td-what do you think the power of the purse means ? If I remember correctly the bank bailout was approved by congress, within the law, and was not a unilateral action by Bush. Conversely Amnesty was a unilateral action by your idol and possibly outside the law. Time will tell. The financial mess was a result of two democrats Frank/Dodd insisting that both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were in good shape and did not need any attention. Bush tried at least eight times to get a review of both agencies and was thwarted by the two culprits mentioned above. That was when people were approved for a home mortgages regardless of income as long as they had a pulse. That started under Clinton when the all- caring democrats felt that everyone deserved a home whether they could afford one or not. To compound the problem these shaky mortgages were bundled and sold to banks as mortgage back securities. So the house of cards came tumbling down because of dereliction of duty by two people who should be in jail along with their co-conspirators. Good Luck America !!!