Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Is Obama about to forgive billions in mortgage principal?
Hot Air ^ | 8/5/10 | Ed Morrissey

Posted on 08/05/2010 6:39:02 AM PDT by Daisyjane69

Edited on 08/05/2010 6:53:02 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]

James Pethokoukis hears rumors of an August surprise coming from the White House, one that will attempt to win backs the hearts and minds of voters dismayed at the failing economic policies of the Obama administration. With the government fully in control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Barack Obama may issue an order to forgive portions of underwater mortgages processed through the GSEs, where negative equity approaches $800 billion overall. Some financial houses have begun quietly preparing for the possibility:

Main Street may be about to get its own gigantic bailout. Rumors are running wild from Washington to Wall Street that the Obama administration is about to order government-controlled lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to forgive a portion of the mortgage debt of millions of Americans who owe more than what their homes are worth. An estimated 15 million U.S. mortgages – one in five – are underwater with negative equity of some $800 billion. Recall that on Christmas Eve 2009, the Treasury Department waived a $400 billion limit on financial assistance to Fannie and Freddie, pledging unlimited help. The actual vehicle for the bailout could be the Bush-era Home Affordable Refinance Program, or HARP, a sister program to Obama’s loan modification effort. HARP was just extended through June 30, 2011.

The move, if it happens, would be a stunning political and economic bombshell less than 100 days before a midterm election in which Democrats are currently expected to suffer massive, if not historic losses. The key date to watch is August 17 when the Treasury Department holds a much-hyped meeting on the future of Fannie and Freddie. …


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bailout; davidgregoryswife; fanniefreddie; fanniemae; freddiemac; frontpage; mortgage; nbccoverup; pitchforks; porkulus
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 201-209 next last
To: Daisyjane69

Hy Mod,

Thanks, that was cool.

I don’t know how to do “colors” on a post!

:)


41 posted on 08/05/2010 6:55:26 AM PDT by Daisyjane69 (Michael Reagan: "Welcome back, Dad, even if you're wearing a dress and bearing children this time)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: Free America52

If the obamites get the middle class like you by the wallet, your bodies and minds will follow

that would be the goal of this program


42 posted on 08/05/2010 6:55:56 AM PDT by silverleaf (Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: silverleaf

Same reason to require EVERY “government approved” insurance policy to spend at least $1 on abortion.


43 posted on 08/05/2010 6:56:10 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a (de)humanist and a Satanist is that the latter knows who he's working for.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: BornToBeAmerican

It’s ObamaMoney.


44 posted on 08/05/2010 6:56:18 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (Impeachment !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

I would be surprised if he goes this far. This is way beyond the usual demagoguery.


45 posted on 08/05/2010 6:57:07 AM PDT by Anti-Bubba182
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Daisyjane69

This will go well with 99 weeks of unemployment checks.


46 posted on 08/05/2010 6:57:25 AM PDT by umgud (Obama is a failed experiment.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Moonman62

Are you utterly unaware of American history?


47 posted on 08/05/2010 6:57:27 AM PDT by arrogantsob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: savedbygrace

I’m confused....is this for ALL mortgages or certain mortgages processed by certain companies?


48 posted on 08/05/2010 6:57:57 AM PDT by Blue Turtle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Free America52
When the military transferred me to the South, I ended up with a house in Illinois I cannot sell. Problem is my wife and I were careful and only refinanced the amount needed to clear all of our other debts. Because we were so careful, and despite almost a 33% drop in value, we are not underwater.....yet. But, we are very close to a short sale because of the age of the house I cannot get close to what we owe, but the property is still valued about 40K above my mortgage. I will not qualify for assistance, but I am one family emergency away from foreclosure. I am part of that feared next wave of foreclosures, so this stop gap measure will not have the impact Bambi thinks it will. He waited too long to do this, and it will mean nearly a $ trillion added to the debt.
49 posted on 08/05/2010 6:58:08 AM PDT by OldGoatCPO
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Daisyjane69

Let’s keep in mind that many of these people are underwater because they treated their homes like piggy banks, and mortgaged it to the hilt in order to pay for family trips to Disneyland, jet skis, boats, breast implants, high tech stereos and everything else you can name.

Their homes are underwater because they likely didn’t bother with upgrading their windows and doors, insulation, heating and air conditioning systems, hot water tanks, and other infrastructure. The house itself is probably not up to current code, and probably needs significant and very expensive repairs before it could ever be worth anything near what is mortgaged against it.

This is exactly what I feared we would get to when the sub-prime crisis first hit: cash grants to individuals directly out of the Federal coffers to bail them out from their own financial irresponsibility. I asked then how this could occur under the US Constitution, and in short, it is blatantly unconstitutional to do this, and will lead to nothing good.

I hear lots of excited chatter about what may happen in the November elections, but the dangerous truth is that there is plenty that a vindictive and defeated Democrat Party can and will do to all of us out here in fly-over country.

Stout hearts...


50 posted on 08/05/2010 6:58:18 AM PDT by Bean Counter (Now what kind of a geroo are you anyway?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: savedbygrace

dream on

“landlords” get no breaks under this regime
no energy credits for upgrades and replacements
new taxes on rents
AMT means reductions of rental expense deductions
probably no refinancing deals for nonowner property
marxist democrats HATE landlords as much as they hate business owners


51 posted on 08/05/2010 6:58:50 AM PDT by silverleaf (Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Anti-Bubba182

This might bring out the REAL pitchforks.


52 posted on 08/05/2010 6:59:13 AM PDT by Daisyjane69 (Michael Reagan: "Welcome back, Dad, even if you're wearing a dress and bearing children this time)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: Daisyjane69

Last night watching Special Report and the news about Iran and the saber rattling going on, it occurred to me that we might be getting set-up for a couple of October surprises: a US military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities and now maybe this mortgage forgiveness “stimulus”.

A strike on Iran might result in a “rallying around the President” and given the give away of billions on under-water mortgages, maybe some more rallying could be forced.

These are very scary times.


53 posted on 08/05/2010 6:59:18 AM PDT by ReleaseTheHounds ("The problem with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." M. Thatcher)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Daisyjane69

THIS IS HUGE.

If he does this, he will essentially DESTROY the American economy. NO trust will be involved in making contracts and promises....the government will own your home.

Barack Hussein Obama’s agenda must be stopped.


54 posted on 08/05/2010 6:59:18 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: silverleaf
"Where My cheese????"

Govt Cheese

55 posted on 08/05/2010 6:59:31 AM PDT by musicman (Until I see the REAL Long Form Vault BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Free America52

It would also have a negative impact on your FUTURE financial situation.


56 posted on 08/05/2010 6:59:31 AM PDT by arrogantsob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Daisyjane69

This might finally bring about the necessary tax revolt next April to starve and collapse Fedzilla.


57 posted on 08/05/2010 7:00:51 AM PDT by DTogo (High time to bring back the Sons of Liberty !!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Daisyjane69

I don’t think this would help the Democrats in the fall. The forgiveness would benefit mostly those who were about to vote Democrat anyway, and it would alienate the moderates and the conservatives even more than they were alienated already.


58 posted on 08/05/2010 7:01:03 AM PDT by Genoa (Titus 2:13)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

The guy losing his job is not exactly a “choice” now is it?


59 posted on 08/05/2010 7:01:21 AM PDT by arrogantsob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Daisyjane69

Who knows what that goofy arrogant POS is about to do.


60 posted on 08/05/2010 7:01:56 AM PDT by Venturer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 201-209 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson