Citigroup bailout sheds light on just what the taxpayers are buying

"Instead, some banks seem to be going on a buying spree, snatching up smaller, less successful institutions while prices are low and the getting is good. Citigroup (NYSE: C), for example, used the Wall Street fire sale to pick up Wachovia and Forum Financial, shortly before asking for a second huge bailout. Similarly, Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) has decided to take over Merrill Lynch"