[Praxeologue]

I have been sending articles such as the attached to friends today. I believe too many think that the sky is falling. Finger pointing aside, this is happening on the Republican watch and voters think of it as such. Therefore, McCain should be explaining the situation, perhaps in the attached terms, to the public. McCain needs to demonstate leadership. At the moment, the public is bewildered. There is a trust vacuum and McCain had better fill it or the Left will. Even Barney Frank was singing Paulson's song this afternoon. The public needs the non-falsetto version from McCain ASAP.

[xcamel]

Problem is you are dead wrong - it didn’t happen on a “republican watch” - Remember who has been in charge of the House and Senate the last 2 years? Remember who dreamed up the CRA? Remember who has been protecting Fannie and Freddie from any investigations or even basic oversite functions?

McCain is throwing us under the bus.

[Tublecane]

The housing bubble has not caused a recession. I have no reason to believe it alone could cause another Great Depression. What could cause a depression is pumping more credit down the sinkhole. You do not recover from a speculative bubble by expanding credit. That’s like trying to extinguish a fire by throwing more fire on it.

[Tublecane]

“The U.S. government is likely to make a profit from these actions.”

Oh boy. Does that mean they’ll stop taxing us and just invest money they print from now on?

[who_would_fardels_bear]

CDS = SOL

The Masters of the Universe have leveraged us into oblivion.

[proxy_user]

I wonder about this myself.

If the market can say these things are worth full price and be wrong, it is entirely possible that the market can say they are worth 22 cents on the dollar and be wrong.

Very possibly, the guys who paid 22 cents to Merrill Lynch will make a handsome profit.

The problem with the government buying them is that they’ll be too soft-hearted to realize full market value by throwing out the existing mortgagee and selling the property at a market-clearing price.

[Iron Munro]

The government will end up with the worthless paper.

If these investments were ultimately going to make someone a big profit would the lending institutions be so eager to offload them?

Instead of a bailout wouldn't they be content with a bridge loan to get them by until the big profits start rolling in?

Let's be honest - congress and the wall street fat cats have run our financial system into the red and this is nothing but a scam to bail them both out.

There is no pot of gold waiting for taxpayers - in fact, if some serious changes aren't made the only thing waiting for us down the road will be another bailout.

Instead of crafting plans to do congress's dirty work for them President Bush should be publicly pressuring them to make changes to stop the hemorrhaging and to remedy the problem without giving away money our children and grandchildren will be earning.

[Candor7]

The government plan to buy mortgage-backed assets from financial institutions is likely to be a win-win.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Buahahahahhahahha!

A win -win to the tune of about $24,000 dollars per US taxpayer ( those of us who actually pay taxes.)

Yep! Thats a real win all right!

I haven't paid a cent yet and already I want my money back!!!!! I'll take stock from AIG for bailing it out, thank you very much.Issue the shares in my name: John Q. Public.

[ctdonath2]

Bottom line: I have to contribute at least $7000 to this bailout.
F that S.

[The Duke]

....and I guess the Martians are going to bail out the US gubbmn’t?

[AndyJackson]

The essence of the problems plaguing the U.S. economy (as discussed in the August 18 Big Picture column) is housing.

Idiot is talking out his donkey. The essence of the problem is a perfect storm of highly leveraged debt, with a even more leveraged provided through a tightly interlocked system of derivatives to ensure that a snowball in one sector turns into an avalanche that takes down the whole mountain. That is why Bernanke and Paulson are panicking, and not because some folks might lose their homes.

[mysterio]

The bailout plan is socialism. Do we or do we not believe in conservatism? Seriously.

[Rudder]

Cool

NO BAIL OUT!

[Swing_Thought]

McCain couldn’t be more wrong on this issue. He needs to repudiate the bailout plan and get on the right side of this or he’s gonna lose fiscal conservatives.

Regular folks who take care of their finances, didn’t make or take any of this risky paper, and worry about the fiscal future of this country are not gonna vote for McCain if they don’t see a difference between the candidates.

And at the moment, on this issue, there is no difference.

[VOA]

Why the Rescue Plan Can Work

As a NON-economist, I pray that it does.

As a realist...and if it fails...
I'll spend my last $25 for pay-per-view to see Triumph the
Comedy Insult Dog Poop on it.

And as many of the co-planners that can be rounded up before
they flee to Costa Rica.
And other extradition-proof havens.

[TomasUSMC]

IT WILL BE A WIN FOR THE FINANCIAL ESTABLISHMENT AND FOR GOVERNMENT
//////////////////
No mention of the People

Remember of by and for THE PEOPLE.

KILL THE BAILOUT

[TigersEye]

It will be a win for financial institutions because it would finally provide a legitimate buyer for mortgage-backed assets.

The taxpayers?

It will be a win for the government because these assets are trading well below their intrinsic value.

By intrinsic he means the "inflated by phony lending practices" value?

The government could make a large profit.

It sure won't be the taxpayers. IF the government ever makes a profit the Dems will call it a SURPLUS and spend it before they even collect it.

[Lurker]

Just Say No to Government 'Bailouts'.

End of story.

L

[TigersEye]

Even Barney Frank was singing Paulson's song this afternoon.

Being that the name of the song is "We're a gonna cover all yer lyin' thievin' arses" I guess ole Barney Fwanks would just love that tune.