Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Hall of Shame

If your Senator or Represenatives name isn't on this list, good for you, you can feel good about voting for the incumbent in your next election. Congrats to my Senator, John Warner, I am proud to be represented by you today. Senator Webb, Represenative Moran ... good luck in your next election. As soon as I find out who your most viable opponent is, I will be supporting them with my time, my money and my vote. I reccomend that the rest of you do the same if you find the name of your Senator or Represenative's name on this list.

Noteable non-votes in the Senate, Senators Obama, Clinton, McCain and Dole. Keep in mind Senators Obama and Clinton were key sponsors of the original Senate bill.

Senators voting for HR 3221: Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008

HI Akaka, Daniel [D]
TN Alexander, Lamar [R]
CO Allard, Wayne [R]
MT Baucus, Max [D]
IN Bayh, B. [D]
UT Bennett, Robert [R]
DE Biden, Joseph [D]
NM Bingaman, Jeff [D]
MO Bond, Christopher [R]
CA Boxer, Barbara [D]
OH Brown, Sherrod [D]
KS Brownback, Samuel [R]
NC Burr, Richard [R]
WV Byrd, Robert [D]
WA Cantwell, Maria [D]
MD Cardin, Benjamin [D]
DE Carper, Thomas [D]
PA Casey, Robert [D]
GA Chambliss, C. [R]
MS Cochran, Thad [R]
MN Coleman, Norm [R]
ME Collins, Susan [R]
ND Conrad, Kent [D]
TX Cornyn, John [R]
ID Craig, Larry [R]
CT Dodd, Christopher [D]
NM Domenici, Pete [R]
ND Dorgan, Byron [D]
IL Durbin, Richard [D]
NV Ensign, John [R]
WI Feingold, Russell [D]
CA Feinstein, Dianne [D]
SC Graham, Lindsey [R]
IA Grassley, Charles [R]
IA Harkin, Thomas [D]
UT Hatch, Orrin [R]
TX Hutchison, Kay [R]
HI Inouye, Daniel [D]
GA Isakson, John [R]
SD Johnson, Tim [D]
MA Kennedy, Edward [D]
MA Kerry, John [D]
MN Klobuchar, Amy [D]
WI Kohl, Herbert [D]
LA Landrieu, Mary [D]
NJ Lautenberg, Frank [D]
VT Leahy, Patrick [D]
MI Levin, Carl [D]
CT Lieberman, Joseph [I]
AR Lincoln, Blanche [D]
IN Lugar, Richard [R]
FL Martinez, Mel [R]
MO McCaskill, Claire [D]
KY McConnell, Mitch [R]
NJ Menendez, Robert [D]
MD Mikulski, Barbara [D]
AK Murkowski, Lisa [R]
WA Murray, Patty [D]
NE Nelson, Ben [D]
FL Nelson, Bill [D]
AR Pryor, Mark [D]
RI Reed, John [D]
NV Reid, Harry [D]
KS Roberts, Pat [R]
WV Rockefeller, John [D]
CO Salazar, Ken [D]
VT Sanders, Bernard [I]
NY Schumer, Charles [D]
AL Sessions, Jefferson [R]
AL Shelby, Richard [R]
OR Smith, Gordon [R]
ME Snowe, Olympia [R]
PA Specter, Arlen [R]
MI Stabenow, Debbie Ann [D]
AK Stevens, Ted [R]
NH Sununu, John [R]
MT Tester, Jon [D]
SD Thune, John [R]
LA Vitter, David [R]
OH Voinovich, George [R]
VA Webb, Jim [D]
RI Whitehouse, Sheldon [D]
MS Wicker, Roger [R]
OR Wyden, Ron [D]

