Free Republic

Forget this last post, the Federal Reserve has stepped in and settled the debate that was brewing between the White House & Congress. Basically, the student loan companies need someone to buy some loans so they can have enough reserve cash to offer more loans in the future. Due to high default rates, high inflation rates, and overall low student loan return rates, no investors are showing up for the normal bond auctions. Part of this, of course, is due to an over-correction by Congress during the financial boom period of 2004 to 2006. By the time legislation had passed...

There's a lot of talk about a "credit crunch" and speculation about what it means for the U.S. and global economies. To summarize it, I would say: "The banks have no reserves other than debt." This chart shows the total "non-borrowed" reserves in the U.S. banking system (as an aggregate of the entire financial system). Negative non-borrowed reserves indicates basically that the reserves are borrowed for the first time in U.S. economic history. The sharp drop shown here indicates the beginning of the credit crunch in late 2007:

Central Planning and Herd Mentality Professional politicians, investors, and journalists are working in concert to push forward new legislation to greatly expand the powers and role of the Federal Reserve. "The markets have failed" they protest, and the solution they see is more central planning. The problem is, more central planning will only re-enforce the herd mentality that created the housing bubble and the current commodities spike. The herd theory of the markets is important to understanding how the housing bubble became such a problem, but too often the herd mentality is written off as "irrational." In this article, the...

I think Obama has jumped the shark, and it has nothing to do with any election results and everything to do with how his online following has reached a point of "lowest common denominator." As more people follow any trend or "next cool thing" it inevitably hits a peak of popularity and the silliness of it all becomes apparent. Here is the evolution of the pictures that made it to the top of the front page on a site full of Obama fans: Originally submitted as "Coolest" - Originally submitted as "Cooler" - Originally submitted as "Coolest-est" - And thanks...

Part 1:  Hillary Clinton's Michigan Power-Play Part 2:  Hillary Clinton Wins MichiganPart 3:  Hillary Clinton Wins Florida (Uncontested) Part 4:  Hillary Clinton and the superdelegates (Part Four in a series examining how Hillary's campaign goes beyond the voting booth and into the very power structure of the Democratic party itself.)  The Democratic Party has 4,049 delegates scheduled for its convention Whoever wins needs 50% + 1, or 2,025 delegates.  3,253 of these delegates are up for grabs in the primary election voting process, but 796 are given to party leaders, insiders, advisors, and top contributors.  These super-delegates can vote...

Rudy needs a PR specialist - and a time machine. His support in Iowa proves to be virtually non-existant and his campaign message is stuck dwelling on the past. But its OK. Rudy is prepared. Rudy is the man to handle a disaster like his campaign. He says it doesn't matter how badly he does in Iowa, and it doesn't matter that his campaign is falling apart. You see, he's dealt with horrors like this on 9-11. "He flatlined in Iowa and he’s struggling in New Hampshire, but Rudy Giuliani shook off the early-state blues Thursday as only he can."...

If being against the North American Union makes you a conspiracy theorist,Does being for it make your a conspirator?The thing is, even talking about it may land a bad label on you and the media has done little to expand knowledge of this topic.  In fact, the media strategy has been to denounce any mention of this as an election-year conspiracy theory.  Opinions range from: the end of U.S. sovereignty; to a completely bureacratic attempt to increase trade & security; to the inevitability of globalist one-world government.  The truth is probably some little bit of each. Full Article: Security...