Democrat Barney Frank’s Legacy: Housing Crisis and Prostitution Ring

Frank Should Go to Jail
● Orchestrated the Housing Crisis:
Accountability hasn’t always been Frank’s strong suit. In his retirement press conference at Newton’s city hall, the congressman expressed no regrets for his handling of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac during his past decade of service on the House Financial Services Committee, both as chairman and ranking member. Frank was a cheerleader for policies that helped inflate the housing bubble that burst painfully in the 2008 financial crisis. Like many politicians, he encouraged lenders to relax their credit standards with the goal of promoting home ownership. According to one report, “Frank pushed [Fannie Mae] to loosen regulations on mortgages for two- and three-family homes, even though they were defaulting at twice and five times the rate of single homes, respectively.” The risks were obvious, but rising housing prices obscured the danger. Political activists and federal regulators were leaning on banks to approve risky loans, with government-sponsored Fannie and Freddie leading the way on subprime lending. When new regulations were proposed, Frank accused supporters of worrying about the GSEs’ financial soundess “to the exclusion of concern about housing.” He steadfastly denied that there was anything wrong with the government-backed mortgage finance firms. Frank insisted “these two entities, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are not facing any kind of financial crisis.” Yet Fannie and Freddie failed, racking up at least 12 million risky loans and accounting for roughly 40 percent of those still outstanding. [How the housing crisis was created]
● Ran Prostitution Ring Out of his Apartment:
In 1991, Barney Frank received an official reprimand for reflecting “discredit upon the House.” The reprimand came as a result of his relationship with a man named Steve Gobi, a male prostitute whom Frank initially paid $80 for sex. Frank later took Gobi to live with him in his home, making him a personal aide. He paid him $20,000 in compensation (unreported to the IRS) and let him use his car. Subsequent investigation revealed that in the course of their relationship, Frank used his congressional office and stationary to fix Gobi’s 33 parking fines. Frank also used his congressional letterhead to write a reference letter to Gobi’s probation officer — Gobi was under court supervision as a convicted felon with a prison record — in which he gave false information. Most damningly, the investigation found that Gobi ran a prostitution ring from Frank’s home. In his defense, Frank asserted he knew nothing of Gobi’s illicit enterprise. The Democrat -controlled House voted 408-18 to reprimand Frank after a heated debate during which some Republicans demanded expulsion. They pointed out that the claim that Frank did not know of Gobi’s criminal activities was incredible to say the least. [Roll call vote here] [Congressional Record 101st Congress (1989-1990), July 26, 1990: Search for page H5633]
● Slept with top Fannie Mae executive while he wrote laws that benefited the firm: Barney Frank’s lover Herb Moses “was Fannie’s assistant director for product initiatives. Moses worked at the government-sponsored enterprise from 1991 to 1998, while Frank was on the House Banking Committee, which had jurisdiction over Fannie.” Frank wrote housing and banking laws and his boyfriend was a top executive at a firm that benefited from those laws. Frank protected Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac:
Barney Frank became involved in another questionable — and possibly criminally tainted — relationship with a man called Herb Moses. Moses, whom Frank called his “spouse,” was a high-level executive at Fannie Mae from 1991 until 1998. Dubbed a “mortgage guru” by the National Mortgage News, Moses boasted that he helped develop “many of Fannie Mae’s affordable housing and home improvement lending programs.” It was, of course, these kinds of programs that ultimately led to the collapse of the subprime mortgage market that wiped out trillions dollars from the economy and produced the economic turmoil that we now face. Even though there were those warning against the precarious nature of the enterprise, Barney Frank — whose committee oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — kept resisting reforms and besmirching those voicing concerns. [...] Frank continued to claim almost until the day of the collapse that the two mortgage giants were financially sound. If we lived in a sane world, Barney Frank would be compelled to testify about his culpability in the current crisis and what role his romantic involvement with Herb Moses — as well as the campaign contributions he received from Fannie and Freddie — played in his shilling for these two moribund institutions.
MORE - Rep. Frank Admits to Helping ‘Ex-Lover’ Get ‘Lucrative’ Fannie Mae Job, While Regulating Mortgage Giant - The One Thing No One Is Mentioning In Their Barney Frank Tributes: The Prostitutes - Frank ‘Vacationed’ With Bailout Recipient - More Barney Frank Lies Exposed - Barney Frank Cashes Out - CNN Eulogizes ‘Titan’ Barney Frank

Obama Ignores Difference between Great Britain and England (Video)

