All the News That's Fit to be Tied

I have an axe to grind, but unlike the New York Times, I freely admit it.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

The Truth About Mortgage Foreclosures

It may come as a surprise to most people, but there is no national database of mortgage foreclosures that permit you to ascertain what the national rate of foreclosure is at any given time. There are a variety of county and state listings but they only reflect local variations in the economic substrate. Looking at the websites of firms such as RealtyTrac, the National Mortgage Association and others the following seems to emerge. Historically the home foreclosure rate has been about 1-percent per year. The delinquency rate has been about 5-percent per year. In 2008, despite all the hype, the financial meltdown and the sub-prime dilemma those rates have not changed significantly. Aside from local jumps in certain regions it is impossible to extrapolate those foreclosures into a national trend. It has been widely reported that 95-pecent of all homeowners are paying their mortgage on time. That is in keeping with what has been a historic trend. It is expected that one million homes will go into foreclosure this year. In a nation where there are 160 millions homes owned by individuals that is less than one percent. So why all the crisis-mongering? Could it be there is money to be made? Examining the websites of credit counselors and bankruptcy lawyers I found the following data. One out of every 114 homes face foreclosure; One out of every 445 homes face foreclosure; One out of every 775 homes face foreclosure. So who's right? If one million homes are foreclosed on in 2008 the percentage will be .00625 of all homes. That is 625 ten-thousandths; a very small number that is just over six-tenths of one percent, and is just over half the national average for the past few decades. I’m not sure on the math here but I think this comes out to 1 out of every 6,250 homes face foreclosure. This is not to say there is not a crisis. There is. Our government is both directly and indirectly responsible for the financial meltdown. There is no doubt that it had many willing partners in the brokerage, banking and mortgage industries, but the social engineering championed by both parties is the root cause. The willingness of those we elect to squander our tax dollars by providing mortgages to people who were not qualified and then to make it worse by permitting bankers to sell them in packages that could not be evaluated has lead us to the situation we are in. Throw the bums out has never had more meaning that it does today. It’s time for American voters to clean House, Senate and the Executive branch.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Don't Let the Mainstream Media Vote for You

During this election cycle things that defy the imagination happen every day in a way that demonstrates the depths to which the mainstream media would like to choose the next President and that man is Barack Obama. If you have any doubt about that you either have not been listening to the news or you have decided that you cannot face the truth. For example if your Chris Matthews of MS-NBC and you keep on insisting your fair, which is clear denial of what has transpired on the Philadelphia-hooker inspired Hardball, you cannot face the truth. If your Campbell Brown of CNN's No Bias, No Bull, and you think you can be fair after having exposed your preference for the Democratic ticket to all but the most dull-witted of human beings, you cannot face the truth either. If you think the line of inquiry to the candidates is equal and probing obviously you can be fooled pretty easy. If you think that ABC, NBC, CBS, The New York Times, the Washington Post, the LA Times, Newsweek and Time are not in the tank for Obama or covering the election fairly you are living in a fantasy world. I like Democrats that recognize the mainstream media ia an ally. They are at least honest, if nothing else. Over the past few days a few things have stood out. There is a rabid inquiry about how much money Sara Palin's clothes cost, but there is no analysis of her executive experience in relation to other candidates in the race. So the media has proved its tendency for its male reporters to be sexist and its female reporters to engage in cheap green-eyed cat fights. The media also showed their preference when it decided that Joe the Plumber was more dangerous to Barack Obama than Bill Ayres was to the Capitol and the Pentagon. So they tried to discredit Joe. They surrounded his house, ran a background check and tried to paint him a fool, so their light-skinned, nappy-headed pied piper could continue to lead the fools in his sham appearances that are programmed to look spontaneous, but are really staged like a Woodstock concert. Obama supporters are bussed to the rally site. They are given signs and assigned to congregate in groups around news cameras so their orchestrated applause and cheering sounds like a huge cheering crowd. Obama's rallies are not the only thing that is orchestrated. His failure to provide his medical, education and employment data is a serious obstacle that under normal circumstances the media would be demanding full disclosure as they have for John McCain and Sara Palin. Obama's ability to get this far without having provided such information has been orchestrated by a media establishment that is neither interested or even curious about investigating his background, his associations, his activities or even his life. They are content because he is new, shiny and black and they enjoy the possibility of sticking it in your face. They believe you are an antediluvian slug who managed to get the next step of evolution but lack the intellect of real human beings like them. Don’t stay home: Vote.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Powell to the People

