Posts Tagged ‘Barney Frank’
Posted by Larry Doyle on February 26th, 2010 6:22 PM |
Is it any surprise that the next drawdown in a multi-billion dollar ongoing bailout gets posted at 5pm on a Friday afternoon? Not in this economy where Uncle Sam, that’s you and me boys and girls, continues to pay for the woefully mismanaged financial and legislative practices of those in Washington.
The gutless typically prefer to operate under a veil of darkness.
I am referring to the sinkhole that is the organization known as Fannie Mae, as it comes back to the well for another $15 billion. Bloomberg highlights this ongoing bleeding in writing, Fannie Seeks $15 Billion in U.S. Aid After 10th Straight Loss:
Fannie Mae, the mortgage-finance company under federal conservatorship, said it will seek $15.3 billion in aid from the U.S. Treasury after posting a 10th straight quarterly loss. (more…)
Tags: Barack Obama, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Daniel Mudd, Fannie Mae, Fannie Mae losses, Fannie Seeks $15 Billion in U.S. Aid After 10th Straight Loss, Franklin Raines, housing, Housing Crisis, housing policy, John Kerrey, Mortgage Crisis, Mortgages
Posted in Fannie Mae, General | 3 Comments »
Posted by Larry Doyle on January 5th, 2010 4:39 PM |
If you wonder why America is broke, look no further than the individual who wanted to roll the dice on sub-prime lending, that is the Democrat from The People’s Republic of Massachusetts, Barney Frank. In an interview this morning on CNBC, Frank as much admits that maybe sub-prime lending should have been more regulated. Wow! What balls!
America doesn’t need legislators who operate by looking in the rear view mirror. With the sole exception of Frank’s remark in support of auditing the Fed, he offers platitudes that can only be compared to a social misfit. In fact, as I watched this clip, I constantly envisioned Barney collecting tickets and serving soda at a local theatre . . . said with all due respect to ticket takers and soda jerks.
For Barney Frank to effectively absolve himself of the massive and corrupt bankrupting of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae is a sin. For America not to hold him accountable is a greater sin.
This clip runs 18 minutes. WARNING: Barf bags highly recommended!
LD
Tags: Barney Frank, Barney Frank interview on CNBC January 5 2010, Barney Frank on auditing the Fed, Barney Frank on Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, CNBC interview with Barney Frank January 5 2010, I want to roll the dice, People's Republic of Massachusetts
Posted in Barney Frank, General | 8 Comments »
Posted by Larry Doyle on January 4th, 2010 9:47 AM |
For those who missed last evening’s No Quarter Radio’s Sense on Cents with Larry Doyle Hall of Fame and Shame Induction, I am compelled to provide a recap and listing of all those honored or dishonored — depending on one’s perspective. What was the measuring stick to make these assessments? Very simply, the pursuit and promotion of truth, transparency and integrity as we navigate the economic landscape.
Some names you will immediately recognize, others you may not. Additional information about these individuals can be found via the search window (located above the right sidebar) at Sense on Cents. The names appear in no specific order of priority or importance. With no further adieu . . .
Sense on Cents 2009 Hall of Shame Inductees
1. Bernie Madoff
2. Nicholas Cosmo: ran financial scam at Agape World
3. Tim Geithner: tax cheat amongst other things
4. Larry Summers: arrogant, condescending, and sleep deprived
5. Auction-Rate Securities dealers and managers, especially Oppenheimer Holdings, E-Trade, Schwab, Pimco, Van-Kampen, Blackrock
