patrick.net

freak80 says

How did he do that?

Keeping interest rates low, debasing the currency, bailing out the too-big-to-fail banks while letting their competition (small banks) go under, failing to enforce all the anti-fraud laws the banks broke, and all out punishing responsible renters and savers, the very people who are necessary to finally fix the housing market and allow everyone to move and move on with their lives.

Roberto's not worried.

Dan8267 says

Keeping interest rates low, debasing the currency

Isn't that Ben Bernanke's domain? I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just wondering.

Dan8267 says

bailing out the too-big-to-fail banks while letting their competition (small banks) go under, failing to enforce all the anti-fraud laws the banks broke

Agree, that was insane. We're basically a plutocracy run by the CEOs in Big Finance.

If the U.S. had debt laws like Dubai, we'd see houses parked hap-haphazardly at the airport.

freak80 says

Isn't that Ben Bernanke's domain? I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just wondering.

Technically, but monetary policy ultimately stems from the White House and Congress.

Bellingham Bill says

More than half that 39%....

don't even live in Louisiana, let alone show up in your irrelevant poll of LA Republicans who are unsure about the federal response to Hurricane Katrina (when Barack Obama was a U.S. Senator, not President). Gallup also found majority opposition to Obamacare.

Bellingham Bill says

if they just raise taxes to give us the subsidy, it's not a real cost savings.

Exactly. It's only more revenue for the patronage networks, and more federal power that can be further monetized.

freak80 says

Isn't that Ben Bernanke's domain?

Ben Bernanke was re-appointed by President Obama. Also the endless "helping homeowners" (actually banks) programs began or continued in the current administration - HAMP, MHA - in addition to continuing the pre-existing programs (FHA, Federal Home Loan Banks, MID). (In the medical sector, these would be called "pre-existing conditions," with the same goal of extending them as lucratively as possible.)

Recently the President proposed winding down Fannie and Freddie and making sure there won't be more bailouts. I hope he succeeds in doing that, which would reduce the risk of another collapse. Most of these problems began before President Obama arrived, so the issue has been "extend and pretend," shoring up a collapse with deficit spending and low interest rates. I hope he will solve the underlying problems, but as with healthcare, it's a tough job: most of the system is run by the people who make $ off the problems and want them to continue, and the Republicans tempt them with proposals that are even worse for everyone else.

curious2 says

but as with healthcare, it's a tough job: most of the system is run by the people who make $ off the problems and want them to continue.

Chris Rock: "Ain't no money in a cure. They're still mad about all the money they lost on polio!"

Call it Crazy says

And Obama outright insults the other 47%.... so isn't it standoff then???

Um, no he didn't. What the fuck are you talking about? Also, 100 minus 47 is not 47.

Call it Crazy says

Maybe to you....

Oh, sorry. I didn't know you were gay.

humanity says

Talk to us when you understand what a liquidity trap is.

Bellingham Bill says

[Now, if they just raise taxes to give us the subsidy, it's not a real cost savings.]

Depends who's getting taxed. The law taxes big business as well as conspicuous consumption, but not the middle class or the poor.

bgamall4 says

If the Russians believe that this is a false flag, watch out.

Watch out for what? What will happen, Gary? They send in their "aircraft carrier"?

The tape was doctored, asshole.
Same as 911....

Homeboy says

I mean, how fucking stupid do you have to be?

We need more wars!
Increasing profits for the Military Industrial Complex is good for our economy.

APO: "Why do you hate success?"

bgamall4 says

It all depends upon if they believe that Syria is crucial to their national interest.

So, what happens if they really-really believe that Syria is crucial? Come on Gary, spill the beans already.

Proxy versus proxy. No cheating, now.

I think we should end this thread on a positive note...

http://www.youtube.com/embed/eYN1ugv9mHo

bgamall4 says

They will first stop the UN from asking for an inspection of the areas where the gas was allegedly used.

That's it? How scary.

bgamall4 says

Straw Man says

That's it? How scary

Silly, that is a start. If they can't see if gas was used, the US cannot justify an attack or entrance into the war.

And this is bad exactly why?

If the US enters anyway, watch out. Russia will arm Assad to the teeth.

Russia is already arming Assad to the teeth. But let's not kid ourselves: if US enters Syria it will be lights out for Assad in 3 weeks tops. Probably less.

What would the US do if suddenly an ARMED army of protesters emerged, fed up with this and that, the Fed, the crony capitalism, globalization, gonzos hairdo whatever? Uh, they would label them terrorists, deploy their paramilitary forces and use ANY means necessary to squash the resistance, drones, fucking new fangled NSA weapons, maybe also some good ole bullets just gaitling gunned into everything that moves "Dorner-hunt style". Only AF & family would survive. And on what grounds do they want to police the world? Hypocrites. Four more wars! ;)

Straw Man says

Russia is already arming Assad to the teeth. But let's not kid ourselves: if US enters Syria it will be lights out for Assad in 3 weeks tops. Probably less.

The problem is that most of these leaders provided stability in the region, and once taken out clusterfuck central happens and far more basic human rights go out of the window than were missing before. The alternatives in those regions have been almost always proven to be worse, plus you have to add the count of innocent people killed during the toppling. What would US citizens & gov. do if some country declared the US an unfit regime and put boots on the ground (given they had the power to do so)?

Dubai at least have $20K French cognac shoot in restaurant, waiters have to live there as well.

mell says

Straw Man says

Russia is already arming Assad to the teeth. But let's not kid ourselves: if US enters Syria it will be lights out for Assad in 3 weeks tops. Probably less.

The problem is that most of these leaders provided stability in the region, and once taken out clusterfuck central happens and far more basic human rights go out of the window than were missing before.

No argument there. My response was to Gary "False Flag" Anderson who keeps hinting at some horrible response from Russia in case US goes into Syria. There is nothing Russia can do beyond what it already does. Which is not much, really.

bgamall4 says

Straw Man says

And this is bad exactly why?

That is good,

Why the "watch out" comment then? If anything we should embrace Russia's opposition to our involvement in Syria as a convenient cover. And pray that Samantha Power doesn't get involved, because Russia is no match to that broad.

If the US is trying to save lives they could have done a lot more with less money in Somalia this last year or two. It's all about the oil.

those jobs were bullshit anyways

jump straight to 2nd segment
http://video.pbs.org/video/2327953844/

bmwman91 says

Foreign purchases have fallen 30%, so now they make up 20-25% of all RE sales in the SFBA instead of 30-40%.

You want to document that? I'd be surprised if the number was as high as 10%.

I "served"in Iraq. Some "mission accomplished" there. Maybe for the oil companies.

They'll be hangin' from the helicopter skids in Afghanistan too, when we bug out and declare "victory".

marco says

I "served"in Iraq. Some "mission accomplished" there. Maybe for the oil companies.

They'll be hangin' from the helicopter skids in Afghanistan too, when we bug out and declare "victory".

Yup and the no bid defense companies like Halliburton-which is based out of Dubai now! I don't see why more young Americans have to die and get maimed for life, because some hellhole is trying to figure out how to live with themselves.

Speaking of going "full circle" .... how about vulture capitalism meeting up with the same result as communism? Where 1-2% at the top have and control everything, and give the stupid populace two levers to pull in elections that are meaningless. Poor George Orwell is turning in his grave, 'cause he wrote this ostensibly about communism ... never thinking ruthless vulture capitalism could eventually morf into the same result.

"Somehow it seemed as though the farm had grown richer without making the animals themselves any richer-
except, of course, for the pigs and the dogs."

-George Orwell, The Animal Farm

No difference between the two "parties" to speak of. Like Ron Paul said, "I'm still waiting for a second party in America". Here's what a black man (with a PHD in constitutional law) thinks of Obama:

".....we end up with a Republican, a Rockefeller Republican in blackface, with Barack Obama.... a black mascot of Wall Street oligarchs and a black puppet of corporate plutocrats.”

Dr. Cornel West
Princeton University

And here comes Hillary next. Oh I can't wait! Everyone that thought a black man could become President without being owned by criminal Banksters, criminal Wall Street thugs, and war criminal military industialists will now think that a woman who becomes President will be somehow different.

"Was there ever a people whose leaders were as truly their enemies as this one?"

-Ernest Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls

"Mama, she keeps them unprepared
To meet the enemy
That's comin' unto us
Teach them that evil dwells across the sea
Lives in a mountain
Like they see on TV

Down in the heart of town
The Devil dresses up
He keeps his nails clean
Did you think he'd be a boogeyman?"

Buffy St. Marie

Using this one weird old tip!

Real estate investment funds hate her!

You are forgetting that there is not enough oil in Syria for us to actually intervene.

Look at how the British, Russians, French and USA carved up the Middle East and created countries out of tribal areas. Each still lays claim to their territory. Just a bit of jockeying here.

How do you know if a buyer is a foreign resident or not? I know lots of people with foreign names and accents who own houses in sfba. But almost all of them came as students, worked, saved, then bought houses. And have either green cards or US citizenship. I know just a handful of people who came directly from overseas and bought. (fwiw mostly from Europe - and - these people have ended up living here more or less permanently. People might perceive this as good or bad. ).

My anecdote is not data either. But my point is that just because someone is named Zhang or Krishna doesn't mean that they are "foreign bagholders" as meant here.

Is there some report on how many foreign non-residents are buying? I'm honestly curious.

bgamall4 says

Read my ebook, False Flag Murdering Neocon Crazies

I'm sorry, but these people all had valid long-form birth certificates and never lost an ambassador to Libya on their watch.

BTW: How do we know you are who you claim to be? Whom do you answer to?

The reason I ask is that I detect a pattern in your diction which suggests an east-coast education and time served in a defense/NatSec bureaucracy. Are you a mole?

bgamall4 says

What is Qataris?

Qatar is a player in funding one side aligned with their version of Islam against the other. Mucho dineros. Like the Saudis.