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Is Fannie Mae's Implicit Guarantee In Danger?


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2008 Feb 5, 12:33am   11,334 views  165 comments

by Patrick   ➕follow (60)   💰tip   ignore  

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Fannie Mae has the implicit backing of US taxpayers. That is, Fannie Mae, a private company, assumes that US taxpayers will be forced to bail it out no matter how many bad loans it buys from banks.

But the guarantee was always implicit, never written down and specifically agreed to. Is it possible that Fannie Mae will go bankrupt, and Congress will have the courage to refuse to put middle class taxpayers on the hook for ultra expensive mortgages in California and New York?

What happens then?

Fannie Mae has very little cash of its own, but is just a conduit for packaging loans into mortgage-backed bonds. It is the holders of those bonds who will suffer the losses.

#housing

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54   OO   2008 Feb 5, 8:50am  

I just got a reply from CR, he thinks the Channel Island purchases could be explained by Oil exporters because there have been some buying from the Middle East coming from tax havens before.

He referred me to consult with Brad Setser, who seems to be the expert in this field.

55   DinOR   2008 Feb 5, 9:51am  

HK,

Excellent point of the airline/railroad model of perpetual insolvency. I don't know about 20% down but you're right, without at least some cushion the slightest ripple will look like a tidal wave. I'm coming around to your way of thinking.

56   northernvirginiarenter   2008 Feb 5, 10:06am  

Asia and Europe markets head south, emergency rate cut coming. Prediction: Markets likely yawn, no up move on news. Or maybe Ben recognizes the potential yawn, which itself might be damaging creating perception of impotent fed. Probably they let it slide deep this time before any action.

Everybody recognizes it's not working.

I heard some analysts saying that if the Fed eases to 1.75% that this will essentially rescue and bottom housing. I think NOT.

I once had relations with a Manx (isle of man) trollop in Galway Ireland, many moons ago. Amazing legs and interesting view of the world. I don't think she is buying any treasuries. I think she may have given me crabs.

57   HelloKitty   2008 Feb 5, 10:34am  

this show called 'buy me' is on HGTV, people trying to sell crapshacks.

this lady refused to sell her home for 185k, wanted 200k so she declines offer and pulls it off to 'wait fer spring'. ive seen this so much, whats the word for this pulleroffNwaitferspring? Ive noticed the majority of listings (2 out of 3) have been expired/pulled off not sold.....gotta be a few years of pent up sellers.....and they are all going to relist _right_ about _ now_.

58   northernvirginiarenter   2008 Feb 5, 11:22am  

HK,

There are so many townsfolk out there that are waiting for the turnaround that is not coming. All these people that get their primary information from MSM sources alone, and that now understand it's bad but "we'll sell 'er when she turns around, it's always does". Yes, but not this spring, not next, and not the one after that, or even probably the one after that. And by the way, your cost of living will have skyrocketed 70% by that time.

It's so easy to forget that even now the masses have no idea what's going on, or what's coming.

And agreed, it will be amazing to see the spring both the spring inventory increase and the REIC's attempt to cover and spin it.

59   surfer-x   2008 Feb 5, 11:28am  

I'd like to be the first to congratulate President McCain.

60   DennisN   2008 Feb 5, 11:43am  

I have a very racist friend back in CA....

I called him up and told him that the reddest-state in the union went 75% to 25% for Obama.

He then told me he just got back from the polls and he voted for Obama. Racist guys have voted in great majority for a NIGG..er rather than HillBilly.

61   Peter P   2008 Feb 5, 12:11pm  

I’d like to be the first to congratulate President McCain.

The McCain-Huckabee combination will be unstoppable.

62   HelloKitty   2008 Feb 5, 12:55pm  

So between McCain and Mrs. Bill Clinton who would bankrupt the country fastest with further deficit spending?

McCain with the disastrous 100 year Iraqcupation boondoggle or Mrs Bill Clinton with healthcare free for all plus nationalization of all mortgages. If Billary didnt want to bail out the mortgage industry I would have more respect for her.

