Panasonic. Again

The Atlantic's Megan McArdle, April 8, 2009

I have to say, the worst allegation I've heard about Chris Dodd is not that he's in the pocket of banks and insurers--financial companies naturally seek to curry favor with the Senate Banking Committee, but I don't really see the case that he's sold us out for his benefit.  No, the more damning case is that the Senate Banking Committee was basically non-functional in the early part of the crisis, because Dodd was running for president.  Even if early action could have saved us money and pain later--and that's a big if--I recently heard a plausible case made that such action was made impossible by his presidential campaign.  But somehow, no one finds that offensive, or even notable.

Well, I did

Ironman , July 23, 2008

I asked this question: 

 Did Chris Dodd run the most expensive presidential campaign in American history?

In the fall of 2007 it was apparent to all that a reform bill was urgently needed to do something about the mortgage mess. House committee chair Barney Frank was ready to proceed. Chris Dodd was in an Iowa cornfield pursuing his pipe dream  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/06/AR2007110602146.html

Sure Dodd and Frank would have passed some liberal bill that Bush would have vetoed...in the winter. By spring the Kabuki dance would have been over and some flawed bill would have been passed and signed probably to the right of what we are now talking about...and which would have been a strong sign that Washington "got it" and was reining in the rogue elements in the financial community.  Didn't happen, and the crisis of confidence was allowed to percolate until a full fledged market meltdown occurred

Once again, just slightly ahead of the MSM's time.