Obama economic advisers Robert Rubin and Lawrence Summers opposed regulation of the derivatives markets, the collapse of which has brought us to our knees.

Read the Washington Post Article Here

Obama and other democrats oppose legislation favored by McCain to regulate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

But we're supposed to believe that this is the group that will bring "change" and economic strength. I don't get it.

Obama's goal isn't to bring economic strength to America. It's to bring economic improvement to the poor black portion of America. Read Dreams of My Father, his own words for proof. Look to his spiritual advisor, and his own words about economic redistribution for truth.

so you are saying with a straight face that obama doesn't favor "wall street" regulation or won't favor something to insulate the risk of derivatives?

why not just tell us what he is saying...that's what you usually do

bf, are you a member of stormfront or do you just visit?

rainman is making mccain-like posts. it is difficult to read the mind of somebody that is clearly possessed.

I'm saying that past actions provide a clue about what someone will do in the future.

When someone proposed (before the collapse, not now!) legislation to reform FNMA/FHLMC, Obama didn't jump on board or complain when it died.

When a fellow regulator said "Hey, we've got to get a handle on these deriviatives or it could create big problems," Robert Rubin and Larry Summers (Obama's top economic advisers) said "No, no, that's a bad idea."

Their track record of perceiving and responding to potential economic problems (at least on this issue) isn't good. Plus, even though Obama's been trying to tie McCain to "8 years of failed economic policies of deregulation," it's Obama and his advisers that were taking the anti-regulation stance on these issues.

(please, give up the "behavioral interview" act, rainman)

Instead of calling names, read the book he says it is from and refute it. If you haven't read the book, you don't know if it is true or not. Or if truth or false is not obvious, then whether it is a plausible conclusion or not. Right?

omg, mr clean, did you read bf's post or not? if so, you are being far less intellectually honest than i thought that you would ever be. this smear campaign has reached a new low when people like you and rainman are buying it hook line and sinker.

So for those of you not paying attention, it's kosher to call John McCain "Angry McSame" and disparage him because of his age, but point out that Obama and his advisors dropped the ball on something huge, it is a "smear campaign." That's good Kool Aid right there...

Is this the part of the thread where I get painted as a racist because I happen to think that a community organizer from Chicago is capable of putting the interests of African Americans above all others? I have the book, but I haven't read it. However, it is his career, not his race, that makes the hypothesis one that we'd entertain as a possibility. Heck, I've worked with a Caucasian lawyer who is in the same career path as Obama, and I think he's capable of bias for African Americans. It has nothing to do with the color of his skin.

Do you think you know Obama better than that? Why? Because of what he's said during a political campaign? Have you read the book--it is what bf's hypothesis is based on. OK, I'll put the onus on bf then. bf, do you have any quotes from the book to back up your claim. Your claim is a serious one and shouldn't be made without evidence.

I have no idea what you mean by "behavioral interview", or by your "smear campaign" comment. I read a Washington Post article about Rubin and Greenspan squashing attempts to regulate derivatives and it got me to thinking.

In essence, those who prevented positive change now tell us that they are the agents of change.

Of course Obama favors regulation of derivatives, now with the benefit of hindsight. But he's a little late to the party, don't you think? When the person touted as his chief economic adviser was a key figure PREVENTING an attempt to regulate derivatives, and he was on the side of PREVENTING reform of FNMA/FHLMC that McCain backed, it's a little odd that he can claim to be the one to bring "change we can believe in."

Far from a smear campaign, the McCain camp has done an incredibly poor job of calling Obama out on issues like this.

Unfortunate fact of the day.

Ron? Helloo?

rainman, 'behavioral interview' is a reference to "past behavior is the best predictor of future results".

when i went to actually read your article (go figure, right? ), some sign-in link stood in my way. i'm not willing to just believe how you are trying to spin what certain people believe wrt very specific, very technical issues. fair enough? especially when the fact of the matter is that you admit "Of course Obama favors regulation of derivatives". thus, the 'behavioral interview' is moot.

hey mark, what should i make of mccain's vote against the w tax cut for the top marginal rates?

So:

a) you're NOT willing to enter your e-mail address and register for access (which is free) in order to read an article in the far-from-conservative Washington Post

b) you ARE willing to ignore the difference between Rubin and Obama's 20/20 hindsight positions favoring regulations now vs. opposing regulations at the time they might have actually helped to prevent this mess

c) despite your extensive MBA education and claims to understand how markets work, this issue is just too "very technical" for you to dive into

I'm not asking you to believe my "spin." I'm asking you to read the article (or just google an article on Rubin's position wrt regulation of derivatives when he was in power) and ask yourself two questions:

What has Obama and his team actually done about this issue when they had the opportunity?

and

Does their approach really represent "change"?

lazy and not willing are different things.


i'm not willing to take you spin at face value.


no, without reading the article, i don't have anything to dive into.

Ron, put up or shut up.

He did put up!!! I can see it now!!!

sees his avi now too!

if i feel inspired and you aren't as inspiring to me as you used to be.

ag, has anybody ever told you that you look like tony romo?