Looking out over the Blue Ridge Mountains....
"Just as the mountains surround and protect Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds and protects his people." -- Psalm 125: 2
Alleghany Mountains ... western Augusta.
Pastures District in western Augusta County.
Photos by SWAC Girl
ANNCR: John McCain fought to rein in Fannie and Freddie.Ad facts: Script for "Rein" (TV 1:00):
The Post says: McCain "pushed for stronger regulation"..."while Mr. Obama was notably silent."
But, Democrats blocked the reforms.
Loans soared.
Then, the bubble burst.
And, taxpayers are on the hook for billions.
Bill Clinton knows who is responsible.
PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON: "I think the responsibility that 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."
ANNCR: You're right, Mr. President. It didn't have to happen.
JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.
ANNCR: John McCain fought to rein in Fannie and Freddie. The Post says: McCain "pushed for stronger regulation"..."while Mr. Obama was notably silent." But, Democrats blocked the reforms.
· In 2006, John McCain Said Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac Were "Deeply In Need Of Reform." "Mr. President, the OFHEO report also states that Fannie Mae used its political power to lobby Congress in an effort to interfere with the regulator's examination of the company's accounting problems. This report comes some weeks after Freddie Mac paid a record $3.8 million fine in a settlement with the Federal Election Commission and restated lobbying disclosure reports from 2004 to 2005. These are entities that have demonstrated over and over again that they are deeply in need of reform." (Office Of U.S. Senator John McCain, "McCain Statement On Co-Sponsorship Of The Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act Of 2005," Press Release, 5/26/06)
· John McCain Cosponsored The Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act Of 2005. "'Mr. President, this week Fannie Mae's regulator reported that the company's quarterly reports of profit growth over the past few years were "illusions deliberately and systematically created" by the company's senior management, which resulted in a $10.6 billion accounting scandal. ... I join as a cosponsor of the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005, S. 190, to underscore my support for quick passage of GSE regulatory reform legislation." (Office Of U.S. Senator John McCain, "McCain Statement On Co-Sponsorship Of The Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act Of 2005," Press Release, 5/26/06)
· John McCain Co-Sponsored The Federal Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2003 Which Would Have Created The Office of Federal Enterprise Supervision In The Treasury, And Given The New Office's Director Supervisory And Regulatory Authority Over Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac. (S. 1508, Introduced 7/31/03)
· The Washington Post: In 2006, John McCain Pushed For Fannie And Freddie Regulation "While Mr. Obama Was Notably Silent." "In 2006, he pushed for stronger regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- while Mr. Obama was notably silent. 'If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system, and the economy as a whole,' Mr. McCain warned at the time." (Editorial, "'Always For Less Regulation'?" The Washington Post, 9/19/08)
· Sen. Dodd Called The President's Suggestions For Regulations On Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac "Inane" And Recommended The President "Immediately Reconsider His Ill-Advised" Proposals. "As recently as last summer, when housing prices had clearly peaked and the mortgage market had started to seize up, Dodd called on Bush to 'immediately reconsider his ill-advised' reform proposals. Frank, now chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said that the president's suggestion for a strong, independent regulator of Fannie and Freddie was 'inane.'" (Al Hubbard and Noam Neusner, Op-Ed, "Where Was Sen. Dodd?" The Washington Post, 9/12/08)
· "In 2000, Then-Rep. Richard Baker Proposed A Bill To Reform Fannie And Freddie's Oversight. Mr. Frank Dismissed The Idea, Saying Concerns About The Two Were 'Overblown' And That There Was 'No Federal Liability There Whatsoever.'" (Editorial, "Fannie Mae's Patron Saint," The Wall Street Journal, 9/10/08)
ANNCR: Loans soared. Then, the bubble burst. And, taxpayers are on the hook for billions.
