You know what was opposing for the sake of opposing, the Democrats in 2005 led by Barney Frank who insisted that Fannie and Freddie Mac were in fine shape when the Bush admin was wanting to make changes cause, and to answer Kayumangii's question, they could see the crisis coming. The housing crisis has a large foothold in Fannie and Freddie that then spread to the banks in the private sector. You can find YouTube clips all day long of Barney Frank and his Democrat colleagues opposing changes the Republicans wanted to make.
The idea that the GOP "does't give a fuck" can only be believed by those who get most of their news from MSNBC and John Stewart. Speaking of "fast and furious" that is one clusterfuck under the Obama administration that cost actual lives. The Democrats have not passed a budget in nearly 1000 days. ONE THOUSAND DAYS, passing a budget is one of their MAIN roles. That alone helps to keep private industry on pins and needles. Obama likes to say he doesn't want to "kick the can down the road" when it sounds good and in his favor but they are kicking the same ole continuing resolution bills down the road to Feb '12 to rob Social Security and call it a....Tax Cut. What a joke.
The reasonS it's prolonged are many but the Democrats have prolonged it. Nothing, NOTHING they've done has helped.
Get back to me when you stop taking news from Maddow and John Stewart. Try not being a biased hack.