There was shock and astonishment in the New York's Wall Street financial sector yesterday, as two of its most renowned and important figures, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae took a tumble, prompting US President George Bush to speak out.
President Bush went on national TV late last night to express his sympathy for the pair, saying that he had the "greatest utmostic respect" for them, and wished them a speedy recovery. He told viewers:
"Frannie and Feddie were out taking a stroll Friday morning, when Faddie tripped on the sidewalk, and Frennie, attempting to break her fall, collapsed in a heap on top of her. The two are my fine old friends, and important figures in US finance."
Astonished reporters, realising the comedy angle provided by the President, fired questions at him. One asked if he had "seen" the couple since "the accident", what did it now mean for US mortgage lenders, and how long did he think it would take the mortgage market to recover.
Bush replied:
"Two things, sonny. What's a mortgage, and where's the Mortgage Market?"
