This morning the Speaker Pro-Tempore limited One-Minute Speeches to five per side of the aisle.  Today five Democrats stood to speak, while only three Republicans stood to speak.  I am not offering exact quotes or transcripts of each speech, just a brief synopsis of the topic.  Any personal comments or opinions will be held to the bottom of the post.

1.  Peter DeFazio, D-OR
Congressman DeFazio suggests that Secretary Paulson's bail-out solution is the wrong approach, and suggested that adding a transfer tax to every transaction held on Wall Street would be a better solution.

2.  Joe Wilson, R-SC
Congressman Wilson reminded us that going all the way back to 1989 congressmen had stood on the floor and issued warnings that an eventual, massive government bail-out would be necessary if Fannie Mae continued taking on risky loan practices.

3.  Dennis Kucinich, D-OH
Congressman Kucinich said that "industrial capitalism can finally now be destroyed as it becomes replaced by casino socialism...", refering to the practices of investment banks on Wall Street.

4.  Lamar Smith, R-TX
"The Media can't help themselves in showing bias against Republicans..." when reporting on events such as last-night's debate, citing that after all, they have given to Obama's campaign at a ratio of 20:1 compared to their giving to any Republican campaign.

5.  Joe Baca, D-CA
Congressman Baca spoke to encourage support of HR-62, a support-bill for Native Americans.

6.  Marsha Blackburn, R-TN
"It has become painfully clear that Americans should not have to suffer through the years of pain which will follow a bail-out of Wall Street".  She also said that there are "smarter ways" than a bail-out, and that bail-outs thus far have not worked.

7.  Ed Perlmutter, D-CO
The Bush administration and their NeoCon philosophy have constantly insisted on cutting back regulation with a borrow-and-spend policy.  The party is now over.  Thank goodness we didn't agree to privatize Social Security.

8.  Mazie Hirono, D-HI
"I have been shocked to hear some putting the blame on minorities for the current mortgage crisis, citing their participation in the Community Re-Investment Act..."  "...This is a distraction from the fact that this administration relaxed oversite..." Basically, she say's there's no way that those who participated in receiving loans as  aresult of the Community Re-Investment Act can be attributed any responsibility in the crisis, but that it's all the administration's fault for not enforcing oversite.

My personal comments:
While Mr. DeFazio thinks that placing a tax will somehow restore the banks' liquidity, I don't see how a bankrupt institution can be healed by further restricting its cash flow.

My praises to Joe Wilson for offering some historical perspective.

Ms. Blackburn, have you given us a solid plan that would offer a better solution, or can you do nothing more than criticize the solutions that have been offered thus far?  I certainly appreciate you standing up and speaking, and I encourage you and your colleagues to continue to do so - but please do offer viable solutions along with your criticism.

Ms. Hirono is confused.  No one has blamed minorities, but they have blamed the loosened restrictions caused by the CRA and insisted on by liberal politicians.  Actually, those blaming the CRA and liberal lending policies of Fannie Mae are actually putting the blame on the same thing she is - a lack of restriction and oversite.  The only question is, who really insisted that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac be encouraged to offer mortgages to people who might not be able to pay them back?  Who runs the committee that has oversite in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac?  Who placed those people in that committee?  Was it the Bush Administration?  Do some research, then come back and tell us the truth.

Again, I'm disappointed that Republicans only filled 3 of their 5 slots.  Please, write, call, and encourage your Republican Representative to stand up and address the House Floor each morning.