Jobs Come From Innovative Ideas

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Many people are buzzing about an article at truthout.org by one Mike Lofgren, a longtime Republican staff aide on Capitol Hill who just couldn’t take the crazy anymore, left his job, and produced this buzzy (and quite well-written) lamentation about his party’s tactics and goals. If you haven’t read it, you must

The Lofgren piece is full of harsh observations and accusations, but here’s just a little sampling:

• The debt-ceiling debate was an act of “political terrorism,” in which the GOP concocted a crisis and used it to ensure that the party's unprecedented demands were met. He writes: “Everyone knows that in a hostage situation, the reckless and amoral actor has the negotiating upper hand over the cautious and responsible actor because the latter is actually concerned about the life of the hostage, while the former does not care.”

• The August FAA reauthorization fight was another instance such of hostage-taking: “Republicans were willing to lay off 4,000 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees, 70,000 private construction workers, and let FAA safety inspectors work without pay, in fact, forcing them to pay for their own work-related travel—how prudent is that?—in order to strong arm some union-busting provisions into the FAA reauthorization.”

• The GOP plan to discredit government in the people’s eyes is very conscious: “A couple of years ago, a Republican committee staff director told me candidly (and proudly) what the method was to all this obstruction and disruption. Should Republicans succeed in obstructing the Senate from doing its job, it would further lower Congress's generic favorability rating among the American people. By sabotaging the reputation of an institution of government, the party that is programmatically against government would come out the relative winner.”

• As for belief as opposed to tactics, the party basically really cares only about the rich. Actually, Lofgren doesn’t say “basically.” He says “solely and exclusively.” And he explains how they’ve camouflaged this with talk of protecting small businesses and so on.

There is much, much more. He’s not very happy either about his party’s militarism, its cynical use of religion, its total opposition to doing anything about the environment, and other matters, but most

programs so they will be there in the future."

Eggman of CO 6:41PM September 06, 2011

This is sounds strange coming from a conservative. So far the house has shown no new ideas . Their eforts and focus have been merely to strangulate, to stifle, and to squash. Their goal seems to ennervate, not to innovate. They have worked hard to subvert and sabotage our government. To treat the President with disrespect. To dismantle environmental and consumer laws. They squabble . Instead of trying to improve the economy they harass the President, just like they harassed Clinton for 8 years. It would be truly innovative if the House were to try to help not hinder. To support not subvert. Or, how about if the house were to just do their job and not demagog.At any rate they are not going to innovate. They will keep on harassing Obama just like they harassed Clinton. A wing nut always does the same thing over and over. That's why they call themselves conservatives, as if it were something to be proud of. I think a smart man said once "to do the same thing over and over and expect different results is insane".

Temblor of CO 1:56AM September 06, 2011

This is sounds strange coming from a conservative. So far the house has shown no new ideas . Their eforts and focus have been merely to strangulate, to stifle, and to squash. Their goal seems to ennervate, not to innovate. They have worked hard to subvert and sabotage our government. To treat the President with disrespect. To dismantle environmental and consumer laws. They squabble . Instead of trying to improve the economy they harass the President, just like they harassed Clinton for 8 years. It would be truly innovative if the House were to try to help not hinder. To support not subvert. Or, how about if the house were to just do their job and not demagog.At any rate they are not going to innovate. They will keep on harassing Obama just like they harassed Clinton. A wing nut always does the same thing over and over. That's why they call themselves conservatives, as if it were something to be proud of. I think a smart man said once "to do the same thing over and over and expect different results is insane".

This is sounds strange coming from a conservative. So far the house has shown no new ideas . Their eforts and focus have been merely to strangulate, to stifle, and to squash. Their goal seems to ennervate, not to innovate. They have worked hard to subvert and sabotage our government. To treat the President with disrespect. To dismantle environmental and consumer laws. They squabble . Instead of trying to improve the economy they harass the President, just like they harassed Clinton for 8 years. It would be truly innovative if the House were to try to help not hinder. To support not subvert. Or, how about if the house were to just do their job and not demagog.At any rate they are not going to innovate. They will keep on harassing Obama just like they harassed Clinton. A wing nut always does the same thing over and over. That's why they call themselves conservatives, as if it were something to be proud of. I think a smart man said once "to do the same thing over and over and expect different results is insane.

