Hi George,
Only 19 banks were trouble in the mix of 8500 banks or so nation wide, we have a 'close' banking system most do not understand the system. The banking systems has failures of about 100 banks per year on average this is about a 60 year trend, these failures take place from many reasons and are very normal of the USA banking processes. What many do not see is that the 'failures' themselves are 'closed' these failures are contain within the system. Making it 'the system' even more stronger over time the concept is not easy digested by many and really very much misunderstood.
Politicians, as you suggest and I agree are about what they can use for themselves 'anything', suggesting again not much has change in a few thousands years or so, making it all more the same as always.
The Tea Party is the 'Old GOP' of long ago, as the 'today GOP' is a very 'liberial' process and as towards the DEM party being the National Democratic Party of Germany or the German Reich Party, German Imperial Party or German Empire Party.
Much has change in the last 15 years and we are beginning a decade to many decades towards a very conservative process as opposite towards the one lsat Liberal process that begin in the 1930's.
Have a great one as always and great to see you,
Z
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Democratic_Party_of_Germany
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Reich_Party