Hillary Clinton Appeals to the People of North Carolina

[bigtree]

GRAHAM -- Sen. Hillary Clinton spoke to several hundred people inside the Graham Fire Station on Monday morning about her plan to keep the gas prices from soaring out of control.

Clinton sympathized with supporters and said that she would do everything in her power to cut costs for middle-class America.

Hillary Clinton said she’d be willing to temporarily lift the federal tax on gasoline to ease prices at the pump — but only if the money could be made up elsewhere. (http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/04/27/hillary-favors-gas-tax-holiday/)

“I think we should look seriously at having a gas tax holiday as long as we can make up the lost revenues for the highway trust fund,” she said. “I think we can do that if we put a temporary windfall profits tax on the oil companies. We could actually take the cost off the drivers.”







Sen. Clinton criticized Barack Obama for opposing the concept of suspending the gas tax during the peak summer driving months, a plan both she and Republican John McCain have endorsed. (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hLPqTxd4Fe7e5EymHU-kTUgweRDQD90AUG180)

Obama does not support the "gas tax holiday" and has said the average motorist would not benefit significantly from such a suspension; by some estimates, the federal government would lose about $10 billion in revenue.

"My opponent, Senator Obama, opposes giving consumers a break," Clinton said, campaigning in North Carolina. "I understand the American people need some relief."

Clinton said she would make up the difference in revenue by imposing a "windfall profits tax" on oil companies.

"If we suspended it and made up the lost revenues, that's the best of both worlds," she said.









WILMINGTON, N.C. -- With the Battleship North Carolina as her backdrop, Sunday evening, Senator Clinton railed against the Bush administration, criticizing everything from President Bush's ties to the oil industry to the war in Iraq.

Clinton says the Iraq war has so far been a political failure and that she'll start pulling one to two brigades out of Iraq within the first two months of her presidency.

"We will tell the Iraqis that now it is their responsibility, because they've had a blank check until now, and they have failed and refused to make the tough decisions that they have to make."

Sen. Clinton also called on the president and Congress to join her in halting the home foreclosures of service members. (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/28/clinton-willing-to-debate-on-a-flat-bed-truck/)

“I was so upset when I learned recently that so many of our soldiers who are serving right now on combat tours of duty are losing their homes to foreclosure,” said Clinton. “We should immediately stop any home foreclosure against any member of the military serving on combat duty right now.”







Sen. Clinton said the assassination attempt Sunday on the Afghan president shows that the U.S. has failed to give proper attention to Afghanistan. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the assault that missed President Hamid Karzai but killed three and wounded eight others at a ceremony in Kabul. Gunman opened fire as a 21-gun salute echoed over the capital at an anniversary ceremony marking the mujahedeen victory over the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g8-DEMtAE9q4i4ySQ0eV_qZefmRQD90AMIJG3)

The Taliban is claiming responsibility for the assault that missed President Hamid Karzai but killed three others at a ceremony in Kabul. Gunman opened fire during an anniversary ceremony marking the mujahedeen victory over the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

Clinton notes she has met Karzai and says, "He is a brave man trying under very difficult circumstances to hold that country together, and we have not given him the resources he needs."







On the eve of Sen. Barack Obama’s scheduled appearance at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Sunday evening, Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign rallied 5,000 people to the Cape Fear River waterfront to hear the Democratic Party hopeful during her third trip to the Tar Heel State in three days.

Forget the fact that she is the first female contender to make it this far in the race to the White House, or the fact that for eight years she was this country’s First Lady (Jan. 20, 1993 to Jan. 20, 2001). It was a sublime exercise of the First Amendment Right to a peaceful assembly for Clinton and her supporters.

In the twilight hours of April 27, Sen. Clinton took the stage in front of the Alton Lennon Federal Building and captivated an audience of women and men, old and young, black and white, gay and straight — who, indisputably liberal — were by-and-large still undecided going into next week’s North Carolina primary on Tuesday, May 6. Many were there to hear her message before they made their final decision.








Not since the time of Harry Truman, she speculated, has a U.S. President faced more challenges coming into office. If there was any question that Clinton was up to the task, she certainly squashed those thoughts during her 55-minute monologue.