6. The Wall Street Journal
7. George Soros
8. Chris Dodd (D-CT): reasons too numerous to mention
9. The Board of FINRA
10. Franklin Raines and Leland Brendsel: former CEOs of Fannie and Freddie
11. Wall Street management, especially Lloyd Blankfein of Goldman Sachs
12. Frank Dipascali: a special place in hell for Madoff’s CFO
13. Rahm Emanuel
14. Jimmy Cayne: CEO of Bear Stearns
15. Dick Fuld: CEO of Lehman Bros.
16. Congress collectively
17. Barney Frank (D-MA): reasons too numerous to mention, but start with “I want to roll the dice…”
18. Bank Stress Tests: a total sham
19. Allen Stanford
20. Steven Rattner: car czar
21. Bruce Malkenhorst: receiving a 500k pension from Vernon, CA
22. Barack Obama: just another politician (more…)
Tags: Acorn, Allen Stanford, Andrew Madoff, Angelo Haligiannis Ponzi scheme, Arianna Huffington, auction rate securites dealers, Bank Stress Tests, Barack Obama, Barney Frank, Ben Nelson, Bernie Madoff, Board of FINRA, Bob Rodriguez of FPA, Bruce Malkenhorst, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Carmen Reinhart, cash for clunkers, Charles Bowsher, Charlie Doyle, Chris Cox, Chris Dodd, Chuck Schumer, Clifford S. Asness, Cohmad Securities, Colonel Elton Johnson Jr., Congress, Daniel Hannan, Dennis Kucinich, Dick Fuld, Edward Liddy, Elizabeth Warren, Erin Arvedlund, financial media, financial regulatory reform, Frank DiPascali, Franklin Raines and Leland Brendsel, George Rieger of GIM, George Soros, Goldman Sachs, Harvey Pitt, Helen Davis Chaitman, Helmut Kiener, Howard Kastel, incest between Wall Street and Washington, Jeff Gundlach, Jeffrey Picower, Jimmy Cayne, Joe Saluzzi, Joe the Plumber, John Edwards Mark Sanford Rod Blagoevich, John Mauldin, john wooden, Jonathan Cuneo, Jonathan Weil of Bloomberg, Judge Jed Rakoff, Judge Lawrence McKenna, Kenneth Rogoff, Larry Johnson, Larry Summers, Laurie Goodman of Amherst Securities, Lew Rockwell, Lloyd Blankfein CEO of Goldman Sachs, Madoff family, Mark Madoff, Marta Mossburg, Martin Feldstein, Mary Landrieu, Mary Schapiro, media in America, Mike Duggan of Domus, Nicholas Cosmo of Agape World, Oppenheimer Holdings E-Trade Schwab Pimco Van-Kampen Blackrock, Paul Keating, Paul Volcker, Pete Peterson Genevievette Walker-Lightfoot, Peter King, Peter Madoff, Peter Weinberg, Phil Trupp, PPIP, Raj Rajaratnam of Galleon Group, Rham Emanuel, Richard Greenfield, Richard Ketchum, Robert Benmosche, Robert Jaffe, Robert reich, Robert Rubin, Ronnie Sue Ambrosino, Ruth Madoff, Sean D'Arcy, SEC, Sense on Cents 2009 Hall of Fame Hall of, Sense on Cents 2009 Hall of Shame, Shana Madoff, Shelia Bair, Sin-Ming Shaw, SIPC, Sonny and Marcia Cohn, Steven Rattner, Susan Antilla of Bloomberg, Taylor Bean Whitaker, Tea parties, Thaddeus McCotter, The Wall Street Journal, Themis Trading, Thomas Hoenig, Tiger Woods, Tim Geithner tax cheat, Tom Lauria, truth transparency and integrity, Wall street management, Walter Noel, William K. Black
Posted in General, Sense on Cents | 27 Comments »
Posted by Larry Doyle on December 31st, 2009 11:34 AM |
Blank checks are the antithesis of good public policy.
America can not allow the passage of time to lessen the outrage over the Obama administration’s Christmas Eve bonus to the financial sinkholes known as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Platitudes and posturing aside, the American taxpayer is being set up as never before.
A blank check may serve to cover a host of past financial and legislative failures promoted by the likes of Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, John Kerry et al, but who is monitoring and verifying the legitimate and proper use of these funds? Are we to blindly trust Treasury Secretary Geithner, White House economic adviser Larry Summers, and their respective staffs in this process? Are you kidding me? America needs to voice its outrage long and hard. In that spirit, I called yesterday to Audit Freddie and Fannie.
