BREAKING: President Obama will APPOINT Elizabeth Warren tomorrow

[impik]

A NEW JOB FOR WARREN: President Obama will name Elizabeth Warren on Friday as the assistant to the president and special adviser to the Treasury secretary on the Consumer Financial Protection Agency, an administration official said.

Obama will make the announcement mid-day at the White House with Warren at his side, the official said.

Warren will be charged with getting the agency up and running. Obama is bypassing the Senate confirmation process to put her in that role, which will draw criticism from Republicans and some Democrats.

The White House is defending the move by pointing out that dozens of Obama's nominees continue to be tied up in the Senate.

"The president feels like the stakes are just too high," the official said.

http://www.politico.com/politico44/index.html?refresh=1

[Cha]

1. Thank you impik!

Steve Benen explains this quite well~

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_09/025687.php#1824944

[Cleita]

2. Thank you President Obama.

Good move!

:thumbsup:

[jsamuel]

3. not nominate, appoint

there is no approval, so it is an appointment, not a nomination

Update:
not complaining here guys, just saying that the op's title would be more accurate by calling this an appointment rather than a nomination

[Cleita]

5. Fine. If it were an appointment, it wouldn't get

through our present Congress. I'm happy he's allowing her through the door. It will be harder for the banksters to get rid of her.

[jsamuel]

10. I am saying that this is in fact an "appointment" not a "nomination"

a nomination requires a confirmation vote in the senate. He is simply appointing her to an advisory position within his administration which requires no voting. Just me harping on the language used in the op's title.

[Arkana]

39. Exactly--plus, when the position IS voted on she'll be the easy frontrunner for it and most

likely get it.

[Beetwasher]

7. Even Better, Not Subject To Politics Of Confirmation And No Black Out Period For Talking About The

Agency and she heads it until Senate confirms a permanent head, which could be her anyway.

It's good all around!

[sandnsea]

9. Yes, circumventing Congressional logjams

The way DU has been saying he should do for over a year.

Then he does it, and you come up with political calculations as to why he was wrong to do it.

[pleah]

4. The real question I want answered is

Will she actually have any power or is she just going to be a figure head?

[impik]

6. Do you think a woman like EW would agree to be a figure head?

[Beetwasher]

8. Yeah, That Warren, Such A CHUMP That She Would Accept A CHUMP Position!

:eyes:

[impik]

11. That's because she is.....wait for it, wait for it......:

A SELL OUT!

[zipplewrath]

13. Actually, she won't know for a while

Promises have been made, now they have to keep them. More than one person has shown up in DC only to find out they don't have the power they thought they did. The first test will be over staff and who gets to pick them. The next test will be on how drafts are written and routed. It'll take a few months. Somewhere around January or so she should know just how much clout she really has.

[Beetwasher]

20. No, We Know NOW

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/15/AR2010091505999.html

"By appointing Warren to a post within the administration - much as the White House did with "car czar" Steven Rattner and "compensation czar" Kenneth Feinberg - Obama would free her to act as the bureau's director beginning immediately while avoiding a confirmation battle. The move also will thrill the consumer groups, labor unions, academics and liberal lawmakers that have lobbied relentlessly for her to lead the new regulator."

She will be Interim Director. Period. If you think that position is powerless, you're very, very confused.

[impik]

25. She will set up the agency and then i'm pretty sure that she's going to run for congress in 2012

[Arkana]

40. No, Senate--I want her to boot Softcore Scotty out of Ted Kennedy's chair.

[daleanime]

62. That would be....

so sweet.:bounce:

[pleah]

26. Thank you. :)

[Demit]

31. Nowhere in the article you cite does the job have the title of Interim Director.

You are inferring that. She is to be a 'special assistant' to the president and 'special adviser to the Treasury Secretary'.

This article is being very careful to *imply* that this move gives her the powers—"The financial overhaul bill signed into law in July gives the new bureau and its leader broad autonomy to write and enforce rules governing credit cards, mortgages and other such loans". But read how this——"By appointing Warren to a post within the administration - much as the White House did with "car czar" Steven Rattner and "compensation czar" Kenneth Feinberg - Obama would free her to act as the bureau's director"——suddenly slides into the subjunctive mood.

