DISQUS

HansBader Well, I did criticize the Bush Administration's use of torture in this blog, and elsewhere, repeatedly.

Alas, lawmakers of both parties were apprised early on about the use of coercive techniques, and they did not even object (according to the Washington Post), at least until after the Administration's popularity declined. Never mind that torture produces unreliable intelligence and bogus orange alerts. (By the way, "extraordinary rendition" began under Clinton). Don't assume that things would have been any different under an administration with a different ideology. The stupidity crosses party lines, unfortunately. The temptation to cut corners in intelligence gathering is always present.

Sue A. Masten READ your history. Carter implement the Community Reinvestment act in the 70's. Clinton supercharged it in the 80's and with the muscle arm or Rubin and janet Reno forced banks to lend to minorities, illegal alians and low income groups. Banks were not allowed to ask these groups for ID, credit checks or income checks. It was considered discriminatory. Fannie Mae and Freddit Mac was chartered to come in and buy these loans. The CEO and cronies all benefited unitl the SEC discovered the accounting fraud and fined them 500 million dollars. Bush, the Republicans , Greenberg and many others called the alarms and introduced legislation to increase the scutiney over these practices however it was the majority Democratic congress who voted against any oversight. Now they want to blame the current administration. I fault the republicans and Bush for not screaming loud enough and letting the public know. But know the Democrats, Dodd (can you say Countrywide bene's) and Franks and Pelosi want to point the finger the other way when they should be looking in the mirror. Now they want to give ACORN the very group who help to bring all of these minorities, illegals and low income groups to have loans they couldnt afford or qualify for more money to continue doing the same old bull. forget about your party allegiance. Throw all of the bums out. Obama is no better. He is aligned with ACORN, and votes 100% with his party- no change here. It is imperative that we go beyond our party beliefs and try to get to the truth. Why is it no one in the Democratic party is asking for investigation in how we got into this mess???

Sue A. Masten My brother had no job no credit and didnt actually own the property he managed to take a loan of $350,000 on. They didnt ask him for proof of anything. He much to my dismay had no plan on paying the mortgage, how could he he didnt have a job. he got about $150,000 out of the deal. Do your research- look into the Community Reinvestment Act iniatiated by Carter in the 70's, supercharged by bill clinton in the 90's. Rubin the Secretary of Housing changed the rules to force banks to make the sub-prime loans. Dont just listen to the talking heads of the media but do your own investigation. You have to ask yourself WHY ARE THE DEMOCRATS ALIGNING WITH BUSH NOW///.// They have added every pork barrel hope into this bailout like ornaments on a christmas tree. ask yourself why are they trying to give ACORN- a community activist group that has multiple charges of voter fraud and actively involved with Fannie Mae / Freddie Mac in giving loans to individuals who can never pay. Dodd and Franks want to guarantee groups like these 20% of any profit to continue doing the same things that got this country into this mess in the first place. AMERICANS need to stop listening to the career politicians and media and educate themselves.