In the same vein, I am heartened by initiatives launched yesterday by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), and Reps. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) and Spencer Bachus (R-AL) to pursue an investigation of this blank check.
The Wall Street Journal reports, Lawmakers Want Probe Into Treasury Aid for Fannie, Freddie: >>> (more…)
Tags: audit Freddie and fannie, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Dennis Kucinich, Freddie and fannie's blank check, House Financial Services Committee, House Oversight and Government Reform panel, I want to roll the dice, John Kerry, Larry Summers, Scott Garrett, Spencer Bachus, sub-prime lending comment by Barney Frank, Tim Geithner, toxic assets on Wall Street, transferring losses from Wall Street to taxpayers, trust but verify
Posted in Barney Frank, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Larry Summers, Tim Geithner | 9 Comments »
Posted by Larry Doyle on December 11th, 2009 11:38 AM |
Despite overwhelming efforts on the part of Uncle Sam, the simple fact of the matter is the program to successfully and permanently modify mortgages has not gained truly meaningful traction. Public pressure on mortgage servicers specifically and the mortgage modification program at large have generated a slight, but hardly significant, increase in permanent modifications over the last month. Let’s review the statistics provided by Uncle Sam’s Making Home Affordable Program:
(more…)
Tags: 12th Street Capital, Barney Frank, HAMP, housing, John Conyers, Making Home Affordable Program, Mortgage Cram-Down, mortgage cramdowns, mortgage modifications, Mortgages, support for housing
Posted in General, Mortgage Cram-Down, Mortgage Crisis, Mortgages | No Comments »
Posted by Larry Doyle on July 1st, 2009 12:21 PM |
U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), House Financial Services Committee Chairman
Barney Frank should not be so presumptuous to think that it is just “now” that a large percentage of America is starting to hate him. The displeasure, if not the contempt, for Barney and his minions who have run our country into the ground over the last twenty years is soaring!!
As the Wall Street Journal reports this morning, Finance Lobby Cuts Spending as Feds Targeted Wall Street:
Wall Street’s spending on efforts to influence policy making diminished at the start of this year as the image of financial institutions has suffered with lawmakers and the public. Some of the sector’s major advocate groups lost funding and staff. Their spending declined just as the administration was hammering out its proposal for the biggest reorganization of financial-market oversight since the 1930s, details of which the White House released last month.
Industry lobbyists met last week to craft a response to the White House’s draft regulatory overhaul, particularly its creation of a consumer-oriented regulator for financial products, which could force major changes in how financial instruments are created and marketed. Whether or not the industry can influence this top administration priority, now that the plan is in the hands of Congress, will be a big test of its remaining clout.
The gig is up!! (more…)
Tags: Barney Frank, Barney frank and freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, Barney Frank and John Courson, Barney Frank is starting to be hated, Deval Patrick, Finance Lobby Cuts Spending as Feds Targeted Wall Street, financial lobbying of Washington, how Wall Street Bought Washington, I want to roll the dice, John Courson Mortgage Banker's Association, John Courson of MBA, Legalized Bribery, Obama financial regulatory reforms, Wall Street and consumer finance protection, Wall Street incestuoous with Washington, Wall street lobbying of Washington, Wall street owns Washington, Wall Street's influence on Washington, Wall Street's relationship with Washington
Posted in Barney Frank, General, Lobbyists, Wall Street | 1 Comment »
Posted by Larry Doyle on June 15th, 2009 5:30 AM |
I hope people far and wide will listen to the interview I had with Bill Singer on last evening’s NQR’s Sense on Cents with Larry Doyle. Bill is the preeminent veteran Wall Street regulatory lawyer and market reform advocate. He pulled no punches in our conversation. My chat with Bill compels me to republish my posting from mid-May on the future of financial regulation.