63   coretexity   2008 Feb 5, 1:05pm  

Take this, Bay Area:

http://infotech.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2759230.cms

Cisco to up India headcount to 360,000

[ TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 05, 2008 06:15:20 PM]

MUMBAI: To increase its talent pool in India, IT networking major Cisco System India Pvt Ltd has decided to increase its headcount six fold to nearly 360,000 in the next five years.

The IT giant has announced a series of initiatives to nurture networking professionals, which would translate to an addition of nearly 360,000 engineers within the next five years.

....

64   PermaRenter   2008 Feb 5, 1:06pm  

>> Cisco to up India headcount to 360,000

Yes, take this shitty bay area ...

65   Peter P   2008 Feb 5, 2:10pm  

McCain with the disastrous 100 year Iraqcupation boondoggle or Mrs Bill Clinton with healthcare free for all plus nationalization of all mortgages.

I am all for ending the Iraq war reasonably but it is arguable that welfare is more evil than warfare.

66   Peter P   2008 Feb 5, 2:11pm  

I am a fan of India but the South Asia sub-continent does not look very stable.

67   surfer-x   2008 Feb 5, 2:14pm  

I am not a fan of India, smelly dirty place.

Lets see, our choices are

Boomer big ass white woman,
Boomer Brother
Boomer Cult member
Boomer big eye'd freak
or War hero.

Me, I'll take the war hero.

68   surfer-x   2008 Feb 5, 2:18pm  

Perhaps some McCain slogans

"I was getting beaten by Charlie when she was gettin high and sucking dick"

"I was voting in the Senate when her husband was gettin high and gettin his dick sucked"

69   Peter P   2008 Feb 5, 2:37pm  

Surfer, what about the non-Boomer medical doctor?

70   Peter P   2008 Feb 5, 2:38pm  

But anyway, congrats to President McCain!

71   surfer-x   2008 Feb 5, 3:27pm  

Peter P, King of Sashimi, non-Boomer M.D.? Hmmm.

I must say that Fred Thompson did a really good job as the D.A. in Law and Order, certainly he would make a gdod President, especially if he had that hot blonde assitant D.A. as Veep.

but then again there's always Gopher from the love boat.

72   EBGuy   2008 Feb 5, 4:24pm  

I’ll take the war hero.
Thus far, [the Silent Generation] are the only generation from which no president of the United States was ever selected.

X-man, have you seen the PBS show Boomer Century? I am still having nightmares. Let's see if I can sum up the finances section: one third well off, one third destitute, one third "What, me worry?". The narrator ends by saying Boomers could continue to have a world changing impact as they age... or, just maybe, they could turn inward and totally screw the generations following them. Oh, its different this time all right... I fear we could be entering the neverending selloff (not to finish until 2046, the end of the Boomer Century).

73   SP   2008 Feb 5, 5:00pm  

surfer-x Says:
“I was getting beaten by Charlie when she was gettin high and sucking dick”

How drunk would a guy have to be to let _that_ happen? http://tinyurl.com/34qzz6

74   Paul189   2008 Feb 5, 9:56pm  

@ HelloKitty,

This country is already bankrupt - now it is just a matter of degree!

75   DinOR   2008 Feb 6, 1:47am  

"one third well off, one third destitute"

Make no mistake, regardless of where they fall economically (the drugs were evenly dispersed!)

Sorry EBGuy, "Boomer Century" ends when we SAY it ends! If you listen at all to Dick Morris (former Clinton adviser) everyone else is ALREADY tired of them! Look how well Obama did last night? White guys voting for a black dude rather than giving their vote to Hillary. In state after state. Whether or not you're an Obama guy (that HAS to be encouraging)

76   anonymous   2008 Feb 6, 2:10am  

McCain-Huck might be the best of all possible tickets.

I didn't vote in the primary yesterday but if I had I'd have voted Osama-Yomama if I could, because I want him to get the nomination instead of Hitlery.

