More importantly, the WSJ gets at the real problem here. In addition to running on fumes and fearing for their own futures, the banks aren't lending because:
* Some potential customers are in terrible shape (and banks just learned the hard way that lending money to customers who can't pay it back isn't a stupendous idea)
* Other potential customers are cutting back and don't want the money.
* Would-be depositors are hiding their money in Treasuries.
What's really going on here? Our economy is collectively coming to the consensus that a 350% debt-to-GDP ratio (vs. 155% average) is too high. Shoveling money at the banks won't fix that. The only thing that will fix that is vaporizing $10-$20 trillion of debt.
-OR-
::Big Banker Writes Anonymously: Government Needs To Stop Helping Big Banks
::AIG's Bailout Total Rises To $144 Billion