In a rare example of testicular fortitude, Barney Frank has "banished" Goldman's Michael Pease from communicating with the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee. According to Reuters, the Goldmanite, and former committee staffer, has been "asked" not to interfere with the Congressional panel for a period of 12 months. According to Barney Frank aide Steven Adamske:

"Mr. Paese left our offices in September 2008, and was not allowed to communicate with any committee members or staff for a period of one year due to normal ethics restrictions that apply to all House and Senate employees. Out of an abundance of caution due to the nature of financial regulation reform, the chairman has extended Mr. Paese's recusal for another year."

For those curious just what the background of this one particular tentacle of Goldman's nefarious plan for global domination is, Mr. Pease "was the committee's deputy staff director before he quit to work for the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association as a lobbyist. Goldman hired him in April."

And just in case there is any confusion where Washington's allegiances usually lie, the Center for Responsive Politics disclosed that "since 1989, [Goldman's] employees, their family members and political action committees have donated $31.2 million to U.S. political candidates -- topping all other banks and financial firms."

While one applauds Mr. Frank's effort to at least provide the perception that Goldman is not manipulating the ongoing financial regulation reform effort, his anti-Wall Street ego would be better placated if Mr. Frank, as previously announced, focuses his efforts on Fed transparency initiatives. Unfortunately, any actions that do not comport with his disclosed goal of ending the Fed's covert ops, will be mostly perceived as hypocritical pandering to those that Barney is seemingly starting to finally oppose.