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Sounds like Obama might be blowing it

 
 
Reply Thu 5 Mar, 2009 10:42 pm
Critics see understaffed, overwhelmed Treasury-
Amid historic economic upheaval, Geithner has no key deputies in place

"WASHINGTON - For five weeks, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has battled the worst economic crisis in generations with no key deputies in place. That's made for a rocky debut for the man President Barack Obama put in charge of addressing the financial crisis.

With an awkward first television appearance, a bank rescue plan that lacked promised specifics and two restructured bailouts that raised taxpayer risk, Geithner has failed to calm financial markets desperate for answers.

Critics say part of the problem is that Geithner is flying solo: Not one of his top 17 deputies has been named, let alone confirmed. And without senior leadership, lower-level Treasury employees can't make decisions or represent the government in crucial conversations with banks and others.
....

"Everyone would think it's a travesty if the Defense Department didn't have a lot of their people in place, because you're in a crisis fighting a couple of wars," said Tony Fratto, who was a Treasury spokesman under President George W. Bush. "But Tim Geithner is fighting wars on a few fronts himself, and he doesn't have the generals there to help him.""

Critics see understaffed, overwhelmed Treasury - Economy in Turmoil- msnbc.com
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Type: Discussion • Score: 1 • Views: 1,047 • Replies: 4
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NotHereForLong
 
  1  
Reply Thu 5 Mar, 2009 10:51 pm
@NotHereForLong,
I think part of the problem is that Obama's already been hurt by insufficiently vetting some of the ppl he's appointed, like Tom Dashle. He can't afford anymore screwups, so he has to take time vetting his nominees thoroughly. And that makes it hard for him to quickly appoint ppl to fill the positions.
Sabz5150
 
  1  
Reply Thu 5 Mar, 2009 11:17 pm
@NotHereForLong,
The problem is he's stuck trying to find wheat in so much chaff. He wants to put forth the best people in their respective fields, and in many places he has without a hitch (DOE Secretary Stephen Chu, for example... remember when everyone was worried he didn't have administrative experience?), others need to learn to pay their freakin' taxes. Yeah, it's had some bumps, but compared to other more recent appointments ("Brownie" handled horse shows ferchrissakes!), he's not doing too bad.

But seriously, he's only two months in. Rome wasn't built in a day.
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NotHereForLong
 
  1  
Reply Sat 7 Mar, 2009 01:19 am
@NotHereForLong,
"More nominee problems: Two more top Treasury nominees withdrew their names from consideration yesterday. CNBC reports that the department does not have a single nominated official in place other than Geithner. CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta also bowed out of contention for Surgeon General because he’d have to take a pay cut. On Monday, we get to see a brand-new nominee tax problem, as Obama's pick for U.S. Trade Rep., Ron Kirk, begins his confirmation process. The Huffington Post posited yesterday that a big reason for the shortfall is Obama’s hard line on lobbyists, which reduces the talent pool. In a period with so many far-reaching problems, this is starting to become a real problem. This was shaping up to be the fastest-created administration in history. Now it’s looking more like molasses. Is it, as NBC’s David Gregory raised on TODAY, a question of confidence? Treasury has an extra layer of vetting problems. Some of the best talent for these posts come from some bailed-out banks and financial-service companies. One of the withdrawals yesterday had a potentially embarrassing regulatory record during her stint at the SEC. (Madoff anyone?)"

First thoughts: Return to partisanship - First Read - msnbc.com
Sabz5150
 
  1  
Reply Sat 7 Mar, 2009 04:26 am
@NotHereForLong,
NotHereForLong;64453 wrote:


Sabz5150 wrote:
The problem is he's stuck trying to find wheat in so much chaff.


Quote:
One of the withdrawals yesterday had a potentially embarrassing regulatory record during her stint at the SEC. (Madoff anyone?)"


If this is the case, why aren't the heads of the SEC, whose plans utterly failed... along with their Republican deregulatory constituents, being hauled away to federal prison right now?
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