A lot of people seem to be hung up on the problem of Fair Market Rent (FMR). Why not go with the FMRs already established by HUD?

They exist for every MSA in the country and are the limits for the Section 8 rental program.

If you want to say that those rents are too low for the McMansions some of these loans are on, they maybe an independent appraiser may be in order, but I think it would be reasonable to cap the own-to-rent FMR at 20% (probably 10% would be better) above HUD's FMRs.

Posted at August 20, 2007 10:43 AM in response to Own to Rent: The Way to Save Subprime Borrowers

I'll say it again, this isn't about "getting Bush,"
political expediency, education, or anything but the rule of law.

When you think of it in other terms you are saying it's all about political calculation and what might happen.

Also, give people some credit; they may not all be geniuses or political junkies, but they are more than capable of understanding what has gone on, what is at stake, and what needs to be done. This is not politics as usual, whether Congress acts or not, what has happened over the last 7 years is going to stay with the country for a long time, it can be a sign of our strength, or a sign of our weakness, it's up to Congress to decide which.

Posted at July 26, 2007 9:23 AM in response to Impeachment Open Thread

sPh,

I apologize for any confusion, but I was not thinking of unproductive in terms of the conversation, but in terms of how to think about the situation.

As long as you think about this in political terms rather than a matter of law and duty, I think you are doing a disservice to the discussion. It is exactly this kind of "practicality" that leads to the perception of Congress as representing interests other than those of the nation.

Democrats need to stop worrying about how they will be seen and do what's right. It is just as easy (even easier actually) to make the argument that when the GOP slavishly refuses to hold Bush responsible for his actions, that they are acting out of political expediency and party loyalty. Somehow though, I never see that point made.

Posted at July 26, 2007 9:07 AM in response to Impeachment Open Thread

Do you really believe they could act that way and get away with it?

That's beyond cynical. You must have a really low opinion of your fellow citizens.

Posted at July 26, 2007 7:49 AM in response to Impeachment Open Thread

There are things more important than winning.

Who cares if Bush fights back. For what it's worth, I believe if the GOP did side with him in such a fight, they would be crushed at the polls in 08 and might never recover. I would welcome that.

Posted at July 26, 2007 7:38 AM in response to Impeachment Open Thread

As crazy as this might sound to regular TPM readers, I think there is something that many of us, and people like Josh Marshall in particular, are missing, and it is this:

Most people in the country are still largely unaware of the extent of criminal wrongdoing of this administration.

As much as this stuff is talked about here at TPM and on sites like Eschaton, DailyKos, etc., the bulk of U.S. citizens still get information from TV and the local paper.

Now, I myself am guilty of not watching network news or even the cable news channels, but I did check in last night to see how Gonzalez et. al. are being covered. The answer, not surprisingly, is not much.

Without that coverage, there really isn't much pressure on Congressional Republican's to stand up for what's right.

If nothing else, impeachment proceedings would greatly raise awareness of the level and amount of criminal wrongdoing by the administration, and that would create pressure of its own.

All that aside however, there is a much better reason for Congress to begin impeachment proceedings, IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

The thing that really irks me is that 90% of the arguments against impeachment come down to:
It's too hard.

That is a terrible reason, and considering the gravity of what we're talking about, no reason at all.

Josh, and everyone else who don't think impeachment is appropriate right now need to think about their own values. It is far better to lose defending what is right then to keep your head down and hope for a better day. We can have a better day right now, we just have to act.

Posted at July 26, 2007 7:31 AM in response to Impeachment Open Thread

I'm in no position to recognize what single event turned the public at large against Bush and the Republicans because I loathed them early and often.

Also, I just don't think these things turn on a single event so it's difficult to pick a proximate cause. Looking at the lists above, it seems the thing that changed the course in the country was the constant drumbeat of incompetence, chicanery, mendacity, viciousness, and criminality.

If you have to look for a single cause the only thing I could come up with would be whatever it was in GWB's past that allows him to think that his actions have no negative consequences that he needs to concern himself with. He lived that way for the 50+ years before becoming president, why should he do anything different now?

Posted at December 28, 2006 6:40 AM in response to Event of the (Two) Year (Cycle)?