Say Anything Blog

From the Portfolio story:

Senator Conrad borrowed $1.07 million in 2004 to refinance his vacation home with a balcony and wraparound porch in Bethany Beach, Delaware, a block from the ocean. Mozilo instructed a subordinate to “take off 1 point,” or $10,700, according to a March 17, 2004, email.

Later that year, Conrad refinanced an eight-unit apartment building that he and his brothers owned in Bismarck, North Dakota. According to the former employee, the loan violated Countrywide’s normal policy of providing loans for buildings of four units or fewer. In an April 23, 2004, email, Mozilo encouraged an employee to “make an exception due to the fact that the borrower is a senator.”

So is “I’ve never met Mozillo” a legitimate excuse/explanation? Funny how similar that is to Dorgan’s, “I wouldn’t Abramoff if he bumped into me on the street.”

All beside the point. You don’t have to admire Angelo’s tan in person to gain the benefits of his influence peddling.

Also, did anyone in North Dakota even know Conrad had a vacation home on the Delaware beach? News to me. Belies the wonk of the earth image he promotes back home.

North Dakota, I mean. Not the townhouse on Capitol Hill. Not that home. Back home in North Dakota. You know, his home at the apartment complex...financed by a favorable loan from Countrywide.

WDAY AM did mention it in their newscast this morning, but emphasized Dodd’s involvement and kind of mentioned Gaylord Conrad’s million dollar loan for his vacation home, only in passing.

Also, did anyone in North Dakota even know Conrad had a vacation home on the Delaware beach? News to me.

It looks like “public service” pays a lot more than we’ve been lead to believe.

Senatorial welfare.

Communism is evil

You know, Rob, that the local newspaper could skip directly to step three...who’d care?

Compare to this:

* Denial (this isn’t happening to me!)
* Anger (why is this happening to me?)
* Bargaining (I promise I’ll be a better person if...)
* Depression (I don’t care anymore)
* Acceptance (I’m ready for whatever comes)

See? We will get through this current crisis. We simply have to deal with this news in a caring and compassionate way.

"This is a non-issue...it only serves to distract us from our message and the important work the American people want done.”

-DNC talking point

It’s up on the forum main page (Conrad’s press release that is)

From Instapundit:

You know, government conflict-of-interest rules can be pretty exacting where worker bees are involved, but these guys didn’t see anything wrong with taking “VIP loans”? Jeez.

Conrad also didn’t disclose his vacation home on Senate records as required by law.

I just posted about it on the front page.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Conrad and the Herald (owned by the Forum) are in full spin mode.

TANSTAAFL