In the San Francisco Bay Area, two local banks found themselves in the position of being controlled by the U.S. government because they accepted relatively small amounts of TARP cash during the bank bailout. They did so not out of need--Mechanics Bank and the Bank of Marin are both exceptionally solid and are rated B+--rather they saw it as a civic duty to accept ,and immediately lend out, the TARP cash in order to do their part in stimulating the economy. Only AFTER THE FACT (!!) ... More »

It's bad enough that Fox can claim to be a fair and balanced news organization, but for a publication like the WSJ to run the article is beyond the pale.

According to the writer, it's all a dastardly conspiracy. This when we're less than 65 days into the new administration, but 6 months into the financial crunch that, I'm sure, the new administration caused retroactively as part of its long-laid plans for usurping tyrannical power. At worst, the jury should still be out on Varney's assumptions. At best, this is fine rightist bloviating.