Temblor of CA 1:47AM September 06, 2011

"Obama’s crooked campaign cash-o-matic machine"

April 20, 2011

"There’s nothing routine about the whopping $6 million that Team Obama has refunded to individual donors since Obama took office."

"And there’s nothing routine about the 26 warning letters to Obama for America totaling “more than 1,500 pages of questions and data that outlined compliance concerns — including the longest one ever sent to a presidential candidate,” according to Roll Call."

"Among the Obama 2008 campaign committee’s shadiest transactions that have gone unpunished":

– "Foreign funny money. Federal election law bans foreign nationals from contributing to American candidates. But during 2008, the Obama campaign was forced to return an illegal foreign donation worth $31,100 made by two brothers in the Gaza Strip, and even mainstream news outlets reported that candidate Obama’s money-handlers had routinely failed to verify citizenship by checking donors’ passports. As the Associated Press reported at the time: “One donor, Tom Sanderson of Canada, made clear his $500 contribution came from a foreign source. He included a note that said, ‘I am not an American citizen!’ Obama’s campaign took the money anyway…”

"Another illegal foreign donor, Australian Richard Watters, contributed $1,000, “entering a fake U.S. passport number — a random jumble of numbers and letters” onto the Obama donation website. “He said he also checked a box stating that he was an American living overseas, ‘because I could see it wasn’t going anywhere if I didn’t do that.’”

"Obama raked in at least $2 million in overseas donations."

– "Online donor credit-card fraud. Weeks before the 2008 presidential election, investigative journalist Ken Timmerman blew the whistle on rampant phony straw contributors slipping through the Obama donation site. Just one example: “Mr. Good Will” from Austin, Texas. Mr. Good Will listed his employer as “Loving” and his profession as “You.” Timmerman’s analysis of 1.4 million individual donations to the Obama campaign discovered “1,000 separate entries for Mr. Good Will, most of them for $25. In total, Mr. Good Will gave $17,375. Following this and subsequent FEC requests, campaign records show that 330 contributions from Mr. Good Will were credited back to a credit card. But the most recent report, filed on Sept. 20, showed a net cumulative balance of $8,950 — still well over the $4,600 limit.”

"Subsequent digging by conservative bloggers found that the Obama campaign’s donor website appeared to intentionally disable security protocols and facilitate illegal donations with bogus names, shell addresses and untraceable credit cards. Among Obama’s online “donors”: Bart Simpson, Family Guy, Daffy Duck, King Kong, O.J. Simpson, Mr. Doodad Pro, John Galt, Della Ware, Crazy Eight and Adolfe Hitler."

– "Social justice funny money. In 2008, the Obama campaign wrote checks totaling more than $800,000 to a nonprofit offshoot of ACORN called Citizens Services Inc. The campaign claimed the money went to nonpartisan get-out-the-vote services. But receipts showed the funds paid for polling, advance work and event staging supplied by a nonprofit that supposedly does simple canvassing work on behalf of low-income people. The FEC allowed Obama to wave his magic wand and amend the records to change political expenses into non-political ones. As a Republican National Committee staffer commented at the time: “For a candidate who claims to be practicing ‘new’ politics, his FEC reports look an awful lot like the ‘old-style’ Chicago politics of yesterday.”

"On a related front, ACORN whistleblower Anita MonCrief filed announced plans to file an FEC complaint last year over illegal coordination between ACORN and the Obama campaign. MonCrief publicly released Obama donor lists supplied to ACORN affiliate Project Vote, which were allegedly used to target maxed-out presidential donors. The scheme involved converting the expenditures by Project Vote, ACORN and ACORN-affiliated entities to illegal, excessive corporate contributions to the Obama presidential campaign, in violation of federal law."

"Nothing to see here, move along? The only “routine” business as usual being conducted here is Chicago-style self-exemption business as usual: Rules are for fools. Let the crooked cash flow in."

http://michellemalkin.com/2011/04/20/obamas-crooked-campaign-cash-o-matic-machine/

Bill Hedges of MO 1:42AM September 06, 2011

Senator obama was all for oil...

Senator barry’s involvement:

“The 2005 Energy Policy Act was one of the friendliest ever with over $10 billion in handouts. It lets oil giants pay federal royalties in barrels of oil and grants exemptions on some wells, subsidizes a new R & D program for ultra deep water drilling and unconventional oil and gas development, creates hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax breaks, increases what oil and gas companies can deduct on pipeline expenses, provides more liability protection besides the $75 million cap (established by the 1990 Oil Pollution Act after the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster, an amount too small to matter)."

