By Rick Aristotle Munarriz
March 20, 2008
You've read the news. "Bernanke Bails Out Bear." Then you've had financial analysts argue that the Federal Reserve's Ben Bernanke may have not necessarily bailed out Bear Stearns (NYSE: BSC), but simply facilitated its eye-rubbing purchase by JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM).
The poor guy can't win. If he slashes rates, Bernanke is a bum. If he bails out an iconic investment banker, he's destroying our financial system.
Why isn't anyone stepping up to show the guy a little gratitude or, at the very least, lend a little compassion? Where is the "Thank You, Ben Bernanke" headline?
Sure, his knee-jerk moves to stabilize the financial markets have created a laundry list of negative side effects. And by guaranteeing $30 billion in iffy Bear Stearns loans, the Fed is setting itself up for some dicey decisions down the line.
- If Six Flags (Nasdaq: SIX) has another horrendous season or two, will Bernanke step in and take roller coasters for collateral?
- If Blockbuster (NYSE: BBI) continues to stumble, will Bernanke take Collateral for collateral?
- If Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) bails on Yahoo! (Nasdaq: YHOO), will the Fed step in to create Bernankehoo?
I'm just teasing (I hope), but at least Bernanke isn't standing still. Even if his critics like to deride him as Helicopter Ben, I trust that even his staunchest of detractors would never suggest that Bernanke created this economic slump as much as inherited it.
History will tell the tale. Will his orchestrated moves of creating liquidity and lowering rates help soften the blow or open the door to inflationary pressures that will blow the roof off from the inside?
Until then, I think the Bear Stearns move -- more than being a bailout by Bernanke -- is actually a bailout of Bernanke. Why isn't anyone writing this man-bites-dog headline? History may prove this to be a nearsighted move by the Fed, especially the actual cherry-picking of one freefalling investment banker over others with buckling knees, but at least his legacy will show that he cared.
Yes, you can care too much. Critics will be the first to point that out. You know it, of course, because you've already read the headlines.
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