Posted 2/8/2009

BARNEY FRANK: OUR THIEF OF BAGHDAD

Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts is Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. He is also one of the biggest thieves in Washington.

Not only was he one of the biggest promoters of sub-prime lending and the ill-advised lending actions of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but he was the first to dip into the TARP pot. He plucked out $20 million for a failing bank in his district, thus immediately conditioning his colleagues in the Congress to look at TARP as a major pork opportunity. (By the way, almost as soon as the bank got the money, it went belly up.)

TARP was intended to help the nation recover from recession. Congressmen and Senators were supposed to change their ways and take a statesman-like attitude toward the money. But Barney killed any instinct toward economic patriotism and now all the rest of the politicians have stuck their sticky paws into the TARP pot.

Las Vegas is putting in for $2 million worth of neon signs, a great leg up on energy conservation.

Chula Vista, California, wants $500,000 for a fancy dog run.

Lincoln, Nebraska, wants $3 million for a clubhouse on the city golf course, even though golf is a dying sport.

Boynton Beach, Florida, wants to build an "echo park," whatever that is.

Pittsfield, Maine, wants money to fix the roof on the local theater.

Austin, Texas, lusts to build a "disk golf course" for frisbee tossing – costing a mere $886,000.

Virginia Beach, Virginia, hungers for $1.8 million to build tennis courts.

The mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana, wants $6 million for "aquatic parks" with water slides. (Later there may be rides called "dollar slides.")

These examples come from the "Mayors' Lists" and add up to $149 billion.

Barney's home state has a list of about 4,000 projects – all to be built by TARP, and your grandchildren's taxes.

There are too many outrageous requests to cover here.

When America and Congress looked to Barney Frank for leadership and statesmanship, he stood tall and bellowed, "Pork!"

When you walk down the street, the hand in your pocket may not be your own. It probably belongs to Barney.

Remember when Jack Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."

From Jack Kennedy to Barney Frank.

Boy, has Massachusetts changed a lot.

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