Obama 'would' free her... Nothing is definite yet, neither title nor powers. Especially since she's under the jurisdiction of Geithner, who does not share her philosophy, to say the least.

[Beetwasher]

33. No, There's No Inference, It's Right Here:

"By appointing Warren to a post within the administration - much as the White House did with "car czar" Steven Rattner and "compensation czar" Kenneth Feinberg - Obama would free her to act as the bureau's director beginning immediately while avoiding a confirmation battle. The move also will thrill the consumer groups, labor unions, academics and liberal lawmakers that have lobbied relentlessly for her to lead the new regulator."

If you would like to play childish, idiotic semantic games, feel free!

[kenfrequed]

44. Free her?

To be subordinate to Geithner? Really? I don't really think of that as having power or being free to do anything. This is one of those stupid Clintonian compromises that is meant to make everyon happy and accomplish nothing.

I guess I will have to wait for Warren to run for office. I would donate to her campaign today if I found out she was running for something in two years.

Seriously though, are recess appointments that horrible? I think that the president could actually gain ground by saying:
"Enough is enough, it is time to get serious and get down to business. To do so I am going to start the job of fixing this nation that the Republicans have spent the last 18 months blocking every step of the way by recess appointing x positions and judges. After the recess I will give congress time to advise and consent on the next set of appointments. I don't want to have to do this again."

And by the way, as an incentive to compromise I would appoint the most progressive possible appointees imaginable and then leave it to congress to realize and try to deal with the fact that the "advise and consent" actually does have the word "consent" in it.

[Beetwasher]

47. Umm, The Agency Is In Treasury, It Always HAS Been, But NOW That's A Problem For You???

You would rather a recess appointment that ends soon than this appointment that remains until Senate confirms a permanent replacement, which means SHE STAYS until Repubs decide NOT to fillibuster? Really? You think THAT'S better strategy??? :rofl:

[kenfrequed]

57. Actually

Read the damned law. I chided someone for giving a response critical of the administration when I thought he had done the recess thing. (see Im not an Obaman hater) I told him that the recess would stand until Obama put forth a name to the senate for replacement. They can only fillibuster if he puts forth an appointee, which he is under no legal requirement to do.

By the way ending your uninformed post with a 'laughy' or whatever you want to call it is insulting and does nothing to indicate even the slightest willingness to debate.

[Demit]

45. He has not named her to the position of "Interim Director," as you flatly state.

You are assuming things that you want to be true. But nowhere in that report, or in any other reporting, has there been a title put to Warren's new position. That's very telling.


Stop being so belligerent with people who disagree with you. Btw, by insulting me, you WOULD free me to alert the mods. Do it again and that's what I WILL do.

[Beetwasher]

46. So I Guess "Director" Doesn't Mean "Director" To You? Now That's Funny!

"By appointing Warren to a post within the administration - much as the White House did with "car czar" Steven Rattner and "compensation czar" Kenneth Feinberg - Obama would free her to act as the bureau's director beginning immediately while avoiding a confirmation battle. The move also will thrill the consumer groups, labor unions, academics and liberal lawmakers that have lobbied relentlessly for her to lead the new regulator. "

[Demit]

48. Somebody named to an advisory position, who then maybe "could" "act as" a director

of a specific agency, is not the same as being named to the specific position of director of that agency. Show me where Obama has said he is appointing Warren to be Director (or Acting Director) of the Consumer Protection Agency. You can't. You can insist till the cows come home that that is what he meant, but that doesn't make it so.

[Beetwasher]

50. So To You Director Does Not Mean Director! Got It! How Orwellian!

"By appointing Warren to a post within the administration - much as the White House did with "car czar" Steven Rattner and "compensation czar" Kenneth Feinberg - Obama would free her to act as the bureau's director beginning immediately while avoiding a confirmation battle. The move also will thrill the consumer groups, labor unions, academics and liberal lawmakers that have lobbied relentlessly for her to lead the new regulator."

Sucks for you, but there it is in black and white. Nothing about "maybe" there. But go ahead and make that part up if it floats your boat to play idiotic semantic games. I have the facts, you have nonsense. But keep spewing it, it sure is funny!

[Demit]

51. OMG. I hope Santa brings you everything you want for Christmas.

[Beetwasher]

54. Warren's Director and will build the agency so I got it already!

Oh and I'm Jewish.

[boppers]

61. No Santa for you!

:rofl:

[zipplewrath]

32. The question is about Timmy's role

There isn't anything unique about this. It's true in every cabinet and in Washington in general. You can have a title and have little influence. Bolton was in the State Department, not because Powell wanted him, because Cheney wanted him there. Powell had vastly less influence over foreign policy than Cheney did. Rice had more influence as NSA than Powell did. Powell supposedly undermined Bolton's nomination for the UN. This is power politics at its highest.

Timmy may feel that Warren was forced upon him. He may try to exercise alot of power. Timmy and Obama are supposedly very close. As such Warren could find herself being "over ridden" alot by Timmy through his relationship with Obama.

Or, Obama may see Warren as a good counterpoint to Timmy and give Warren alot of rope.

Or Timmy may feel that it is better to let Warren have a free hand. That way if trouble starts down the line, he gets to step in as mediator/fixer.

Or Timmy may feel that he just has to give her enough rope to hang herself with Congress, especially the Senate, and then he'll get the nomination he always wanted.

Or Warren could grow on Timmy and she could succeed in convincing him of her brilliance.


And all of that ignores Rahm's potential role in this (and he may be gone so that could change the dynamics greatly).

[Beetwasher]

34. No, That's Not The Question Since The Agency Was ALWAYS Under Treasury

But NOW all of a sudden you have a problem with that? Why wasn't it a problem BEFORE Warren was appointed?

Oh, that's right! It's another opportunity to move the goalposts! Right into a corner! :rofl:

[zipplewrath]

36. It's all part of the same thing

There was a big argument about placing under Timmy to begin with. The Warren faction kinda lost that one. The question since then has always been about whether Warren would have any real authority outside of Timmy (assuming she got nominated at all, which now it doesn't appear will happen). This unusual arrangement only heightens those concerns.

I actually suspect that Timmy will generally stay out of her way. Her primary problem will be with the Senate. I'd only expect Timmy to get involved if he sees the Senate trying to under cut him some how.

But we'll see. And there is precious little to prevent her successor from making big changes. So all of this may end up being just so much keffluffle. The real indication of how seriously they'll be taking Warren will be who they appoint to succeed her.

[Beetwasher]

38. Yes! Move The Goalposts Some More!!!

So, now because she can be replaced eventually it's a problem???

You really have no clue how important this position is and what setting up this agency from scratch entails. You are completely wrong about it being so easy for successors to make such big changes. But even if they could, so what? That's why it's important to keep Dems in power. This is true for ANY and ALL agencies, but NOW it's a problem for you because you get to use it to move your goalposts.

[zipplewrath]

41. I'm not particularly pessimistic

She took the job, so she believes she has a chance. Time will only tell if she actually does. It was obvious to many that there were forces in congress and in the administration that did not want her to have this job. It is also true that those forces are still there. Some of those forces may still be there after she is gone. She's got her shot, but this event in no way concludes this process. It is a step, and it isn't clear how much actual authority she'll have, nor how endurin it will be.

Yes, it is true for every appointment. There's the title, and then there's the power. I'm glad she got this far. I'da preferred that she got the job explicitly. The reasons why can be debated but since they aren't trying, we'll never know. Maybe they'll try in the future. But you can't deny that the forces inside the administration that didn't want her here are still there and haven't "given up".

[Beetwasher]

42. The Forces That Didn't Want Her Have Been Defeated

And outsmarted. Why the hell should that have some protracted, politically charged confirmation that would hamper her and delay her appointment? That's would just be plain masochistic. Instead, she's in, she will build the agency AND if they choose to appoint her she can STILL go through confirmation while she's ALREADY running the place.

[zipplewrath]

56. Nah, just suffering a set back

It's never over, even after she leaves they'll attempt to undo anything they can that they don't like.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

55. She better be cloned and have a permanent spot there or I'm walking.

[pleah]

Thank you. :)

[alcibiades_mystery]

30. She's a CHUMP taking a Figurehead position...But also a GENIUS with impeccable integrity

The screamers really have to contort to get there, but that's sure enough where they've landed.

