Chu jumps in 'deep end of the pool'

[biopowertoday]

oh oh...........


http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/02/20/1803006.aspx



Chu jumps in 'deep end of the pool'



Posted: Friday, February 20, 2009 1:18 PM by Domenico Montanaro


From NBC’s John Yang


Energy Secretary Steven Chu may be a Nobel laureate Ph.D. in physics, but his first forays into energy policy suggest he's a neophyte when it comes to the ways of Washington.

At a forum with reporters on Thursday, the head of the department that has traditionally taken the lead on global oil-market policy, was asked what message the Obama administration had for the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries at its meeting next month.

"I'm not the administration," the Cabinet secretary replied. "I will be speaking and learning more about this in order to figure out what the U.S. position should be and what the president's position is."

Chu, who is still without a deputy, said he feels "like I've been dumped into the deep end of the pool" on oil policy.

The day before, reporters asked him about OPEC output levels after a speech to a group of utility regulators. He responded that the issue was "not in my domain."

[Captain Hilts]

1. I'll give him some cred for admitting he's new to it. Best of luck to him. nt

[PBS Poll-435]

6. Friggin' A

:thumbsup:

[Captain Hilts]

9. What a relief here in DC to have someone who doesn't claim to be a know-it-all. THAT's change!

[Wetzelbill]

2. it's probably weird for him because as a scientist he studies

and explores things that are not necessarily known, and then he deals in theories, not blanket certitudes. People involved in politics, on the other hand, give their opinions on anything and everything, especially when they don't have a clue what the hell they are talking about. 99 percent of politicians and pundits if asked a question like the OPEC one that they didn't know right away would either make something up or go into some kind of spin/stump mode.

[FrenchieCat]

3. Hasn't MSNBC been crying for Change?

So now that they have someone knowledgeable but new to Washington, they should be overjoyed!

[Bread and Circus]

4. This means he hasn't been steeped and stewed in all the oil corruption we've built for the last

30+ years...

[EraOfResponsibility]

8. Exactly n/m

[dkf]

5. I'm kind of glad he doesn't know much about oil.

That means he will look for solutions elsewhere.

[Orsino]

14. I can only see that as a plus. n/t

[PBS Poll-435]

7. I have the feeling that Secretary Chu might be a nerd or have nerd-like tendancies

:scared:











:eyes:


It isn't like he is the Press Secretary, FFS. Give him a little time to get comfortable in his new skin.

[Arkana]

10. Chu's not a politician--he's a scientist.

He'll learn.

[Uzybone]

11. I hope he doesn't learn how to play the games of politicians

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

12. Chu may be in a little over his head, but he's obviously a smart guy & a quick study.

[NYC Liberal]

13. I'd rather he be competent but need to get a hang of the politics

than a politician who is incompetent!