Editor’s Note – this piece was originally posted on May 18, 2009:
Will our future regulatory structure of the financial industry allow capitalism to thrive? Will the political wizards in Washington prioritize personal agendas and expediency over unquestioned transparency and integrity? I believe we are at a critical regulatory crossroads not seen since financial regulations implemented in the Securities Act of 1933.
Do the powers that be both in Washington and Wall Street understand the magnitude of responsibilities and obligations involved in this process? Initial returns are decidedly mixed. The debate by those intimately involved in the regulatory oversight is typically framed as a question of sufficiency. That is, does the industry have enough regulation or not?
The media often frame the debate in political terms between laissez-faire proponents and those favoring increased government intervention. Both camps are missing the bigger picture, because both camps are feeding from the same trough. Allow me to expound.
The critical regulatory question facing our markets is not of sufficiency but is one of transparency. Regrettably, both ends of the regulatory spectrum do not want to address this glaring shortcoming because it exposes the very nature of the incestuous relationship between Wall Street and Washington.
The mainstream media, to a large extent, is dependent on both Wall Street and Washington for their financial well being so they do not press or pursue the need for total regulatory transparency. Fortunately, Sense on Cents and other leading financial websites are not under this restriction.
Let’s dig deeper and review where regulatory developments stand currently. As the Financial Times reports, U.S. Poised For Finance Regulation Shake-Up:
Congress will next month start the biggest regulatory overhaul of the US financial system in decades, bringing into the open a frantic lobbying effort between banks, regulators and policymakers on what it contains and who pays for it.
The House financial services committee, chaired by Democrat Barney Frank, will hold hearings early in June into reforms outlined by Timothy Geithner, Treasury secretary, say people familiar with the timetable.
Regrettably, before the debate even begins the premise of sufficiency versus transparency is accepted without question. Well, Sense on Cents is questioning the lack of transparency and resulting integrity of the process, which by its very nature strongly influences the outcome. Allow me to be more specific. Much as the Parliament in the U.K. is being rocked by a current scandal over expenses submitted by legislators, I strongly exhort those who truly care about capitalism, free market principles, and our democracy to address the very nature of the relationship betwen the banks, regulators, and policymakers. (more…)
Tags: and regulators, Barney Frank, Bill Singer interview, Bill singer interviewed by Sense on Cents, Bill Singer on Mary Schapiro, Bill Singer on regulation, Bill Singer on Rick Ketchum, Bill Singer on Sense on Cents, Bill Singer talks about arbitration, Bill Singer talks about ARS, Bill Singer talks about Finra, Bill Singer talks about regulation, Bill Singer talks about SEC, financial regulation, FINRA sold ARS, future financial regulation, future of financial regulation, future regulation needs integrity, future regulation needs transparency, Geithner on regulatory reform, how Wall Street Bought Washington, how will regulation work in the future, interview with Bill Singer, Larry Doyle interviews Bill Singer, Mary Schapiro, NASD Knew ARS weren't cash, politicians, regulatory framework in future, relationship between banks, Sense on Cents interviews Bill Singer, Wall street lobbying of Washington, Wall Street-Washington incestuous relationship, what will financial regulation be in future, will regulation change in future
Posted in ARS, Auction Rate Securities scandal, FINRA, General, Harry Markopolos | No Comments »
Posted by Larry Doyle on May 14th, 2009 3:18 PM |
I find it embarrassing that our country is subjected to the leadership of the likes of Barney Frank. In a 7 minute interview on Bloomberg News this morning, I was initially shocked at Congressman Frank’s selective memory. As I watched the interview further, I got increasingly perturbed and upset that our country is subjected to a Congressional leader with such little appreciation for his own mistakes. From there, thinking that Barney and his colleagues are likely to impose their will and vision upon our economy makes me more concerned about the long term risks for our market and capitalism itself.
I am not blinded by the will of the free market. For a market to remain free, there needs to be strong regulation and real discipline. If the market does not impose the discipline, the government can and should provide guidance, incentives, and if need be hard rules. For the regulation to be effective, though, it is imperative that the regulators themselves are unbiased and unaffiliated within the industry. I would say that both FINRA and the SEC have fallen woefully short on these fronts. I would also say that Congress has fallen woefully short. Against that backdrop, to see none other than Barney Frank trying to make the case for the way forward on compensation reform and municipal insurance is VERY HARD TO SWALLOW.
