Look at what we have here. How can it possibly have come to this???

The Secretary of the Treasury says: "Quickly, I need $700 billion. I need it within days. There will be meltdown if you don't let me do exactly what I want without oversight, review or repercussions."

But sir, how could you have let it come to the point where you need such an unfathomable sum in such a short time?

"It just happened, and I know what to do. I am going to buy deflated, almost worthless assets that are sinking the investment banks, to free up credit. I will not be buying stakes in the companies – that's not what's needed."

$700 billion, sir? The entire budget is only around $2 trillion. You're going to raise it by almost a third?"

"Yes, trust me. Let me do this."

A bit later, after we have taken the time to think about this, and said okay:

'Mr. Paulson, Germany and the UK both are going to buy stakes in the banks with their bailout money."

"Yes, okay. That's the right thing to do. I will do that, too."