First the Republicans stack the courts and then they throw a Libertarian who recommends legal challenges to solve all our social and environmental problems? Gee I'm sorry you're going to have to breath filthy air for the rest of your days because the court ruled against you. The courts? THE COURTS? The Supreme Court threw out habeas corpus for property owners, EMINENT DOMAIN, the right of government to confiscate your property and transfer ownership to another private interest!!??

Ron Paul is a madman, thanks for showing us the light.

Do you know what a CDO is? An SIV, ABS, etc??

(hint: I'll bet Bush couldn't tell you)

We got rid of a terrible budget deficit once before? Did we learn anything about the process. Or is this like Global Warming, just part of some cycle and process we don't really understand, and we shouldn't worry about it? Did I mention the dollar?

Do you remember the phrase, "Don't worry, be happy." Congratulations, you are a Reagan era Republican. While all of you talk about Reagan's accomplishments, none of you seem to accept his primary message, you all seem to be saying, "Worry, worry, worry.." Are you we going to have to wait another four years before we can be happy again?

People are losing trust in the vital infrastructure which supports and protects them, even while we are spread across the world, catching terrorists, we can't trust the toys we buy, the food we eat, the elected officials who are supposed to protect us. Which one of you is going to "Insure the Domestic Tranquility," and how are you going to do it?

For Sen McCain: The enemy tortured you once. It didn't work. Why should we use torture? Doesn't it strengthen the enemies resolve, did it strengthen yours?

For Rep Paul: YOu want to take us back to the Constitutional Garden of Eden. What is your view of the Constitution Amendments since the Civil War?

For Mr Romney: How does your religion guide your political vision?

For Mr Guiliani: Have you considered a make over? The Democrats have young and attractive people running for office? Would you consider changing your looks to appear more likable? Do you think Nixon made a mistake in the 1960 debate. Most people do. What would you consider doing? Botox, hair plants, etc?

Disaster is good for the economy. CNBC Cramer came on after Katrina with his buy list, including the insurance companies, which he said, will raise rates, and more than offset their losses, which in this case they already offloaded. beautiful. Where can I buy some of this?

A month ago on CNBC they were saying Bernanke might have saved Christmas. If he did, Bush flushed it back down the toilet today. The depth of their cynicism continues to amaze even an old cynic like myself. Congress is not immune either, with their mantra of "Why bother, the election is next year." Joe Biden promised to impeach Bush if he launches a sneak attack on Iran. Bold words, Joe.

It was precisely this environment which brought Reagan to power, the post Watergate years, the oil embargo, the killer rabbit. We've already had a stealth Watergate scandal, a stealth oil embargo, 99 dollars for a while, and pretty soon we're likely to get the stealth version of Reagan, which looks a lot like Clinton to me. Funny it was the weapons for hostages deal with Iran which got that administration elected. Could another one be in the works? Are the friends of Hillary in Tehran right now? Let's hope so.

Recall the Republicans pulled out a few stops during 2006, including Goldmans (Paulsons old, Plunge Protetion Team leader, in the Presidents Working Group) rejigger of the commodity index, which helped drive gasoline prices lower ahead of the election. To really understand the nebulous world of government statistics, visit www.shadowstats.com. There may be a recession underway right now, if the revisions to the employment numbers continue to erase those rosy earlier projections. The Republicans will do everything to avoid the lable, recession, and the Democrats will appear petty and demeaning, to insist one exists. Very few candidates will campaign on Iraq, either. What are they going to talk about? How about the weather, Al Gore?

The item of concern I believe is whether the loan is recoursing or not. A recoursing loan has to be paid off I believe. (Although I might have definitions reversed) If you hold such a loan and the value of the home doesn't match the obligation on the loan, then the borrower has to make up the difference, and that constitutes a lien against the estate.

Otherwise these loans often make a lot of sense. Where can you borrow a couple hundred thousand against a house that might only be worth half that much ten years from now? Especially if the loan does not imply repayment.

Also some loans let you take the cash, which is a good idea, because when these companies go broke lending money on real estate whose value has collapsed they are going to stop making payments.

The salient point on these loans, like ReFis in general, is what are you going to do with the money? Should you reinvest the equity in your home, in Treasuries, and home prices decline, you have done yourself a big favor.