It's About Time Bill and Hillary

Saturday, Bill and Hillary Clinton made their first joint appearance with the Bidens at an Obama rally. The question is: Where have they been? After "suspending her campaign" this summer, Hillary Clinton promised to do what she could to help Obama win the presidency. When was she going to start? With less than 3 weeks to go, it's kinda late to start campaigning now, right? Maybe the Clintons are still bitter about losing the extremely close primary elections this summer. It's hard to believe these die-hard democrats wouldn't be on the trail to help Sen. Obama with his campaign. Could it be bitterness because she was not the vice-presidential nominee? Maybe it was Obama's reluctance to pick up her 20 million dollar tab. Who knows, it's just a shame that she didn't keep her word. The Clinton's have offered no explanation for their noted absence, and no one has really questioned that. Could the Clinton's be losing their relevance. I know my answer... I want to know what you think.

Who Really Has Our Back in the Housing Market?

It is safe to say that the housing market today is a complete mess. In Washington, politicians are jumping to blame each other for the boil that is the subprime housing crisis. So, who is really to blame? Is it Congress, mortgage companies, the consumer? I can tell you who it is not...the consumer. Reading articles and blogs have revealed just how un-informed and financially illiterate people actually are. Hold on a second...this is not meant to be an insult. There is no law that says you need a bachelor's degree in finance to own a home, you just need to understand the people that are actually there to help you, and the people that are not.

The first myth is that consumer's were buying $300,000 homes and could only afford $100,000. That is not all together true. The subprime market was not designed to get poor people into mansions, it was designed to get a desirable mortgage payment for those who did not qualify for a low-interest fixed rate mortgage. The problem was they way the mortgage companies explained these subprime loans to consumers.

The two absolute worst subprime loans were adjustable-rate mortgages, and interest-only loans.

Let's start with adjustable-rate mortgages. These were by far the most popular. The pitch is that the interest rate is obscenely low, and there is a teaser rate, also low that will adjust with the market during a set time period. Most people could comfortably afford the initial payments, maybe even the first two adjustments, but when that third adjustment comes is when all hell breaks loose. People had a general misunderstanding about the way these mortgages worked. The initial interest rate was the floor, or the lowest the interest rate would ever be. So while 3.5% interest rate looked good, before the end of your mortgage term your interest rate could jump as high as 11%. That was the problem. When the interest rate jumps the mortgage payment can jump as much as 150%. In other words, you are used to paying $575 a month and then when your interest rate changes your payment changes to over $1400. Most people cannot afford such a large jump in a short amount of time, therefore causing defaults and foreclosures. That is the direct fault of the mortgage broker, and the mortgage lender, not the government.

Now that we have explained that option, lets talk about the less popular, but just as disasterous interest-only loans. The way these work is you pay the bank off first. You begin to pay on the interest portion of the loan before you pay on the principal. In traditional fixed-rate mortgages, you pay a portion of principal and a portion of interest in your monthly payment. Because you are paying on interest, which is the least expensive part of the loan, your mortgage payments are low. The problem is you are not building any equity in your home. In other words, you are basically paying rent. Don't think that is the only problem. Fixed-rate mortgages are meant to spread out your principal so that you pay an even, comfortable payment. But when you have an interest-only loan, there is less time to pay the principal, therefore making your payments climb higher and higher. This also causes a large amount of defaults and is the direct fault of the mortgage brokers and mortgage lenders.

Who do you trust? Who has your back?

The answer: You do.

There is a term called fiduciary responsibility. You need to know that mortgage brokers and mortgage lenders do not have fiduciary responsibility. In other words, they do not have to put the needs of you before the needs of themselves. Here, my friends, is the underlying cause of this problem. If the government had regulated banks and mortgage brokers to have fiduciary responsibility, they could be held directly responsible for the outcome of your mortgage. Mortgage brokers and lenders would be required to warn you of the outcomes of these loans, and they would be required to find the best loan for you...not for them.

If you learn nothing from this article, just take away that the mortgage brokers and lenders are not your friends. In fact they are your mortal enemy and should be treated as such. They say they look for the best loans to match you, but that is not true. Know that the more you pay, the more mortgage lenders and brokers get paid. It is you against them, and I hope you find yourself on top. It's all about what you know.

Who is Really Guilty of Terrorism and Treason?

According to Websters dictionary, terrorism is the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion.

