Why Didn't The Press Ask Bernanke "The Begged For" Question?

An analysis of the Fed Chairman's press conference  performance of 11/2/2011 is up to others.

But the press had the perfect opportunity to ask the one question on the minds of so many citizens and the press blew it.

-  It had to do with a question posed regarding the potential increased purchases of mortgage backed securities and how that could revitalize the housing sector.  Mr. Bernanke stated that such monetary policy (MBS purchases) had not been as effective as hoped because Americans had been prevented from buying new homes or refinancing by tightened bank credit lending standards.  Essentially saying that Banks had choked off the intended supply of credit to the housing market by instead increasing their own coffers.

-  SO HERE IS THE OBVIOUS FOLLOWUP QUESTION THAT WAS NOT ASKED :

  When the TARP monies were made available to the Biggest Banks by decision of the Treasury Department and Federal Reserve (followed by discount window access and ZIRP) - why were conditions not placed on these banks to ensure that this funding was to flow into the general economy?  That it not be allowed to be hoarded and even used to support executive compensation  and trader bonuses?

This strikes me as something that goes to the heart of the matter.  Something that makes normal Americans question the relationship between the Federal Reserve and the financial system.  When opportunities to clarify these types of things are missed, it is a disservice to any person trying to make sense out of our present state.

These institutions seem to want all the privileges of being bank holding companies without the obligations and incumbencies inherent under Federal Reserve regulation that these same newly coined bank holding companies proclaimed when they applied for their new status.  And it appears that these inappropriate privileges are being granted.