“As an Illinois senator, six months into his term, Obama supported it, an early clue to where he stood, and how he hoped to gain - the usual "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" payoff.”

“It worked hugely with BP, the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) reporting that its employees and political action committees gave more to him than to any other federal candidate in the past 20 years.”

“During his 2008 campaign, CRP reported that the oil and gas industry overall gave him $884,000, more than any to other lawmaker except John McCain, and no wonder. His Senate voting record showed what they bought:"

“the right of mining companies to strip mine everywhere, including on government lands; vast new powers and handouts to the nuclear industry;harmful biofuels production;lax regulation; and other pro-business, anti-populist measures - besides supporting the 2005 Energy Policy Act."

“Obama promised change, and delivered betrayal - evident now in the Gulf, America's greatest ever environmental disaster, fast becoming the most catastrophic in history, a shameless addition to his resume, already revealing a world class rogue and failed president less than a year and half into office. No wonder calls for his impeachment have begun, including by James Petras on May 27, on the Progressive Radio News Hour, hosted by this writer who wholeheartedly agrees.”

Don’t forget barry’s waver to worst polluter in Gulf, Who else, barry’s buddy, BP. There is more, enjoy reading link...

http://warisacrime.org/node/52692

Bill Hedges of MO 1:32AM September 06, 2011

This is sounds strange coming from a conservative. So far the house has shown no new ideas . Their eforts and focus have been merely to strangulate, to stifle, and to squash. Their goal seems to ennervate, not to innovate. They have worked hard to subvert and sabotage our government. To treat the President with disrespect. To dismantle environmental and consumer laws. They squabble . Instead of trying to improve the economy they harass the President, just like they harassed Clinton for 8 years. It would be truly innovative if the House were to try to help not hinder. To support not subvert. Or, how about if the house were to just do their job and not demagog.At any rate they are not going to innovate. They will keep on harassing Obama just like they harassed Clinton. A wing nut always does the same thing over and over. That's why they call themselves conservatives, as if it were something to be proud of. I think a smart man said once "to do the same thing over and over and expect different results is insanity".

Temblor of CA 1:22AM September 06, 2011

Sure you are a conservative. I am a liberal then...

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is a LIAR !!! Kick the BUM OUT TO A JAIL CELL. But first, have Holder testifies against obama (if involved _ presume innocent you know)...

"Holder bragged about Operation Gunrunner in 2009"

"On May 3, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder testified before House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Darrell Issa's committee that he only learned about the government's sale of weapons to Mexican drug cartels "in the last few weeks"...

http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/07/holder-bragged-about-operation-gunrunner-2009#ixzz1X88xPu7y

_____

"Obama Delays New Smog Standard"

"Bowing to Republican and industry pressure and contradicting his top environmental aide, President Obama announced on Friday he was delaying for at least two years one of his administration’s most significant environmental and public health standards."

"This action alone will prevent more job losses than any speech the president has given, and I hope he will listen to the bipartisan calls from across the country to address his administration’s negative impact on job creation,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement"

http://www.nationaljournal.com/whitehouse/obama-delays-new-smog-standard-20110902

___

"New Fears EPA Smog Rule Will Cost 7.3 Million Jobs"

"Lawmakers today issued a new warning that an aggressive antismog plan being pushed by the Environmental Protection Agency could cost the nation $1 trillion, kill another 7.3 million jobs, or 4.3 percent of the workforce in 2020, and halt major construction of highways and factories in employment starved swaths of the nation"

"In 2008, the Bush administration tightened ozone standards in the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) from 84 ppb to 75 ppb (parts per billion)."

• "Although the next ozone standard review isn't due until 2013, the EPA is moving forward with another rule to drastically lower the ozone standards."

• "The Business Roundtable has called this new rule the "single most expensive environmental regulation ever imposed on the U.S. economy."

• "If communities aren't able to meet these new standards, the EPA will have the ability to intervene and block any new construction, including new highways or factory expansions, if those activities contribute to ozone pollution."

• "This will crush local investment, economic expansion and jobs."

"Economic Impact::

•" It would "push 565 new U.S. counties into non-attainment status under the Clean Air Act." – National Mining Association."

