Any guess on who Obama is eyeing for Sec of Treasury?

[gateley]

I was just listening to NPR, and they said the money people of the world aren't as concerned who becomes President, as they are about who becomes Treasury Sec.

I nominate Paul Krugman.

But, who do you think Obama might pick?

[ColbertWatcher]

1. Krugman has already said he wasn't interested. n/t

[Dinger]

2. He Should Get Interested

He's the obvious choice.

[ColbertWatcher]

5. True, but I read that since he's been writing his column ...

... he hasn't been doing any research or scholarly work.

He might want to get back to it.

[lumberjack_jeff]

36. I propose we reinstate the draft.

Albeit a fairly selective one, in which Krugman is the only draftee.

[gateley]

6. I don't blame him, but I'd love to see it happen nonetheless. nt

[Doctor_J]

19. He would probably serve if called though

Esp if he thinks he can help undo Bushonomics

[ColbertWatcher]

42. This is the point everyone is missing.

Krugman has said he doesn't want it, but never said he would refuse if asked.

[ColbertWatcher]

3. I don't know any potential nominees, but ...

... maybe he will pick someone at the state level?

[gateley]

7. There are probably several really qualified people of whom I'm unaware, but I'm

just so damn impressed by Krugman -- and I LIKE him.

[CTyankee]

25. Hi, gately! Well, I love Krugman too but I kinda wonder about

how a scholar works out in the political spectrum. He might just be better as an advisor with clout. I doubt if he wants to get into a political bureaucracy, as smart as he is.

But to tell you the truth I don't know of anyone who would be a good choice.:shrug:

[gateley]

30. Good point about a scholar transitioning to a political appointee. Well, at

least I hope he advises them and that they listen!!

[CTyankee]

31. Yes, at this point I am completely confident in Obama's judgment in choosing advisors.

His running of the campaign has been superb, one for the books for presidential scholars to study in years to come.

I truly believe, along with Colin Powell, that this is a transformational election. I am certain that Obama will make good use of Paul Krugman's expertise along with Warren Buffett just as a business counterpart to Krugman's academia.

Isn't it a good time to be a liberal Democrat?

[Best_man23]

4. Bring Back Rubin

He convinced Big Dog to balance the Federal budget and would tell Obama to do the same thing.

[gateley]

9. Any chance of that happening, do you think?

And, if you know, was he predicting this mess? That's a big reason why I like Krugman -- he called this AND is not toeing the government's line about the bailout. Which seems to be running into some problems, if the constant calling of meetings is any indication.

[MarjorieG]

18. Blncing the budget may not be as important as spending now. After we balance, the GOP gives it away.

We might as well concentrate on the incentives, some spending on job creation. This is going to be tougher than the 90s,

[abumbyanyothername]

40. No Rubin.

This recent economic mess has me convinced that Clinton was almost as bad as Bush II. There is a nearly unbroken line of more and more UNFETTERED capitalism from Reagan to the present moment.

We need someone who understands that the economy needs a guiding hand.

In other words we need a FDR sort of Obama administration, not a Clintonian return.

[Bad Thoughts]

8. Robert Reich, anyone? eom.

[gateley]

10. Another good choice. nt

[Barack_America]

23. A better choice than Krugman...

Not, necessarily a better economist than Krugman, but a better choice. Krugman was extremely harsh to Obama (particularly his healthcare plan) during the primaries. So I'm not sure how their relationship is. Given the situation we're in, Obama's going to need someone he has a good rapport with and can trust from day one. I'm not sure that's Krugman.

[depakid]

49. What Obama doesn't need is "yes people"

and Krugman was absiolutely correct in his analysis of Obama's health care plan- whether it duffled feathers or not.

[renate]

27. His was the first name I thought of

He would be awesome.

[Bake]

43. I'd go for Reich.

Bake

[billyoc]

11. I want THIS guy:

Fucker knows EVERYTHING!

:rofl:

[vanderBeth]

16. !

:spray:

[Essene]

12. dont expect some big name politicians or pundit for this spot

[shotten99]

13. Gov. Corrazine from NJ

Just a hunch

[Sebastian Doyle]

37. FUCK no!

No more goddamn Goldman Sachs flunkies. :grr:

[Hippo_Tron]

51. Corzine had one of the most liberal voting records in the Senate

I really wasn't happy about him going to the Governor's mansion because of that.

[Gman]

14. I think he keeps Paulson on for another year

because of his current involvement in the credit crunch.

[Demeter]

15. Please God NO!

Paulson will be indicted first.

[Gman]

22. Indicted for what?

[Demeter]

32. