banks and the bailout , merry christmas!

At least you got a free toaster
Those with high blood pressure and low account balances may want to skip this item. Because, in what is sure to become yet another public relations disaster for the financial industry, an AP analysis has determined that banks receiving $188 billion in government bailout money paid their top execs almost $1.6 billion last year. The AP review of SEC documents found that the companies awarded the biggest of their bigwigs "cash bonuses, stock options, personal use of company jets and chauffeurs, home security, country club memberships, and professional money management." "Professional money management"? How much can that be worth, anymore? Give us a good mattress.