It's about time someone woke up and realized the effect the "analysts" were having on our markets!!!!

WOW wHAT A MESS!  We so desperately need a completely new govt. Can Americans not see that? why would ANYONE want the Republicans in power again? can they not see through McCain/Palin. the BIGGEST liars, and flip floppers. they will say and do ANYTHINg to be elected. even insult the intelligence of the American people!  She says she went to Iraq..that's a lie! she said she went to Ireland...thats a lie! she is ONE big LIAR! end of story!

Re: analysts reasons for overestimates. Could there be a more likely third reason such as they are LYING SHILLS FOR A CORRUPT WALL STREET?

We are witnessing history repeating itself ~ it doesn't matter who is in office.  Greed pushes us over the edge.  We fall and start a slow climb up again. As business and individuals gain wealth, greed sets in, and the whole process starts again.  It's just too bad that bail-outs are happening preventing those businesses from learning from their mistakes(greed).

Republicans are going to be in white house for ever till hoover like depression hits america again.

Americans are less intelligent when it comes to choosing their leaders.

It does matter who is in office!  The Republicans have nothing to offer the little guy or wall street  except the Mayor of Wasilla, grandpa, and policies that have driven things to the bring of disaster. In fact, we may be beyond the brink.

We have to try another way.  Change isn't easy, but I've decided, it's time to take the chance and try something totally different .  This independent is going into the democratic column for 2008.  

WOW - Bank of America buys Merrill Lynch - Bank of America buys Countrywide - hmmmm - anyone seeing a pattern here????

I'm inclined to agree with C.L., this is greed plain and simple. Blaming the current administration for the current mess in the financial markets is misguided. Americans who live within their means and understand that wealth is a lifelong pursuit that requires HARD WORK and DISCIPLINE will always succeed. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it is. Always sound advice, especially in an election year.

Greed is America's number one issue.  I wish that everyone would have enough smarts that are operating these corporations to understand the consequences of what happens when you get greedy!  You get what you deserve!

I'm outside the inner workings of our financial system looking in, but to me, our almost-un-regulated cowboy capitalist system seems to be corrupt to the core. Hard failure appears to be the only option left to correct the system-- a terrible cure that will harm many people, even those of us far away from Wall Street. Bailouts and all the rest can only delay the process, if they work at all; and maybe bailouts will even make the ultimate failures worse than they would have been with a quick end. We need capital formation taking place within a government framework that sets regulations based on sound accounting principals, overseen by a professional core of civil servents who are protected from political influence & industry lobbying. Wall Street wanted financial oversight removed, and they got what they wished for.