:rofl:

[impik]

35. Yea, they totally scramble now. This is not how they saw it played out.

After all, we all know that Obama is a sell out!

[girl gone mad]

60. Colin Powell.

[sandnsea]

12. The real question *I* want answered is

Will the left ever be unable to find something to bitch about?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

14. the question that I want answer is...

to you really think it's the left that's bitching about Warren's appointment?

[sandnsea]

17. Yes. n/t

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

23. I don't.

[zipplewrath]

15. No

And the centrists will never stop bitching about the left, until they want their votes or their money.

[sandnsea]

22. I'm not a centrist

In fact, I only know of about ten centrists at DU. I used to know eleven but one has suddenly morphed into a raving lefty and denies he was ever a centrist to begin with, even though he used to chide me about begin too far left.

Having said that, this appointment of Warren exposes a lot of hypocrites, whether you want to admit it or not.

[vaberella]

18. You seek the impossible. n/t

[dave29]

19. I would like to know the average airspeed velocity of a laden swallow

but it's hard to get answers around here

[pleah]

29. How is asking a simple question bitching? :(

[vaberella]

16. The failure of questions like yours is the way you totally insult her integrity. n/t

[pleah]

24. I have no doubt that she has intergrity. I just asked a simple question

and got flamed. :(

[vaberella]

49. You questioned whether she has any power.

By doing that you're implying that she took a position that would be weakened for whatever reason. If you support her and see her as intelligent...why would it be assumed she'd take a position without any power.

[pleah]

53. Sorry, but you're the one implying, not me.

Besides it has happened in the past.

[Demit]

27. I'm curious too. This appointment isn't actually to head the CPA; it's to be a 'special assistant'

and to 'help create' the new agency. Plus she reports not just to Obama but to Geithner. Who reeeally doesn't like her. It remains to be seen whether or not this was a shrewd way to co-opt her. Better to have somebody inside the tent pissing out, and all that.

Who knows what the behind the scenes deal is. Maybe she thinks she can still be effective despite having to do battle with Timmy G. We'll find out, I guess, as it unfolds. But I am suspicious this was a move that was too cute by half.

[pleah]

28. I'm glad he did this route to get her in.

Read what #13 and #20 said. Ignore the rest, they just flamed me. :(

[vaberella]

21. Great news...thanks impik. n/t

[harun]

37. I appreciate the President flippin the Senate the bird. They are disfunct

and corrupted.

[Phx_Dem]

43. Sweet.

:7

[HughMoran]

52. Good for Obama - he understands the Senate and politics

I guess it's easy for some to be angry at him for not being a dictator, but those folks are never happy about anything anyway.

[quiet.american]

58. K&R nt

[denimgirly]

59. Here's Hoping Obama "NOMINATES" her after this Election and all this isn't just for Show.

She is assigned as a special advisor. My fear, based on past things Obama has done, is that this might just be a simple ploy to get progressives happy to go out and vote but after the election her special advisor position will never amount to the real director for the job since several other democrats have a lot to lose from corporations if she is made the head of it. Obama has not made a genuine progressive move yet that has not included massive giveaways to the right and other special interests and so if after these elections he offically nominates her as the head of this new department i will be genuinely and happily surprised...here's hoping.

[wundermaus]

63. Quite an engaging and enlightening discussion on this at FDL, too.

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/09/17/warren-in-her-own-words/

[JDPriestly]

64. Thank you, President Obama.

With Elizabeth Warren -- with her honesty, her straightforwardness, her strength of character and her warmth and her sense of ethics and morality -- Obama has has finally found a true ally.

Now, it's up to him to develop this alliance for the benefit of the American people.

No wonder Obama's foes, Republicans and Democrats, do not want to confirm Elizabeth Warren. They have everything to lose as she enters the spotlight.

By the way, the media loves Elizabeth Warren, and for good reason. She thinks clearly, is articulate and answers the question asked.

Wow!!! This is great news.

Let's see whether Obama makes the most of Elizabeth Warren's support and counsel. I sure hope so.