Then it comes down to: McCain and Huck win, yey
Or, Osama-lama-dingdong wins in which case I get to say "It's not my government, do I look like a N- to you?" lol.

It's a win-win.

77   skibum   2008 Feb 6, 2:29am  

RE: McCain-Huckster, I'm down wit McCain, but the Huckster is lame. Who the hell wants a bible-thumping ex-fatso for pres? What kind of a image of Americans does that send out to the rest of the world?

On the other hand, it couldn't be worse that Bill Clinton's image.

78   HiThere   2008 Feb 6, 2:32am  

I am all for Obama......his "CHANGE" campaign is gaining traction and I would not be surprised to see him getting the nomination.

79   Peter P   2008 Feb 6, 2:38am  

This country needs more faith-based programs. So long as we are not ruled by priests, I prefer to have a Christian government.

We need a counter balance to the "religion of peace." I rather have my children worship JC.

80   skibum   2008 Feb 6, 2:45am  

This country needs more faith-based programs. So long as we are not ruled by priests, I prefer to have a Christian government.

We need a counter balance to the “religion of peace.” I rather have my children worship JC.

Then have you and your kids keep it to yourselves. I don't see how you consider your self libertarian-leaning and reconcile wanting government-sponsored religious programs? It's hypocritical.

81   Peter P   2008 Feb 6, 2:51am  

I do not even consider myself religious. But if we are not vigilant, other religions will promote themselves here. Before long, we will see people getting stoned (not the boomer kind of stoned) for non-crimes.

82   skibum   2008 Feb 6, 2:53am  

I do not even consider myself religious. But if we are not vigilant, other religions will promote themselves here.

So, you're arguing promoting one religion in particular (Christianity) merely to prevent other "worse" religions from gaining traction?

Actually, your concerns should make you even more an advocate for separation of church and state.

83   DinOR   2008 Feb 6, 2:57am  

@skibum,

The bible-thumpin' I could live without but I applaud anyone that get's a handle on their weight problem. In that regard I think it is a good example for many Americans.

Hey all you people clogging up the h/c system (and your arteries) I used to be a slob and you can change too! :)

84   DinOR   2008 Feb 6, 2:58am  

"religion of peace" LOL!

I've heard it described as the Religion Of Perpetual OUTRAGE!

85   Peter P   2008 Feb 6, 2:58am  

Actually, your concerns should make you even more an advocate for separation of church and state.

Sure. And I am positive that no candidates will change that.

However, we do want someone who is vigilant.

We do not want to end up like UK:

http://tinyurl.com/384lat

86   Peter P   2008 Feb 6, 3:05am  

I have a weight problem too...

87   surfer-x   2008 Feb 6, 3:11am  

Peter P, you do not have a weight problem, you have a height problem.

88   surfer-x   2008 Feb 6, 3:12am  

BTW, I voted for Obama. Forgot Kalifornia was a closed primary, whoops, modified closed.

89   anonymous   2008 Feb 6, 3:18am  

OMG that kid is cute!! "foking niggoes" lol!!! Her parents are raising her right.

And I have to agree with PeeterPee - we need a right-wing Christian government in the US and the US needs to abandon this namby-pamby "all religions are welcome" BS or we'll end up like Europe, in imminent danger of being swallowed up by the enemy.

Hell I'm not even Christian but I'd rather have to go to Church every Sunday or at least once in a while than lose my country. Hell yeah I'm OK with Muslim activities being reportable by the neighborhood watch and with politicians having to be Christians and even having to tithe.

90   Peter P   2008 Feb 6, 3:25am  

Peter P, you do not have a weight problem, you have a height problem.

It is an aspect-ratio issue after all.

ESR, all truly peaceful religions should be welcomed. We just need to be very vigilant.

91   Peter P   2008 Feb 6, 3:34am  

Obama is actually quite likable.

92   HelloKitty   2008 Feb 6, 3:41am  

Jared from subway commercials would be a better candidate than huckabee. What an inspiring guy!

93   Peter P   2008 Feb 6, 3:48am  

Is McCain-Lieberman a distinct possibility?

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