Represenatives voting for HR 3221: Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008
TN-6 Gordon, Barton [D]
TX-9 Green, Al [D]
TX-29 Green, Raymond [D]
AZ-7 Grijalva, Raul [D]
IL-4 Gutierrez, Luis [D]
NY-19 Hall, John [D]
IL-17 Hare, Phil [D]
CA-36 Harman, Jane [D]
FL-23 Hastings, Alcee [D]
SD-0 Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [D]
NY-27 Higgins, Brian [D]
IN-9 Hill, Baron [D]
NY-22 Hinchey, Maurice [D]
HI-2 Hirono, Mazie [D]
NH-2 Hodes, Paul [D]
PA-17 Holden, Tim [D]
NJ-12 Holt, Rush [D]
CA-15 Honda, Michael [D]
OR-5 Hooley, Darlene [D]
MD-5 Hoyer, Steny [D]
SC-4 Inglis, Bob [R]
WA-1 Inslee, Jay [D]
NY-2 Israel, Steve [D]
IL-2 Jackson, Jesse [D]
TX-18 Jackson-Lee, Sheila [D]
LA-2 Jefferson, William [D]
TX-30 Johnson, Eddie [D]
GA-4 Johnson, Henry [D]
IL-15 Johnson, Timothy [R]
OH-11 Jones, Stephanie [D]
WI-8 Kagen, Steve [D]
PA-11 Kanjorski, Paul [D]
OH-9 Kaptur, Marcy [D]
RI-1 Kennedy, Patrick [D]
MI-5 Kildee, Dale [D]
MI-13 Kilpatrick, Carolyn [D]
WI-3 Kind, Ronald [D]
IL-10 Kirk, Mark [R]
MI-9 Knollenberg, Joseph [R]
RI-2 Langevin, James [D]
WA-2 Larsen, Rick [D]
CT-1 Larson, John [D]
OH-14 LaTourette, Steven [R]
CA-9 Lee, Barbara [D]
MI-12 Levin, Sander [D]
GA-5 Lewis, John [D]
IL-3 Lipinski, Daniel [D]
NJ-2 LoBiondo, Frank [R]
IA-2 Loebsack, David [D]
CA-16 Lofgren, Zoe [D]
NY-18 Lowey, Nita [D]
MA-9 Lynch, Stephen [D]
FL-16 Mahoney, Tim [D]
NY-14 Maloney, Carolyn [D]
MA-7 Markey, Edward [D]
CA-5 Matsui, Doris [D]
NY-4 McCarthy, Carolyn [D]
MN-4 McCollum, Betty [D]
WA-7 McDermott, James [D]
MA-3 McGovern, James [D]
NY-23 McHugh, John [R]
NC-7 McIntyre, Mike [D]
CA-11 McNerney, Jerry [D]
NY-21 McNulty, Michael [D]
FL-17 Meek, Kendrick [D]
NY-6 Meeks, Gregory [D]
ME-2 Michaud, Michael [D]
CA-7 Miller, George [D]
NC-13 Miller, R. [D]
AZ-5 Mitchell, Harry [D]
WV-1 Mollohan, Alan [D]
KS-3 Moore, Dennis [D]
WI-4 Moore, Gwen [D]
VA-8 Moran, James [D]
CT-5 Murphy, Christopher [D]
PA-8 Murphy, Patrick [D]
PA-12 Murtha, John [D]
NY-8 Nadler, Jerrold [D]
CA-38 Napolitano, Grace [D]
MA-2 Neal, Richard [D]
MN-8 Oberstar, James [D]
WI-7 Obey, David [D]
MA-1 Olver, John [D]
TX-27 Ortiz, Solomon [D]
NJ-6 Pallone, Frank [D]
NJ-8 Pascrell, William [D]
AZ-4 Pastor, Edward [D]
NJ-10 Payne, Donald [D]
CA-8 Pelosi, Nancy [D]
CO-7 Perlmutter, Ed [D]
MN-7 Peterson, Collin [D]
WI-6 Petri, Thomas [R]
PA-19 Platts, Todd [R]
ND-0 Pomeroy, Earl [D]
NC-4 Price, David [D]
WV-3 Rahall, Nick [D]
MN-3 Ramstad, James [R]
NY-15 Rangel, Charles [D]
WA-8 Reichert, Dave [R]
TX-16 Reyes, Silvestre [D]
TX-23 Rodriguez, Ciro [D]
AR-4 Ross, Mike [D]
NJ-9 Rothman, Steven [D]
CA-34 Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D]
MD-2 Ruppersberger, C.A. [D]
IL-1 Rush, Bobby [D]
OH-17 Ryan, Timothy [D]
CO-3 Salazar, John [D]
CA-39 Sanchez, Linda [D]
CA-47 Sanchez, Loretta [D]
MD-3 Sarbanes, John [D]
IL-9 Schakowsky, Janice [D]
CA-29 Schiff, Adam [D]
PA-13 Schwartz, Allyson [D]
GA-13 Scott, David [D]
VA-3 Scott, Robert [D]
NY-16 Serrano, José [D]
PA-7 Sestak, Joe [D]
CT-4 Shays, Christopher [R]
NH-1 Shea-Porter, Carol [D]
CA-27 Sherman, Brad [D]
NC-11 Shuler, Heath [D]
NJ-13 Sires, Albio [D]
NY-28 Slaughter, Louise [D]
WA-9 Smith, Adam [D]
NJ-4 Smith, Christopher [R]
AR-2 Snyder, Victor [D]
CA-32 Solis, Hilda [D]
OH-18 Space, Zackary [D]
SC-5 Spratt, John [D]
CA-13 Stark, Fortney [D]
MI-1 Stupak, Bart [D]
OH-13 Sutton, Betty [D]
CA-10 Tauscher, Ellen [D]
MS-4 Taylor, Gene [D]
MS-2 Thompson, Bennie [D]
CA-1 Thompson, C. [D]
MA-6 Tierney, John [D]
NY-10 Towns, Edolphus [D]
CO-2 Udall, Mark [D]
NM-3 Udall, Tom [D]
MI-6 Upton, Frederick [R]
MD-8 Van Hollen, Christopher [D]
NY-12 Velazquez, Nydia [D]
IN-1 Visclosky, Peter [D]
NY-25 Walsh, James [R]
MN-1 Walz, Timothy [D]
FL-20 Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D]
CA-35 Waters, Maxine [D]
CA-33 Watson, Diane [D]
NC-12 Watt, Melvin [D]
CA-30 Waxman, Henry [D]
NY-9 Weiner, Anthony [D]
VT-0 Welch, Peter [D]
FL-19 Wexler, Robert [D]
OH-6 Wilson, Charles [D]
VA-10 Wolf, Frank [R]
CA-6 Woolsey, Lynn [D]
OR-1 Wu, David [D]
MD-4 Wynn, Albert [D]
KY-3 Yarmuth, John [D]
NY-11 Clarke, Yvette [D]
MO-1 Clay, William [D]
NC-6 Coble, Howard [R]
FL-4 Crenshaw, Ander [R]
VA-1 Davis, Jo Ann [R]
VA-5 Goode, Virgil [R]
IL-14 Hastert, J. [R]
NC-8 Hayes, Robin [R]
TX-15 Hinojosa, Rubén [D]
CA-52 Hunter, Duncan [R]
LA-1 Jindal, Bobby [R]
TX-3 Johnson, Samuel [R]
FL-22 Klein, Ron [D]
OH-10 Kucinich, Dennis [D]
IL-18 LaHood, Ray [R]
CA-12 Lantos, Tom [D]
TX-14 Paul, Ronald [R]
NJ-3 Saxton, H. [R]
MO-4 Skelton, Ike [D]
CO-6 Tancredo, Thomas [R]

