Financial-rescue plan hindered by White House desire to avoid Senate confirmation battles.

[dkf]

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, under intensifying pressure from Wall Street and Congress to complete his financial-rescue plan, is being handicapped by a dearth of staff experts critical to the effort.

Geithner's strategy of forging a partnership with private investors to buy toxic assets would benefit from aides steeped in law and finance to thresh out the competing interests in the plan. Yet the administration has yet to nominate people for any of the Treasury's financial posts as the White House seeks to avoid Senate confirmation battles.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/02/big_building_for_one_guy.php

This makes me really really upset. The administration needs to challenge the Republicans to step up to the plate or the Republicans will take us all down.

[Thrill]

1. Problem is most of the people you're likely to hire for these positions

are likely those who have worked in the Financial Industry. And I'm willing to bet they have to walk a fine line on their ethics rules, that Republicans are ready to pounce on. And even some of their own supporters who pretty much claim anyone who has worked for the banks or in the industry is a corporate whore. We see it on DU all the time.

[dkf]

2. Well if we don't want the Govt hiring any people who worked in the

financial industry to help Treasury run things we might as well give up right now.

Are you saying the only people that should be looked at are pure academics?

Where else would you get them?

[Thrill]

6. No. I have no problem with them hiring people

from the industry. But if you read DU and some of the other boards. Even the mere mention of someone who worked for the Banks or Wall Street means they are a corporate hack. And only the Krugman's of the world can fix this.

[Metta]

3. Yes, the ever useful pussy footing with Thugs. Uh, how well did that work during the Clinton years?

GATT, NAFTA, the Telecommunications Act, the loss of the Fairness Doctrine ....

[dkf]

4. We needed Al Franken yesterday.

[Metta]

5. Got that right. I hope he takes no prisoners on the Senate floor.

:hi: