http://www.katablog.com/ Life, Liberty and the pursuit of mice en-us Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:10:35 GMT Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:36:48 GMT Katablog.com http://www.katablog.com/rss.cfm kat@katablog.com kat@katablog.com http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=E879CC2C-EFD9-2007-F5370BDFA12E03F4 We all heard Barack Obama say that he would sit down with leaders of America's enemies without precondition - even though Obama has tried to backtrack on this (and many other) statements. Now read this:The Obama campaign's Muslim outreach director participated in a meeting in mid September that was attended by several controversial Muslim activists, NBC News has learned. The Obama campaign now concedes that was a misjudgment, and that its top Muslim staffer would not have attended the meeting if she had known the full participant list beforehand....One meeting attendee was Mahdi Bray of the Muslim American Society, several of the participants said. The MAS website describes Bray as an imam and long time civil and human rights activist. Bray's critics say he has a history of defending terrorists. They point to a video of Bray at a rally in 2000, for example, in which he can be seen pumping his fist in the air in support of the terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah. In a 2004 interview, he called the Israeli assassination of a Hamas spiritual leader an "unlawful, cowardly and dangerous act of state-sponsored terrorism."If anyone is left with doubts about Barack Obama, they need to only look at his relationships over and over. Even if a "mistake", what does this type of meeting (along with Obama's relationship with William Ayers) say about Obama's judgment. Politics Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:36:48 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=E879CC2C-EFD9-2007-F5370BDFA12E03F4 http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=E7A56B6D-0DBE-5236-5291E50E441CCA0A The Wall Street Journal asks why, that as Capitol Hill "investigates" Wall Street executives on the collapse of the banking system, it's Senator Chris Dodd asking the questions instead of answering them: Former Lehman Brothers CEO Dick Fuld was under oath Monday when he was grilled on Capitol Hill about his role in the current financial meltdown. But if Members really want to understand the credit mania, they should also call Chris Dodd. The Connecticut Senator has been out front denouncing the "companies that form the foundation of our financial markets," for "their insatiable appetite for risk." He has also decried "reckless, careless and sometimes unscrupulous actors in the mortgage lending industry" and he has proclaimed that "American taxpayers deserve to know how we arrived at this moment." To that end, we propose he take the stand  under oath. I'm sure many of the American people would like an answer to the same question.Dodd claims he didn't know he was getting sweetheart deals from Countrywide, but Robert Feinberg who headed Countrywide's "Friends of Angelo" program says this simply is not true."People are referred into that department as 'very important people.' You're told that your loan is priced from Angelo. As the 'Friends of Angelo department,' [the department] has to give them a sense of importance and explain the reduction of fees and the rate as a result of being a 'Friend of Angelo,'" he says. Well that and then there's the $165,400 in campaign contributions given to Dodd by Fannie and Freddie, while Dodd was the chairman of the committee that had oversight of Fannie and Freddie. Politics Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:44:49 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=E7A56B6D-0DBE-5236-5291E50E441CCA0A http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=E733ACA6-A29F-7262-3F4D041FDFF0E26F And no, this isn't small stuff. Apparently it's been going on for over 1 year and affects as many as 40 servers! In a frantic midnight e-mail to colleagues, the bank's senior technology manager referred to the situation as an "unprecedented crisis." In fact, it may be the worst security breach ever at a global financial institution. And it has left bank officials scrambling to try to understand the nature of the year-long cyber-assault, while also trying to keep the news from leaking to the public. Hint to President Bush: the World Bank can't stabilize the global economy when it can't even adequately protect its own servers. Turning things over to the World Bank is like expecting Barney Frank and Chris Dodd to solve the situation they put us in. Politics Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:40:35 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=E733ACA6-A29F-7262-3F4D041FDFF0E26F http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=E70F6EE1-C6E5-97BD-839F72D17237AD8B Andrew Cuomo, Bill Clinton's HUD Secretary, at a press conference on April 6, 1998, proudly bragging how the Clinton administration forced a bank to take on risky subprime loans. Politics Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:01:00 