In the past few days, as the economic crisis has deepened, Senator John McCain has been decrying the excesses of Wall Street. At a campaign rally in Tampa on Tuesday, he vowed that he and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, if elected, ‘are going to put an end to the reckless conduct, corruption, and unbridled greed that have caused a crisis on Wall Street.’ He noted that the ‘foundation of our economy…has been put at risk by the greed and mismanagement of Wall Street and Washington.’ He blasted CEOs who ‘seem to escape the consequences.’ He denounced Wall Streeters who ‘dreamed up investment schemes that they themselves don’t even understand’ and who used ‘derivatives, credit default swaps, and mortgage-backed securities’ to try ‘to make their own rules.’ He excoriated Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for gaming the system. And he slammed financial industry lobbyists for misguiding members of Congress. ‘I can promise you the days of dealing and special favors will soon be over in Washington.’ On Wednesday morning, after the federal government committed $85 billion to prevent the collapse of the American International Group (AIG) insurance conglomerate, McCain again assailed irresponsible corporate executives. ‘We need to change the way […]