Palin Options

[Robert]

So let me get this straight, you don't think the fact Parker was a Hillary support changes the story?

For the NYT article, yes I read your post. I just took it wrong.
As in, yes this kind of agree with you but really doesn't.

[Blitz]

* CRA required banks to increase high risk ( subprime ) loans by 20%
* Fannie and Freddie enabled banks an lenders like countrywide to write junk loans.
* Ginnie Mae created Mortgage-Backed Security which allowed other lenders to hide the amount of risk they carried
Just like the dot-com bust, which was built on phantom goods an services. This was a financial bubble built most on junk mortgages

Although this is a strictly partisan video. It hit's on a couple of key points listed above

CRA, and Ginnie Mae

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okJxAHBDn2k...feature=related

The original video had a million hit's in 3 days or so and was taken down by a copyright claim by time warner.

Look under the users video's and you can see another version. V2 of the original.

[Robert]

Updated link for what Blitz is talking about
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU6fuFrdCJY
BTW I posted the original 2 days ago.
Apparently Time Warner forced YouTube to pull the video over copyright infringement due to the songs used in the video. What's really interesting is all the songs are still on youtube, TImeWarner didn't care about the song themselves just the video. BTW if you do a search to see who the top Obama contributor are, TimeWarner comes in at #13 but I'm sure that has nothing to do with them making youtube pull a video because of the background music.

[Blitz]

Whats even funnier is that the video is now down for the following reasons from your link Robert.

"This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Universal Music Publishing"

Version 2 was pulled..... as was version 3.....

Hey no one ever uses WB or Universal songs on youtube videos...

Here are links to (2) similar videos.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiEWCnpNnBQ

[Robert]

LOL
Yep I noticed this morning he or someone else put up 10 different versions of the original video.
I even downloaded a copy so I could put it back up if needed.

[HammaTime]

Question of the Day: did dinosaurs and people coexist together on the earth 6,000 years ago?

It seemed this was the question that Katie Couric just couldn't quite bring herself to ask in tonight's Sarah Palin interview.

In preparation for tomorrow's question, practice thinking of U.S. Supreme Court decisions that have meaning for you.

[UNDEAD 1]

if this bill was passed by Jimmy carter and the Dems in the 70s ,it was probably aimed at trying to boost a non existent Real estate market with up to %18 interest rates going through the 80s. why is it that the sub prime disaster didnt take place till the housing boom in the 2000s?

[Robert]

The single bill isn't the direct cause just one of many but there was a large increase in CRA related activity in 1995.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ibd/20080924/bs_ib...080924general01
Banks were forced to show the had written at least a 20% increase in low income minority housing.
If they didn't, their CRA rating would fall which could resort in all kinds of problems.
1) Banks request to open a new branch or expand through mergers and acquisitions could be denied.
2) They could loss their all important FDIC coverage
I doubt #2 ever happened but it was one of the things banks could be threaten with.
Then Fannie & Freddie opened the flood gates even more with their huge increase in mortgages they bought regardless of the mortgage's real value, enabling banks to right even more risky paper.
In 1968 they both had 2.5 Billion in their portfolios. from the 1900's to 2003, they grew to 10 times their previous size. Now they hold over $5 trillion in mortgage debt, nearly half of what’s outstanding in the United States.
By law Banks are required to hold a reserve of cash and other investments equal to 10 percent of the dollar amount of loans they make.
Because of special rules setup just for them to allow them to buy as many mortgages as possible, their $5 trillion in mortgages was backed by only $81 billion in capital.
While banks had to hold 10% in capital, Fannie and Freddie only had .36%
As much as this company grew, their CEO still overstated their profits to increase their bonuses.
It was a house of cards.

