Friday, September 26, 2008

Blame it on Bush

For those who want to blame this current financial calamity on Bush, read this article from the NY Times in 1999.

Money quote from the piece.....
In moving, even tentatively, into this new area of lending, Fannie Mae is taking on significantly more risk, which may not pose any difficulties during flush economic times. But the government-subsidized corporation may run into trouble in an economic downturn, prompting a government rescue similar to that of the savings and loan industry in the 1980's.

''From the perspective of many people, including me, this is another thrift industry growing up around us,'' said Peter Wallison a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. ''If they fail, the government will have to step up and bail them out the way it stepped up and bailed out the thrift industry.''

Was this guy Nostradamus? I guess Bush should have fixed the problem as Governor of Texas.

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