"RE the collapse of the banking system, there were essentially three options for Obama: A) Allow the banks to fail..."

"Obama did what he felt was best in light of the severity of the emergency." ~ LEJ

Amazing how Obama could have such an impact on this situation, since the TARP "bailout" was passed by the House on 29 SEP 2008 and signed by George W. Bush.

BTW, Bank of America just paid the US taxpayers back the $32 billion they borrowed so the TARP plan is looking better than it once did.

Obama's answer to this good news? Spend the money B of A returned in an unauthorized manor, as if it were part of his failed "stimulus package". Great, eh?