Lawmakers reverse bailout votes

This comment is long but worth your time. I am so proud of my representative, Jim McDermott, who was the only congressman to change his vote from "Yes" on Monday to "No" on Friday. I paid $2.50 to fax him a letter on Thursday begging him to change his vote and am so proud to be an American, despite being down about the overall outcome. Friends, the future of our democracy is in jeopardy. Greed on the part of both the rich and the poor got us to this critical juncture, and in voting to pass this $800 billion+ bailout Congress has given in to both groups. The new law is an existential threat to our democracy. The richest 1% control the banks, insurance, lobbying groups, HMOs, large media outlets, government contractors and think tanks. Their advocates write legislation and store it in office safes, waiting for "crises" to get the American public and corrupt congressmen to vote money and contracts into their hands. And their man Paulson will now happily give them $700 billion in taxpayer money. A New York Times article today apologizes that conflicts of interest will be "inevitable." Thanks, Tribune Co. The poor are just as dangerous, if they decide to make taxpayers bail them out just like the banks. Parts of America just forced their fellow Americans to pay $100 billion(!) for their bad decisions. Barack Obama was influential in the House vote because he made a compelling case that he will "stand up" for the poor by making sure their mortgages get paid. In this sense Obama (bless him) is just as dangerous as Paulson. Maybe McDermott is as good as they get, he seems to listen to his constituents and sponsors life-saving HIV legislation for Africa. John Locke wrote that democracy requires a strong middle class to survive. Aristotle also wrote that democracy can only survive as long as the people don't decide to just vote themselves money. Now the rich just duped Joe taxpayer into giving them $700 billion, and the poor chose to make Joe taxpayer pay $100 billion more. We're bleeding from two different self-inflicted wounds, my friends, and we have to swallow some bitter medicine to save ourselves. Fortunately there are enough educated voters that we still have a chance. Write your congressman! Tell him / her to stop our bleeding at $250 billion in bailouts! If they voted "yes" for the bailout, vote them out of office on November 4th! Regardless of who becomes President, make sure they have to listen to you, the taxpayer, by becoming an activist! And pay your taxes. I love our country and am ready to fight to keep my freedom. Join me! Get engaged, vote but don't just wait for November 4th. Do it with a letter, do it with a sign, do it with a blog, do it over a beer. Nothing is inevitable, nothing is impossible in our great country. God bless you, let's take responsibility and take back our future. Today. Our situation is desperate. Richard, graduate student, Seattle

Historic, Monumental, Shameful. Legal framework for rewarding greed, incompetence, immaturity and luck of accountability. The situation was known for years, but our financial elite not only did nothing, they got their bonuses, golden parachutes, as they had encourage all of us through telemarketing to borrow more and more from the housing bubble. That was considered part of productivity! Alas! They were sure of the bailout...as they are in control of WDC. Of course all of us who fell into the trap we are accountable and we will be paying for it 'now and for ever'. It is beyond the presidential candidates. It makes no difference to both of them. The fate of the land lays with the congressmen. They need to feel the pressure and minimise the risk now!

It is time we citizens begin the process of amending the Constitution to include term limits. I say "enough" of the idiocy and havoc that career politicians have wreaked on our country. Both parties are guilty - both parties are looking to blame the other - both parties were in bed with the gluttons on Wall Street. Both parties will not return to forgetting about those of us who are stuck with the bill. Join with me to return the government to the people - Support the Constitutional Amendment to include Term Limits.

Richard, a $250 billion is OK? Why? Don't we still have to pay for it? Isn't it just smaller?

I cannot imagine that constituents of every congressional district across the country with representatives who voted YES on this bill, will not vote the bums out at the very first opportunity. Surely, the voters themselves are not as stupid and corrupt as their elected representatives?

They just don't get it. This bandaid is nothing. Plato said: "We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark.The real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light!"

A couple of observations: 1. Barney Frank as the point man? He's probably the most culpable for this mess in the first place beginning with his resurrection of the CRA back in the '90's. His now-famous YouTube video says alot about his knowledge on this subject. 2. I have always been against term limits in the past preferring voters to throw the bums out. Unfortunately, today's voters don't seem to have the savvy to do it. Maybe they're blinded by pork projects - I don't know. I always tell my reps that pork doesn't impress me. If the Feds are spending money on local projects it tells me too many tax dollars are going to Washington. I guess we do need term limits after all.