Well if this isn't John McCain and Sarah Palin, I don't know what is. For the past two weeks they have systematically manipulated their radical supporters into believing Barack Obama is a terrorist. They have made statements that Sen. Obama is not an American, he doesn't hold American values and he hangs with terrorists. Are these things true?

ABOSULETLY NOT!

Sarah Palin is an ignorant little ventrilioquist doll with John McCain's hand up her ass. She says whatever John McCain tells her to. So what does McCain do? He thrusts her to the front of the stage, gives her a quote from the New York Times, tells her to put on her best Alaskan accent and go rowl up the crowd. So she finds a police officer, because Lord knows we all love cops, to introduce her and mention that Barack Obama's middle name is Hussein, you know in case you missed that during the primary elections. What do you get when you mix all of this together, a recipe for political disaster. You might think this a disaster for Obama, but really it's for McCain and Palin.

The whole country watched their rallies in disbelief as people shouted "kill him" and "terrorist" from the crowd, one woman even saying she didn't trust Obama because he was Arab. What the heck is that? Using terror as a means of coercion? ding ding ding...making McCain and Palin terrorists? ding ding ding. That's just what they have said. What about what they have done.

Remember the quote, "Barack Obama finds America so imperfect that he feels the need to pal around with terrorists?" I thought you would. Well listen to this quote, "My government is my own worst enemy. I'm going to fight them with any means at hand." Thought William Ayers said it? Nope that would be Sarah Palin's buddy Joe Volger, the former leader of the Alaska Independence party. Todd Palin, Sarah Palin's husband, is a member of the Alaska Independence party and has been since 1994. The Alaska Independence Party claims Sarah Palin was a member for 2 years, the years of 1994-1996.

What is the Alaska Independence Party you say?

Well that's just the party that wants Alaska to secede from the United States of America. Yes, the party that wants to break away from the United States. I know what you're thinking. Hmmm....how can you be vice-president of a country you don't even want to be a part of. Let them tell it, they didn't believe some of the core values that this party held, but Todd Palin stayed an active member of the party for well over a decade, and Sarah Palin spoke at their convention in 2006 while running for Govenor telling them to "keep up the good work." So who was it again "pallin' " around with terrorists? Who are the people truly guilty of treason?

John McCain and Sarah Palin want to be our leaders, the terrorist and the treasonist. Now that their tactics of attacking Sen. Obama have back-fired, they are now finding themselves having to explain some of their own terroristic and treasonistic activities. You know how the old saying goes..."Don't throw stones when you live in a glass house."

Why is this the Best Political Blog Period?

Many blogs claim to be the best political blog, but this is the best political blog period. The period makes the difference. This is not your typical blog site. It's not your basic "I'm pro-this or I'm anti-that." We here at The Best Political Blog Period keep it real. We don't sugar coat, or pussy foot around. We think there's enough bull out there, and people are tired of it. We offer a place where ALL opinions are welcome. The heart of this blog is the opinions of the readers. That's how we solve problems. We're all Americans, and we all have a lot riding on politics. Here you will find national, statewide, and local (Beaumont, TX) political coverage. We leave no stone unturned. Hopefully, you find this blog a place where you can state your opinions and have a good 'ole fashioned debate. We look forward to blogging with you. Just remember, I'm Always Right. ; ) Sincerely, I'm Always Right

Did Sarah Palin Set Women Back?

The past five weeks have turned out to be the most fascinating stretch of the current campaigns. Before the vice-presidential nominations, Obama and McCain were kind of stale. Where was the spice? Where was the controversy? We had all gotten over the monumental primary season and were ready for more.

Barack Obama announced Joe Biden as his vp-pick. Joe Biden is a smart dude. He has the experience, the education, and the charisma to help lead the Democratic ticket to the top. What was John McCain to do? Two words: Sarah Palin. Yes folks, this was John McCains answer. You have to admit she was adorable with her Alaskan accent, and her power church suits, but was she the Hilary Clinton of the Republican party?

Not quite. She was great until she started talking. We all saw Katie Couric and Charles Gibson...yeah I'll just leave it at that. Then there was the debate... She was good though, she spoke fluent english and didn't stutter. She just decided she wasn't going to answer any of the questions.

So I say all of this to ask, did Sarah Palin set women back? I know what you bra-burning feminists are going to say. Hell No!!! But just take a minute to think. John McCain thought so much of women, he found the dumbest one in the country, dressed her up in church suits and heels, called her conservative and tried to pass her off as a republican Hilary Clinton. I don't know about ya'll, but that seems appauling. Did she set women back? I know my answer...I want to know yours.