DISCLAIMER: THE FOLLOWING "Cost of Freedom Recap" CONTAINS STRONG OPINIONS WHICH ARE NOT A REFLECTION OF THE OPINIONS OF FOX NEWS AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS INVESTMENT ADVICE WHEN MAKING PERSONAL INVESTMENT DECISIONS. IT IS FOX NEWS' POLICY THAT CONTRIBUTORS DISCLOSE POSITIONS THEY HOLD IN STOCKS THEY DISCUSS, THOUGH POSITIONS MAY CHANGE. READERS OF "Cost of Freedom Recap" MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN INVESTMENT DECISIONS.
PRESIDENT SUGGESTS EFFORTS TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE COULD DRIVE UP ENERGY PRICES
CHARLES PAYNE: Well, think of the premise of this whole thing. We're going to sacrifice all of this stuff, tax Americans, energy bills are going to be necessarily higher, all because the planet might get one degree warmer in the next 100 years. In the meantime, we're $18 trillion in debt, and that's no problem. That is not an imminent threat. He is absolutely right with the premise of it all.
SANDRA SMITH: This is the adverse effects of too much government regulation and mandates. This is what happens. Look, I happen to agree with him, we are going to be facing a stark reality, the consumer bills are going to continue to go up, energy prices are continuing to go up, and the government is going to continue on the track based on the climate change results that they see, that not everybody agrees on, but we have to agree on paying higher energy prices.
ADAM LASHINSKY: It is an interesting conversation, because the president believes, and I agree with him, there is no God-given right for low electricity prices.
BEN STEIN: First of all, Adam to the contrary notwithstanding by no means do all scientists believe that there is a global warming caused by manmade effects. By no means do scientists agree on that, and this is one of the biggest myths of the liberals in the country, and if it is true, then of course, it is worthwhile to pay more for electric bills, but it is not proved. We are assuming a fact that is not in evident. The government would like to say it, but it is not.
CHARLIE GASPARINO: There is good evidence that there is global warming and the fossil fuels stuff contributes to it, and we need to address it not when middle-class people need jobs. We should be doing it when the economy is growing.
NEIL'S EXCHANGE WITH REP. BACHMANN SPARKS DEBATE OVER DC'S PRIORITIES
CHARLIE GASPARINO: This is a waste of time, and is this really, really going to result in anything, except for maybe at the debates at the federal society. Who cares!
SANDRA SMITH: It is a Republican strategy that everybody has seen right through. There are so many things to be done, it is a distraction, and here are the Republicans entering into the midterms with so much to work with. They are feeding the opposition, and look at the jobs and the economy, and the scandals that are on the table right now. For Speaker Boehner to spend his time and attention on this is merely a distraction from what the party should be actually focused on, let alone showing how they are willing to spend taxpayer money.
CHARLES PAYNE: Well, I was glad to see the pushback on the imperial president. He's gone too far. I understand that everybody wants the power in the White House and you want to preserve some of it when you are not in the White House, but the idea that you should not push him back, I think they should have done it a long time ago. For Sandra's point, there is plenty of ammo, but you can go for this too.
BEN STEIN: He is going to devote a total of 20 minutes it to, and then a bunch of lawyers will do it. The judicial system is an excellent instrument for curbing executive power and I'm happy that the Republicans are using it. They should use everything that they can to curb an imperial presidency, whether it is republican or democrat.
ADAM LASHINSKY: It is a perfectly good policy conversation, but the House Republican leadership has plenty of policy venues, including passing legislation, which is its job. You said it is a waste of time, and I agree.
BILLIONAIRE MARK CUBAN SAYS BURSTING OF STUDENT LOAN BUBBLE IS 'INEVITABLE'
CHARLES PAYNE: Get the government out of the student loan business because there won't be a cap. They should get private industry back in there. What is happening is we are taking taxpayer money and giving it to colleges. So we have the institutions that have raised college tuition significantly faster than inflation, get government out of the way.
CHARLE GASPARINO: People can't get mortgages because of the requirements. Who is going to lend money to college kids?
SANDRA SMITH: It's not a stretch to say there is a trillion dollars in student loans out there and that is the next bubble.
BEN STEIN: There will be a bursting of the bubble and enormous default; taxpayers will have to pay up. It cannot be avoided.
ADAM LASHINSKY: We should fix it; it will burst, but won't take down the economy the way the housing bubble did.
STOCK PICKS
CHARLES PAYNE: YRC Worldwide Inc. (YRCW)
ADAM LASHINSKY: Vanguard Small Cap Value ETF (VBR)
BEN STEIN: SPDR S&P 500 (SPY)
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