An Obama election would unquestionably mean that the 700$ billion bailout package is simply an INITIAL installment on Obama's intended reparations payments to our African American population. As you will recall, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) voted overwhelming "AGAINST" the initial bailout proposal; but, after assurances by Obama to a prominent CBC member that, if elected, he would direct government officials to write-down the principal on inner-city delinquent mortgages, thirteen members of the CBC conveniently switched their bailout votes from "No" to "Yes". In other words the advertised feature of a promised re-coupment of the entire or at least a major portion of the bailout expense when the housing market recovered, which prompted conservative members of the congress, essential to its passage, to sign-on to the bailout legislation would prove to be a "total farce" under Obama. "Jawbone" Biden let Obama's hidden agenda "slip" during the VP debate when he stated that Obama intended to not only reduce interest payments on defaulting mortgages; but, "to as well write-down the principal". The apple doesn't fall very far from the tree. Obama, whose father was born into privilege, served as the Senior Economist for a corrupt Kenyan Government; and, advocated a: "100% taxation and repossession of land and property against the will of the rightful owner". An ideology that some call Communism; and, which was explicitly sanctioned by Obama with his proclamation: “It was into my father’s image . . . that I’d packed all the attributes I sought in myself.” Obama's Marxist principles are re-enforced by his 20+ year immersion in "Black Liberation Theology" thru his membership in Jeremiah Wright's church; and, its reliance on the foundation teachings of the Ideologies guru, James Cone, who wrote: "Marxism, as a tool of social analysis, can disclose the gap between appearance and reality, and thereby help Christians to see how things really are." There can be no rational argument countering the fact that Obama is the most far-left-radical EVER nominated by a major political party. His election would represent the obituary on an America as we now know it. Greg Neubeck

Democrats and organizations like ACORN forced Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Banks to meet a quota of sub-prime mortgages or pay big penalties. So to comply with their quotas they made mortgages affordable by using schemes like: "100 percent financing . . ." "No down payment . . ." "Interest only loans . . ." "No income . . . "No job . . ." "No assets . . ." "No credit scores . . ." "Low credit scores . . ." "No SSN required . . ." "ITIN identification accepted . . ." "Undocumented income . . . even if you don't report it on your tax returns . . ." WHAT CAUSED OUR ECONOMIC CRISIS?? http://www.nypost.com/seven/09292008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/os_dangerous_pals_131216.htm?page=0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RZVw3no2A4

I'm probably older than most of you and seen allot.I am assamed of my country and most of my fellow americans.I served this nation all my adult life.Americans know not of what they've lost!I've been around the world and seen how others live.We have no alledgence to this country anymore.Nobody speaks english or has any intention of learning.People don't even know who the vice president is.Our leaders continue to go against the will of the people i.e. "the bailouts" and Immigration.I just e-mailed my representatives to let them know they have lost me and my families vote.I am beginning to dislike many things about my country that I used to love.Isn't it shameful when congress can be "bribed" for their vote?Isn't it shameful when people vote for someone simply because of party,gender,or the color of their skin?We are a nation divided and on the verge of losing our once great nation!I've seen first hand what we've lost.I could go on with why but would probably go on deaf ears.If I could encourage you to do one thing-VOTE THESE INCUMBENTS OUT and demand future representatives do what's really right for this country and not "their" future.Please dear God help us help ourselves!

THEY LEARNED FROM HISTORY AKA how to get Iraq vote.. even if citizens did not. Nearly all of this.. start to finish a mimic of the Irag "use of force" fiasco, down to the nitwit networks and others scaring public with less then the facts.. Just a matte of time before "closing scripts active" . The part where the pol's say: "Had I known this is what would happen I;d not have voted for it" . and media will say "We sure dropped the ball on that one". Fully predictable partisan fools will send the same that robbed us back..as they vote "party line". regardless via dumbed down herd mentality. We can expect taxes to go up, mo matter who gets in.. and with the 2005 or so "ARM-Adjustments" blowing up, AKA like now.. we can fully expect the same folks will drag out same script about 2009-10.. NO ONE knows how much spending congress went through last few weeks..as it was more like rabid dogs fighting over bones the "capitalism at work". I for one will NOT vote for anyone that went along.. as when OUR officals say about $700BIL PLUS.. "Not sure it will work"... it seems the end is close for usa.. and not a shot fired.. just someone called the Bonds. Yep, congress,wh and media.. Iraq Econ Ver 2.0. and the public drooled and went for it..now to busy with "big games" to bother.. until the REALLY big game starts up.. AKA 1920-30's.. again..Yep be sure to vote party line and send them back..my guess same mentality used by other herd animals.. follow the Judas Goat... Ver 2.0...

Shoplifting a $10 item is a crime. What do you call a $700 billion massive default that doesn't happen over night, it is cumulative and suddenly is surfaced 40 days before the election? There is a conflict of interest and Premeditated extortion. Home owners need a bailout. The bankers need to pay for their mistakes!

The banks made some mistakes, but it was the liberal hacks who forced banks to make those loans or face charges of redlining or discrimination that are mainly responsible. Barak Obama, working as a lawyer for ACORN in Chicago was part of it. YES, THAT IS HIS COMMUNITY ORGANIZING EXPERIENCE - A LAWYER FOR THE CORRUPT ACORN group now under indictment or already convicted of vote fraud in over a dozen states.