• "Non-attainment status has a chilling effect on any new economic activity in a designated area." – Midwest Power Coalition."

• "The President's new ozone regulation "could cost nearly $1 Trillion over ten years." – Business Roundtable."

• "Total U.S. job losses because of the new standard are estimated to rise to 7.3 million by 2020." – Manufacturers Alliance."

• "Pennsylvania businesses and individuals could incur control costs of up to $3.2 billion and gross regional product could decline $31.4 billion by 2020. The state could also see more than 330,000 jobs lost by that same year." - Gene Barr, Vice President, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry."

http://www.usnews.com/news/washington-whispers/articles/2011/07/19/new-fears-epa-smog-rule-will-cost-73-million-jobs-new-fears-epa-smog-rule-will-cost-73-million-jobs

Bill Hedges of MO 10:23PM September 05, 2011

This is sounds strange coming from a conservative. So far the house has shown no new ideas . Their eforts and focus have been merely to strangulate, to stifle, and to squash. Their goal seems to ennervate, not to innovate. They have worked hard to subvert and sabotage our government. To treat the President with disrespect. To dismantle environmental and consumer laws. They squabble . Instead of trying to improve the economy they harass the President, just like they harassed Clinton for 8 years. It would be truly innovative if the House were to try to help not hinder. To support not subvert. Or, how about if the house were to just do their job and not demagog.At any rate they are not going to innovate. They will keep on harassing Obama just like they harassed Clinton. A wing nut always does the same thing over and over. That's why they call themselves conservatives, as if it were something to be proud of. I think a smart man said once "to do the same thing over and over and expect different results is insane".

PROSCIENCEPROHEALTHPROEDUCATIONPROTEACHERS of CO 6:17PM September 05, 2011

ProInnovationEducationScience of CO 9:21PM September 05, 2011

brucetee_ sorry that you show again, you can not read with comprehension.

There was no PAY AS YOU GO under Bush. That law passed under obama. Blaming Bush for NOT FOLLOWING A NON- EXISTING LAW at the time ? You do of course. Voters didn't Nov. 2, 2010. They blame berry. Worse President_obama_ Worse than Carter. Good poll. Bush less worse than those two.

Then obama is coming around to our way. Maybe like Clinton, he wants 2nd term:

"Obama Delays New Smog Standard"

"Bowing to Republican and industry pressure and contradicting his top environmental aide, President Obama announced on Friday he was delaying for at least two years one of his administration’s most significant environmental and public health standards."

"This action alone will prevent more job losses than any speech the president has given, and I hope he will listen to the bipartisan calls from across the country to address his administration’s negative impact on job creation,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement"

http://www.nationaljournal.com/whitehouse/obama-delays-new-smog-standard-20110902

___

"New Fears EPA Smog Rule Will Cost 7.3 Million Jobs"

"Lawmakers today issued a new warning that an aggressive antismog plan being pushed by the Environmental Protection Agency could cost the nation $1 trillion, kill another 7.3 million jobs, or 4.3 percent of the workforce in 2020, and halt major construction of highways and factories in employment starved swaths of the nation"

"In 2008, the Bush administration tightened ozone standards in the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) from 84 ppb to 75 ppb (parts per billion)."

• "Although the next ozone standard review isn't due until 2013, the EPA is moving forward with another rule to drastically lower the ozone standards."

• "The Business Roundtable has called this new rule the "single most expensive environmental regulation ever imposed on the U.S. economy."

• "If communities aren't able to meet these new standards, the EPA will have the ability to intervene and block any new construction, including new highways or factory expansions, if those activities contribute to ozone pollution."

• "This will crush local investment, economic expansion and jobs."

"Economic Impact::

•" It would "push 565 new U.S. counties into non-attainment status under the Clean Air Act." – National Mining Association."

• "Non-attainment status has a chilling effect on any new economic activity in a designated area." – Midwest Power Coalition."

• "The President's new ozone regulation "could cost nearly $1 Trillion over ten years." – Business Roundtable."

• "Total U.S. job losses because of the new standard are estimated to rise to 7.3 million by 2020." – Manufacturers Alliance."