“Once we roll up our sleeves and go to work, we’re going to see progress. That’s why I’ve been so specific about the solutions I’ve offered. Because I want you to mull them over, I want you to chew on them,” she said.

Clinton proposed a declaration of energy independence. “We are going to declare that we will put resources and effort to unleash the ingenuity and innovation of America again. We’ve done it before. We did it during the space race. We ignited the imaginations of young people, and the results were phenomenal.”

“There’s a lot to do, but I am excited about what we can do together, and I am totally confident and optimistic,” she said. “Because all we have to do is start acting like Americans again. We’re the people.”








listen to Hillary Clinton's full speech in Wilmington, N.C.: http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/whqr/news.mediaplayer?STATION_NAME=whqr&MEDIA_ID=699898&MEDIA_EXTENSION=mp3&MODULE=news

4/28 Hillary Clinton's Plan to Address Soaring Prices at the Pump
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=7354

4/27 Hillary Clinton’s Plan to Protect America’s Servicemembers from Foreclosure
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=7346

[Windy]

1. Drop out Hillary. We've had enough liars in Washington! Go back to CT! n/t

[bigtree]

3. Hillary's not here

just her supporters

[question everything]

60. Just curious: have you voted already?

If not, would you hold this opinion if your candidate were behind at this point?

Many people now, from both sides, want both to stay in the race so that everyone would have a say in this process. If you've already voted, why do you want to deny the voters of NC, IN, OR and others the same opportunity to express their views?

[ButterflyBlood]

2. NC to Hillary: Fuck off and go to hell

The message that will be delivered on May 6.

[bigtree]

4. That's your own message. You're responsible for it, not N.C.

[Better Believe It]

6. Hillary: All Talk, No Action On "Gas Tax Holiday"

"My opponent, Senator Obama, opposes giving consumers a break," Clinton said, campaigning in North Carolina. "I understand the American people need some relief."

So why isn't she proposing legislation to do exactly that?

And if she's serious such a Bill would have already been written by her, she would have co-signers and the Bill would have been presented to Congress for a vote weeks ago!

It's just all campaign rhetoric and Obama bashing.

Where's the beef?

Or in Hillary's case .... where's the Bill?

[bigtree]

12. well, we should measure her efforts against Sen. Obama's

Hillary Rodham Clinton calls for gas price probe...May 10, 2007...
http://www.justhillary.com/herwords/gasprices0510.php




May 23, 2006
Remarks of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton At The National Press Club On Energy Policy

"I support comprehensive legislation that would overhaul our energy taxes; signal the market we're in this for the long run by extending for 10 years the production tax credit; spur demand by doubling consumer tax breaks for hybrids, clean diesel and other advanced vehicles; and create a new tax incentive for fleet owners to purchase more efficient vehicles; speed the development of cellulosic ethanol by providing loan guarantees for the first billion gallons of commercial production capacity; ramp up the availability of ethanol by providing gas station owners with a 50 percent tax credit for the cost of installing ethanol pumps; and then extend and increase tax incentives for homeowners and businesses who will make their homes and businesses more energy-efficient -- there's a lot of good information out there abut how to do it, but unfortunately not much incentive to do it."

[rodeodance]

52. “Obama doesn’t say what he’s going to do,” (the voters of NC have him pegged)

Sharon Watts, 57, of Jupiter, brought her mother, Lois Watts, 83, to the theater Sunday. Sharon Watts wanted to complete a trifecta of signatures on her Hillary placard, which already boasted the signatures of President Bill Clinton, who visited Asheville on March 28, and Sen. Clinton, who campaigned at the Civic Center on Thursday.

Sharon Watts liked the specificity of Clinton’s proposals. “Obama doesn’t say what he’s going to do,” she said. “He’s a fine talker, but we need substance.”

[Independent-Voter]

14. Bigtree, I take it you've not spent any time in NC

Aside from some old white women, nobody, and I do mean nobody, likes Clinton.

[bigtree]

15. It looks like these folks do like her

I'm not buying what you're selling.

