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A Barney Frank gay joke. How clever.

Barney Frank definitely should have been in the majority party that was actually in control of Congress so that he might have been able to do something about those institutions. It's his fault for not being a Republican.

By sepuku2 at 2008-10-01

O'Reilly is usually a complete waste of skin, but I'll give him credit for what he did last night. Frank needs to own his part in this mess.

kronicfeld: Barney Frank definitely should have been in the majority party that was actually in control of Congress so that he might have been able to do something about those institutions. It's his fault for not being a Republican.

You know what they say: tis better to remain quiet and let people wonder if you are a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

Barney Frank wasn't wanting to "do something" about Freddie and Fannie. In fact, as ranking member of the House Financal Services committee, he was leading the pack of Democrats who instead assured the House (and thus, the country) that Fannie and Freddie were fine, and needed no more oversight or regulation when the Bush admin pushed for a new agency to to just that in 2003. Instead, he accused the backers of the bill of exaggerating the problem, and warned that any further regulation would harm the efforts to promote "affordable housing" (i.e. mortgages to people who can't afford them):

"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 disastrous scenarios. And even if there were a problem, the Federal Government doesn't bail them out. But the more pressure there is there, then the less I think we see in terms of affordable housing."

See, e.g. Video

BravadoGT: In fact, as ranking member of the House Financal Services committee

He and his party were in the minority in the House and on that committee. Exactly how did they control that committee's report to the rest of Congress, pray tell?

kronicfeld: BravadoGT: In fact, as ranking member of the House Financal Services committee

He and his party were in the minority in the House and on that committee. Exactly how did they control that committee's report to the rest of Congress, pray tell?

Because they are democrats and they screwed everything up. So there.

O'Reilly did not rip any new ones for anybody. Making one point and then screaming about it for five minutes it not an argument.

As GeorgePCBFL, one of the blog commenters, said...

I was disappointed in O'Reilly going off on Barney. I think he should have had a second quote of Franks to play when he squirmed out of the first, and a third and fourth, until Franks couldn't parse any longer.
I appreciate O'Reilly's anger, but opportunity blown.

(I think the commenter means he appreciates the reason for O'Reilly's anger-- not the anger itself.)

I usually enjoy watching O'Reilly, even if I disagree with him most of the time. That performance was just embarassing for O'Reilly.

kronicfeld: BravadoGT: In fact, as ranking member of the House Financal Services committee

He and his party were in the minority in the House and on that committee. Exactly how did they control that committee's report to the rest of Congress, pray tell?

because if you watch the cspan video of it they basicly belittled the opposistion and made them seem stupid and alarmistic.

also there wasn't a huge majority at the time.

kronicfeld: BravadoGT: In fact, as ranking member of the House Financal Services committee

He and his party were in the minority in the House and on that committee. Exactly how did they control that committee's report to the rest of Congress, pray tell?

Maybe you haven't been paying attention the last few years--but it is fairly easy for the minority party to block legislation wanted by the majority. Frank and the Dems were so against this legislation that the GOP didn't even bring it to a vote, knowing it did not have the votes. Hey! Don't take my word for it, even Bill Clinton himself knows where the cards fall:

"I think the responsibility the Democrats have may rest more in resisting any efforts by Republicans in the Congress or by me when I was President to put some standards and tighten up a little on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac."

Video of comment

BravadoGT: Frank and the Dems were so against this legislation that the GOP didn't even bring it to a vote, knowing it did not have the votes.

So, wait, the Republicans were in the majority and they couldn't deliver a majority vote? Gosh, let's go blame the Dems!

It's the same thing Bill O'Reilly always does and his hand-flapping, bat-shiat-crazy shtick is the reason no one but retards or sanctimonious pricks take him seriously.

The strange part to me was that O'Reilly conceded a huge point when Frank said that Republicans did nothing for 12 years to increase regulation and that he did something within 2 months of taking over as chairman, to which O'Reilly said "All that's true." Then he proceeded to yell over and over again that Frank "presided over" the biggest banking collapse in history. As per usual, it was very surreal, IMO.

To clarify: I think they are both partisan hacks. I think O'Reilly was right (though I'm not sure if he meant it) when he said both parties were to blame. However, the implication behind the who "'presided over' this mess" point is stupid and irrelevant.

BravadoGT: Maybe you haven't been paying attention the last few years--but it is fairly easy for the minority party to block legislation wanted by the majority.

Very true for the Senate, not nearly so in the House.

Three Crooked Squirrels: BravadoGT: Maybe you haven't been paying attention the last few years--but it is fairly easy for the minority party to block legislation wanted by the majority.

Very true for the Senate, not nearly so in the House.

Nancy Pelosi has a larger majority than Hastert ever had in the House. Even with greater numbers, her reign has been largely impotent (menepausal?)

BravadoGT: kronicfeld: BravadoGT: In fact, as ranking member of the House Financal Services committee

He and his party were in the minority in the House and on that committee. Exactly how did they control that committee's report to the rest of Congress, pray tell?

