If one were to look for the people most influential in the deregulation of the barriers between speculation and energy, and between speculation and mortgages these two would be the stars.

So you might say they, along with their Republican buddies, are at the root of both the current mortgage crisis and the current crisis in energy speculation.

Their story is one of nepotism and revolving doors between regulating agencies and the corporations they regulate. A story of industry advocates and Congressional representatives working together in the same family.

Phil played his role in pushing through legislation to deregulate the barriers between the mortgage industry and Wall Street, by stealthily sneaking in amendments at the last minute and preventing debate. Now we have disaster which has resulted from the criminal feeding frenzy.

Meanwhile Wendy has rotated from regulatory commissions to the boards of directors of those who are regulated. The most notable example is Enron. While on the Commodity Futures and Trading Commission during the Reagan administration she helped install the Enron loophole while her husband Phil helped push the legislation through Congress. Later Wendy sat on the board of Enron. She was named in the Enron lawsuit for insider trading and was involved in a settlement of several million dollars. As a reward she went on to another government position.

It is not a stretch to say the couple consist of at least one convicted criminal and one collaborator in Congress.

These two "economic specialists" have shown us where the Reagan philosophy of "free" and unfettered markets ultimately leads. With these two at his side John McCain is set to carry on the Reagan legacy. One could consider McCain as Reagan warmed over, but with a nasty temper.

Phil Gramm mortgage investments:

http://www.motherjones.com/new...

Wendy Gramm bio and employment history:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W...

Republicanism at its most sickening.

Why aren't Obama's people hammering the GOP on this -- hard?

Phil Gramm is McCain's principal economic adviser?

Is it all just a question of perspective?

Here's a spittle-flecked rightist post from a Yahoo message board:

The point I am trying to make is that these deadbeats who are defaulting on loans are NOT the victims here. The left wing whackos first complain that banks are discriminating against poorer people and minorities by not wanting to give them loans. These whackos step in and FORCE the banks to offer sub prime loans to these people with terrible credit histories.

or, I've Got Mine, Screw You. This is shorthand for the real Republican motto.

This "whiners" comment needs to be brought up every day between now and November.  It should be included in commercials, against a backdrop of people losing their homes and jobs.  Obama got bashed for saying voters are "bitter."  You bet they're bitter, here's why, and here's what we're going to do to fix it.

and then bookmark it for easy reference when some moron talks about the whiners.  As soon as the Dems get in in November they need to roll back this legislation.  When are we going to learn that when we deregulate industry and de-fang the watchdogs the greedy, unscrupulous, and venal will have their way?