<a href=”http://majorityinms.com/2010/09/20/childers-no-one-wanted-to-vote-for-hcr-as-much-as-i-did/” target=”_blank”><b>Travis Childers</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.atr.org/dina-titus-launches-false-attack-ad-a5362#” target=”_blank”><b>Dina Titus</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.newhampshirelakesandmountains.com/Articles-c-2010-04-07-150941.113119_Rep_Carol_SheaPorter_faces_hostile_crowd_in_Alton.html” target=”_blank”><b>Carol Shea-Porter</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/another-lobbyist-in-dc-no-thanks” target=”_blank”><b>Ann Kuster</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/36986.html” target=”_blank”><b>Harry Teague</b></a>

<a href=”http://capitaltonight.com/2010/09/patakis-first-target-john-hall/” target=”_blank”><b>John Hall</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.uticaod.com/news/x1985976445/2-building-leases-bring-income-for-Arcuri-firms” target=”_blank”><b>Michael Arcuri</b></a>

<a href=”http://larrykissellfacts.com/” target=”_blank”><b>Larry Kissell</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0710/39513.html” target=”_blank”><b>Earl Pomeroy</b></a>

<a href=”http://townhall.com/columnists/JillianBandes/2010/04/01/open_season_on_democrats_steve_driehaus_ohio” target=”_blank”><b>Steve Driehaus</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.redstate.com/moe_lane/2010/06/17/the-mary-jo-kilroy-d-oh-15-timeline-of-lies/” target=”_blank”><b>Mary Jo Kilroy</b></a>

<a href=”http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2009/03/zack_space_caught_driving_with.html” target=”_blank”><b>Zack Space</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vlc43_Z9Dcc&feature=player_embedded” target=”_blank”><b>Kathy Dahlkemper</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.thebulletin.us/articles/2010/09/18/commentary/letters/doc4c95703571797390976412.txt” target=”_blank”><b>Bryan Lentz</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.bucksright.com/patrick-murphy-in-yet-another-campaign-donation-scandal-3060″ target=”_blank”><b>Patrick Murphy</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.dumpchriscarney.com/” target=”_blank”><b>Chris Carney</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0907/5667.html” target=”_blank”><b>Paul Kanjorski</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAlRnlQ1Bng&feature=player_embedded” target=”_blank”><b>John Spratt</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.dakotavoice.com/2010/07/herseth-sandlin-reflects-south-dakota-values-not/” target=”_blank”><b> Stephanie Herseth Sandlin</b></a>

<a href=”http://tncwatch.com/2010/04/roy-herron-effectively-supports.html” target=”_blank”><b>Roy Herron</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/earmarks.php?cid=N00005794″ target=”_blank”><b>Chet Edwards</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.woai.com/mostpopular/story/Caught-on-Tape-Congressman-Ciro-Rodriguez-loses/ClVM1hFEW0e1WfA-fG7w5g.cspx” target=”_blank”><b>Ciro Rodriguez</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/dirty-money/Rep_-Glenn-Nye_-D-Va_-85092702.html” target=”_blank”><b>Glenn Nye</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH7KdOxi5rk” target=”_blank”><b>Tom Perriello</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.atr.org/denny-heck-campaign-caught-telling-lies-a5380″ target=”_blank”><b>Denny Heck</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.wvablue.com/diary/5793/mike-oliverios-dangerous-plan-for-law-enforcement” target=”_blank”><b>Mike Oliviero</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iTEwwxmDF0&feature=player_embedded#!” target=”_blank”><b>Julie Lassa</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/29317924.html” target=”_blank”><b>Steve Kagen</b></a>

<a href=”http://theattackmachine.wordpress.com/2010/07/28/no-debate-in-al-05-race-for-congress/” target=”_blank”><b>Steve Raby</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/08/17/2043803/ami-bera-returns-contribution.html” target=”_blank”><b>Ami Bera</b></a>

<a href=”http://babalublog.com/2010/09/joe-garcia-fidel-castro-too-close-for-comfort/” target=”_blank”><b>Joe Garcia</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/mar/07/seven-year-statehouse-run-ending/” target=”_blank”><b>Trent Van Haaften</b></a>

<a href=”https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/pacrecips.php?ind=Q02++&goButt2=Submit” target=”_blank”><b>Stephene Ann Moore</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.pa2010.com/2010/08/john-callahans-anti-job-agenda-has-him-at-odds-with-former-president-clinton/” target=”_blank”><b>John Callahan</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.bkennelly.com/vox/archives/4878″ target=”_blank”><b>Jon Hulburd</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.quayleforcongress.com/?p=846″ target=”_blank”><b>Jon Hurlburd</b></a>

<a href=”http://conservablogs.com/bluecollarmuse/2010/07/26/10-progressive-nightmare-candidates/” target=”_blank”><b>Stephen Pougnet</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/dennis-ross-congressional-rival-lori-edwards-resign-elections-commissioner” target=”_blank”><b>Lori Edwards</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20100825/ARTICLES/100829580/1212?Title=Lone-Democrat-draws-fire-from-GOP” target=”_blank”><b> Ravi Sangisetty</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/245403/facebook-nation-brian-bolduc” target=”_blank”><b>Pat Miles</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.minnesotademocratsexposed.com/2010/05/10/breaking-wheres-tarryl-clark/” target=”_blank”><b>Tarryl Clark</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.truthabouttom.com/” target=”_blank”><b>Tom White</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20100908/NEWS01/9080334/29th-Congressional-race-Reed-says-Zeller-using-Massa-playbook” target=”_blank”><b>Matthew Zeller</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.nrcc.org/default.asp?id=274&newsid=1061″ target=”_blank”><b>Paula Brooks</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2010/08/11/news/srv0000009064983.txt” target=”_blank”><b> Manan Trivedi </b></a>

<a href=”http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/Imperiled-Democratic-Candidate-Urges-Pelosi-to-Step-Aside-as-Speaker_46699106″ target=”_blank”><b>Brett Carter</b></a>

<a href=”http://techrights.org/2010/09/05/former-softies-become-politicians/” target=”_blank”><b>Suzan Delbene</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.hawaiifreepress.com/main/ArticlesMain/tabid/56/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/1920/Fireworks-dirt-and-stolen-trucks-Colleen-Hanabusa-and-the-Honolulu-Raceway-Deal.aspx” target=”_blank”><b>Colleen Hanabusa</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=400985″ target=”_blank”><b>Robert Dold</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/12/state_rep_cedric_richmonds_law.html” target=”_blank”><b>Cedric Richmond</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37207.html” target=”_blank”><b>Lisa Murkowski</b></a>

<a href=”http://biggovernment.com/capitolconfidential/2010/09/07/boxer-tied-to-dubious-waters-cash-for-endorsement-scheme/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BigGovernment+%28Big+Government%29″ target=”_blank”><b>Barbara Boxer</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.gopsenators.com/coloradans-slammed-with-higher-health-care-costs-thanks-to-bennet” target=”_blank”><b>Michael Bennet</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/elections/ct-met-giannoulias-bank-loans-20100401,0,5574130.story” target=”_blank”><b> Alexi Giannoulias</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.redstate.com/bs/2010/08/12/robin-carnahan-loves-her-some-bailout/” target=”_blank”><b>Robin Carnahan</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.factcheck.org/2010/06/hodes-deletes-truth-in-nh-senate-race/” target=”_blank”><b>Paul Hodes</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/election/fisher-struggling-to-keep-in-senate-race-872993.html?showComments=true” target=”_blank”><b>Lee Fisher</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2010/07/commentary_joe_sestak_finds_ro.html” target=”_blank”><b>Joe Sestak</b></a>

<a href=”http://articles.latimes.com/2006/aug/20/business/fi-nevada20″ target=”_blank”><b>Harry Reid</b></a>

<a href=”http://gretawire.blogs.foxnews.com/dems-are-polling-whether-to-send-scott-mcadams-money-and-who-is-scott-mcadams/” target=”_blank”><b>Scott McAdams</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/us-rep-kendrick-meek-tied-to-failed-poinciana-park-project-fraud-case/1095113″ target=”_blank”><b>Kendrick Meek</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/gop-investigation-puts-party-misspending-on-charlie-crist-jim-greer/1122348″ target=”_blank”><b>Charlie Crist</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.kentucky.com/2010/08/18/1396978/republicans-criticize-jack-conway.html” target=”_blank”><b>Jack Conway</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=16360″ target=”_blank”><b>Patty Murray</b></a>

<a href=”http://politics.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/07/06/russ-feingold-faces-unexpectedly-tough-race.html” target=”_blank”><b>Russ Feingold</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/05/20/2010-05-20_voters_arent_gonna_take_these_lame_excuses_lying_down.html” target=”_blank”><b>Richard Blumenthal</b></a>

<a href=”http://blogs.wvgazette.com/coaltattoo/2009/05/14/joe-manchin-jim-justice-and-coal-mine-safety/” target=”_blank”><b>Joe Manchin</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/09/17/days-decidedem-candidate-comes-scrutiny-delaware-race-bidens-old-senate-seat/” target=”_blank”><b>Chris Coons</b></a>

<a href=”http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704206804575467592717163602.html” target=”_blank”><b>Ron Wyden</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Gillibrand-defends-vote-to-preserve-ACORN-funding-550245.php” target=”_blank”><b>Kirsten Gillibrand</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/staten_island/what_wa_te_vCWWpZgrVFYYtnpgDSGOzN” target=”_blank”><b>Mike McMahon</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnXWJk9WR30″ target=”_blank”><b>Scott Murphy</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.redstate.com/moe_lane/2009/11/06/rep-bill-owens-d-ny-23-breaks-his-word-on-the-public-option/” target=”_blank”><b>Bill Owens</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.unitedliberty.org/articles/6830-heath-shuler-avoids-constituents” target=”_blank”><b>Heath Schuler</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.lifenews.com/state4913.html” target=”_blank”><b>Charlie Wilson</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.bettysutton.org/” target=”_blank”><b>Betty Sutton</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfuNPBJQ-JQ&feature=player_embedded” target=”_blank”><b>Kurt Schrader</b></a>

<a href=”http://thepennsylvaniaprogressive.com/diary/2268/mark-critz-caught-lying” target=”_blank”><b>Mark Critz</b></a>

<a href=”http://mybadrep.wordpress.com/2010/04/15/the-myth-of-the-blue-dogs/” target=”_blank”><b>Lincoln Davis</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/rick-bouchers-campaign-buys-him-a-car-103062634.html” target=”_blank”><b>Rick Boucher</b></a>

<a href=”http://hotair.com/archives/2010/06/11/video-dem-rep-ends-up-with-egg-on-his-face-in-bernanke-hearing/” target=”_blank”><b>Gerry Connolly</b></a>

<a href=”http://factcheck.org/2010/04/a-false-tax-attack/” target=”_blank”><b>Rick Larsen</b></a>

<a href=”http://townhall.com/columnists/BrianWalsh/2010/09/10/2010_race_of_the_day_ann_kirkpatricks_failed_policies_in_arizona” target=”_blank”><b>Ann Kirkpatrick</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HMgUaPeVsw&feature=player_embedded” target=”_blank”><b>Harry Mitchell</b></a>

<a href=”http://townhall.com/columnists/BrianWalsh/2010/07/05/2010_race_of_the_day_golden_state_needs_a_little_red” target=”_blank”><b>Jerry McNerney</b></a>

<a href=”http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2010/09/in-colorado-once-safe-democratic-rep-may-find-that-all-politics-isnt-local.html” target=”_blank”><b>John Salazar</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.northerncoloradoteaparty.com/blog/2010/08/22/betsy-markey-the-bailout-queen/” target=”_blank”><b>Betsy Markey</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.libertycentral.org/is-allen-boyd-running-away-from-constituents-2010-08″ target=”_blank”><b>Allen Boyd</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.clickorlando.com/politics/23982225/detail.html” target=”_blank”><b>Alan Grayson</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.wesh.com/video/25089997/detail.html” target=”_blank”><b>Alan Grayson</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXyFTCzWiQI&feature=player_embedded” target=”_blank”><b>Suzanne Kosmas</b></a>

<a href=”http://dyn.politico.com/members/forums/thread.cfm?catid=1&subcatid=1&threadid=1525047″ target=”_blank”><b>Jim Marshall</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.redstate.com/erick/2010/09/17/debbie-halvorson-goes-with-the-nazi-card/” target=”_blank”><b>Debbie Halvorson</b></a>

<a href=”http://mchenrycountyblog.com/category/bill-foster/” target=”_blank”><b>Bill Foster</b></a>

<a href=”http://chronicle.augusta.com/opinion/editorials/2010-04-05/what-he-doing-congress?v=1270419978″ target=”_blank”><b>Phil Hare</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngS8jNj73k0″ target=”_blank”><b>Baron Hill</b></a>

<a href=”http://theiowarepublican.com/home/2010/04/15/endangered-species-blue-dog-leonard-boswell/” target=”_blank”><b>Leonard Boswell</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.nrcc.org/default.asp?id=274&newsid=302″ target=”_blank”><b>Frank Kratovil</b></a>

<a href=”http://jennerationx.com/2010/09/stupak-mcdowell-ignorant-of-the-constitution/” target=”_blank”><b>Gary McDowell</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlmj9-RD84s” target=”_blank”><b>Mark Schauer</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/142814/how_rep._mike_ross_made_$1.5_million_from_the_health_industry,_then_proceeded_to_sabotage_reform” target=”_blank”><b>Mike Ross</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.bluegrasspundit.com/2010/03/water-for-obamacare-votes.html” target=”_blank”><b>Dennis Cardoza</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.thenextright.com/ironman/this-guy-wants-to-tell-ct-5-who-to-vote-for” target=”_blank”><b>Christopher Murphy</b></a>

<a href=”http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2010/04/16/a-brief-jolt-john-barrow-among-those-who-used-the-boss-as-a-fund-raising-tool/” target=”_blank”><b>John Barrow</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF0_jJRXPhQ” target=”_blank”><b>Melissa Bean</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.iowapolitics.com/index.iml?Article=207416″ target=”_blank”><b>Bruce Braley</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.salem-news.com/articles/april272010/military-pain-ms.php” target=”_blank”><b>Dave Loebsack</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.jeffersonreview.com/2010/08/who%E2%80%99s-radical-why-john-yarmuth-must-be-defeated/” target=”_blank”><b>John Yarmuth</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.flipcongress2010.com/chellie-pingree-voting-corruption.html” target=”_blank”><b>Chellie Pingree</b></a>

<a href=”http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/minnesota_democrat_caught_lying_about_combat_service_in_afghanistan/” target=”_blank”><b>Tim Walz</b></a>

<a href=”http://gatewaypundit.firstthings.com/2010/08/it-begins-radical-far-left-pelosi-democrat-russ-carnahan-claims-hes-a-fiscal-conservative-in-campaign-flyers/” target=”_blank”><b>Russ Carnahan</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoBp8u3DYQ8″ target=”_blank”><b>Rush Holt</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ospNRk2uM3U” target=”_blank”><b>Carolyn McCarthy</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/dirty-money/Rep_-Dan-Maffei_-D-N_Y_-83209772.html” target=”_blank”><b>Dan Maffei</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/rep-bob-etheridge-cant-just-listen-constituents-til-cows-come-home” target=”_blank”><b>Bob Etheridge</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.zimbio.com/Congressman+Mike+McIntyre/articles/WEmvXcguc0L/Mike+McIntyre+funnels+money+Pro+Abortion+candidates” target=”_blank”><b>Mike McIntyre</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.thenextright.com/soren-dayton/or-1-david-wu-wont-read-bills-or-answer-questions-about-them” target=”_blank”><b>David Wu</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/r/17973307/detail.html” target=”_blank”><b>Jason Altmire</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.pagop.org/news/Read.aspx?ID=3651″ target=”_blank”><b>Tim Holden</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.rifuture.org/the-sodexho-scandal-enough-to-send-cicilline-et-al-to-the-cianci-suite-at-the-fort-dix-hilton.html” target=”_blank”><b>David Cicilline</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700015782/While-other-Democrats-return-Rangel-dollars-Matheson-says-he-spent-it.html” target=”_blank”><b>Jim Matheson</b></a>

<a href=”http://sisu.typepad.com/sisu/2010/05/do-i-look-fat-in-this-obamacare-amendment.html” target=”_blank”><b>Ron Kind</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.fireandreamitchell.com/2010/08/26/not-so-bright-sick-and-desperate-democrat-bobby-bright-of-alabama-jokes-that-nancy-pelosi-might-get-sick-and-die/” target=”_blank”><b>Bobby Bright</b></a>

<a href=”http://townhall.com/columnists/JillianBandes/2010/06/21/open_season_on_democrats_immigration_on_the_front_lines” target=”_blank”><b>Gabrielle Giffords</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.flashreport.org/blog0a.php?postID=2010032605190254&authID=2005081622025042&printMe=1″ target=”_blank”><b>Jim Costa</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/dirty-money/Rep_-Loretta-Sanchez_-D-Calif_-8260702-59672887.html” target=”_blank”><b>Loretta Sanchez</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/columns/Dirty_Money/Dirty-Money-Watch-Rep-Ed-Perlmutter-59429232.html” target=”_blank”><b>Ed Perlmutter</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SypbLxYhqa8″ target=”_blank”><b>Jim Himes</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.nrcc.org/default.asp?id=274&newsid=1616″ target=”_blank”><b>John Carney</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hik9DHcOeiI&feature=related” target=”_blank”><b>Ron Klein</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.theloop21.com/news/yet-another-black-congressman-accused-giving-scholarships-family” target=”_blank”><b>Sanford Bishop, Jr.</b></a>

<a href=”http://politicalgame.blogspot.com/2010/03/walt-minnick-you-dont-know.html” target=”_blank”><b>Walter Minnick</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAEkw2nGb_k&feature=channel” target=”_blank”><b>Joe Donnelly</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.bluegrasspundit.com/2009/08/rep-ben-chandler-d-ky-is-missing.html” target=”_blank”><b>Ben Chandler</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.redstate.com/rottitoo/2010/09/18/incumbent-gary-peters-d-disrepects-women-and-slams-the-tea-party/” target=”_blank”><b>Gary Peters</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4140″ target=”_blank”><b>Ike Skelton</b></a>

<a href=”http://biggovernment.com/author/mroman/” target=”_blank”><b>John Adler</b></a>

<a href=”http://www.nrcc.org/default.asp?id=274&newsid=2108″ target=”_blank”><b>Martin Heinrich</b></a>

Newsbusters has an article from the New York TImes circa 1999, detailing one of the real reasons we are facing this lending meltdown:

In a move that could help increase home ownership rates among minorities and low-income consumers, the Fannie Mae Corporation is easing the credit requirements on loans that it will purchase from banks and other lenders.

The action, which will begin as a pilot program involving 24 banks in 15 markets — including the New York metropolitan region — will encourage those banks to extend home mortgages to individuals whose credit is generally not good enough to qualify for conventional loans. Fannie Mae officials say they hope to make it a nationwide program by next spring.

Fannie Mae, the nation’s biggest underwriter of home mortgages, has been under increasing pressure from the Clinton Administration to expand mortgage loans among low and moderate income people and felt pressure from stock holders to maintain its phenomenal growth in profits.

Oh, my my my. Seems this is not really the Bush administration’s fault at all. Looks like this mess started under Clinton. In 2003, Bush and McCain wanted to change things, but Barney Frank told everyone that it was all good:

The Bush administration today recommended the most significant regulatory overhaul in the housing finance industry since the savings and loan crisis a decade ago.

Under the plan, disclosed at a Congressional hearing today, a new agency would be created within the Treasury Department to assume supervision of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored companies that are the two largest players in the mortgage lending industry.

The new agency would have the authority, which now rests with Congress, to set one of the two capital-reserve requirements for the companies. It would exercise authority over any new lines of business. And it would determine whether the two are adequately managing the risks of their ballooning portfolios.

The plan is an acknowledgment by the administration that oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac ”which together have issued more than $1.5 trillion in outstanding debt” is broken. A report by outside investigators in July concluded that Freddie Mac manipulated its accounting to mislead investors, and critics have said Fannie Mae does not adequately hedge against rising interest rates.

from the same article:

“These two entities, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are not facing any kind of financial crisis,” said Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts, the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee. “The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing.”

Representative Melvin L. Watt, Democrat of North Carolina, agreed.

“I don’t see much other than a shell game going on here, moving something from one agency to another and in the process weakening the bargaining power of poorer families and their ability to get affordable housing,” Mr. Watt said.

It is this meddling in the free market that has caused this crisis, this socialist redistribution of wealth. Since they did welfare reform in 1996, they had to find another way to redistribute wealth. And once again, socialism has failed. Stop blaming free enterprise when the businesses were just doing what the government was telling them to do.

This is unreal. All I have been hearing about is how much America needs this $700 billion bailout, that the economy is going to collapse if it isn’t passed. Oh, there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth if it isn’t approved by this Friday.

One question: how did they arrive at $700 billion for the bill?

“It’s not based on any particular data point,” a Treasury spokeswoman told Forbes.com Tuesday. “We just wanted to choose a really large number.”

I can’t make this stuff up.

Are you familiar with the #dontgo movement? This is kinda like the “#dontbother” movement.

McCain had phoned Reid to ask about the prospects of him, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and others to sit down and work together on hammering out a bipartisan proposal.

“Sorry,” Reid said to him, a Democrat close to Reid says.

Reid then read McCain the statement he had just put out: “This is a critical time for our country,” says the Reid statement. “While I appreciate that both candidates have signaled their willingness to help, Congress and the administration have a process in place to reach a solution to this unprecedented financial crisis. I understand that the candidates are putting together a joint statement at Sen. Obama’s suggestion. But it would not be helpful at this time to have them come back during these negotiations and risk injecting presidential politics into this process or distract important talks about the future of our nation’s economy. If that changes, we will call upon them. We need leadership; not a campaign photo op. If there were ever a time for both candidates to hold a debate before the American people about this serious challenge, it is now.”

