No, the 700 billion gift to the banks was NOT a good idea

The word is starting to get out.

Many Americans are understandably outraged by the bailout fever that has gripped Washington this year. But even those who believe the bailouts are a "necessary evil" would have a hard time defending some of the bailout-related items that have come to light in recent days, including:

-->Financial institutions using TARP bailout money to pay executive bonuses. (50 BILLION!!!)

-->The Fed refusing to reveal who received almost $2 trillion in non-TARP loans, or what collateral it has accepted from "emergency" loans made to struggling firms, as Bloomberg reports.

-->The Treasury Department providing a tax break to banks involved in acquisitions that could amount to $140 billion.

Gifts + Corruption = MOB