Those unethical lending programs were initiated by Clinton and the Democrats. Lowering lending standards and backing up unqualified buyers with Fannie and Freddie. Using Acorn to help unqualified and even fraudulent ghost buyers apply. Thus artificially driving up housing prices and the promise of greater state property tax revenues ... while simultaneously allowing banks to fill their coffers through the sale of over rated credit default swaps. People defaulted, various frauds and corruptions were exposed, the bank schemes blew up in their faces.
Bush did push for TARP, through secret meetings with legislators, using fear tactics to get it passed, to bail out the banks. The program was funded, but not executed as intended. It was too big be implemented. The crisis would have been in full swing before TARP programs could be staffed, organized, and overseen. Only a few bailouts could be quickly cast out there before Obama came along and started taking over industries directly. What you call a financial meltdown, I call a harvest of the peoples' wealth.