L.A. TIMES: Crimes suspected in 20 bailout cases — for starters. “In the first major disclosure of corruption in the $750-billion financial bailout program, federal investigators said Monday they have opened 20 criminal probes into possible securities fraud, tax violations, insider trading and other crimes. The cases represent only the first wave of investigations, and the total fraud could ultimately reach into the tens of billions of dollars, according to Neil Barofsky, the special inspector general overseeing the bailout program. The disclosures reinforce fears that the hastily designed and rapidly changing bailout program run by the Treasury Department and Federal Reserve is going to carry a heavy price of fraud against taxpayers — even as questions grow about its ability to stabilize the nation’s financial system.”

UPDATE: Reader Ralph Smith writes:

You might want to mention that the tea parties are about more than protesting higher taxes and big government. I suspect that a lot of folks feel the same disgust and frustration as I with the widespread corruption of public officials — Murtha, Rangel, Dodd, Moran, Mollohan, Feinstein, et al. And revulsion at such practices as pay-to-sue (Rendell and Hood), tax cheats (Geithner and Daschle), pay-to-play with state pension funds, Congressional earmarks and quid pro quo campaign “contributions”, the list is seemingly endless. And we feel powerless to do anything about it, other than take to the streets.

Indeed.