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=E70F6EE1-C6E5-97BD-839F72D17237AD8B http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=E6F6B947-A74D-D624-4794B40D962A1379 Pajamas Media carries an article that should explain to everyone just why a presidential candidate's relationships matter. Writer Rand Simberg first takes us through the Clinton administration and points out that if the media hadn't been so in the tank for Bill Clinton, Clinton's relationships and actions would have come as no surprise to the public and he might have even not been elected.When one only looks at one of Barack Obama's relationships at a time, it might be easy for him to spin why it shouldn't matter. But when one looks at all the questionable relationships (some of which Simberg doesn't even mention such as Jim Johnson and Franklin Raines), there's a pattern with the people with whom Barack Obama associates - they all advanced his career and therefore Obama associated himself with them regardless of their ideology or thuggish past. And then there is a pattern with Obama's responses to these relationships: There is a disturbing pattern to revelations of Senator Obama's unsavory associations. Whenever one is uncovered, it is minimized both by denying the depth of the relationship, and by denying that there is anything wrong with the associate. And this campaign spin is unfailingly reported by the media. As far as Obama's new claim that he thought William Ayers had been rehabilitated, Hot Air addresses why that dog won't hunt. Add to what Hot Air explains: would any person who loves America continue a relationship with a person (even if "rehabilitated") who tried to kill their own countrymen? What would the media say if John McCain had a long standing relationship with someone who bombed abortion clinics?Gateway Pundit also weighs in the on "rehabilitation" claim by Obama. Politics Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:34:01 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=E6F6B947-A74D-D624-4794B40D962A1379 http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=E3F25D1B-E5B6-6EDD-2D686D35E6E8D57C I'm Angry! shouts the man at the Town Hall meeting today in Wisconsin. Was McCain's answer to him strong enough? True, the crowd was distracting McCain with shouts of "ACORN, ACORN". Well ACORN is indeed a subject that must be addressed, but McCain needs to address more of the first gentleman's concern that socialists have taken over our country and We want it back!And speaking of ACORN House Republican leader John A. Boehner of Ohio escalated the war on ACORN today, calling for it to be cut off from all federal money and going so far as to call for a ban on ACORN contracting with candidates for federal office. Politics Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:30:23 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=E3F25D1B-E5B6-6EDD-2D686D35E6E8D57C http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=E35529DE-F530-309E-6575FB76F6671774 Everywhere I go on the Internet, I continue to see people in total denial as to what and who caused this economic crisis. Of course there's no one magic bullet that caused it and there's no one magic bullet to fix it; but one thing is for sure: sub-prime mortgages (mortgages offered to those who could not or would not pay with little down-payment investment from them)is at the heart of the sudden dive in the economy.I will paraphrase from an economic newsletter I read yesterday. Basically, banks have to keep a set amount of liquid assets based on the bank's credit worthiness rating and based on the number of outstanding liabilities they have. This varies based on the size of the bank and the rating of the bank.Banks that lend, lose their liquidity as the amount lent is a commitment until its paid back. If you lend to risky borrowers, your liquidity is dented further because no entity wants to buy that mortgage off your back. AIG stepped in and "insured" these risky loans so that banks could sell them off to other banks. The purchasing bank over estimated the value of these bundled mortgage loans - something AIG assisted in - and when the loans began to default, the banks holding them and AIG lost their quality ratings - and the house of cards began to crumble.AIG had no collateral for the insurance they issued, allowed because of their high rating. When their rating collapsed, AIG suddenly needed collateral it didn't have and therefore went into failure. Banks insured by AIG followed, since their insurance on risky mortgages were suddenly in danger and no one wanted their mortgages anymore. It was all a house of cards that had to come tumbling down and it did.Clinton pushed the Community Reinvestment Act that allowed, no, practically forced banks to make risky loans. Republicans such as John McCain and others voiced their concerns, as did Al Greenspan. A hearing was held and the Democrats fought valiantly to convince everyone that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were fine. