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<p>It was the same man talking, but the message sure changed in 72 hours.<br />

<a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/03/20080314-5.html" id="f1af" title="Speaking at the Economic Club">Speaking at the Economic Club</a> of New York Friday, President George W. Bush warned that there are limits to government intervention in markets:</p>

<blockquote> I guess the best to describe government policy is like a person trying to drive a car on a rough patch. If you ever get stuck in a situation like that, you know full well it’s important not to overcorrect. Because when you overcorrect, you end up in the ditch.

</blockquote>

<p>On Monday, one day after the Federal Reserve announced its $30 billion taxpayer bailout of one of the nation’s largest investment banks, Bear Stearns, <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/03/20080317-1.html" id="melj" title="Bush’s tone">Bush’s tone</a> was a bit different:</p>

<blockquote> One thing is for certain — we’re in challenging times. But another thing is for certain — that we’ve taken strong and decisive action. The Federal Reserve has moved quickly to bring order to the financial markets.

</blockquote>

<p>No mention of where $30 billion puts us in relation to that ditch.</p>