Was anybody really surprised that Colin Powell came out in support of Barack Obama? After years of being called a "Tom" and a "house negro" Powell has finally made it back to the Promised Land. Maybe he's angling for a job as Obama's Secretary of State, where he could put into the practice the type of foreign policy he really believes in. After all, when he was Bush's Secretary of State he spent most of his time trying to sabotage the Bush foreign policy, with the exception of the UN speech that ruined Powell in the eyes of the liberals he so admired. Powell proved that Bush's attempt to bring a new bi-partisan tone to Washington was nothing more than wishful thinking on the part of Bush and a sign of weakness to the Democrats who used Bush's naiveté to savage him for eight years running. I hope that if McCain is elected he will not be foolish enough to think that the Democrats will partner with him unless he approves their legislation in total. As was noted in a previous post on all bills in which McCain partnered with Democrats he accepted their legislation in total, while rejecting the views of the Republican Party. Whether you choose McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy or McCain-Lieberman, they were complete concessions to the Democratic view of the world. Colin Powell cemented his betrayal of Bush when Powell's aid Richard Armitage leaked the name of Valerie Plame to the press and stood by while US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, whose desire to get Vice-President Dick Cheney outweighed his sense of justice, continued the prosecution of Scooter Libbey despite knowing the source of the leak. Fitzgerald knew Armitage leaked Valarie Plame's name to the press and Powell's failure to make Armitage go public was the ultimate betrayal of the President by someone he admired and trusted. Despite Powell's view of Obama as a "transitional" candidate the truth is Powell is endorsing Obama simply because he is black and Powell would like to again be in the good graces of the black political structure in America.

Monday, October 13, 2008

ACORN Registrations Must Be Disallowed

Today's decision by the Sixth Circuit, which overturned a decision requiring the Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Bruner to cooperate with local election boards to discover voter fraud, is a slap in the face to all Americans who rely on the legitimacy of the vote on Election Day. If we cannot be sure that the results of an election are honest how can we trust who wins? If government officials condone voter fraud because it is in favor their party we are in trouble. Americans must trust that election officials are honest. We must trust that they will not permit voter fraud or cheating of any kind. The decision of the Sixth Circuit and the actions of the Ohio Secretary of State do not engender the type of trust required, especially since ACORN is being investigated in 13 states for voter fraud. Today in Ohio one witness said ACORN registered him 73 times. The first step required to assure Americans that this election's vote count will be honest is to disallow every single voter registration submitted by ACORN is all fifty states. People who have a legitimate right to vote and registered with ACORN should be able to go to their local precincts and register.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

The Acorn Don't Fall Too Far

Barack Obama's Freudian slip last week may have exposed an unforeseen vulnerability that could potentially cost him the election. That is if you believe the conventional wisdom that he has already won and your vote is just an inconvenient formality. ACORN, a radical socialist group that has been around since I was in college, has been active in many states registering primarily minority voters and primarily Democrats. They are now being investigated by the FBI and Justice Department in 13 states and the list is likely to get bigger before Election Day. The voter fraud is so obvious and rampant that you have to ask yourself is it possible our polls are so open to voter fraud? How many dead people do vote? How many people with fake names and addresses nullify the vote of legitimate voters? How many people vote who do not have the right to vote and how many vote more than once? In one voting precinct in Ohio 2100 of the 5000 applications submitted by ACORN were so obviously phony that all 5000 were put aside. When Barack Obama said "the acorn doesn't fall too far from the tree," at a rally last week he provided a glimpse into his psyche. First of all the expression is "the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree," which is reference to the behavior of a child being like their parent. Obama's substitution of acorn for apple tells us two things. First, his lack of familiarity with American colloquialisms gives credence to the idea that he a citizen of the world first and a citizen of America second. Secondly, his association with ACORN is a dangerous tie that can do more harm than Bill Ayres, Jeremiah Wright and Louis Farrakhan combined. There are many Americans that feel we may be a better country if we vote for a black man. There are many who think we won’t because our racism is so deep and wide. But there are only a few that will think it’s okay for a black man to win if he has engaged in or supported voter fraud. There are those for whom winning at any cost is the goal even if cheating to win is required. Voting is not a sport where playing close to the edge of the rules is acceptable. An illegal voting application is not pass interference and subject to interpretation. An illegal voting application is not some subjective standard. An illegal voting application is an affront to every legal voter because it nullifies their voice. ACORN has demonstrated that it is totally untrustworthy and has engaged in widespread voter fraud. Some ACORN members have already gone to jail in previous elections for voter fraud activities. It has been reported that Barack Obama has a longstanding relationship with ACORN in both their housing and voter registration activities. In the current election cycle he has paid an ACORN-related organization $800,000 to provide voter registration activities. It has been claimed that this was done in the primaries, but consider that the Clinton/Obama race was very close and if Obama took a state based on fraudulent applications it means the result could have been different. In addition any fraudulent applications registered in the primary can vote in the upcoming election. America is a fair county and most of its citizens are fair too. If Obama wins the election fairly most Americans will accept the result. This is of course in stark contrast to many Obama supporters who believe if he doesn’t win it’s because we are a racist country, which defies almost every rule of logic given the number of prominent and wealthy minorities in this country. Many Obama supporters have tried to use scare tactics. James Carville is reported to have implied there might be riots if Obama loses. Others have voiced the same sentiment in both more and less obvious ways, but the implications are the same. In this case you might say the “acorn don't fall too far from the tree.”