Senator Harry Reid is telling two sitting senators not to come back to Washington to do their jobs. Not only two sitting senators, but the leaders of the two parties, the two people who should have the most influence over the effort.

And the debate statement is misleading at best. The debate on Friday is about foreign policy, not economics. Reid knows that but is counting on the ignorance of Americans to support his claim.

Why do you think Harry Reid is so adament that McCain and Obama not do their jobs?

Gordon Felt, president of the Flight 93 family group that supports the crescent shaped memorial, offered a nice summary statement of the heroism of Flight 93:

They had some forewarning and they chose to take action.

“It’s that citizen soldier, heroism message,” he said “that we want to get out and memorialize their actions.”

Mr. Felt also has forewarning of an enemy plot, but he and the other defenders of the crescent design are choosing not to act. They are displaying a perfect anti-spirit of Flight 93.

According to Flight 93 Advisory Commission member Tim Baird, they all know that all of our basic claims about the crescent design are accurate: the Mecca orientation of the giant crescent; the 44 translucent blocks that are to be placed along the flight path, etcetera. Yet they and their allies in the press are doing everything in their power to keep the public from knowing what they know.

Example 1: PA paper reports Mecca orientation controversy, omits its own verification of the Mecca orientation of the crescent.

In last week’s anniversary coverage of the 9/11 attacks, the Johnstown Tribune Democrat noted the controversy over the orientation of the crescent. We say it points to Mecca. The Park Service denies it:

The project also has been dogged by complaints spearheaded by California author Alec Rawls that the memorial points to Mecca and is a veiled tribute to the Islamic terrorists – a claim family members and developers maintain has been investigated and refuted.

What reporter Kirk Swauger fails to mention is that he himself fact-checked the Mecca-orientation claim last year, and published his findings:

Rawls maintains that the midpoint between the tips of the crescent points almost precisely toward “qibla,” the direction to Mecca, which Muslims are supposed to face for prayer.

His claims seem to be backed up by coordinates for the direction of qibla from Somerset that can be found on Islam.com. When superimposed over the crescent in the memorial design, the midpoint points over the Arctic Circle, through Europe toward Mecca.

This is the only instance in three years now where any news organization has ever published any fact-checking of our easy to fact check claims about the memorial design. Alec has several times emailed Kirk’s published confirmation of the Mecca-orientation to every newsdesk in Pennsylvania and to every reporter covering the memorial story. They ALL know about it. Yet even Kirk continues to present the Mecca orientation claim as a “he said, she said” conflict, without letting his readers know that he has verified the Mecca-orientation for himself (and this isn’t the first time he has made this omission).

If Mr. Swauger really wanted everyone to forget his confirmation of the Mecca-orientation, he could just avoid any mention of the orientation of the crescent at all. Alec’s best guess is that Kirk is being held back by Tribune Democrat editor Chip Minemyer, who has tried to sweep the memorial controversy under the rug from day one, but the reporters are also neck deep. Several have suggested that to investigate and report on the accuracy of our claims would be taking sides. Of course that phony “scruple” would disappear in a second if the facts showed our criticisms to be bogus.

Example 2: Gordon Felt himself misled the public about the 44 blocks.

The Crescent of Embrace design, now called the (broken) Circle of Embrace, calls for a total of 44 inscribed translucent memorial blocks to be placed along the flight path. (There were forty passengers and crew on Flight 93 and four terrorists.)

In trying to get this information out to the public, we need to be brief, so “44 inscribed translucent memorial blocks” sometimes gets shortened to “44 glass blocks,” or “44 blocks.” Asked last spring about the 44 blocks, Gordon Felt declared it a lie:

Opponents also claim there is a plan to have 44 glass blocks — for the 40 victims and four hijackers — in the design.

“That’s an absolute, unequivocal fabrication that is being portrayed as fact,” said Edward Felt’s brother, Gordon Felt, president of Families of Flight 93. “It’s misleading and helps drive the conspiracy theory.”

But he follows this denial with a footnote, indicating that he knows full well that there will be 44 memorial blocks:

Felt said the names of the passengers and crew will be placed on the memorial, but no final decision has been made on how they would be displayed or on what material.

In other words, he is nit-picking over our occasional description of the blocks as “glass blocks,” when they might not all be technically made of glass.