[Blitz]

http://fray.slate.com/discuss/forums/post/1867539.aspx


"In 1995, as a result of interest from President Bill Clinton's administration, the implementing regulations for the CRA were strengthened by focusing the financial regulators' attention on institutions' performance in helping to meet community credit needs. "

"The number of CRA mortgage loans increased by 39 percent between 1993 and 1998, while other loans increased by only 17 percent. [7] [8]
Other rule changes gave Fannie and Freddie extraordinary leverage, allowing them to hold just 2.5% of capital to back their investments, vs. 10% for banks. By 2007, Fannie and Freddie owned or guaranteed nearly half of the $12 trillion U.S. mortgage market. [9] "

http://www.elliscountypress.com/news/126/A...2008-09-29.html

"In 1995, President Bill Clinton put CRA on steroids and imposed even stronger regulations that coerced banks to substantially increase loans to low-income, poverty-area borrowers or face fines or possibly restrictions on expansion. These revisions allowed for securitization of CRA loans containing subprime mortgages. Congress created processes through the Research the Community Redevelopment Act whereby community activist groups and organizers could effectively stop a bank’s efforts to grow if that bank didn’t make loans to unqualified borrowers. Hence, the sub-prime mortgage. These lenders knew a very high percentage of the loans would turn to garbage, but it was something they were coerced into doing if they expected to grow and expand. These garbage loans were then bundled up and sold with the expectation they would eventually be paid off when rising home values led some borrowers to access their equity through re-financing and others to sell and move to bigger homes."

"The revisions also for the first time allowed radical "housing rights" groups led by ACORN to lobby for such loans. ACORN and the feds made lenders offer zero-down loans. "No credit scores … undocumented income" under the auspices of CRA."

See the ACORN thread for sme more info...

[Robert]

Question of the Day: did dinosaurs and people coexist together on the earth 6,000 years ago?

It seemed this was the question that Katie Couric just couldn't quite bring herself to ask in tonight's Sarah Palin interview.

In preparation for tomorrow's question, practice thinking of U.S. Supreme Court decisions that have meaning for you.

Considering all the issues which I think people would be justified in criticizing or questioning her, ( not that I agree with them ) this would have to be the dumbest ones.
I would think religious affiliation would be the last line of attack any Obama supporter would want to use.
A short example of which would be.....
* Not God Bless America, God Damn America
* Aids was invented by the white man to kill blacks.
* Obama's non-negotiable pac with Africa.
* The implication 9-11 was justified payback for sins of white America
But of course he never heard those kinds of statements during his 20 years at the church.
There is a very important distinction I want to make here. All the controversy surrounding Obama an his church had NOTHING to do with his religious beliefs. The issues had to do with the un-American views of his minister an racist views of his church. While the attacks against Palin are a direct attack on her religious views an freedom in how she expresses them. You tell me which attack is more unfair.

Then there is the other line of attack from your article, saying Palin tried to force creationism to be taught in schools. That's still being reported even though it's been proven several times, all she ever said was she thought if the subject was brought up by a student then the students should be allowed to debate the subject. She never said or took any action to force teachers to teach it.

It's a sad day when peoples line of attack is a youtube video of her given a speech at her church, in some lame ass attempt to show her as some kind of religious radical. A speech which would be a common sight in most churches across America.

If you think her religious beliefs which include the idea the world is only 6000 years old is reason to attack her or prevent her from serving as VP, then I have a few questions for you.
Both Obama an McCain come from churches which believe the bible is the literal word of god.
So that would mean they believe the universe was created in 6 days, does that prevent them from serving as President? if not, wouldn't that make them religious hypocrites?
Not weird enough? then lets just focus on something a little more comparable to Palin and her belief in a religious tenet which says the world is only 6000 years old. Biden is a Catholic, do you know what it means when he receives Communion. As part of his faith, he believes thru some mystical act of transubstantiation, the wine an bread he takes becomes the blood an body of Christ.
Wow, what a freak, he actually thinks on some atomic level he's eating the blood an body of Jesus.
Yucko....
This fact alone should bar him from serving as VP. As Matt Damon said about Palin, do will really want someone who believes this kinds of stuff to have the nuclear launch codes.
I apologize to anyone who might be offended by my remarks, I'm only trying to point out just how unfair an stupid that line of attack on Palin is. If anyone were to make the same kinds of attacks on McCain, Obama, Biden or any other leader, they would be heavy criticized an rightfully so. For some odd reason that doesn't apply to Palin.
I wonder why?
Maybe some people have spent a little to much time watching Olbermann, who refers to Palin's former Pentecostal church as "terrifying" while at the same time call Rev. Wright "mainstream".


