With the near collapse of the financial system in 2008, the Bush administration, with the Republican party in control of both houses of Congress, took aggressive, unprecedented action.

FORBES: Political Gridlock Can Prevent A Quick Solution To The Next Big Crisis

The Bush administration's proposal to bail out the financial system is the centerpiece of what would be the most sweeping economic intervention by the government since the Great Depression.

CNN: Obama blames lobbyists, politicians for financial crisis