[zabet]

36. Wrong. I live here. She has more support than you think. nt

[ButterflyBlood]

19. NC will give it on May 6

When they overwhelmingly reject her politics of hate and division.

[bigtree]

20. actually I believe they will be voting overwhelmingly IN SUPPORT of a candidate

. . . to ultimately reject the politics of the REPUBLICANS and their nominee

[littlebit]

34. Whatever

This Carolinia has already voted for Hillary. So speak for youself not for those of us in NC.

[Beacool]

38. Very nice and classy!!!!!!!

BTW, that's the same message that many of us will give Obama in November if he's the nominee.

Have a good day..........

[rodeodance]

53. NC voter to Obama: “He’s a fine talker, but we need substance.”

Sharon Watts, 57, of Jupiter, brought her mother, Lois Watts, 83, to the theater Sunday. Sharon Watts wanted to complete a trifecta of signatures on her Hillary placard, which already boasted the signatures of President Bill Clinton, who visited Asheville on March 28, and Sen. Clinton, who campaigned at the Civic Center on Thursday.

Sharon Watts liked the specificity of Clinton’s proposals. “Obama doesn’t say what he’s going to do,” she said. “He’s a fine talker, but we need substance.”

[rodeodance]

59. Take your potty mouth to your own threads

[Hoof Hearted]

61. Ah, more sunshine and rainbows from a supporter of the 'new' politics.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

68. NC Gov, Easley ENDORSES Senator Hillary Clinton!!!

[Hoof Hearted]

69. bitter?

[flyarm]

5. She keep on fighting for all of us..and Obama is bored........

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/us/politics/28obama.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Obama "Bored" With Campaign

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 09:56:14 AM EST
Tags: (all tags) Share This:
So says this NYTimes report:

In interviews with several associates and aides, Mr. Obama was described as bored with the campaign against Mrs. Clinton and eager to move into the general election against Senator John McCain of Arizona, the presumptive Republican nominee.
Plus, this seems unsound to me:

In strategy sessions last week, advisers concluded that Mr. Obama, of Illinois, needed to do a better job reminding voters of his biography, including his modest upbringing by a single mother and one of his first jobs as a community organizer helping displaced steel mill workers
Obama needs to talk policy, not biography, imo.

[RaleighNCDUer]

11. Pretending that gas prices are too high because of taxes?

That is fighting for us?

:rofl:

[bigtree]

13. she actually has a comprehensive plan to reduce energy costs, including gas prices

I'd better post it here so that you don't have your way with the juvenile ridicule:


Hillary's plan includes:

* Imposing a windfall profits tax on oil companies and using the money to suspend the gas tax for the peak summer months;

* Closing $7.5 billion in oil and gas loopholes and using the funds to provide assistance for lower-income families to pay their energy and grocery bills;

* Cracking down on speculation by energy traders and market manipulation in oil and gas markets that are driving up the price of oil by at least $20 a barrel;

* Pressuring OPEC to increase oil production, including by filing a WTO complaint against OPEC countries

* Stopping new additions to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and standing ready to release oil to counter market spikes and reduce volatility.

This plan builds on Hillary's long-term plan to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and address global warming. She has committed moving America towards energy independence by cutting foreign oil imports by two-thirds from 2030 projected levels, more than 10 million barrels per day.

Details of Hillary's Plan

Enact a Windfall Profits Tax on Oil Companies to Pay for Temporarily Suspending the Gas Tax - Hillary will impose a windfall profits tax on oil companies and use the money to temporarily suspend the 18.4 cent per gallon federal gas tax and the 24.4 cent per gallon diesel tax during the upcoming peak summer driving months. Hillary will ensure that this relief is passed along to consumers by charging the Federal Trade Commission with conducting aggressive oversight. Unlike Senator McCain’s plan, Hillary’s plan will be fully paid for by taking away oil company profits through a windfall profits tax. This will ensure that the Highway Trust Fund is not affected at all by the gas tax suspension, and can continue to support critical repairs and maintenance for our infrastructure and highways. Suspending the gas tax will provide real, immediate assistance to American families and for our economy. Recent testimony before the House of Representatives by the American Trucking Association indicates that even small changes in price can have big impacts. Just a one-penny decrease in the price of diesel annualized over an entire year would save the trucking industry $391 million a year.