• "Pennsylvania businesses and individuals could incur control costs of up to $3.2 billion and gross regional product could decline $31.4 billion by 2020. The state could also see more than 330,000 jobs lost by that same year." - Gene Barr, Vice President, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry."

http://www.usnews.com/news/washington-whispers/articles/2011/07/19/new-fears-epa-smog-rule-will-cost-73-million-jobs-new-fears-epa-smog-rule-will-cost-73-million-jobs

We CAN BLAME obama & Democrat Controlled Congress for not following PAY AS YOU GO that they passed. What little they did follow reduction was off in the future.

How many times must I tell you this exact same thing ???

_____

Let's give you a little history lesson here brucetee. Again. Again. Again:

BILL CLINTON

He had debt BEFORE NEWT. No balanced budget. No surplus. No civil rights bill. That was found in our CONTRACT WITH AMERICA. Bill Clinton fought balanced budget. We shut down government twice. Bill did come around to OUR WAY OF THINKING. Got re-elected too.

GEORGE BUSH

You say "cutting taxes while engaged in two wars". How many times must I tell you this ? You never disprove me. You never prove raising taxes on rich increase government revenue more than by reducing tax on rich:

Exact time to cut taxes for rich according to JFK:

"Our true choice is not between tax reduction, on the one hand, and the avoidance of large Federal deficits on the other. It is increasingly clear that no matter what party is in power, so long as our national security needs keep rising, an economy hampered by restrictive tax rates will never produce enough revenues to balance our budget just as it will never produce enough jobs or enough profits… In short, it is a paradoxical truth that tax rates are too high today and tax revenues are too low and the soundest way to raise the revenues in the long run is to cut the rates now."

http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2003/08/the-historical-lessons-of-lower-tax-rates

___

TAX INCREASE AS OPPOSED TO TAX CUTS UNDER CLINTON

"The 1993 Clinton Tax Increase Did Not Lead to the Budget Surpluses of the Late 1990s"

"Since the Clinton Administration’s own numbers reveal that the 1993 tax increase was a failure, we have to find a different reason to explain why the budget shifted to surplus in the late 1990s."

"Fortunately, there’s no need for an exhaustive investigation. The Historical Tables on OMB’s website reveal that good budget numbers were the result of genuine fiscal restraint. Total government spending increased by an average of just 2.9 percent over a four-year period in the mid-1990s. This is the reason why projections of $200 billion-plus deficits turned into the reality of big budget surpluses."

"Republicans say the credit belongs to the GOP Congress that took charge in early 1995. Democrats say it was because of Bill Clinton. But all that really matters is that the burden of federal spending grew very slowly. Not only was there spending restraint, but Congress and the White House agreed on a fairly substantial tax cut in 1997."

"To sum things up, it turns out that spending restraint and lower taxes are a recipe for good fiscal policy. This second chart (click to enlarge) modifies the first chart, showing actual deficits under this small-government approach compared to the OMB and CBO forecasts of what would have happened under Clinton’s tax-and-spend baseline."

http://biggovernment.com/dmitchell/2011/02/10/the-1993-clinton-tax-increase-did-not-lead-to-the-budget-surpluses-of-the-late-1990s/

_____

PUNISHING THE RICH TO COLLECT MORE TAXES example under Clinton BACKFIRES

"Falling Tax Would Lift All Yachts"

"The nation's luxury-boat builders, many clinging to their businesses after two years of plunging sales, finally got some good news last week."

"President Bush, in his budget proposals, asked Congress to repeal the 10 percent luxury tax on yachts priced at more than $100,000 (and also on private planes that cost more than $250,000). The repeal, which Congress is likely to approve, would be retroactive to Feb. 1."

"Since the tax took effect in January 1990, hundreds of builders of large and small boats have spoken of it as a stake driven into the heart of an industry already suffering from the recession, tighter bank rules on financing and fallout from the gulf war."

"In the last two years, about 100 builders of luxury boats -- recreational craft costing more than $100,000 -- cut their operations severely and laid off thousands of workers. Some builders filed for protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code."

"Now, sales personnel and owners of marine companies are hoping they will be swamped by buyers who have held off in the expectation that the tax will be repealed."

http://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/07/business/falling-tax-would-lift-all-yachts.html

CBO, using IRS actual collected revenue numbers, says:

Bush

“According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Bush tax cuts actually shifted the total tax burden farther toward the rich so that in 2000-2004, total income tax paid by the top 40% of income-earners grew by 4.6% to 99.1% of the total.”

http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/03/lying_about_bushs_tax_cuts.html

_____

BILL CLINTON CAUSED RECESSION NOT GEORGE BUSH. Reason for Bush Debt. Unemployment numbers dropping when Bush left office.