ONE MORE OBAMA GAFFE Via The Foundry:
	In a press conference this evening, the president referred in stumbling fashion to the “English Embassy” in Iran instead of the British Embassy. One can only imagine the kind of howls of derision that would greet any presidential contender if that kind of basic error were made before, say, the editorial board of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel… In case the president is unaware, England forms part of Great Britain, which also includes Scotland and Wales, though not Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. There is no such thing as an “English” embassy anywhere in the world, and there hasn’t been one for several centuries. Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised by this latest slip-up by President Obama. After all he recently described France as America’s closest ally, and famously declared that he has traveled to no less than 57 states. But it would be nice if the leader of the free world bothered to look at a map once in a while, or even paid a visit to the British Embassy in Washington, currently housing the Churchill bust that Mr. Obama unceremoniously threw out of the Oval Office soon after his inauguration.

CAIN WAS RIGHT IN ASKING: “How Do You Say Delicious in Cuban?” Cuban-Spanish Exists (Video)

YES, CUBANS SPEAK CUBAN-SPANISH Summary: Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain visited Miami today. He visited Cafe Versailles, the de facto presidential campaign stop for anyone seeking votes among conservative Republican Cuban-Americans. Before addressing the crowd, Cain sipped Cuban coffee and tasted the Cuban croqueta (a deep fried stick of minced ham and bread crumbs). He started practicing with the crowd around him (mostly Cubans) the word “croqueta.” It seemed Cubans wanted to teach him the proper Cuban pronunciation of the word. The atmosphere was jovial. Then Cain asked a man behind him, “How do you say ‘delicious’ in Cuba (or in Cuban)?” The man responded “delicioso.” This is normal in Miami since Hispanics come from different parts of Latin America where vocabulary and pronunciation vary. Later, Cain addressed the larger crowd and said some words in Spanish. “I am thrilled to be here at this wonderful restaurant Versailles and I did taste that wonderful Cuban coffee and a croqueta. It was delicious,” Cain said. He reminded them of his “nueve-nueve-nueve,” Spanish for his 9-9-9 tax plan calling it. People cheered. Hours later, the media started attacking Cain for asking: “How do you say ‘delicious’ in Cuban?” A word may have different meanings in various Spanish-speaking countries: Cain was right in asking for the proper Cuban or Cuban-Spanish translation. Contrary to popular belief, the Spanish-speaking world is not homogeneous. There are variants of the Spanish language, etiquette, and customs from country to country. The same word may have different meanings in various Spanish-speaking regions. This variance could range from the very inoffensive to the profane. For example: The word “pendejo” means “pubic hair” for Cubans, but in Central America it refers to a “stupid person.” Some words could have the opposite meaning, e.g. Cubans say “ahora” (right now) but for other Latin Americans that word means “later in the day.” Rennert Translation Group explains: [There is a] sheer variety and flexibility of everyday Spanish words and phrases in use throughout Latin America and in Spain…[A] particular word in Spain can convey a very different meaning in Chile, and vice versa. This represents a significant challenge for corporate managers who want to transmit a precise message to a specific country or region. How can one ensure that the letter and spirit of the English text will be correctly communicated, thereby preventing an unintentional faux pas…? The solution the translators use is a process called localization…The local editor has a thorough knowledge of regional terminology and makes sure that the copy is 100 percent accurate for his or her native land. Cain did just that – he asked the locals. Yes, there is such a thing as Cuban-Spanish: Cuban-Spanish has its own intonation, phonetics (e.g. tendency of dropping the final “s” or the deletion of final intervocalic “d” (e.g. the word “condado” (county) is pronounced by Cubans as “kon’da.o”), subjunctive verb forms, and even its own neologisms (new terms introduced by the Marxist dictatorship), etymology, etc. Cubans speak Cuban-Spanish which is somewhat different from Argentinian-Spanish or Mexican-Spanish, especially when it comes to vocabulary and pronunciation. There is some variation in grammar. Some countries still use the old Spanish word for “you” (“vos” while Cubans use “tú”) with its pertinent verb conjugation. In Miami, it is important to learn all those nuances to avoid offending people. Thus, it was smart for Cain to ask how to say it in “Cuban.” (click image for video)
Other video: here.
EXAMPLE: The word “pendejo” has different meanings in the Spanish-speaking world: Pendejo (lit.: “a pubic hair’) may be translated as “dumbass” in many situations, though it carries an extra implication of willful incompetence. The less extreme meaning, which is used in most Spanish speaking countries, translates more or less as “jackass.” The term however, has very high offensive connotations in Puerto Rico. An older usage was in reference to a man who is in denial about being cheated (for example, by his wife). In Mexico, Central and Northern South America, pendejo refers to a stupid person (estúpido), synonymous with idiota (“idiot”) or imbécil (“imbecile”), although much more offensive. It is considered very offensive in Mexico and Central America, and less so in Panama (although it is still considered impolite among older adults). In Peru it means a person who is opportunistic in an immoral or deceptively persuasive manner (usually involving sexual gain and promiscuity, but not limited to it), and if used referring to a female (ella es pendeja) it means she is promiscuous (or perhaps a swindler). There the word pendejada and a whole family of related words have meanings that stem from these. In South America pendejo is also a vulgar, yet inoffensive word, for children. It also signifies a person with a disorderly or irregular life. In Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic, it has different meanings depending on the situation. It can range from ¡Te cogieron de pendejo! (“You were swindled!”) to ¡Qué tipa pendeja! (“What a dumbass!” as when a strange woman behaves offensively, then suddenly leaves). In Mexico and some countries of Central America—especially El Salvador—una pendejada/pendeja is used to describe something incredibly stupid that someone has done. In many regions, pendejo also means coward (with a stronger connotation), as in ¡No huyas, pendejo! “Don’t run away, chicken-shit!” In South America it refers to a person regarded with an obnoxiously determined advancement of one’s own personality, wishes, or views (a “smartass”). In Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, pendejo or pendeja refers to a child, usually with a negative connotation, like that of immaturity or a “brat”[citation needed]. Also, in Argentina, as “pendejo” literally means “pubic hair” it usually refers to someone of little to no social value. In Peru, however, it does not necessarily have a negative connotation, and can just refer to someone who is clever and street-smart. In the Philippines, this word is extremely offensive, meaning a “cuckold”, and often used with the intention of scathingly humiliating someone and robbing him of his pride. In North Sulawesi, Indonesia, pendo (a derivative of pendejo) is used as profanity but with the majority of the population not knowing its meaning. The word was adopted during the colonial era when Spanish and Portuguese merchants sailed to this northern tip of Indonesia for spices. In Spain, this word is hardly ever used. In the film Idiocracy, Joe’s lunk-headed lawyer is named Frito Pendejo

Barack Obama thinks Austrian is a language:

Occupy Wall Street Protester Defecates in Public Street (Video)

Video uploaded by shummer700 on Nov 7, 2011: (Hat tip: Breitbart.tv)

Occupy Wall Street Threatens to Throw Molotov Cocktails at Macy’s (Video)

OWS Protester on video: On the 17th, we going to burn New York City to the f*cking ground. … Ain’t no more talking, They got guns we got bodies. They got bricks we got rocks. Let’s see what they got. [Young man in the background] They got missiles, we got bombs. I want them…I want them to make that decision so they can see…in a few days you going to see what a molotov cocktail can do to Macy’s.

Leftist-Democrat Raul Martinez Rejected by Hialeah (S. Florida) Voters

ELECTION RESULTS FOR NEW MAYOR OF HIALEAH (City in Miami-Dade County), FLORIDA A resounding 61% of Hialeah voters rejected über-leftist-Democrat Raul Martinez, former Hialeah mayor for 24 years and unsuccessful Democrat congressional candidate for Florida’s 21st congressional district in 2008. Hialeah voters have not forgotten Martinez’s history of corruption, scandals, vulgar outbursts, Castro connections and bullying nature. Not even the support of the powerful Hialeah unions could take Martinez to victory. Here are the election results: (52 of 52 precincts reporting)

Data as of:	9:31PM
Registered Voters:	89,087
Ballots Casts:	31,026
Voter Turnout:	34.83%

Related - Hialeah ballot - Precincts List News - Raul Martinez concedes.

WHO IS RAUL MARTINEZ? FLASHBACK 1999: Raul Martinez, Hialeah Mayor, assaults Cuban protester

In 1999, Democrat Raul Martinez, then Mayor of Hialeah, punched a young guy. Here is the video and report: On 6/30/1999, then Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez pummeled a young man (Ernesto Mirabal, 21) who supposedly was blocking traffic on the Palmetto Expressway. “More than 400 people gathered on the Palmetto on Tuesday night to protest the Coast Guard’s treatment of six Cuban rafters, blocking the northbound lanes at Northwest 103rd Street for about four hours. The protest turned into a battle after 2 a.m. Seven people were arrested…” “Both the mayor, weighing in at 6-3, 255 pounds, and the protester, 150-pound, 5-10 Ernesto Mirabal, say the other guy swung first. Martinez emerged the champion of the roadside bout. He landed a left and at least five right uppercuts as police officers jumped Mirabal, leaving the protester bleary-eyed and spitting blood. The fight video played all day on news stations…”
- Raul Martinez Spat and Yelled Obscenities to Political Rival in 1993 - Raul Martinez and the Hialeah Absentee Ballot Scandal of 1993 - Raul Martinez Strikes Radio Host in 1998