This bring up another point I would like to make concerning Palin.
Did she screw up in her interview? Of course she did, it was an ugly bellflop. She talked herself right into a hole. Some how this is big news like it's never happened before.
Biden telling a person in a wheelchair to stand up.
Biden during an interview condemning an anti-McCain ad ran by Obama.
Obama an his numerous gaffs while running for President, plus his painful 20 seconds of dead air during a speech when he could remember the name of an asthma inhaler, finally referring to it as a breath analyzer.
Just like the complains about Plain being unable to articulate what the Bush doctrine is, even though the the 3 media organization which complained about it the most didn't agree on what her answer should have been.
I don't remember anyone in 2000 asking Gore or Lieberman their opinion or definition of the Clinton Doctrine.
Now the newest complain is she's not familiar with McCain's Senate voting record.
Well here is a question, are you? For that matter did anyone ask....
Biden about Obama's voting record while in the Illinois Senate?
Obama about Biden's voting record while in the US senate?
Cheney about Bush's record as Governor of Texas?
Lieberman's about Gore's Senate record?
Gore about Clinton's record as Governor?
Going on an on back.
Yet suddenly it's a big news that Palin isn't familiar with McCain's Senate record, which by the way has zero to do with being VP.

[Hellfighter]

Biden is a Catholic, do you know what it means when he receives Communion. As part of his faith, he believes thru some mystical act of transubstantiation, the wine an bread he takes becomes the blood an body of Christ.
Wow, what a freak, he actually thinks on some atomic level he's eating the blood an body of Jesus.
...........
Maybe some people have spent a little to much time watching Olbermann, who refers to Palin's former Pentecostal church as "terrifying" while at the same time call Rev. Wright "mainstream".


.....................
Now the newest complain is she's not familiar with McCain's Senate voting record.
.............
Yet suddenly it's a big news that Palin isn't familiar with McCain's Senate record, which by the way has zero to do with being VP.

Being Catholic myself [ not practising now though ] , the communion / bread eaten is more like entree time at church. Furthermore the congregation does not drink wine -it's the Priest that does it.... and half of the Priests are doing it out of ceremony rather than for spiritual absorption. The bread/wine consumption are symbolic spiritual consumption references not actual cannibilism.

Here's where alot of right-wingers conveniently/deliberately skewer the coverage on Palin's screw-ups. We all know all the candidates make huge mistakes all the time. The Press is there crucifying all of them-so the 'sour grapes-woe is me n' my candidate/why's everyone picking on my choice' attitude by each candidates supporters should be tossed out of the window. Palin's problems are considerable regarding the fact that she obviously has not been prepped to ANY significant degree regarding her party's inner workings - the questions she's been asked she has been expected to have at least a good grasp on -that's what those Palin supporters need to comprehend like those of their fellow Conservatives who see an Achille's heel here.

If she keeps Bs'ing around issues [ie,Republican policies -Washington level!] she should have a basic understanding for in the eyes of the voters she will entirely undermine McCain's own efforts.
I'm not sure how one can say her not knowing her 'mate's' voting record has nothing to do with her running as VP -in fact I find that incredible- these are basic things she should know- particularly if she needs to defend McCain in attacks oon his own voting/poilitical record. The majority voters have the realistic view that given McCain's age/past health issues, there is a likelihood she could be Prez -ie, one of the most powerful people on Earth. She's not running for Governor -this is real.
Although McCain got the edge in several areas in the debate, Obama proved he has a firm base of self confidence and can lead - significantly, McCain couldn't pound him on International Affairs. That and the fact McCain fumbled the ball on economic issuues in the past week is giving Obama momentum and a breach into several Repub-States. If Biden screws up with not letting Palin screw herself up in the debate [if she's not prepped fully], then this race is over.......

Look at the polls all around - Palin's rallying surge is over -she's still got a strong voice, but her impact is now over. Obama is increasing his lead. I heard Hillary is campaigning hard for him. I'm assuming once the press has time to cover her efforts, then we'll see a little more increase in Obama's lead.




This post has been edited by Hellfighter: 10/01/08 12:16pm

[HammaTime]

Considering all the issues which I think people would be justified in criticizing or questioning her, ( not that I agree with them ) this would have to be the dumbest ones.

Wow, I seem to have touched a nerve. Didn't mean to get you all worked up. The question was directed at readers of this forum, not Palin. I wanted to hear opinions, not from a religious standpoint, but from a scientific standpoint.