In regard to compensation reform, I am all for empowering shareholders. I would begin by asking, though, when did shareholders lose the ability to influence compensation? Shareholders should regularly review compensation practices and figures and if they find them problematic, they should voice their opinions and if need be sell their stock.
As Barney was raising the risks embedded in the private profit and social loss model, I wanted to scream and ask him where he was as Franklin Raines was plundering Fannie Mae with Barney’s support on the Hill. Finding religion on these topics after twenty years and hundreds of billions of dollars may appease his constituents, but it does nothing for those who cherish free market capitalism.
Make no mistake, government was a large part of the problem then which makes me leery to think that it can be an effective part of the solution now.
To also hear Barney offer his opinion on the relative value of municipal debt versus corporate debt made me want to change the channel. The link to Barney’s Bloomberg interview is provided below. Let me know if you were able to stomach it before changing the channel.
Barney Frank, September 25, 2003 on the topic of sub-prime lending:
“I want to roll the dice…”
LD
Tags: Barney Frank, Barney Frank about pay, Barney Frank addresses compensation, Barney Frank interview, Barney Frank on bank pay, Barney Frank on bonuses, Barney Frank on Wall Street compensation, Barney Frank talks about private profit and social loss, Barney frank talks about risk and reward, BArney Frank's interview on Bloomberg, Barney Frank's selective memory, did Barney Frank forget about Franklin Raines, FINRA's affiliation with Wall Street, I want to roll the dice
Posted in General | 3 Comments »
Posted by Larry Doyle on April 28th, 2009 12:15 PM |
The intrigue involved in Bank of America’s takeover of Merrill Lynch goes well beyond standard Wall Street negotiations. Did Fed chair Ben Bernanke and then Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson break the law in the process of pressuring BofA CEO Ken Lewis to complete this bank merger? Bloomberg’s Jonathan Weil has easily distinguished himself amongst all journalists in aggressively addressing this topic. Weil pulls no punches in writing One Nation, Under Banks With Justice For No One.
Lewis, as CEO of Bank of America, possessed material non-public information about Merrill Lynch and was obligated by law to release that information to his shareholders. Lewis unequivocally maintains Bernanke and Paulson pressured him not to release that information which would have potentially derailed the merger. Why didn’t Lewis get Bernanke’s and Paulson’s position in writing? Did Lewis ask for it in writing? Did Paulson and Bernanke knowingly avoid a legal quagmire by not contractually committing in writing to increased government support for Lewis’ acquiescence?
Weil provides a clear expose of this situation. I commend him! He writes:
The spectacle of Ben Bernanke and Henry Paulson running roughshod over Kenneth Lewis and his minions at Bank of America Corp. raises a pivotal question for all Americans: Is the U.S. a nation of laws, or a nation of banks?
Let’s start by examining the facts disclosed last week in a letter by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo while taking pains to present the actions of each player in this drama in the fairest possible light. (more…)
Tags: Andrew Cuomo's investigation of Bank of America's takeover of Merrill Lynch, Bank of America takeover of Merrill Lynch, Barney Frank, Ben Bernanke, Christopher Dodd, Hank Paulson and Ben Bernanke pressure Ken Lewis, jonathan Weil, Mary Schapiro, Merrill lynch taleover by Bank of America, New York AG Andrew Cuomo, SEC
Posted in Bank of America, Banking Institutions, Barney Frank, Ben Bernanke, Christopher Dodd, Economy, General, Henry Paulson, Moral Hazard, Wall Street | 5 Comments »
Posted by Larry Doyle on April 26th, 2009 9:04 AM |
Barney Frank may try to rewrite his Congressional record on housing finance, but he will forever be linked to supporting the activities of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae which drove irresponsible sub-prime lending. A review of a WSJ article, What They Said About Fan and Fred, is truly damning. I strongly recommend your reading it. Who can ever forget back in 2003 Barney Frank stating in Congressional testimony addressing Freddie and Fannie specifically and housing finance:
House Financial Services Committee hearing, Sept. 10, 2003:
Rep. Barney Frank (D., Mass.): I worry, frankly, that there’s a tension here. The more people, in my judgment, exaggerate a threat of safety and soundness, the more people conjure up the possibility of serious financial losses to the Treasury, which I do not see. I think we see entities that are fundamentally sound financially and withstand some of the disaster scenarios. . . .
