mr. darrell eisner of california. >> thank you, mr. chairman. thank you for holding this important hearing today. it's important that those of us who see this hearing today recognize that we are not here to evaluate the value of bank of america or merrill lynch or their transition, whether it was their transition, whether it was a good deal then good deal today, for either of the parties. we're here because there's been a serious allegation and a number of pieces of evidence have risen that make us believe government officials felt necessary to use the power ux influence, and potentially threat in order to consummate this deal. when congress envisioned the t.a.r.p. and other assets, and other powers in order to help in the post-september meltdown of the economic market, we did so in a way that was make us lessen the impact as we unwound credit markets around the world. nowhere in the legislation did it suggest that hank paulson, ben bernanke or anyone else operating on behalf of the united states government was given the power to force shotgun w