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Archive for the ‘Freddie Mac’ Category

GDP Review: How’s Our Economy ‘Really’ Doing?

Posted by Larry Doyle on July 30th, 2014 9:45 AM |

Most pundits and analysts will understandably try to hype the better than expected 4% growth rate of 2nd quarter GDP reported this morning.

I get it.

Some might temper the hype by highlighting that growth in inventories accounted for approximately 1.7% of the growth. Others might choose to direct attention to the fact that the disappointing 1st quarter GDP was actually revised to a -2.1% level from the -2.9% posting previously reported. Still others will point toward the positive developments within the consumer spending data.

Yes, most of this information has a positive bent to it but is this to say that we have a meaningfully positive trending economy that will drive growth in full-time, high paying jobs?  (more…)

Time for an Independent Audit of Freddie Mac

Posted by Larry Doyle on November 3rd, 2011 3:20 PM |

Freddie Mac On December 24, 2009 President Barack Obama and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner provided a blank check to the wards of the state known as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. I highlighted that ‘Christmas’ gift in writing at the time, Fannie and Freddie’s Huge Christmas Bonus.

That blank check runs throughout 2012. Do not think for a second that the administration will not keep adding zeros to this check throughout next year. Why do I make that assessment?

Well, let’s review the fact that today Freddie announced a third quarter 2011 loss of a mere $6 billion!! What is behind this loss of our American taxpayer funds?  (more…)

Fannie and Freddie Ordered to Delist from NYSE

Posted by Larry Doyle on June 16th, 2010 11:28 AM |

Fannie and Freddie don’t live here anymore.

News just broke that the stocks of our two government stepchildren, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, have been ordered to delist from the NYSE. The Washington Post reports, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac to Delist Shares from NYSE:

The companies’ regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, said Wednesday that it expects Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac shares to trade on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board, an electronic quotation service. (more…)

Fannie and Freddie: The Legacy of Washington’s Financial Illiterates

Posted by Larry Doyle on June 14th, 2010 8:54 AM |

When the day of reckoning comes, the record will show that those misguided, incompetent and reckless legislators who supported and were supported by the house of cards known as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will have cost our nation untold hundreds of billions of dollars. In fact, the losses attributed to these organizations may ultimately cross the trillion dollar threshold. Think about that for a second.

While Franklin Raines, Leland Brendsel, Daniel Mudd, and other Fannie and Freddie execs walked out the door with tens of millions of dollars, our nation is left with a financial sinkhole that will serve as a drag on our economy for years if not generations. How and why did this happen? (more…)

Let’s Review “What They Said About Fan and Fred”

Posted by Larry Doyle on June 3rd, 2010 5:55 AM |

What do you have to do today? What did you do yesterday? What is on your schedule for tomorrow? What did the market do yesterday? What will the market do today? What might it do tomorrow?

America lives in the moment. While in certain circumstances that emphasis on the immediate may be helpful and appropriate, in my opinion, that approach generates a lack of real depth and understanding within our national psyche.

Real sense on cents requires a much greater understanding of the past in order to generate a much more astute projection of the future. We must hold our financial and political leaders to a similar — if not even more vigorous — standard. Regrettably, we allow the Wall Street and Washington establishments, in concert with an ineffective media, to frame our national debate. In the process, are we mere mindless lemmings being led to slaughter? (more…)

America’s Future Is Dark Unless…

Posted by Larry Doyle on May 4th, 2010 9:28 AM |

Land of the free, home of the brave.

No doubt, the United States of America is the greatest nation on the face of the earth. I love my country. I love hearing the stories of immigrants from all parts of the world who have come here to make a better life. Even though there is current concern around our immigration policy (or lack thereof), there exist endless numbers of stories of people making real sacrifice and, in turn, real progress for their families. I am inspired by these stories.

Despite all our greatness, I am extremely concerned that our nation will erode from within unless there is serious change in one very large corner of our political and economic landscape. What is it? (more…)

The Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission Should Investigate…

Posted by Larry Doyle on January 11th, 2010 9:28 AM |

Will America ever truly learn what happened on Wall Street that brought our markets, our economy, and our country to its knees?

We should not expect the incestuous Wall Street-Washington partners to implicate themselves and thoroughly expose their shortcomings. A full 16 months since the failure of Lehman Bros. and how much have we truly learned? What change has really occurred? Who has been fired in Washington? Who has been indicted on Wall Street? Will the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, charged with investigating the factors which facilitated our economic disaster, truly be effective?

The truth may hurt but if the hard questions are not asked, the failings are not exposed, and those responsible are not held to account, then the lessons will not be learned, and the experience will likely repeat itself.

Will the commission pretend to investigate, but ultimately wilt under the pressure of the incestuous pillars of power? Will the commission rise above the fray, hold people and institutions to account, and make our country proud?  Will the commission use its power to subpoena, if need be?

Whom should the commission pursue? What agencies and institutions should the commission target? If I were on the commission, I would recommend pursuing the following targets: (more…)

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…)

Audit Freddie and Fannie

Posted by Larry Doyle on December 30th, 2009 12:16 PM |

Who will reveal the truth and consequences embedded in the operations of Washington’s newly designed slush funds housed within Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae? The Washington Way all too often pays off those who promote the administration’s interests (both Republican and Democrat alike) while sticking future generations with an ever larger bill.

Is slush fund too harsh a characterization for a Washington-issued blank check? In my opinion, a blank check in Washington has never been anything other than that.

Ron Paul (R-TX) has created quite a stir in 2009 given his continual calls to audit the Fed. Who in Congress will call for the same treatment for Freddie and Fannie?

Let the record show that on December 30th, Sense on Cents is issuing what will be the first of many calls to audit Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Why am I calling for an audit of these entities? (more…)

The Freddie Mac Pigsty

Posted by Larry Doyle on December 30th, 2009 7:56 AM |

Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have served as Washington’s piggy bank for far too long. The issuance of a blank check by Uncle Sam on Christmas Eve to cover losses at Freddie and Fannie through 2012 only cements the legacy of the pigs who have fed at the Freddie and Fannie trough.

While the sty is mighty big, don’t think for a second that the pillaging and plundering of these organizations is restricted to the high and mighty politicos who pretend to know how to develop housing policy and programs. What do I mean?

Tucked away in one corner of the sty is this little gem posted by The Wall Street Journal, Freddie HR Chief’s Big Payday: (more…)






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