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac made large contributions to those that defending them. Chris Dodd and Barack Obama were the highest beneficiaries of these contributions. In any other terms, it's called "payola" or "lobbying" but somehow it avoided notice by many of those that should have been watching the store.Those in Congress that either avoided getting involved when Greenspan, McCain and others raised the flags were busy doing their own business instead of the people's business. So yes, many people to blame - but without subprime lending and AIG insuring the subprime mortgages, there would be no bailout, no $700 Billion of the people's money being redistributed so corporations can live high on the hog and those that can't or won't pay their mortgages get relieve by the benefit of other people's money. Politics Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:38:41 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=E35529DE-F530-309E-6575FB76F6671774 http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=DFDF6BD7-06F9-E3C7-5EB66A1EFD13656D Say Anything Blog reports that Indianapolis Indiana now has a record in voter registrations.So we have 644,197 people eligible to be registered in Marion County/Indianapolis, and 677,401 people registered. Congratulations go to Indianapolis for having 105% of its residents registered! Boy they sure do know how to get out the vote! No wonder Obama paid them $800,000. Of course there are traces of ACORN in every battle ground state: Missouri Connecticut Ohio Florida Wisconsin and Nevada.I suppose besides being upset that my vote is diluted by this fraud, what really sticks in my face is that fact that this organization receives government (my tax dollars) so it can then commit voter fraud and attempt to steal elections.10/09/2008 UPDATEThe New York Post shows the Voter Fraud by Obama's favorite "get out the vote" group is even more rampant. As our commenter suggested, perhaps a bonus from Barack Obama is in order?Then drop over to IBD Editorials and see Barack Obama's association (which is far from casual) with ACORN. Of course, as with Rev. Wright, Rev. Phleger, William Ayers, Tony Resko, Frank Raines and Jim Johnson, we're sure that Barack Obama will call us racists for pointing this out and deny ACORN is the organization he once knew - and paid earlier this year. Politics Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:31:13 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=DFDF6BD7-06F9-E3C7-5EB66A1EFD13656D http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=D9E17817-9E44-1AD1-E40E273283E3A4EB Note who is declaring the crisis and who is denying it.Thank you Democrats. Due to your idiocy, we now owe trillions of dollars! Way to represent the people. Actually, we should start reducing that debt with your paychecks and the kickbacks you received while selling out the American people. Aren't you proud of yourselves? And you don't even have the fortitude to admit your failures. Politics Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:35:44 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=D9E17817-9E44-1AD1-E40E273283E3A4EB http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=D9957588-9F33-26E9-D82D99363A895ED2 Of course this isn't the first (and probably not the last) time that ACORN workers have been accused for fraud while working to get out the vote. Another problem with ACORN is that they are totally in the tank for Barack Obama and have received payments from his campaign along with its workers being trained by Obama several years back when he was a "community organizer".Nevada state authorities seized records and computers Tuesday from the Las Vegas office of an organization that tries to get low-income people registered to vote, after fielding complaints of voter fraud. Bob Walsh, spokesman for the Nevada secretary of state's office, told FOXNews.com the raid was prompted by ongoing complaints about "erroneous" registration information being submitted by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, also called ACORN. I think what is most galling is that ACORN works for one candidate yet receives a lot of government (US taxpayers') money. It's pretty ugly to have an election stolen with your own money. Politics Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:12:42 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=D9957588-9F33-26E9-D82D99363A895ED2 http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=D8EE4E9C-EF4D-559C-7F11601C7389F908 The New York Post informs us that we only "thought" we got ACORN out of the bail out bill. Yep folks, ACORN is going to get its way and here are your law makers at work, representing you their special interests. In its place, however, ACORN's favorite lawmakers - led by Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and Barney Frank (D-Mass.) - got ACORN-championed "foreclosure-mitigation" provisions into the rescue.This will radically expand the federal role in meddling with mortgage loans. The key sections mandate that the Treasury "consent" to rewriting loans to prevent foreclosures - not only by reducing interest, but