"Pelosi Caught In Major Lie- Says Bush Didn't Warn Congress About Financial Crisis…" "Records Show He Warned Congress 17 Times in 2008 Alone"

"Unfortunately, these warnings went unheeded, as the President’s repeated attempts to reform the supervision of these entities were thwarted by the legislative maneuvering of those who emphatically denied there were problems."

"The White House released this list of attempts by President Bush to reform Freddie Mae and Freddie Mac since he took office in 2001.

Unfortunately, Congress did not act on the president’s warnings":

** 2001

"April: The Administration’s FY02 budget declares that the size of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is “a potential problem,” because “financial trouble of a large GSE could cause strong repercussions in financial markets, affecting Federally insured entities and economic activity.”

** 2002

"May: The President calls for the disclosure and corporate governance principles contained in his 10-point plan for corporate responsibility to apply to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. (OMB Prompt Letter to OFHEO, 5/29/02)"

** 2003

"January: Freddie Mac announces it has to restate financial results for the previous three years."

"February: The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) releases a report explaining that “although investors perceive an implicit Federal guarantee of [GSE] obligations,” “the government has provided no explicit legal backing for them.” As a consequence, unexpected problems at a GSE could immediately spread into financial sectors beyond the housing market. (“Systemic Risk: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Role of OFHEO,” OFHEO Report, 2/4/03)"

"September: Fannie Mae discloses SEC investigation and acknowledges OFHEO’s review found earnings manipulations."

"September: Treasury Secretary John Snow testifies before the House Financial Services Committee to recommend that Congress enact “legislation to create a new Federal agency to regulate and supervise the financial activities of our housing-related government sponsored enterprises” and set prudent and appropriate minimum capital adequacy requirements."

"October: Fannie Mae discloses $1.2 billion accounting error."

"November: Council of the Economic Advisers (CEA) Chairman Greg Mankiw explains that any “legislation to reform GSE regulation should empower the new regulator with sufficient strength and credibility to reduce systemic risk.” To reduce the potential for systemic instability, the regulator would have “broad authority to set both risk-based and minimum capital standards” and “receivership powers necessary to wind down the affairs of a troubled GSE.” (N. Gregory Mankiw, Remarks At The Conference Of State Bank Supervisors State Banking Summit And Leadership, 11/6/03)"

** 2004

"February: The President’s FY05 Budget again highlights the risk posed by the explosive growth of the GSEs and their low levels of required capital, and called for creation of a new, world-class regulator: “The Administration has determined that the safety and soundness regulators of the housing GSEs lack sufficient power and stature to meet their responsibilities, and therefore…should be replaced with a new strengthened regulator.” (2005 Budget Analytic Perspectives, pg. 83)"

"February: CEA Chairman Mankiw cautions Congress to “not take [the financial market's] strength for granted.” Again, the call from the Administration was to reduce this risk by “ensuring that the housing GSEs are overseen by an effective regulator.” (N. Gregory Mankiw, Op-Ed, “Keeping Fannie And Freddie’s House In Order,” Financial Times, 2/24/04)"

"June: Deputy Secretary of Treasury Samuel Bodman spotlights the risk posed by the GSEs and called for reform, saying “We do not have a world-class system of supervision of the housing government sponsored enterprises (GSEs), even though the importance of the housing financial system that the GSEs serve demands the best in supervision to ensure the long-term vitality of that system. Therefore, the Administration has called for a new, first class, regulatory supervisor for the three housing GSEs: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banking System.” (Samuel Bodman, House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Testimony, 6/16/04)"

** 2005

"April: Treasury Secretary John Snow repeats his call for GSE reform, saying “Events that have transpired since I testified before this Committee in 2003 reinforce concerns over the systemic risks posed by the GSEs and further highlight the need for real GSE reform to ensure that our housing finance system remains a strong and vibrant source of funding for expanding homeownership opportunities in America… Half-measures will only exacerbate the risks to our financial system.” (Secretary John W. Snow, “Testimony Before The U.S. House Financial Services Committee,” 4/13/05)"

** 2007

"July: Two Bear Stearns hedge funds invested in mortgage securities collapse."