Tension? Threat of safety and soundness? Financial losses? Fundamentally sound? Disaster scenarios? With a “watchdog” like Barney is there really any surprise how and why Freddie and Fannie were plundered by their own executives and the sub-prime lending industry? It is not a stretch in stating that Barney had the welcome mat out and held the door open.
I am not stating that Barney was directly complicit in the fraudulent sub-prime lending, but he certainly defines naivete and incompetence on this front. His Democratic sidekicks – Dodd, Schumer, and Waters -were complicit and also drinking from the same punch bowl.
What about Barney’s comment regarding oversight of Freddie and Fannie:
House Financial Services Committee hearing, Sept. 25, 2003:
Rep. Frank: I do think I do not want the same kind of focus on safety and soundness that we have in OCC [Office of the Comptroller of the Currency] and OTS [Office of Thrift Supervision]. I want to roll the dice a little bit more in this situation towards subsidized housing. . . .
Again in 2005, Barney continued to stand his ground on the housing front despite rampant signs at that point of irresponsible lending and incipient fraud:
Well now that Barney and our entire country have “crapped out” on his roll of the dice, Barney decides homeownership may not be the best thing for all concerned. In a height of pandering well beyond the Washington norm, Barney offers the following in this excerpt from an interview on the Tavis Smiley show on PBS on April 20, 2009:
Is there any doubt that the burgeoning wind power industry in our country should engage Barney as their spokesperson? In so doing, Barney’s hot air may actually become a source of revenue for our great country rather than such an enormous expense.
Barney’s hot air should come with a warning, though, “Don’t Be Downwind!!”
LD
Tags: Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Chuck Schumer, Congressional testimony on homeownership, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Maxine Waters, oversight of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, sub-prime lending
Posted in Barney Frank, General | 1 Comment »
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Trust Tim Geithner, Larry Summers, Barney Frank?
Posted by Larry Doyle on December 31st, 2009 11:34 AM |
Blank checks are the antithesis of good public policy.
America can not allow the passage of time to lessen the outrage over the Obama administration’s Christmas Eve bonus to the financial sinkholes known as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Platitudes and posturing aside, the American taxpayer is being set up as never before.
A blank check may serve to cover a host of past financial and legislative failures promoted by the likes of Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, John Kerry et al, but who is monitoring and verifying the legitimate and proper use of these funds? Are we to blindly trust Treasury Secretary Geithner, White House economic adviser Larry Summers, and their respective staffs in this process? Are you kidding me? America needs to voice its outrage long and hard. In that spirit, I called yesterday to Audit Freddie and Fannie.
In the same vein, I am heartened by initiatives launched yesterday by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), and Reps. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) and Spencer Bachus (R-AL) to pursue an investigation of this blank check.
The Wall Street Journal reports, Lawmakers Want Probe Into Treasury Aid for Fannie, Freddie: >>> (more…)
Tags: audit Freddie and fannie, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Dennis Kucinich, Freddie and fannie's blank check, House Financial Services Committee, House Oversight and Government Reform panel, I want to roll the dice, John Kerry, Larry Summers, Scott Garrett, Spencer Bachus, sub-prime lending comment by Barney Frank, Tim Geithner, toxic assets on Wall Street, transferring losses from Wall Street to taxpayers, trust but verify
Posted in Barney Frank, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Larry Summers, Tim Geithner | 9 Comments »