Take Immediate Action to Crack Down on Speculation and Market Manipulation in Oil and Gasoline Markets - Oil and gasoline markets contain loopholes for traders, and the markets are inadequately policed by regulators under current law. As a result, there is considerable concern that current market prices reflect the influence of speculators and other forces beyond supply and demand. In early April, an Exxon Mobil executive testified under oath before a House committee that the price of oil should be $50 to $55 per barrel based on supply and demand fundamentals. Marathon Oil’s CEO stated last October that: "$100 oil isn't justified by the physical demand in the market - it has to be speculation on the futures market that is fueling this." Hillary would take action to reduce the influence of speculators, crack down on market manipulation in oil markets, and outlaw price gouging by:

* Closing the Enron Loophole - Hillary supports closing the "Enron loophole," which exempts electronic trading of energy commodities by large traders from U.S. government regulation. The loophole has helped lead to the dramatic growth of trading on unregulated electronic energy exchanges, and has made the U.S. energy markets vulnerable to price manipulation and excessive speculation. Even Alan Greenspan has cited "investors and speculators who took on larger net long positions in crude oil futures" as one cause of oil prices. In June 2006, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations issued: "The Role of Market Speculation in Rising Oil and Gas Prices: A Need to Put the Cop Back on the Beat." This report analyzed the degree to which financial speculation in energy markets had contributed to the dramatic increase in energy prices in recent years. The report concluded that "speculation has contributed to rising U.S. energy prices," and endorsed the estimate of various analysts that the influx of speculative investments into crude oil futures accounted for approximately $20 of the then-prevailing crude oil price of approximately $70 per barrel.

* Protect the consumer market from price gouging for petroleum products -- Hillary will make it unlawful for any supplier -- wholesaler or retailer -- to sell crude oil or gasoline at an unconscionably excessive price. Price gougers would face new fines and criminal penalties of up to $1 million and five years in prison and civil penalties could be assessed from $500,000 up to $5 million. Today, there are no federal laws prohibiting price gouging in the oil and gas industry, leaving some states to prohibit these actions. In 2006, the Federal Trade Commission conducted a study of post-Katrina gas price, and while it did not find widespread gouging, it did find 15 examples of pricing at the refining, wholesale, or retail level that fit a definition of price gouging under legislation that Senator Clinton has backed and is proposing to enact now.

* Call on the Federal Trade Commission to Take Action Against Market Manipulation in Wholesale Oil Prices - The energy bill passed last year included new provisions to provide greater transparency and prevent manipulation in wholesale oil markets, and to empower the Federal Trade Commission to investigate and pursue violations. Unfortunately, the Bush Administration has chosen not to use this new authority. To ensure that oil companies and traders are not ripping off consumers, Hillary is calling on the FTC to begin investigations using these new powers. In addition, Hillary is calling on the FTC to propose regulations under the new law within 60 days to prevent market manipulation in oil markets. Recent cases show that market manipulation is a concern in oil markets. In 2007, Marathon Oil paid a $1 million fine to the Commodities Futures Trading Commission to settle charges that a subsidiary had tried to manipulate crude oil prices in 2003. Action by the FTC to investigate the current oil market and to develop and enforce new prohibitions on market manipulation would help to minimize foul play in oil and gasoline markets.

Take more aggressive action to pressure OPEC to increase production - OPEC recently reiterated that it will not even consider increasing crude output until September 2008, even though limited supplies are contributing to record oil prices. Hillary believes we should be taking more aggressive action to address OPEC’s control over global production levels and hold OPEC accountable for its decisions. President Bush’s efforts to pressure OPEC over the past seven years have been inconsistent and unsuccessful. Hillary supports sending a strong signal to OPEC that the era of complacency has ended. Hillary will:

* Use the WTO to Challenge OPEC’s Production Quotas - With nine of the thirteen OPEC member countries also being members of the WTO, Hillary believes we should use the tools available at the WTO to address OPEC’s refusal to increase production. WTO rules currently prohibit member countries from imposing export quotas. Yet OPEC member countries are actively and explicitly banding together to restrict oil production and affect global prices. Hillary is calling on the President to engage in immediate negotiations with OPEC members and, if no progress is made, file a formal complaint against OPEC countries at the WTO. Filing a complaint at the WTO will send a clear signal to OPEC countries that the U.S. is committed to an open, transparent global oil market. Such a step will give OPEC members an incentive to increase production as well.