also by cutting loan principal.Stuck with a $300,000 mortgage you can't pay? Get the government to wave its magic wand and cut your debt to $150,000.The deal is only for those who have fallen behind on their mortgages, of course - not for all you chumps who've been paying on time. and then: All this comes on top of the $5 billion ACORN-backed housing bill passed in July, which hands $600 million-plus to ACORN and similar groups to bail out homeowners under water and help countless more risky loan prospects.During the floor debate on Friday, Reps. Frank and Waters assured Democratic colleagues that they had personally lobbied Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson on these measures and would press him to consent to "do the kind of loan modifications we've been urging."Waters exulted: "We're in charge! . . . We own them now." That's it! The same people who cause the mess are now "in charge" with $850 Billion of taxpayers' money on the line. And of course, one last word from none other than Barney Frank: If the banks and others that collect payments on these distressed mortgages don't write down enough loan principal to keep Rep. Frank happy, he threatens hearings and new legislation next year. More over at IBD Editorials. Politics Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:10:08 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=D8EE4E9C-EF4D-559C-7F11601C7389F908 http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=D78E14CE-ACF6-5616-DEA999503DAB512C As you know, we conservatives all went nuts over McCain FINALLY fighting back on Obama's campaign's contention that the economy crisis is all the fault of the Bush Administration and Republicans deregulation. So how does the LA Times handle this news breaking story? Patterico tells us.How did the L.A. Times cover McCain's stunning speech taking on this core economic concern?By pretending McCain never said it, and by quoting Barack Obama talking about how McCain is scared to talk about the economy. Politics Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:45:24 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=D78E14CE-ACF6-5616-DEA999503DAB512C http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=D7897582-0357-96F9-50B76FA8880E0824 Yep, even CNN has decided its time to expose Barack Obama's true relationship with Ayers. While there are clips throughout the video of the Obama campaign denying the relationship, the overall video debunks those denials. Politics Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:40:22 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=D7897582-0357-96F9-50B76FA8880E0824 http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=D550A24D-D96A-E41B-612BA0E352EA9757 Earlier today we asked just how it is that Democrats dare to try to blame the Bush Administration and Republicans for the financial meltdown and the need for a $850 billion bailout. McCain finally responds. This video needs to be seen by everyone before they vote.If Barack Obama's lack of recognition and inability to take responsibility for failed policies isn't enough to get you fired up, how about this little piece of garbage from none other than Barney Frank?"The bizarre notion that the Community Reinvestment Act . . . somehow is the cause of the whole problem, (conservatives) don't mind that," the lawmaker said. "They're aware that the affordable-housing goals of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (and) the Community Reinvestment Act (aim to help) poor people. And let's be honest, the fact that some poor people are black doesn't hurt either from their standpoint." So basically you are a racist if you want financial institutions to stop lending money to people without jobs and the ability to pay the loan.To Mr. Frank I say: I couldn't care less their color Barney, I only care that they have jobs and can afford to pay for that which they take a loan on. With idiots like Frank on the Hill, nothing will change other than you and I will continue to pay for people's lack of responsibility - including that of Frank and Barack Obama who refuse to admit where the problem began. Politics Tue, 07 Oct 2008 03:19:03 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=D550A24D-D96A-E41B-612BA0E352EA9757 http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=D53FA566-A91E-60AF-118B16969609BDE8 Last week there was a story about some bogus Obama donors discovered. Reports showed that several donors, using obviously phony names had made multiple small donations totaling way over the limit allowed for individuals. Well, it's happening again. Of course CBS quickly protects Obama by reporting that he's giving it all back. The problem really is that small donations (under $200) are not tracked as carefully as larger donations. Donations made over the Internet could come from just about any source, including foreign countries.Note that those who gave more than the limit seemed to think it was just a trite little, funny matter. Web Design Tue, 07 Oct 2008 03:00:30 GMT http://www.katablog.com/display_blog.cfm?bid=D53FA566-A91E-60AF-118B16969609BDE8