Bob Corker

I just want to get the record straight there.

I just see some of the policy things that are trying to be changed around 136, which looks like they may have a really good chance of receiving it.

That was pretty much a nonanswer, and I guess during a confirmation hearing, when you don't know if you are going to be confirmed or not, it is maybe unfair to ask that.

You have been at Fannie and you are a smart guy, and I am wondering if while we are all here, since it is a major responsibility of all of us on this committee, if you could just tell us what you think, as we move through this crisis, what…

When we began this program with TARP, it was sold and we all focused on it in this way, I think, as something where we were going to buy assets of value.

It is a long, tough, slog.

If we, as a country, plant our flag in another country, we're going to be there until we rebuild that country.

I support our military, I support our country's efforts to, certainly, root out terrorism.

We're nation-building in Afghanistan.

It seems that we, in many ways, are far more concerned about their energy security than they are.

That would be very helpful. And again, I think it's not only helpful to the Department and hopefully to those of us who are appropriating money to help cause this to come to an end and be successful, but I think it actually might be…

My guess is there's not a soul in the body that could actually articulate in a full way what our mission is today in Afghanistan.

I was really stunned by the President of Afghanistan's inability to articulate in a way that's comprehendible what our mission in this country is.

The whole energy issue that I'm so glad Senator Lugar and you discussed earlier

I have to tell you, I was greatly perplexed by the notion of giving the Treasury the ability in perpetuity to, in essence, codify TARP.

I think the taxpayers probably would be alarmed to know that, but there is still a lot to be done.

I would hope you would not deem the first offer 'fair,' and I would hope that you would intervene in some fashion.

My guess is that on a one-off basis, if you were to ask for that, instead of pumping additional monies into a company that really has turned out to be a honey pot for many of the institutions that have relationships with it, my guess is…

It just seems to me to be a constant stick in the eye, if you will.

I do want to say, with Senator Mitchell and yourself involved in creating a solution to this, I think we all are hopeful.

So stepping down from there, it seems to me then the thing that we can do to those--with those who have been affected is to have effective programs to deal with those people that have already been affected; is that correct?

But as far as working, the member countries, there's no division. There are no countries in this world who are resistant to us addressing this issue?

So obviously, as we step down--and we know this conflict has been going on for some time, and certainly, I don't think enough has been done at any level to try to end it.

As anybody would be, I'm incredibly troubled at every level at what is happening.

I think we've seen for instance, just to use a most recent example of tarp. Once it can be used, it can be used for lots of things.