* Allow OPEC Production Decisions to Be Challenged Under U.S. Anti-Trust Law - Currently, OPEC countries cannot be challenged under U.S. anti-trust laws, even when they are engaged in coordinated, commercial activity to control the global oil market. Hillary supports amending the Foreign Sovereignty Immunities Act so that the Justice Department can bring suits against OPEC countries in U.S. courts for price fixing. Changing the rules would help hold OPEC countries accountable for their decisions.

Close the oil and gas loopholes and use those resources to provide direct assistance to working families facing skyrocketing energy bills on top of record gas prices. Hillary believes that in addition to imposing a windfall profits tax on large oil companies, Congress should move immediately to end the approximately $7.5 billion per in tax giveaways and subsidies that we continue to provide to oil and gas companies, despite their record profits. These subsidies are in part a result of the 2005 Energy Bill she voted against. She would use those resources this year to provide assistance to lower-income families who are not only being hit at the gas pump, but with skyrocketing energy and food bills as well. This winter, a record number of families were forced to seek assistance through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to heat their homes. This included 337,000 North Carolina families. Hillary was the only candidate to call for providing emergency energy assistance to these and other struggling families as part of the economic stimulus package. Now, as many states’ moratoriums on utility cutoffs expire this spring, millions of families could face the prospect of having their energy shut-off and having to go without electricity, hot water or the ability to keep their homes cool this summer. Hillary will use a portion of the proceeds from closing the oil and gas loopholes to ensure that these hardworking families, who are already struggling to pay for gas at the pump, do not face the extra hardship of having their energy cut off. She will use the remainder of the proceeds to provide immediate aid to lower-income families that are facing high food prices as a result of the record price of oil.

Stop filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) and release oil from it when that becomes necessary - Hillary is calling on President Bush stop taking oil off the market and putting it into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). The SPR is now 97 percent full, which analysts believe is more than adequate. Continuing to fill it at these high prices exacerbates high oil prices and costs taxpayers money. Hillary also believes that the SPR should be more actively managed to enable releases from the SPR to counter market spikes and reduce volatility.

Proposals to Reduce our Dependence on Foreign Oil Over the Long-Term

The plans to address rising gas prices in the short term build on Hillary's bold, long-term, comprehensive plan to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and move America towards energy independence. (www.hillaryclinton.com/poweringamericasfuture.pdf). Key elements of that plan include:

* Raising fuel efficiency standards (CAFE) to 55 miles per gallon by 2030;
* A $150 billion investment in researching, developing, and deploying renewable and alternative energy;
* Cutting our foreign oil imports by two-thirds by 2030;
* Providing $1.5 billion per year for public transit, an additional $1 billion for intercity rail, and additional funds for congestion reduction, better traffic management and telecommuting;
* Providing tax credits and research and development funding for plug-in-hybrid vehicles, which can get up to 100 mpg; and
* Conserving fuel in the federal fleet. Hillary will call on all federal government agencies to suspend non-essential travel and other activities that use gasoline or diesel fuel, and encourage employees to carpool, telecommute, and use public transportation to reduce fuel use. And she will direct federal employees to reduce maximum speeds to conserve fuel, with exceptions for law enforcement and other emergency services. Under Hillary's plan, the agencies will to report to the White House once a month on their energy use and the impact of conservation efforts.

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=7354

[Hoof Hearted]

62. oh my.

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. Not to this one.

She may be begging, but she's not appealing. At all.

[DogPoundPup]

9. K&R Your commnet! n/t

[catnhatnh]

8. No. I've seen the polls....

...and appearantly she does not.

