Ben Bernanke, GOP Nemesis

Appointed by President Bush and well regarded by pro-business Republicans for years, the financial crisis and President Obama's election have turned Fed Chair Ben Bernanke into a surprising villain among conservatives. Bernanke takes questions at a hearing Thursday in the House and Republicans are expected to go after him for what they consider an unwarranted expansion of government since the economic collapse last Fall. Currently, a memo written by Republicans is circulating around the House that cites documents and emails from the Fed alleging that Bernanke forced Bank of America to complete its merger with Merrill Lynch against BOA's will.