Why don’t you give us your succinct explanation of what you think the “original intent” of TARP was, then.
I've done exactly that on numerous occasions here on FR.
Here are just a few of the posts I've made on the subject that I saved. Feel free to go back through my “In Forum” posts to find others.
My FR posts on the financial collapse and the Kanjorski tape:
9-20-09 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2343569/posts?page=22#22
Also see posts 24, 27, 30 and 36 in above thread
5-28-09 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2260007/posts?page=76#76
4-16-09 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/2229875/posts?page=24#24
3-10-09 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2203102/posts?page=16#16
3-4-09 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2199084/posts?page=41#41
Fact Sheet: A Strong Bipartisan Proposal to Stabilize Our Financial System 9-29-08
It is expected that much, if not all, of the tax dollars invested by the Federal government into these troubled financial institutions will be paid back over time. Under the purchase
program, the government would sell the acquired assets, with the proceeds going back to the Treasury, to offset much, if not all, of the initial cost, and under the program to guarantee troubled assets, the Treasury Department would charge risk-based premiums to cover any anticipated claims.
http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/09/20080929-2.html
MORE:
http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/09/20080930.html
VP Cheney discusses TARP funds, 1-9-09:
“I think we've had significant positive impact in terms of being able to guarantee liquidity of the financial system, adequate capital in the banking system and so forth, and that's crucial.”
“But financing is different, the financial system is different. That is a federal responsibility, with the Federal Reserve, the Treasury — the producer and keeper of the value of our currency and all the regulation that's involved — the SEC and so forth. When the financial system is threatened, only the federal government can fix it, and that's what we've been doing.”
http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2009/01/20090111.html