[Aloha Spirit]

10. I like that she's committing to doing more in Afghanistan. Pics are beautiful.

[Iceburg]

16. Agreed. Afghanistan, under Obama's watch is spiralling out of control.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/379/

[bigtree]

17. actually, we could use more influence on Europe to commit more resources to NATO

in Afghanistan.

I think Sen. Obama's committee could explore those issues, if he so chose.

I would note that he has proposed more funding for Afghanstan and has spoken out on issues related to the military and humanitarian effort there, as has Sen. Clinton.

[bigtree]

51. .

:thumbsup: :kick:

[Hawkeye-X]

18. So I heard Bill Clinton couldn't draw flies to the event the other day..

200-400 people to Obama's regular draw of over 20,000 people?

*kaff*

Hawkeye-X

[GDAEx2]

21. She certainly doesn't appeal to me

n/t

[rodeodance]

54. “We don’t want Obama. We want your mama,”

[SaveAmerica]

22. That should say "Some" of the people of North Carolina

[bigtree]

24. she's making her appeal to ALL the people of North Carolina

and then they will vote.

[SaveAmerica]

27. Is that your subject or did you get it from one of the links?

[bigtree]

28. It's my own play on words

It works to draw the interest (and ire) of the reactive folks here as well as the supportive.

[SaveAmerica]

30. That's pretty sad that you did it, and that it works. At least now we know a lot of NCers don't find

her appealing

[bigtree]

31. well, 'a lot' actually do . . . maybe not enough to foster some lead

but, it's dishonest to suggest that there isn't any support for her there. Certainly, with the margin in the polls showing a ten point difference between them today, there are voters there who will stand up for her.

[bigtree]

33. and, let me say that I've seen the most vile, disruptive, dishonest headings here

. . . without any rebuke from you on them at all.

[SaveAmerica]

35. You've been watching for my responses? How sweet, I spend a very small

amount of time at this forum and don't read or respond to everything. I can tell when someone is out to get a response from the masses and usually don't humor them. You got me on this one.

[bigtree]

39. I guess I'm just lucky that you picked my innocuous headline to criticize

I'm sorry it makes you sad.

[Joe the Revelator]

23. After the BS going on today, these pictures of her just make me sick

I.Will.Never.Vote.For.Her.

Take it to the bank.

[rodeodance]

56. Hillary has a gread health care plan for you--better than Obama's--which you might get cut out on.

[gateley]

25. Beautiful pics -

especially the first one. :hi:

[bigtree]

46. this campaign has brought out the best looks in Hillary

they are really capturing some of her best views

[rodeodance]

57. She glows when she is interacting with people.

[Arkansas Granny]

26. Thanks, bigtree. Nice photos.

[bigtree]

43. my pleasure

of course :hi:

[Beregond2]

29. Funny how

she suddenly finds out about problems just before it might benefit her to make a pandering reference to them, isn't it?

[bigtree]

32. That's not exclusive to the Clinton camp. Both candidates have tailored their message to the states

. . . they're in at the time.

It usually is effective for those residents who appreciate their issues and concerns elevated to a national level of focus. That's the most enduring value of these campaigns, the opportunity to give voice to these individual state's concerns, and, hopefully, carry them to the White House. That often happens when the opposition forces a heightened debate on issues along the trail.

[Beacool]

37. Lovely post..........

lovely pics!!!!!!!

:thumbsup:

[bigtree]

41. thanks, Beacool

:kick:

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

40. Always K & R your threads, bigtree, lovely pictures and nice turnout for her.

:kick:

[bigtree]

42. that is a good amount of interest in our Democratic contest demonstrated there

bodes well for the fall campaign

[avrdream]

44. Wow, what an awesome setting!

Thanks for the overview, bigtree. Once again, Hillary gives details about how she is going to solve problems.

[bigtree]

45. it was stunning

look for another appearance at the launching of the new submarine there . . . she really does lay it all out for the voters

[bigtree]

47. kick

:kick:

[haymakeragain]

48. All 50 of them.

Nice turnouts.....not.