As Alec’s original report to the Memorial Project made clear, 43 of the blocks are described in the design drawings as “polished, translucent white marble”:

Click pic for larger image.

The lower section of wall, on the left, contains forty of the “translucent white marble” blocks or panels (backlit at night), inscribed with the names of the forty heroes. The upper section of wall, on the right, contains three more blocks, inscribed with the 9/11 date.

That upper section of wall, by the way, is centered on the bisector of the giant crescent, placing it in the exact position of the star on an Islamic crescent and star flag. Thus the date goes to the Islamic star. The date goes to the terrorists.

Here is the 44th block on the flight path. It marks the upper crescent tip, where according to the Park Service’s own website, the flight path symbolically breaks our (Christian) circle, turning it into the giant (Mecca oriented) crescent. A clearer depiction of al Qaeda victory is hard to imagine, and it all comes together right here:

At the end of the Entry Portal Walkway (after the walkway symbolically “breaks” the towering Entry Portal Walls) sits a large “glass memorial plaque” that dedicates the entire site.

This 44th translucent block on the flight path marks the spot where the terrorists symbolically broke our harmonious circle and turned it into a giant Islamic shaped crescent. To be inscribed: “A field of honor forever.”

Gordon Felt knows ALL of this, and is trying to keep the public from knowing. It’s as if someone on Flight 93, hearing from the ground that airplanes had crashed into the Trade Towers, insisted to the other passengers that NO airplanes had crashed into the Trade Towers.

Apparently grief has made these people crazy. They have forewarning, and are struggling with all their might to keep others from being forewarned as well.

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Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party for President of the United States of America:

The Libertarian Party Candidate admonished me for “remaining neutral” in the presidential race and not stating whom I will vote for in November. It’s true; I have done exactly that due to my respect and friendship and support from both the Constitution and Libertarian Party members. I remain a lifetime member of the Libertarian Party and I’m a ten-term Republican Congressman. It is not against the law to participate in more then one political party. Chuck Baldwin has been a friend and was an active supporter in the presidential campaign.

I continue to wish the Libertarian and Constitution Parties well. The more votes they get, the better. I have attended Libertarian Party conventions frequently over the years.

In some states, one can be on the ballots of two parties, as they can in New York. This is good and attacks the monopoly control of politics by Republicans and Democrats. We need more states to permit this option. This will be a good project for the Campaign for Liberty, along with the alliance we are building to change the process.

I’ve thought about the unsolicited advice from the Libertarian Party candidate, and he has convinced me to reject my neutral stance in the November election. I’m supporting Chuck Baldwin, the Constitution Party candidate.

Bob Barr who? McCain wha?

Well, off the top of my head, I don’t know that a candidate has ever done this before, but John McCain has suspended his campaign for POTUS:

America this week faces an historic crisis in our financial system. We must pass legislation to address this crisis. If we do not, credit will dry up, with devastating consequences for our economy. People will no longer be able to buy homes and their life savings will be at stake. Businesses will not have enough money to pay their employees. If we do not act, ever corner of our country will be impacted. We cannot allow this to happen.

Last Friday, I laid out my proposal and I have since discussed my priorities and concerns with the bill the Administration has put forward. Senator Obama has expressed his priorities and concerns.This morning, I met with a group of economic advisers to talk about the proposal on the table and the steps that we should take going forward.I have also spoken with members of Congress to hear their perspective.

It has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the Administration’ proposal. I do not believe that the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands, and we are running out of time.

Tomorrow morning, I will suspend my campaign and return to Washington after speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative. I have spoken to Senator Obama and informed him of my decision and have asked him to join me.

I guess it helps to have friends in the ACLU:

The state Libertarian party initially put a local presidential contender on its nomination papers. The party said officials at the Massachusetts Elections Division said they could substitute a national candidate later.

John Reinstein, legal director of The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, said state election officials later rejected the party’s requests to substitute national Libertarian candidate Bob Barr for the local nominee, George Phillies.

The ACLU sued and Judge Nathaniel Gorton agreed that the state rules for substituting a name were too vague and ordered Barr’s name put on the ballot.

So what does this mean to the McCain campaign? I think it means that he won’t win Massachusetts. I know, it’s hard to believe that a Barr candidacy could do that, but believe it. McCain will not win Massachusetts. Bank on it.

In March, 1778, MSNBC ran one of their famous non-biased television segments on Valley Forge. The transcript follows.

Keith Olbermann: Welcome to MSNBC Live. We’re back for another non-biased television segment on the Revolutionary War. Today, we’re live at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Right now, we’re going to go down to MSNBC correspondent David Shuster. David, over to you.

