I can't help but laugh at those who blame the President for the mess, no matter which President they blame, be it Bush or Obama or Clinton. The fact is that the President has no REAL power to affect these things without Congress. Another FACT is that Bush's last four years, the DEMOCRATS had the majority in Congress. Now that we a Dem in the White House and Democrat-controlled Congress rubberstamping everything he asks for, hold on for the ride, b/c after the bailouts and gov't taking over banking, things are not likely to get much better in our lifetimes.