The question of dinosaurs and humans walking the earth together is a basic question that gets at the role of science in our society. Do you believe in scientist's ability to measure, via carbon dating, the age of an object (such as skeletal remains)?

I was looking for a scientific perspective, as Katie Couric was in her line of questioning.

I have never, and would never, attack Palin for her religious views.

That said, I certainly can see how you would jump to that conclusion as this subject enters the quasi-religious area where science and religion stand at odds. The questions Couric was posing centered around global warming, and this discussion dovetails nicely with our previous threads on the subject.

Global warming as a threat to mankind, no matter the root cause, requires a dramatically different response if you are someone who rejects the basic tenets of scientific research. I asked the question as a means of determining where we all stood on the matter.

I certainly reject the idea that man and dinosaurs walked the earth together. My step-dad spent his life studying the cosmos as a world-renowned astro-physicist. He devoted much of his life trying to determine the volume of interstellar matter as a means of determining if the universe will continue to expand or if there is sufficient mass to pull matter back upon itself. At the end of his life, he could say with relative certainty that the universe will continue to expand, as there is not enough mass to reverse the expansion.

So, I have a very strong bias towards science, but I recognize that my bias may not be held by other readers of this forum. It appears as if Palin has a strong bias against science and, thus, her approach to solving the problem of global warming were she to become president might be extremely compromised.

[Robert]

Again this line of questioning never came up with Obama, McCain or Biden.
I wonder why that is.
Sorry but to me this stinks of the same mentality an early criticisms of Kennedy shouldn't/couldn't be President because he was a Catholic.
This isn't directed specifically at you, more to how this line of attack has been tossed around between the public an media.
Let's go ask all the canidates....
how they justify the conflicts between their belief, the bible as the literal word of god an the real world.
Their views on war or the death penalty based on the direct conflict with the 6th Commandment.
This kind of stuff isn't asked of anyone else, yet it's viewed as completely acceptable when it comes to Palin.

Again this has less to do with your question as it does with some of the generalized attacks on Palin.

[Robert]

To HF
I'm not up on the different aspects of catholic belief or how they receive communion.
Most of the Catholics I know do take wine on special occasions, most other times the wafer is dipped into a common cup filled with wine before each member receives it. So when the person takes the bread they are fulfilling the act of blood an body.

To Hamma.
Okay lets assume your point concerning the dinosaurs is not a religious question but one of scientific fact.
Well here is why I still think your argument is biased.
Based solely on scientific fact.
Does that mean Obama an McCain as Christians believe a guy died 2000 years ago an came back to life 3 days later?
Wow what idiots they are, don't they understand an believe in the science of anatomy an physiology?
Same goes for Biden, he's actually so much of a religious crack that he believe in immaculate conception.
Wow what a goof ball, he shouldn't be considered for VP.

Again, I don't mean to offend anyone, just trying to get my point across.

BTW I've been unable to find anything to support the claim Palin actually said she saw a human footprint inside a dinosaur footprint or however the story goes.
This looks like an unsubstantiated 3rd hand story.
If I'm wrong, please point to it.

One last thing I would like to add when it comes to religion an politics.
While I'm agnostic, I would defend anyone's right to practice their religion as long as it doesn't interfere with the same rights and freedoms of the rest of the public. With that said, I'm also a big believer in a rarely enforced law dating back to LBJ which is suppose to prevent any church leader from endorsing or opposing ANY political candidates during open church services. If they do so, they become political organizations versus religious an should rightfully loose their tax exempt status.

[Hellfighter]

To HF
I'm not up on the different aspects of catholic belief or how they receive communion.
Most of the Catholics I know do take wine on special occasions, most other times the wafer is dipped into a common cup filled with wine before each member receives it. So when the person takes the bread they are fulfilling the act of blood an body.
.........

Are these 'most catholics' you know in one family/household- bcause most certainly they are taking on a personal derivation of the traditional custom of wafer only in a church- and as for special occasions, I'm curious what they are? - their derivation is certainly not a custom on Easter Weekend or Christmas. Priests only regarding wine-officially.... but these catholics you know of adapting the tradition need not fear being ex-communicated - methinx