I agree on all points except these two -
"...The (conservative) fight always remains. There is no question that the expanded regulation provided by the Fed is a benefit, but there is also no question but that the overall financial management by the Feds is a dismal failure..."First, there is no benefit to our country as a result of "expanded regulation provided by the Fed."
Second, if the conservatives had been doing their job, there wouldn't be an "expanded regulation provided by the Fed," as smaller government and less regulation is a part of the Republican Party platform; thus the fight was, in my opinion, abandoned.
Conservatives bowed down to the socialists again, at a time when we held the House, the Presidency, and 49 percent of the Senate. Clinton was able to get socialist legislation passed when Republicansd held the majority in both Houses, but Republicans can't stop "expanded regulation" with a majority in the House, AND the Presidency?
There's only one way that would be true - Republicans didn't even try.