 percent of which has gone to Republicans.
Posted by: danita | July 13, 2009, 3:50 am 3:50 am
“You honestly don’t think Barney Frank, Maxine Waters, Chris Dodd, Franklin Raines and Daniel Mudd were at least partially negligent in the roles that they played in the subprime mortgage mess?”
I would take out the word “partially”. They were all negligent.
Posted by: Danilo | July 13, 2009, 9:07 am 9:07 am
danita…Please cite your source for Freddie Mac contributions…
Let’s include Fannie Mae shall we: According to FEC, 4.8 million was donated to both Dems and Repubs with Dems receiving 57% of contributions which include money from floundering companies PAC’s and employees. Top three, figures include PAC money, were Dodd, Chris…$165,400. Obama, Barack….$126,349. Kerry, John…$11,000.
Source: OpenSecrets dot com
It’s all about whose side your on… doesn’t matter if their right or wrong..Party A or Party B…VOTE INDEPENDENT/LIBERTARIAN FOR A REAL CHANGE….
Posted by: Parallex View | July 13, 2009, 12:54 pm 12:54 pm
Danita, my question to you is:
Are Barney Frank, Maxine Waters, Chris Dodd, Franklin Raines and Daniel Mudd at least partially negligent in the roles that they played in the subprime mortgage mess?
Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | July 13, 2009, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm
“Since the 1990 election cycle, Freddie Mac and Frannie Mae’s employees and political action committee have given $19.5 million to federal candidates and committees, 53 percent of which has gone to Republicans.”
Source: OpenSecrets dot org
Posted by: danita | July 13, 2009, 1:42 pm 1:42 pm
Um, Danita, your numbers aren’t adding up, and you didn’t provide a link to the page you got them from as someone else already asked.
Your initial post claimed under 10 Million, for Freddie Mack (Mac) alone.
Now you’re claiming $19.
What I’m finding does NOT match your claim. It clearly states Democrats got 57% of the donations, from 1989 thru 2008. I can’t imagine there’s been more than $9M donated in a single year, a non election year at that.
The numbers DO match those posted by Parallax View, a little under 10M total, and right down to the top 3 who recieved the largest total contributions being:
*Dodd, Chris…$165,400.
*Obama, Barack….$126,349.
*Kerry, John…$111,000 (he just missed a 1 in there).
Posted by: And Atlas Shrugs Yet Again | July 13, 2009, 7:35 pm 7:35 pm
Donations can easily make one wonder if a congressman has been “bought” on particular issues, but of course its not a smoking gun in and of itself (regardless of party). Its smoke maybe, but not the actual gun. I mean, to some extent, the big lobbying groups tend to donate at least a little to almost everyone, regardless of party, just to cover their bases so to speak. The larger the donations, and the narrower the focus of the lobbying group, the worse it looks of course.
I know that Barney Franks and Chris Dodd, and perhaps Pelosi & Reid but I’m not sure of them, poo-poo’d Bush’s warnings. They even went so far as to claim the very idea ludicrous, stating that Fannie and Freddie were completely healthy and no risk at all. I recall hearing actual clips of them on the issue. So those guys, AND ANYONE ELSE who came out verbally that way are definately bad guys in this story.
I also read WSJ and a few other articles on the issue at the time. I don’t recall if Bush mentioned the problem in any of his speeches, or if the WH was behind those press stories – if not, then I wish he had done more to communicate it to the public. Then when a little while, a few years went past and the market hadn’t blown, I put it in the back of my mind and quit worrying about it. Then it blew up.
Of course there wasn’t much Bush could do beyond warning Congress, but I’m pretty sure McCain wrote and submitted a few bills trying to increase oversight and rein in Fannie/Freddy.
So here’s where the rubber meets the road – WHO killed the bills, and who is each and EVERYONE who voted against them? If someone voted to kill one of those and put forward their own version trying to accomplish the same thing, then I’d let ‘em off the hook. But anyone who voted to kill those bills, THOSE ARE THE BAD GUYS. FOR SURE. SMOKING GUN.
Posted by: And Atlas Shrugs Yet Again | July 13, 2009, 8:27 pm 8:27 pm