I don't see what was especially brilliant about parroting the tired idea that Obama is somehow selling a story, devoid of any real belief.

Politicians in Presidential elections spout all manner of focus-group tested messages in the hope of telling America what it wants to hear. Bush's "compassionate conservativism" being just the latest, and probably the most insincere. It seems foolish to knock Obama for his message of hope and unity given his history. His story has the benefit of being consistent from start to finish, so why doubt him now?

Posted at January 4, 2008 4:02 PM in response to From Concord, NH: Obama's Music

His entire critique comes from his own personal beliefs about what defines "conservative". Which matters not at all. The point is that the Conservative movement, however it began, is responsible for horrible and failed ideas over and over. It's very telling that the Conservative movement has to wrap their ideas in a lie to get them passed. It's constant misdirection. Their "healthcare" plan is meant to "aid the really poor people" when really it just helps the billion-dollar insurance companies.

Posted at October 19, 2007 9:06 AM in response to The Right's "Ideological Purity Dodge"

I live in Phoenix. Watching the housing market here, there is no shortage of rental homes and no shortage of people in trouble with their mortgages. Leasing these homes back to the foreclosed upon will solve nothing. It's not like they'll end up truly homeless; after all, if they can afford to rent back their home at market rates, they can afford to rent someone else's home. Furthermore, handing over the task of assigning the rental rate to an appraiser (I am a commercial appraiser) sounds like a good idea until you realize that the homeowner is likely to get a lower rental rate in a comparable home if they have the power to negotiate.

Also, a bank is not in business to own property. Their first move is to sell. I imagine a new sub-industry will spring up of property management companies/investors snatching up these homes with a lease built right in and becoming suburban slum lords (like most property managers already are). The homes will fall into disrepair just like all other rental homes.

And rent-to-own schemes are heavily tilted toward the seller.

This whole idea sounds nice in theory, but it's unnecessary and unlikely to work to anyone's real benefit. The housing market is about as close to a perfect market as we can find. It will right itself just like it always has. The question is how long this will take. And unfortunately, there are many people who are in a bad way, but nobody twisted their arms to get them there. Caveat emptor.

Posted at August 20, 2007 9:39 AM in response to Own to Rent: The Way to Save Subprime Borrowers