They are the custodians of the U.S. economy. I believe Billybubba used avery means at his disposal to ensure re-election, regardless of how many agencies he had to taint to accomplish this. He certainly positioned his own people in the right places, and was able to blackmail those who might raise a stink. Many of those people, of both camps, are still there.
The question then becomes, why on Earth would Dubya not lift the rock and expose all the roaches? Because Bubba built a facade of an economy, and to minimize further damage in light of the current, er...malaise, Dubya can not afford to let the American People suspect the true extent of corruption at all levels of government.
I think there still exists a huge domino construction of mutual blackmail within both parties. Dirty laundry that everyone suspects, but which we choose to ignore, lest it burst the bubble of mass psychosis that everything's gonna be all right.
Faith in the illusion of government. That's what it's all about at this point.
In retrospect, the veil of forgetfullness and non comprehension that accompanies Alzheimer's is perhaps a gift from God to Reagan, considering how much we've let Him, and the Gipper down.
In addition to some other interesting points, this one struck me as dead on. Maybe, just maybe, with Pubbies in control of the Senate, House, and the Executive branch, we might see some changes. If this election brings that about and the trash STILL doesn't get hauled out, we are in deep doodoo!
FGS