paulson

President Bush Orders Auto Maker Bailout…As Predicted Here!

by Rob K. Blake | December 20, 2008

As I predicted last week here on the BiggerPockets Blog, the President told the press this afternoon he ordered the Treasury to bailout the automakers. In my post entitled, Can Hank Paulson Use TARP Funds To Bail Out Auto-Makers?, I foretold this action a week in advance. Surprisingly I received a few comments chiding me [...]

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Commentary

The Latest Dynamic Duo Disaster In The Making

by Rob K. Blake | December 6, 2008

I call the Bernanke – Paulson twosome the Dynamic Duo because what they devise to solve our financial crisis is no more ridiculous than the far-fetched ways Batman and Robin used to escape sure death in the campy TV show. Unlike the TV show, I’ve stopped rooting for this financially bungling Dynamic Duo to succeed. [...]

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Commentary

Massive New Bailout For Real Estate—Or Is It Really For Banks?

by Charles Feldman | November 26, 2008

It is actually getting hard keeping track of just how much money the government’s various bailout initiatives add up to. An Associated Press report says “total bailout commitments, loans and pledges of backing neared a staggering $7 trillion.” Of course, much of this is “money” that may never get spent, or will be returned to [...]

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Commentary

Better Investment Than Real Estate – At Least For Now

by Rob K. Blake | November 16, 2008

Last week I made the case against real estate as an investment class. My recent change of heart is due to the ridiculous amount of market tinkering the Fed, the Treasury, and the central bankers around the world are doing to “support the real estate market”. All the bad loans, the foreclosures, and the schizophrenic [...]

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Commentary

It’s The Mortgages, Stupid! Negative Equity Flu Spreads; Whole Town Falls Ill

by Charles Feldman | November 12, 2008

During the Clinton years, it was, “it’s the economy, stupid!” Now, without doubt, “it’s the mortgages, stupid!” Without a major fix, the global economic meltdown, most experts say, will only grow worse. And, if you think that is not possible, just check out the value of GM shares! They’re so weak, you can almost trade [...]

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Commentary

What Is The Real Reason For The $700 Billion Bailout?

by Rob K. Blake | October 11, 2008

I promised you last week after outlining my belief the “frozen credit markets” was a contrivance by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, I’d spill the beans on why the dynamic duo wanted to lay their hands on $700 Billion since it wasn’t needed to thaw out anything. So here goes..and I [...]

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Economy

The $700 Billion Banking Bailout Bill Passes – Will It Work?

by Rob K. Blake | October 5, 2008

Paulson’s $700 Billion bailout bill passed the House on a 263-171 vote and the President signed it into law. Last week I promised a discussion (assuming Congress would pass the bill) on whether or not the Bill would work. So let’s get to it.. Will the Bailout Bill Work? First, this is a false question. [...]

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Commentary

The October Revolution: America’s $700 Billion Bailout Plan Would Make Lenin Proud

by Charles Feldman | October 1, 2008

Of course Congress had to wait till October to pass the $700 billion socialization of the American economy: October is, after all, the month best known for the Bolshevik revolution that brought Vladimir Lenin and gang to power in Russia. How fitting, then, that the Senate and then the House will no doubt approve a [...]

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Commentary

Paulson didn’t see this Meltdown Coming? Huh?

by Rosie Nieto | September 30, 2008

Scott Pelley interviewed Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on 60 Minutes Sunday night and I thought I was going to blow a gasket. Pelley reminded Mr. Paulson of a quote he said way back in April 2007: “I don’t see sub-prime mortgage market troubles imposing a serious problem. I think it’s going to be largely contained.” [...]

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Commentary

Paulson Rescue Plan: What’s In It & What Dissenters Want In It

by Rob K. Blake | September 27, 2008

We all know by now about the $700 Billion Paulson rescue plan he’s been attempting to stampede through Congress for the last week. But do you really know what’s in it? Do you know what those against it want in the plan before they sign on? What Hank Wants Let’s take a look at the [...]

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Economy

Housing Bailout Quotes of the Day. What Real People think of the Bailout.

by Joshua Dorkin | September 26, 2008

As our great and venerable (throat clears) leaders continue to debate the bailout of banks and millions who cannot afford their homes, I thought that I’d share some quotes that might bring some perspective to the issue: On the value of money nowadays: And to think, $50 billion use to sound like an unimaginable amount [...]

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Economy

Paulson Seeks Congressional Authority To Spend $700B

by Rob K. Blake | September 21, 2008

Hank Paulson is not done asking for more authority to “rescue” us from the mortgage crisis. In his first round of legislative begging, he got Congress to pass The Housing Economic Recovery Act of 2008 which gave him the right to take over Fannie and Freddie putting taxpayers on the hook for their greed and [...]

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Credit

BREAKING: Fed Rescues AIG with $85 Billion Loan (bailout) for 80% Ownership Stake

by Joshua Dorkin | September 16, 2008

The snowball that is the US and Global Financial Crisis continued to get larger Tuesday as American International Group (AIG), the nation’s largest insurer came close to collapse. Over the weekend, the Fed failed to provide a $40 Billion bridge loan that the company’s leadership had been pressing for, but late Monday night, the Fed [...]

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Economy

FEDS BAIL OUT FANNIE AND FREDDIE; EMERGENCY MEASURES TAKEN

by Charles Feldman | July 13, 2008

In a clear sign the federal government is far more concerned about the financial health of mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac than its public comments indicated as late as Friday, the U.S. government Sunday night announced what some are calling a “massive aid” package to the two shareholder owned and run companies [...]

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Housing

Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac: What Will The Feds Do?

by Charles Feldman | July 11, 2008

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, combined, own or back up some $5 trillion dollars of debt. That is about half of ALL the mortgages in the U.S. They have already lost some $11 BILLION since the current mortgage/credit crisis began, so it is easy to see why there is profound concern about their fiscal health–or [...]

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