Friday, July 25, 2008

Sample 2008 SAT Questions

Tax payer is to Obama as ...
A) Grass is to mower
B) Sink is to dishes
C) Chicken is to Col. Sanders

The American dream is to Senator Christopher Dodd as ...
A) Bus is to stop
B) Paper is to ink
C) Hindenberg is to a match

The Forclosure Relief Act is to Bank of America as ...
A) Ocean is to green
B) Dog is to walk
C) The Constitution is to Thomas Jefferson

Lawrence Yun is to truth as ...
A) Stove is to hot
B) Rain is to fall
C) OJ Simpson is to innocent



Friday, July 11, 2008

News & Notes

It took 6 months, but CNN is finally seeing things my way. Admiting fully that a bailout will only prolong the real estate slump and probably result in further tax payer expense.

According to this article on Yahoo!, only 21% of the country supports this legislation. Which makes me wonder what in the world Congress is doing with their bailout legislation. I can only look forward to the day Senator Christopher Dodd gets drummed out of the office that he rode into on his daddy's coat tails.

Friday, July 04, 2008

Thanks For The Validation CNBC

9 out 12 analysts voted against a bailout. These highly respected analysts have comments like, "will only interfere with the price discovery process that is necessary in order to reach a clearing price for the housing market", or "This is an election year bill to pander to voters" and my personal favorite, "No, this is an oinker. Corporate welfare".

If all this sounds fimilar, your right, most of it you read here months ago.

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Senator Obama Was Cheap Too

You can now have a low mileage Presidential candidate for a mere $300 a month. Senator Obama received a $1.32 million super jumbo loan below the average rate for similar loans at that time. He paid no fees and he bought no points up front.

The overt buying and selling of US politicians has to stop. Senator Obama is a prominent sponsor of a housing bailout that will surely benefit Northern Trust of Illinois. In fact, I contend that they got themselves a massive bargain when they over paid for a freshmen Senator with no influence, but it appears that their investment has matured nicely.

I have to wonder why Senator Obama didn't disclose this favorable treatment sooner, especially in light of the resignation of the head of Obama's vice presidential search committee after it was disclosed that he had received favorable treatment from Countrywide. Associate law professor Adam J. Levitin, a credit specialist at the Georgetown University Law Center said, "Do they do business like that for people who are not congressmen? If they don't, that's a problem". I think we know the answer to that question already. So here we are a Presidential candidate who has already been bought and sold. While he peddles a line of rhetoric that says he's the candidate of change, all I see here is the same old stuff, which makes Senator Obama far worse, in my opinion, than those who he claims to be fighting.

Northern Trust claims that unlike Countrywide, they had no formal program for taking care of VIPs. Sure that’s great, but it never hurts to have a Senator on the payroll, especially at the bargain basement price of $300 a month. Northern Trust Vice President John O'Connell even went so far as to say, "A person's occupation and salary are two factors; I would expect those are two things we would take into consideration". So yea, cutting a deal with a Senator is advantageous, because some day you might need some help getting some legislation passed.

Like Senator Dodd's loan, this is beginning to reek of quid pro quo.

Furthermore, it appears that the Senator Obama paid $300,000 less than the $1.95 million asking price, in 2005. In 2005, the housing market was still white hot. Unlike today, when the market is lousy, buyers still have a hard time getting a low ball bid accepted. Keep in mind; a low ball bid is defined by real estate professionals as being more than 10% below the seller’s asking price. Here we have Senator Obama getting a seller in a hot market to give him a 15% discount to go with his sweetheart loan. Makes you think doesn't it?