The government ordered the loosening of lending standards. The Federal Reserve kept interest rates low. The government forced lending institutions to give loans to people who as I say, couldn’t afford them.
—Sarah Palin on how big government forced lending and ordered the loosening of lending standards.
This marks approximately six months of improved readings in these statistics, beginning in early 2009.
—S&P Case Shiller announcement
These figures continue to support an indication of stabilization in national real estate values, but we do need to be cautious in coming months to assess whether the housing market will weather the expiration of the Federal First-Time Buyer’s Tax Credit in November, anticipated higher unemployment rates and a possible increase in foreclosures.
—David M. Blitzer, Chairman of the Index Committee at Standard & Poor’s
There are now several months of data in which we have seen improvement. California in particular seems to be showing sustained improvement.
—Maureen Maitland, vice president for index services at Standard & Poor’s
We believe it unlikely that the overall price adjustment seen to date is sufficient to balance supply (which is enormous) with demand.
—Joshua Shapiro, chief United States economist of MFR Inc
The market for housing will not become truly robust until market forces replace the prostheses of government support.
—Richard Fisher, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
The Case-Shiller Index is not seasonally adjusted which means price gains in the spring and summer should not be surprising. A seasonally adjusted index shows more muted growth while the seasonally adjusted 10 city index continues to show declines in prices. Despite the disparity these measures may be indicating, there is little doubt the housing market is improving. Prices are improving, the inventory picture continues to get better, and government support for the sector remains in place, for now.
—Dan Greenhaus of Miller Tabak & Co
If they invest in 21st-century technologies and we invest in 20th-century technologies, they’ll win. If we both invest in 21st-century technologies, challenging each other, we all win.
—David Sandalow, the assistant secretary of energy for policy, from Thomas Friedmans op-ed piece: NYT
There isn’t really good evidence, frankly, that companies focused purely on search, as Google has been, can support themselves with that model
Marc Krellenstein, CTO of Northern Light, quoted in BW, December 2000
If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles
—Whitman
I dream of an art so transparent that you can look through it and see the world
—Stanley Kunitz
Poets need a refuge — they need a hideout, a clubhouse
—Bill Murray, who gave the lead gift
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