The Barney Frank sex ring scandal is the far right's new Chappaquiddick, an old stale scandal trotted out to ad hominem disparage any ideas the guy has. Only nobody even died in Barney Frank's apartment.
What O'Reilly did to Frank in the first interview was vicious and I believe staged. He did express his regret afterward. I have a lot of respect for Frank coming back on the show. I think it speaks to his character as a congressman that he is willing to discuss his viewpoints for an audience that are not really fans of his.
Having said that, he can try to shuffle the sub-prime lending blame around all that he wants, but people need to know the facts about his complicity. This was discussed about a week ago in this post:
Frank was part of the opposition to the following bills:
S.1508 Federal Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2003. If you read through the summary, you will see that "minimum and critical capital levels" are addressed. The Republicans didn't have a filibuster proof majority so the bill died on the floor. [www.govtrack.us]
See also, S. 190. Federal Housing Regulatory Reform Act of 2005. [www.govtrack.us]
These were both bills were introduced by Elizabeth Dole and Chuck Hagel. The first one was co-introduced by Sununu.
The actual death nell to these bills occurred in the Senate, but Frank was very vocal that the reason that he didn't want to tighten the restrictions when they needed to be tightened was because he didn't want homebuyers to be disqualified.
I haven't looked into all of the implications of this condo rule, but it stands to reason that they don't want to guarantee loans in a building where the lack of demand for the condos pushes the prices down. That sounds reasonable, but I can see his point about discouraging purchasers. I kind of think living in a big empty building would be appealing.
I respect Frank as a veteran statesman, but his hands are as bloody as anyone else's when it comes to the sub-prime lending crisis that helped with this meltdown.
It's also ironic that Dole and Sununu probably lost their seats because the Republicans were blamed in large part for the economic meltdown. At least they can sleep at night for having tried.
@doggotmyshoes: I think Barney works his ass off to do what he thinks is the right thing for his country. Just because I think he is wrong almost all of the time, doesn't mean that I can't respect that. I was wondering if I should put a "just joking" caveat on that other post. I'm not gay, but I'm definitely not a homophobe. Well, not since I learned grooming from watching Queer Eye for the Straight Guy a few years back. Now I have a close shave and I'm tolerant.
@ChillbearLatrigue: You seem like a alright guy but have you any idea how much we gays rankle when someone like you pats himself on the back because he tolerates us? Honestly, do you write comments like this just to be provocative?
@phlox✔: I actually didn't know what the correct term was. I don't mean it like that. I actually don't care about a persons sexual orientation at all. So "tolerant" isn't exactly an apt term. I just that was the word of our time. Pardon the ignorance.
If you could give me a better word to use for someone that just thinks that people should be able to live their lives without people tagging them based on one characteristic like skin or sexual orientation, I will use that going forward.
Honestly, I didn't mean to offend and I am sorry that I did. LP, if you're reading this, please, don't kill me.
@ChillbearLatrigue: Elizabeth Dole could only sleep well at night if she found a way to roll back those last four or five facelifts. I fear the poor dear may not be able to close her eyes anymore.
While we're championing Mrs. Dole and her devotion to the American people, I might remind you of her attempt to name an AIDS relief bill after Jesse fucking Helms. She lost her Senate seat because she played a hackneyed game of Rovian politics and it blew up in her taut, wretched face.
@ChillbearLatrigue: My favourite T-shirt slogan from last year's Pride event: Heteros for Homos. Or, you could always go with the tried and true classic: I'm Straight, But Not Narrow. But if you need something pithy you could just say No Homo. LULZ.
@Private Hangnail: You Pelosicrats have a lot of nerve talking about facelifts, my friend.
You know damn well that the economy was the biggest issue in the 2008 elections. The polls showed that the American people believed that the Democrats could do a better job handling the economy. That is the battle that she lost.
Whatever. You just can't handle the fact that someone is giving your girl a run for her money in the facelift department. I'm challenging you to a Facelift Off.
@Private Hangnail: You handpicked those photos. I want a random sampling of three. I found some horrific photos of Pelosi on Google images that would put that Dole photo to shame. Aside from that I find them both pretty hot. I have very low standards.
@ChillbearLatrigue: Is it wrong that I read that last sentence with John Lovitz narrating? (And now I'm envisioning Nancy Pelosi with 3 roommates who she went to grade school with.)
@ChillbearLatrigue: You can't change the rules just because you don't like the outcome. As for the possibility of banging either of these fine ladies, I'd say go with Pelosi. You may despise her politics, but there's a reason Bob Dole does those Viagra commercials.
@Private Hangnail: Isn't the reason because he's 86? (Warning: what follows is disgusting)
My God, the visual. Bob slipping out of the hot tub and picking up the champagne bucket to carry it into the bedroom. Elizabeth moves her facial features around with her hands to approximate a demure expression. The Clapper's set to dim. Some big band music from the 40's is playing in the background to harken them back to a time when they felt alive. Mirrors on the ceiling to reflect every fissure in every field of skin. Elizabeth almost doesn't notice the red light on the tripod mounted video camera...almost.
@El Matardillo: I was expecting Barney Frank to remind people that he is still the reigning king of political sex scandals. Argentinian lover has nothing on gay sex ring.
