Was the conversation like this, I wonder...

G-Man 1: "Because of our own regulations, many businessmen have made bad decisions, and the economy is imploding."
G-Man 2: "Good lord, what should we do!"
G-Man 1: "How about we print some money, and give it too them?"
G-Man 2: "We're geniuses! Call the Fed!"

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Lobbyists Swarm the Treasury for a Helping of the Bailout Pie

WASHINGTON — When the government said it would spend $700 billion to rescue the nation’s financial industry, it seemed to be an ocean of money. But after one of the biggest lobbying free-for-alls in memory, it suddenly looks like a dwindling pool...