In fact, who knows, Paulson may have had this in mind from the beginning, and wanted "non-reviewable" decision-making power precisely in order to do something like this -- nationalization of the banks -- over the dead bodies of die-hard Republican Congressmen, bankers, and conservative pundits. At least by asking for this power outright, he was honest and open about it. He either decided not to use or simply not did not know that in Washington, he had to resort to such underhanded means of obtaining power beyond the ken and reach of legislators, much less the people.
Normally, I detest sneaking language into bills in such a manner that it is impossible to know that language even exists, much less to review it. It is clear subversion of democracy, and is an essential flaw in how legislation is done. But in this case, well, the ends may justify the means -- a principle that I detest even more. Truth unfolds in time through a communal process.
--The US financial community is being dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century. Capitalism searches out the darkest corners of human potential, and mainlines them.
You'll have noticed that McLame pitched a variation of this as as his idea in the debate the other night, making him the leader of the common man. One presumes that he didn't want it bad enough to twist the arms of those who prevented it, his 'afraid of socialism' rat-bastards. Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
Frank Delaney ~ Ireland