@Peoplefamiliarwith: Given that Frank himself was not and never alleged to be a member of the gay sex ring in question, I'd have to disagree. Way to tell part of the story, though.
My highbrow contribution, #10, stands out not only for its subject matter, but because it was an "evergreen." Every month, that post would dangle at the bottom of the "most viewed" chart -- or higher.
When Pareene finally has his quarterlife crisis and leaves Gawker to write listicles on Cracked.com, you'll know the last straw was seeing yet another nuanced analytical post beat out by a treatment of 2 Girls 1 Cup.
Yippers, 2008 was another busy year for the Palin family...we're running out of Tr- names and will gladly accept suggestions from you kind Internet folks [www.kontain.com]
@bigstategovernor: Troglodyte has a nice ring to it. Or Triceratops. Some of Sarah Palin's ancestors owned a Triceratops farm back in the day, I believe.
06/25/09
06/24/09
" His partner, Jim Ready, 39, is a surfing enthusiast whom Frank met during a gay political fundraiser in Maine, where Ready still lives"
Jim Ready is a great name, but how active a surfing enthusiast can you be when you live in Maine?
06/25/09
Surfing in Kennebunk, Maine
06/25/09
You have to be VERY enthusiastic about surfing to be a surfer in Maine.
06/27/09
Very cool.
06/24/09
Having said that, he can try to shuffle the sub-prime lending blame around all that he wants, but people need to know the facts about his complicity. This was discussed about a week ago in this post:
[gawker.com]
Frank was part of the opposition to the following bills:
S.1508 Federal Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2003. If you read through the summary, you will see that "minimum and critical capital levels" are addressed. The Republicans didn't have a filibuster proof majority so the bill died on the floor. [www.govtrack.us]
See also, S. 190. Federal Housing Regulatory Reform Act of 2005. [www.govtrack.us]
These were both bills were introduced by Elizabeth Dole and Chuck Hagel. The first one was co-introduced by Sununu.
The actual death nell to these bills occurred in the Senate, but Frank was very vocal that the reason that he didn't want to tighten the restrictions when they needed to be tightened was because he didn't want homebuyers to be disqualified.
I haven't looked into all of the implications of this condo rule, but it stands to reason that they don't want to guarantee loans in a building where the lack of demand for the condos pushes the prices down. That sounds reasonable, but I can see his point about discouraging purchasers. I kind of think living in a big empty building would be appealing.
I respect Frank as a veteran statesman, but his hands are as bloody as anyone else's when it comes to the sub-prime lending crisis that helped with this meltdown.
It's also ironic that Dole and Sununu probably lost their seats because the Republicans were blamed in large part for the economic meltdown. At least they can sleep at night for having tried.
06/24/09
06/24/09
06/24/09
Honestly, do you write comments like this just to be provocative?
06/24/09
If you could give me a better word to use for someone that just thinks that people should be able to live their lives without people tagging them based on one characteristic like skin or sexual orientation, I will use that going forward.
Honestly, I didn't mean to offend and I am sorry that I did. LP, if you're reading this, please, don't kill me.
06/25/09
While we're championing Mrs. Dole and her devotion to the American people, I might remind you of her attempt to name an AIDS relief bill after Jesse fucking Helms. She lost her Senate seat because she played a hackneyed game of Rovian politics and it blew up in her taut, wretched face.
06/25/09
Heteros for Homos.
Or, you could always go with the tried and true classic: I'm Straight, But Not Narrow.
But if you need something pithy you could just say No Homo. LULZ.
06/25/09
You know damn well that the economy was the biggest issue in the 2008 elections. The polls showed that the American people believed that the Democrats could do a better job handling the economy. That is the battle that she lost.
Whatever. You just can't handle the fact that someone is giving your girl a run for her money in the facelift department. I'm challenging you to a Facelift Off.
06/25/09
Yeah, that just hurt my head too.
06/25/09
Dole:

Pelosi:

Now, you tell me: who has a better surgeon? Also, I win.
06/25/09
06/25/09
You totally win, but that pic of Liddy Dole makes me kind of sad.
They're both over 70 though. So...
Go Olds!
06/25/09
06/25/09
06/25/09
My God, the visual. Bob slipping out of the hot tub and picking up the champagne bucket to carry it into the bedroom. Elizabeth moves her facial features around with her hands to approximate a demure expression. The Clapper's set to dim. Some big band music from the 40's is playing in the background to harken them back to a time when they felt alive. Mirrors on the ceiling to reflect every fissure in every field of skin. Elizabeth almost doesn't notice the red light on the tripod mounted video camera...almost.
06/25/09
Not to get all 4chan here, but this is utterly win.
06/24/09
06/24/09
06/25/09
01/02/09
12/31/08
12/31/08
When Pareene finally has his quarterlife crisis and leaves Gawker to write listicles on Cracked.com, you'll know the last straw was seeing yet another nuanced analytical post beat out by a treatment of 2 Girls 1 Cup.
12/31/08
12/31/08
12/31/08
12/31/08
12/31/08
Happy New Year All!!!
12/31/08
12/31/08
12/31/08
12/31/08
"I love lamp!"
12/31/08
12/31/08
12/31/08
12/31/08
12/31/08
[www.kontain.com]
12/31/08
12/31/08