· "How Washington Failed To Rein In Fannie, Freddie" (Binyamin Appelbaum, Carol D. Leonnig and David S. Hilzenrath, "How Washington Failed to Rein In Fannie, Freddie," The Washington Post, 9/14/08)
· "Fannie Mae Eases Credit To Aid Mortgage Lending" (Steven A. Holmes, "Fannie Mae Eases Credit To Aid Mortgage Lending," The New York Times, 9/30/99)
· "Mortgage Giants Were Blind To Housing Risks" ("Mortgage Giants Were Blind To Housing Risks," The Associated Press, 9/8/08)
ANNCR: Bill Clinton knows who is responsible. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON: "I think the responsibility that 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." ANNCR: You're right, Mr. President. It didn't have to happen. JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.
· Former President Bill Clinton: "I think the responsibility that 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." (ABC's "Good Morning America," 9/25/08)
Augusta Springs ...
Craigsville ...
Estaline Valley ...
Buffalo Gap ...
Alex Davis anchors sign ....
Morris Mill Road ...
Churchville ...
Craigsville ...“The crisis in the financial markets is a serious and real one. However, the way we address this crisis is critical to the long term future of our economy. I believe the legislation offered today, the revised Paulson Plan, was not the solution to our financial problems. This legislation, which I voted against, represents the largest corporate bailout in American history. It takes $700 billion dollars of taxpayers’ hard-earned money and hands it over to the very companies that made the bad decisions which led us into this mess in the first place. I have consulted with many economic experts, bankers, as well as small and large businesses, workers and citizens of the 6th District to come to this decision.Cross-posted at SixtyFour81.com
"I believe that there are other ways to help stabilize the economy. For example, I would support legislation that addresses the problems of Wall Street while at the same time protecting those on Main Street. I am supportive of initiatives to require the Treasury Department to insure mortgage-backed securities, funding the measure through premiums provided by the industry, rather than on the backs of taxpayers. In addition, we must eliminate the government-imposed mark-to-market accounting regulations that artificially devalue assets in times of market instability such as this. These are just two examples of how this legislation could be improved.
"Congress must stay in session until we reach an agreement which addresses the instability in our financial markets while protecting the American taxpayers. I remain committed to working with Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to address our current financial crisis.”
Coyner Springs Park, Waynesboro, VA
Inside picnic shelter which has two fireplaces.
Looking out window of picnic shelter toward springs....
Picnic shelter....
The Coyner Springs....
Old stone bridge over springs....
Alex Davis and I spent all Monday traveling the SWAC area from the Blue Ridge to the Alleghanies putting out Republican signs for our candidates. Dark drove us home ... but we left signs all over the place including the "I Am Voting For The Chick" signs. These signs are on Rt. 254 in Augusta County.
Northern Augusta County....
Gilmore signs were popular wherever we went....
Churchville....
South River District....
Beverley Manor District Chairman David Karaffa's house....
Alex looks at a sign he just planted in the ground....
Jim Gilmore electrifies the crowd as Bill Bolling and Bob McDonnell look on. I couldn't get closer for a photo because of the large crowd of over 4,000.
Lots of entertainment for the little ones....
Tents were set up after three days of rain ... the ground was soggy was spirits were high.
The crowd listens to Bill Bolling, Bob McDonnell, and Jim Gilmore.
More fun for the little ones....
Diners lined up for Brock's BBQ.
Balloons and fall decor helped build the festive mood of the Round-Up.
Almost 4,000 hotdogs and countless pounds of BBQ were consumed.
Royal Blue entertained the crowd.
Next Governor of Virginia Bob McDonnell
Kathy Terry, Bob McDonnell, AFP's Ben Marchi
Bob McDonnell talked with everyone standing in line to speak with him.
VA Federation of Republican Women's Brenda Campbell.
Steve Waters.
Patsy Drain from 11th District and Marie Quinn from 7th District.
Ken Castleberry from 7th District.
RPV's Shawn Pattison ... thanks for all you do!
7th District Chair Linwood Cobb talks with 5th District Chair Tucker Watson.
More photos to follow....
Previous posts about 2008 Republican Round-Up: Part 1 and Part 2.
Photos by SWAC Girl