Maybe you haven't been paying attention the last few years--but it is fairly easy for the minority party to block legislation wanted by the majority. Frank and the Dems were so against this legislation that the GOP didn't even bring it to a vote, knowing it did not have the votes. Hey! Don't take my word for it, even Bill Clinton himself knows where the cards fall:

"I think the responsibility the Democrats have may rest more in resisting any efforts by Republicans in the Congress or by me when I was President to put some standards and tighten up a little on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac."

Video of comment


Right or wrong, these parties can't have it both ways. If the Dems could have passed the bail out bill without Repub support, then the Repubs could have done the same thing regarding Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The bill in question made it out of committee, but the Repubs didn't bring it to the floor because they didn't have the votes and that's because tougher regulation - even an FDR-created institution like Fannie Mae that is traditionally tied to Democrats - isn't exactly a Republican platform. And if you don't think those institutions were donating money to anyone who would take it, especially those in the majority party, you're naive.

Look, the Democrats don't deserve a pass on this, but neither do the Republicans. The fact of the matter is (a) they held the majority in Congress for 12 years and six of those years was with a "friendly" (to say the least) President and (b) tougher regulations has never been a Republican platform. It is flailing on the part of Republicans to try to deflect attention from the fact that they are the party of de-regulation.

I say kudos to Bill Clinton for shooting straight. Ironic, however, that Republicans are latching on, and holding on for dear life, to a statement made by him.

Jamespoon: A Barney Frank gay joke. How clever.

hey, did you hear that their not serving Fenway Franks at Red Sox games anymore?

Their serving Barney Franks now - if you don't like 'em you can shove em up your arse!

/Barney Frank is great. Just like that joke.

BravadoGT: Nancy Pelosi has a larger majority than Hastert ever had in the House. Even with greater numbers, her reign has been largely impotent (menepausal?)

OMG! SEXIST!! HOW DARE YOU!!!! HOW DARE YOU!!!!!

Has Barney Frank ever sexually harrased anyone with a felafel?

Who is the real freak here, subby?

where's the dem defenders?!!! i know you're here

Yeah, yeah. Point fingers all you want, but the overwhelming majority of the public lay all of this shiat on the GOP.

Went and dun shot themselves in the foot with the "fundamentals are strong" talk.

Probably what Bill calls it too, subby.

And I'm sure Bill O'Reilly tackled the repeal of Glass-Steagall and the Commodity Futures Modernization Act, right subby? Phil Gramm ring any bells? S&L crisis? Enron?fark Bill O'Reilly's ignorant face with a falafel.

LOL He's GAY!!! HAHAHA! He likes dongs!

/How was that? I call that my "pedantic GOP wit"

Oh, and Subby, you're a cocksmith. Pot, beat off Kettle.

Lionel Mandrake: OMG! SEXIST!! HOW DARE YOU!!!! HOW DARE YOU!!!!!

Dude, its only sexist with Palin

TeddyBallGame: Jamespoon: A Barney Frank gay joke. How clever.

hey, did you hear that their not serving Fenway Franks at Red Sox games anymore?

Their serving Barney Franks now - if you don't like 'em you can shove em up your arse!

/Barney Frank is great. Just like that joke.

gimpmonkey: where's the dem defenders?!!! i know you're here

They're typing in English. I guess that's why you missed it.

Blech. That was barely coherent from either of them. It was just loud.

/Buckley v. Vidal it ain't.

IXI Jim IXI: gimpmonkey: where's the dem defenders?!!! i know you're here

They're typing in English. I guess that's why you missed it.

clever, clever ... i just don't get how anyone defends this guy, regardless of affiliation

BravadoGT: Three Crooked Squirrels: BravadoGT: Maybe you haven't been paying attention the last few years--but it is fairly easy for the minority party to block legislation wanted by the majority.

Very true for the Senate, not nearly so in the House.

Nancy Pelosi has a larger majority than Hastert ever had in the House. Even with greater numbers, her reign has been largely impotent (menepausal?)

You were doing pretty well until you got here. Go hit the showers, its time to send in the relief.

overlord_mike: kronicfeld: BravadoGT: In fact, as ranking member of the House Financal Services committee

He and his party were in the minority in the House and on that committee. Exactly how did they control that committee's report to the rest of Congress, pray tell?

because if you watch the cspan video of it they basicly belittled the opposistion and made them seem stupid and alarmistic.

also there wasn't a huge majority at the time.

If House Republicans can't stand up to a few Democrats, how are they ever going to stand up to AQ? I guess since they can't stand up to House Democrats, it explains their sheer inability to even remotely act as a separate branch of government from Bush.

/both parties deserve some blame
//as usual accountability is a cuss word to Republicans unless it's a Democrat

too bad Bill O'Douchebag has been complaining just as much about issues like "the war on Christmas" so when the turd has something legit he has no integrity.

Barney Frank rants and raves and positions himself as the authority every time he gets in front of a camera.

So, it's fun to see someone rant at him for a change.

What should happen now is that Frank and Dodd (among others) should be put under Oath and questioned about Fannie and Freddie. They're knee deep in causing the problem.

First of all, why would a democrat let Bill O'Reilly say anything to them, at all? He's a partisan hack that tries to pass himself off as a moderate: Don't give him the time of day.

Secondly, Frank was under the misconception the Fanny/Freddie were solvent, which is how they represented themselves. That is all. Fortunately, it didn't matter because he wasn't in the minority party, at the time.

It's strange days when I root for House Republicans and applaud Bill O'Rly.

Is this the thread where the Republicans rip on Barney Frank because he failed to halt their own wholesale pillage of the American people's piggy banks?

Or is this the one where we all point out that he's teh ghey?

DeltaXi65: O'Reilly is usually a complete waste of skin, but I'll give him credit for what he did last night. Frank needs to own his part in this mess.

I wonder what the statistics are on the political leanings of Mortgage Agencies?

I'm guessing 95% Republican douchebags who watch Bill O'Reilly.

Wait, so is like, Barney Frank GAY or something?

I refuse to watch O'Reilly. He is worthy of scorn and contempt, but he does not get my viewership. And that goes for anything else on Fox News.

Peter von Nostrand: /both parties deserve some blame
//as usual accountability is a cuss word to Republicans unless it's a Democrat

i agree, it'd be a nice change of pace to see some people come out and and say, "hey, we f*cked up, we've been reactive instead of proactive, we haven't done a good job."

that's crazy talk, i know...but just a bit of honesty/integrity would be good to see from congress folk or political leaders. All talking points and politcal correctness is tiresome, from both parties.

I read this the other day:

If your analysis of the situation is "People from the political party I don't like caused this problem, while people from the political party I like will solve it or could have solved it," you are wrong, and also a partisan whore.

If your analysis is more like "Politicians from both parties meddled in a situation they didn't have the slightest understanding of, while accepting massive bribes from sociopaths who took advantage of the government's cluelessness and arrogance to make themselves rich while offloading the risk onto responsible taxpayers," you're a lot closer to the truth.

Commercial mortgage companies, I mean. The ones who sold the loans and then bundled them as CDOs.

kronicfeld: Barney Frank definitely should have been in the majority party that was actually in control of Congress so that he might have been able to do something about those institutions. It's his fault for not being a Republican.

Like what? Make the situation even WORSE than it is?

He PUMPED the shiat!

Damn straight!

/And who says the Repubicans are homophobic?

//The silly liberal media, that's who.

gimpmonkey: that's crazy talk, i know...but just a bit of honesty/integrity would be good to see from congress folk or political leaders. All talking points and politcal correctness is tiresome, from both parties.

When are the Republican ideologues going to fess up to their role in repealing Glass-Steagall and authoring the Commodity Futures Modernization Act?

gimpmonkey: Peter von Nostrand: /both parties deserve some blame
//as usual accountability is a cuss word to Republicans unless it's a Democrat

i agree, it'd be a nice change of pace to see some people come out and and say, "hey, we f*cked up, we've been reactive instead of proactive, we haven't done a good job."

that's crazy talk, i know...but just a bit of honesty/integrity would be good to see from congress folk or political leaders. All talking points and politcal correctness is tiresome, from both parties.

I wouldn't wait for the republicans to own up to anything in your lifetime.

...but by the same token, should Barney Frank allow himself to be blamed for this mess? Hell no!

TraeHova: It's the same thing Bill O'Reilly always does and his hand-flapping, bat-shiat-crazy shtick is the reason no one but retards or sanctimonious pricks take him seriously.

The strange part to me was that O'Reilly conceded a huge point when Frank said that Republicans did nothing for 12 years to increase regulation and that he did something within 2 months of taking over as chairman, to which O'Reilly said "All that's true." Then he proceeded to yell over and over again that Frank "presided over" the biggest banking collapse in history. As per usual, it was very surreal, IMO.

To clarify: I think they are both partisan hacks. I think O'Reilly was right (though I'm not sure if he meant it) when he said both parties were to blame. However, the implication behind the who "'presided over' this mess" point is stupid and irrelevant.

I also love this "presided over" idea.

Look, if you take a shiat in the tank on my toilet at a party, and someone else needs to use the bathroom, they can blame me for having a bathroom that smells like shiat, as I "preside over" the bathroom. But you're still the one that caused the stink.

gimpmonkey: Peter von Nostrand: /both parties deserve some blame
//as usual accountability is a cuss word to Republicans unless it's a Democrat

i agree, it'd be a nice change of pace to see some people come out and and say, "hey, we f*cked up, we've been reactive instead of proactive, we haven't done a good job."

that's crazy talk, i know...but just a bit of honesty/integrity would be good to see from congress folk or political leaders. All talking points and politcal correctness is tiresome, from both parties.

Accountability in my US Americans government? It's even less likely than anyone thinks.

BravadoGT: Nancy Pelosi has a larger majority than Hastert ever had in the House. Even with greater numbers, her reign has been largely impotent (menepausal?)

True, she doesn't have Tom "The Hammer" Delay to get every member of her party in lock-step, nor Abramoff gifts to offer.

The House Republicans of the 2000s voted almost as a block for every Republican proposal, good or bad.

And look where that's got us.

Yay Red team.