David Shuster: Thanks Keith. I’m standing here right now with a soldier in George Washington’s “army”. Private, what are your views on the war?

Soldier: I…

Shuster: Do you believe that the war is a failure?

Soldier: Well, I think the war is a positive…

Shuster: Obviously, my friend here is a little tongue tied here on national television. I think what he’s trying to say is that we’re in a positive mess, and the soldiers are feeling it. Soldier, do you agree that the Washington Administration is full of ineptitude?

Solider: I…

Shuster: Thank you for your thoughts, soldier. Back to you, Keith.

Olbermann: Thank you David. We’ll break here for a short ad break. When we come back, more unbiased MSNBC coverage of Valley Forge.

(roll ads)

Olbermann: And we’re back, with more live unbiased coverage. Joining me now is Tucker Carlson, MSNBC Senior Campaign Correspondent. Tucker, you know a lot about this war, being a senior correspondent. What do you think of the leadership?

Tucker Carlson: First of all, I’m a Federalist. I don’t know what you consider Federalist, but I’m not much of a Republican. By my criteria, Washington isn’t much of a Federalist.

Olbermann: Really? That’s interesting. Now, there’s talk that Washington might run for president, and I heard you wouldn’t vote for him. Am I correct?

Carlson: I think the Revolutionary War was a major mistake.

Olbermann: Thank you Tucker. Now, I’m going to talk about Washington. Recently, MoveOnOutOfYourDadsBasement.org released an ad attacking General von Steuben, calling him a foreign pig who needs mental help. General Washington called it “disgusting” and was upset that more “Democrat Party leaders didn’t speak out against this”. First of all, it’s the Jeffersonian Democratic-Republican Party. You keep pretending you’re not a politician, so stop using words your party made up. Show a little respect. Additionally, if the shoe fits, wear it. General von Steuben is an incompetent foreigner. Anyway, I’m done. More unbiased reporting coming up.

(roll ads)

Olbermann: We’re now here with Governor George Bryan of Pennsylvania, a staunch anti-federalist. Governor, what do you think of our wonderful coverage of the war?

George Bryan: Mr. Olbermann, the coverage of George Washington is embarrassing. That’s all I can say.

Olbermann: Are you insinuating that we’re BIASED! That we’re…

(roll ads)

(off camera, Olbermann is heard screaming four letter words. It’s a long ad break.)

Chris Matthews: We apologize for the inconvenience. Mr. Olbermann had to leave on very short notice, so I’ll fill in for him. Governor Bryan, what were you saying?

Bryan: All I want to know is this: does MSNBC oppose Washington?

Matthews: Not officially.

(roll ads)

(off camera, a door slams. The governor screams in pain, and is silent.)

Matthews: And we’re back, with more unbiased MSNBC coverage. We apologize, as the governor had to leave on official business. We’re joined by former Federalist Congressman and current MSNBC contributor, Joe Scarborough.

Joe Scarborough: Glad to be here.

Matthews: What is your opinion on Washington’s intelligence?

Scarborough: I think George Washington is in a league by himself. I don’t think he has the intellectual depth as these other people.

Matthews: A good league?

Scarborough: No.

Matthews: Would you say he’s in the same league as, say, Bill O’Reilly?

Scarborough: He’s a Federalist suck-up.

Matthews: Aren’t you a Federalist?

Scarborough: Yes I am.

Matthews: Then he’s in your league?

Scarborough: I don’t engage in Crossfire-type debates.

(Scarborough walks off the set to go burn Laura Ingraham tapes.)

The Democrats have conceded defeat in the struggle to limit drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts:

House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, D-Wis., told reporters Tuesday that a provision continuing the moratorium will be dropped this year from a stopgap spending bill to keep the government running after Congress recesses for the election.

Republicans have made lifting the ban a key campaign issue after gasoline prices spiked this summer and public opinion turned in favor of more drilling. President Bush lifted an executive ban on offshore drilling in July.

“If true, this capitulation by Democrats following months of Republican pressure is a big victory for Americans struggling with record gasoline prices,” said House GOP leader John Boehner of Ohio.

Let’s get to drilling then, folks. Wait, probably not. The measure is being put off until the next president is elected. If you were an oil company, would you want to start investing billions on an off shore drilling rig, only to have Obama and a Democrat run Congress to pull the rug out from underneath you?

If McCain is elected it is likely that rigs might start showing up, but I wouldn’t imagine that we’ll see any before November.