"August: President Bush emphatically calls on Congress to pass a reform package for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, saying “first things first when it comes to those two institutions. Congress needs to get them reformed, get them streamlined, get them focused, and then I will consider other options.” (President George W. Bush, Press Conference, The White House, 8/9/07)"

"September: RealtyTrac announces foreclosure filings up 243,000 in August – up 115 percent from the year before."

"September: Single-family existing home sales decreases 7.5 percent from the previous month – the lowest level in nine years. Median sale price of existing homes fell six percent from the year before."

"December: President Bush again warns Congress of the need to pass legislation reforming GSEs, saying “These institutions provide liquidity in the mortgage market that benefits millions of homeowners, and it is vital they operate safely and operate soundly. So I’ve called on Congress to pass legislation that strengthens independent regulation of the GSEs – and ensures they focus on their important housing mission. The GSE reform bill passed by the House earlier this year is a good start. But the Senate has not acted. And the United States Senate needs to pass this legislation soon.” (President George W. Bush, Discusses Housing, The White House, 12/6/07)"

** 2008

"January: Bank of America announces it will buy Countrywide."

"January: Citigroup announces mortgage portfolio lost $18.1 billion in value."

"February: Assistant Secretary David Nason reiterates the urgency of reforms, says “A new regulatory structure for the housing GSEs is essential if these entities are to continue to perform their public mission successfully.” (David Nason, Testimony On Reforming GSE Regulation, Senate Committee On Banking, Housing And Urban Affairs, 2/7/08)"

"March: Bear Stearns announces it will sell itself to JPMorgan Chase."

"March: President Bush calls on Congress to take action and “move forward with reforms on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. They need to continue to modernize the FHA, as well as allow State housing agencies to issue tax-free bonds to homeowners to refinance their mortgages.” (President George W. Bush, Remarks To The Economic Club Of New York, New York, NY, 3/14/08)"

"April: President Bush urges Congress to pass the much needed legislation

and “modernize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. [There are] constructive things Congress can do that will encourage the housing market to correct quickly by … helping people stay in their homes.” (President George W. Bush, Meeting With Cabinet, the White House, 4/14/08)"

"May: President Bush issues several pleas to Congress to pass legislation reforming Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac before the situation deteriorates further."

“Americans are concerned about making their mortgage payments and keeping their homes. Yet Congress has failed to pass legislation I have repeatedly requested to modernize the Federal Housing Administration that will help more families stay in their homes, reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to ensure they focus on their housing mission, and allow State housing agencies to issue tax-free bonds to refinance sub-prime loans.” (President George W. Bush, Radio Address, 5/3/08)"

“[T]he government ought to be helping creditworthy people stay in their homes. And one way we can do that – and Congress is making progress on this – is the reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. That reform will come with a strong, independent regulator.” (President George W. Bush, Meeting With The Secretary Of The Treasury, the White House, 5/19/08)"

“Congress needs to pass legislation to modernize the Federal Housing Administration, reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to ensure they focus on their housing mission, and allow State housing agencies to issue tax-free bonds to refinance subprime loans.” (President George W. Bush, Radio Address, 5/31/08)"

"June: As foreclosure rates continued to rise in the first quarter, the President once again asks Congress to take the necessary measures to address this challenge, saying “we need to pass legislation to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.” (President George W. Bush, Remarks At Swearing In Ceremony For Secretary Of Housing And Urban Development, Washington, D.C., 6/6/08)"

"July: Congress heeds the President’s call for action and passes reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as it becomes clear that the institutions are failing."

"In 2005– Senator John McCain partnered with three other Senate Republicans to reform the government’s involvement in lending.

Democrats blocked this reform, too."

"More… Not only did democrats not act on these warnings but Barack Obama put one of the major Sub-Prime Slime players on his campaign as finance chairperson"

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2010/05/pelosi-caught-in-major-lie-says-bush-didnt-warn-congress-about-financial-crisis-records-show-he-warned-congress-17-in-2008-alone/

Bill Hedges of MO 7:17PM September 05, 2011

mr,bill,it;s worth repeating,the the repubs( your people ) were just as bad at putting things on the cuff.those are the facts!

just to keep things in perspective," people who live in glass houses shouldn;t be throwing stones".now have a piece of humble pie.

bruce b of NV 6:38PM September 05, 2011

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Mary Kate Cary

Mary Kate Cary

Mary Kate Cary is a former White House speechwriter for President George H.W. Bush. She currently writes speeches for political and business leaders.

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