Saturday, October 11, 2008

One Way Logic

What amazes me is the forgone nature of the election if you just listen to the media and the constant parade of talking heads that are called upon for their opinions even though their thought patterns are almost totally illogical. For example one of my favorites is the claim that this is a 'democratic" year because President George Bush is so unpopular with ratings between 25 and 30-percent. Following that logic it would seem to me you would have to say with the approval rating of Congress at 15-percent it should be a Republican year in the House and Senate. Still, Democrats are saying they will widen their majority in both houses. If I understand their logic they win the Presidency because Bush is unpopular and they increase their seats in Congress because they are unpopular. Does that make sense to you too? Okay let's move on. Since the primary season the Democrats have tried to play the race card. Following their logic if Barack Obama doesn't win it's because everyone who doesn't vote for him is a racist. Even if you disagree with Obama on the issues not voting for him makes you a racist because if you are a Caucasian you cannot help being racist and if you are black and don't vote for Obama you’re just a Tom. Just today US House member and intellectual giant John Lewis (Georgia-D), who must have gotten hit in the head a few times too many, said John McCain's supporters were like now-deceased Governor George Wallace, raising the old images of segregation, race riots and police dogs as if they are relevant to this election. The Obama campaign said this was appropriate condemnation of McCain supporters but references to Obama buddy terrorist Bill Ayres were "baseless and profoundly irresponsible." The flawless one way logic of the Obama crowd strikes again. John McCain has been careful to not use race in any way, although he has been accused of doing so. McCain has been careful to take the high road to his own detriment. McCain must be careful to listen to the counsel of his allies and not be swayed by Democratic platitudes for a kinder and gentler election designed to engineer an Obama victory.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Handling The Truth

As we close in on Election Day the mainstream media is trying harder and harder to convince you that Obama's election is inevitable, that McCain can't win unless there is a terrorist attack and that you may as well accept it and vote for Obama or don't bother to vote at all. These are, for the most part, the same people who said the dot.com and housing bubbles would never burst, healthcare and homeownership are a right, Al Gore really won in 2000 and John Kerry was up by 11 points a month before the election in 2004. Wake up. You are being told that Obama's friendship with Bill Ayres, a man still dedicated to the overthrow of America and a devout socialist revolutionary is irrelevant. You are being asked to believe that Obama's ties to ACORN, the most notorious voter fraud organization in the nation, are an unimportant matter. You are being asked to overlook his 20-year relationship with black revolutionary theologist and separatist Jeremiah Wright. You are being asked to believe his Certification of Birth from Hawaii, which does not look like the type of birth certificate authored by any hospital in America that normally feature a baby's footprint and other unique characteristics, is sufficient. You are being asked to support him without knowing any specifics about his education other than his own statements. He has not provided degrees, transcripts, or any of the normal paper that such achievements normally produce. In contrast to the hundreds of pages of medical records provided by John McCain, Obama has submitted a one-page doctor’s note to certify his health. You are being asked to believe that a man with these questionable associations who refuses to provide the full array of information voters really need to make up their minds is an acceptable choice to lead the country. If you read my blog you know I am not exactly thrilled with the prospect of John McCain as President either, but at least I can be sure he not a socialist revolutionary that perceives capitalism as the culprit rather than the individuals who lied, cheated and stole from our government and our uniformed citizens who ignored the old adage that “if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.” America may well be at a crossroad once traveled by Russia in 1917. Prior to the Russian revolution the gap between the haves and the have-nots was wide. After the revolution the Socialist’s looted the country, killed those who did not agree with the movement and drove the country into financial ruin and civil disorder in 73 years. Essentially they left their grandchildren a poor, corrupt country that never recovered until capitalism was allowed to flourish in the 1990’s. Which future do you want to leave to your grandchildren?