[bigtree]

49. she got 5,000 at her Wilmington rally last evening

Sen. Obama got 5,000 at Wilmington today

[bigtree]

50. kick

:kick:

[aquarius dawning]

55. sweet. Hopefully she can hold her ground in NC

or, even better, take some ground from Obama.

[bigtree]

63. taking ground is certainly doable

and we'll see from there

[Hoof Hearted]

58. Great pics! What a fantastic work ethic she has! I'm starting to feel REALLY GOOD about

North Carolina.


Yes I am.

[rodeodance]

67. :-)

[Aloha Spirit]

64. This is an interesting idea: "“We should immediately stop any home foreclosure against any member "

[bigtree]

65. It's a good proposal that won't go away

1. Enforce an absolute moratorium on foreclosures while servicemembers are on combat tours of duty overseas and improve foreclosure protections for veterans returning home. In 2003, Congress passed the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to help ease economic and legal burdens on active-duty military personnel.

The SCRA offers important foreclosure protections for servicemembers to help them keep their homes, whether they are serving abroad or at a base here in the U.S. But the protections are not categorical and they have sometimes been ignored by lenders. They do not apply to mortgages taken out by members of the Armed Forces after they have joined their service. And lenders can still take military personnel to court - even those on tours of duty overseas - to try to get an order of foreclosure, forcing troops to ask for relief from the court.

Hillary believes that not a single soldier, sailor, airman, or Marine should have their home foreclosed - or have to deal with lenders in court - while they are serving on the front lines in Iraq or Afghanistan or elsewhere. She will therefore enforce an absolute moratorium on any foreclosure proceedings against a servicemember’s home during the period that he or she is on a tour of combat duty, increase penalties for lenders who attempt to violate the moratorium, and support and expand efforts initiated by Senator Bayh to educate troops about their rights. She will also work with lenders and servicers to implement an immediate freeze in interest rates on subprime adjustable rate mortgages.

At the same time, Hillary will improve existing SCRA foreclosure protections so that returning veterans have time to get their affairs in order when they come home. Those protections currently apply for only 90 days after a servicemember returns to inactive status. Hillary will extend that period to nine months - consistent with recent legislation - so that our men and women in uniform have enough time to work out mortgage difficulties that have arisen while they were serving our country.

2. Let servicemember or veterans with unaffordable subprime mortgages restructure their mortgage and stay in their homes. The director of the VA’s loan guarantee service recently testified before a House committee on the challenges facing veterans and servicemembers who have taken out subprime mortgages and now face increasing payments and the threat of foreclosure.

Current law contains restrictions that prevent many of these military families from using VA-backed loans to refinance or restructure their mortgages, including equity requirements and a refinancing loan limit of only $144,000. Hillary will ensure that every veteran or servicemember who lives in their home and who has been saddled with an unaffordable subprime, adjustable rate mortgage can move into a stable, affordable, fixed-rate mortgage backed by a government guarantees.

* She will increase access to low-interest loans through the Veterans Affairs Home Loan Guaranty Loan Program, by permanently raising the maximum loan guarantee so that men and women in uniform can seek loans up to the Federal Housing Administration maximum - in some areas more than $700,000. Eligible families can use these guarantees to refinance or restructure an existing VA-backed or subprime mortgage, or to buy a new home.
* She will relax the equity requirement that prevents some veterans from refinancing, eliminate the upfront fees on VA mortgages for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who take out VA loans within two years of leaving active duty, reduce other fees and costs, and extend payment periods for remaining fees.
* She will also give veterans and servicemembers the option of restructuring their mortgages through the new FHA guarantee program that she announced last month. This will provide veterans and servicemembers with a set of options on how to restructure troubled mortgages in the way that works best for them.

3. Provide free foreclosure and mortgage counseling services to all veterans and servicemembers. Hillary supports legislation to direct the Department of Defense to create a new financial counseling program for military families, including home foreclosure and mortgage counseling. She will devote funds from her $30 billion Emergency Housing Fund to help pay for this program as it is implemented through public/private and federal/local partnerships in communities across the country. Under Hillary’s plan, every member of the Armed Forces, Reserves and National Guard and every veteran will have access to free counseling services for home finance.

[Nutmegger]

66. R&K [n\t]