Obama’s Chevy Volt: Electric Car Charger Suspected in House Fire

FIRE CAUSED $800,000 IN DAMAGE TO A NORTH CAROLINA HOME
The fire happened Oct. 30 and now massive green tarps cover the damage. In the burned out garage, investigators said they found an electric car plugged into a 240-volt car charging station. (WSOC-TV)
● The Chevy Volt’s electric charger may be the cause of the North Carolina house fire:
	MOORESVILLE, N.C. — The safety of an electric car charger is at the center of a fire investigation at a Mooresville home on Monday. Fire investigators in Iredell County are meeting with officials from Duke Energy and General Motors. They’re looking into the possibility that the fire started with a charging unit for electric vehicles. Insurance agents and lawyers were also at the home trying to help piece together how the fire started. [...] The fire happened last month and caused $800,000 amount of damage to the home. Two people suffered minor injuries after they helped one of the residents in the home to safety.
● Is Obama’s GM trying to quell reports?
	Cars in Depth reports that the Chevy Volt and its charging station are suspected as possible causes for a house fire that started in the garage of a Mooresville, NC home. According to the report, investigators found a Volt plugged into a charging station located in the burned out garage. [...] The Cars in Depth story goes on to say that the actual brand of the car plugged into the charger unit was not mentioned in news reports. However, General Motors is involved in the investigation. There is a worrisome possibility that Government Motors is working hard to quiet stories that raise the possibility of fire hazards that arise from the Chevy Volt‘s charging phase. Siemens, the builder of the charging station that was being used to charge the vehicle, is also involved in the investigation along with the Department of Energy and Duke Power. [...] There have also been reports of defective Volt charging cords overheating…that have gotten little publicity. The question arises, just how far will GM, the Obama Administration and green ideologues go to prove that the Chevy Volt (as well as electric cars in general) is the future of the American auto industry? Fluffing up the perception of huge demand for the Volt is one thing, but there should be no compromises when it comes to the safety of Americans who buy into the hype of the Chevy Volt and purchase the vehicles. All taxpayers are paying to subsidize purchases of the Volt and plug-in charging stations; it would be a shame to see that the money usurped is putting people at risk.
● Free car charges were given to electric car drivers early this year in North Carolina.
● Connection to the Democrats 2012 Convention:
	Duke Energy has a pilot program across the Carolinas for customers who want [car charges]. And Duke CEO Jim Rogers has been outspoken in his desire to see more electric cars and charging stations in the city for next year’s Democratic National Convention.
RELATED - Chevy Volt hybrid catches fire for SECOND time in a week – even though it was unplugged - GM sells only 125 Chevy Volts in July

Michelle Obama’s $15,000-a-day Make-Up Artist

Via WAPO:
	[Derrick] Rutledge is the man behind the look of some of the world’s most famous names. A leading makeup artist, he gets as much as $15,000 for a day’s work and boasts a coveted client list, including two of the nation’s most photographed faces, Michelle Obama and Oprah, as well as singers such as Patti LaBelle, Shirley Caesar and CeCe Winans. Just last month, his work was on the covers of Essence and AARP, which featured Obama, and O, which featured, obviously, Oprah. [...] In March 2009, Rutledge’s phone started ringing repeatedly, but he didn’t recognize the number and didn’t answer. When he finally did, the caller said it was one of Michelle Obama’s assistants and asked if he wanted to audition to be her makeup artist. “I thought I was being punked,” he says. But Rutledge’s name had been floated to White House officials after Obama’s Chicago artist got tired of commuting to Washington. Rutledge was summoned to the White House to prepare Obama for a St. Patrick’s Day dinner. He chose two foundations, one to highlight and another to even her skin tone. And he focused on her eyes. “She has the most incredible eyes, and people notice them immediately,” he says. Two years later, Rutledge is Obama’s main makeup artist. His schedule is as grueling as that of any White House official in top health. Most recently, he flew to South Africa with Winfrey in her private jet, then to Chicago, then to Los Angeles. When the White House summons, he flies back to Washington, even for a day or two, as he did to prepare the first lady recently for promotional videos and the Congressional Black Caucus dinner. With the demands of Obama and Winfrey, he has been forced to cut back many of his former clients, including LaBelle.