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

We Need Another Choice

Whether you are a Republican or Democrat, Capitalist or Socialist, Fascist or Libertarian, you can only be disappointed by tonight's debate. Both candidates showed why neither should be allowed anywhere near the White House. On healthcare Obama said that if you like your current policy you can keep it, but did not say how he would cover those without it. Assuming that he would subsidize healthcare for those who can't afford it, why would those who pay full price keep theirs when they could have cheaper healthcare under Obama? On mortgage support John McCain said he would use taxpayer money to buy foreclosed mortgages and renegotiate the mortgage as well as the price of the home. Seems a little unfair to the ninety percent of Americans who have paid their mortgages on time, did not fall for the sub-prime bait and did without the extras that those who refinanced themselves into a tremendous hole acquired. In both cases these men are saying that if you have worked hard, kept your commitments and acted responsibly your reward is to see those who have acted the opposite subsidized with the taxes you send to the government. On foreign policy both want to send troops, only the places are different. After eight years of criticizing George Bush for acting preemptively in Iraq, Obama stated policy is to act preemptively by analyzing and reacting to threats before they occur. The irony of all this is that the financial crisis, which was made possible by the US Congress and the Securities and Exchange Commission, escaped real scrutiny. On the whole McCain provided more substantive answers, while Obama tended to talk around the questions. However, McCain's constant use of the phrase "my friend" was very annoying, while at the same time Obama's feeling that the debate rules did not apply to him was also annoying. I am extremely disgusted with both men since in my view they think of taxpayers as some sort of host that they can suck dry. What is even worse is that pundits, commentators and partisan spinners think we're stupid. I’m sure I’ll vote on election day, but I will not be happy with the outcome no matter who wins.

Any Questions?

If your one of those people who has some questions for the Commission on Presidential Debates you might as well forget it. They answer to no one. Their website does not feature an address, a phone number or an email address for contacting them. The Commission of Presidential Debates is two men and a few secretaries. The fact that they self identify as one Repubican and one Democrat provides little comfort considering their choices of partners, moderators and questioners. Their partners have included CNN and the MSN crew, both of whom are so in tank they'll need crying towels if Obama loses. This year the moderators have included Jim Leher, Gwen Ifill, Tom Browkaw and Bob Schieffer, bonfide liberals all. There has been no effort to choose a more centrist moderator like Chris Wallace or an equally conservative moderator like Brit Hume, who would at least provide some balance to what have clearly been liberal presentations of questions. We will see just how undecided their audience and myspace questioners are tonight. Watch and be your own judge.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Obama's Millstones

There is talk that John McCain is going to turn up the temperature in tomorrow's Presidential Debate. Reports are that he will go after Obama's associations with anti-American types like the Reverend Jeremiah Wright and Weather Underground terrorist Bill Ayres. His unsavory connections to indicted real estate developer Tony Rezko and the widely discredited voting organization ACORN should also be put under the microscope. These are all juicy and legitimate targets because it paints a picture of Barack that the mainstream media has failed to present to the public. However, McCain must be careful to not make this the entire spectrum of his attack. He must connect Obama to the current financial crises in a way that demonstrates how his failure to demand or support reform is a direct cause of the collapse of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. McCain must point out that President Bush, former Treasury Secretary John Snow and McCain himself called for reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage standards for several years before the crisis became critical to the nation's economy. During Obama's two years as a US Senator he was the second largest beneficiary of campaign contributions, second only to Chris Dodd, Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. Obama received over $125,000. Obama's alliance with Dodd, Barney Frank and other Democrats successfully stifled any reform of the giant GSE's. This is the millstone that can be used to end the Obama candidacy. At the same time McCain must present his own financial plan that includes lower taxes, a thorough investigation of mortgage lenders and Wall Street bankers, reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and the creation of a Resolution Trust type organization to manage the bailout.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Palin Rides Again

The dust from the Ifill-tainted Vice Presidential Debate has settled and Palin proved her mettle to many who thought she was out of her depth and in deep trouble. For the time being, at least, she has risen to the occasion. Now the Republicans, especially John McCain, must take off the gloves now and go in for the kill. He must connect Obama to losing the war against terror, the financial crisis created by the mismanagement of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in which Obama is inextricably linked, and Obama's association with disreputable characters whose dislike for the country is apparent. If you watched you already know that Biden fumbled his way through and Palin deftly moved the discussion to her advantage at every turn. Conservatives can only hope that McCain finally gets it. He will not get a break from a press that is in the tank for Obama. They do not like him and they will not be fair. The Democrats, who used to love McCain, hate him too. If you carefully examine McCain's bi-partisan efforts (McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy) you will see that he merely conceded 90-percent of his conservative principles to sign a liberal bill. Liberals gave up very little in those two bills as evidenced by the democratic 527 movement and the continued obstruction of immigration reform and the border fence. At any rate I hope someone on McCain’s staff can get through to him. He must press Obama on Tuesday. He must highlight Obama’s anti-American comments and ask for an explanation. He must explore Obama’s relationship with the Chris Dodd, Barney Frank and Franklin Raines, and their complicity in blocking reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. And last but not least, McCain must make Obama explain how he will change what he has called the “failed financial system of the last eight years.” In case you missed it that system is capitalism and it has made America the most prosperous and innovative nation in the world. Despite our current financial woes the poorest people in America live better than 75 percent of all the people in the world. McCain can not afford to think that Obama and his supporters will be fair. They will cut his throat if they get the chance. He must do the same.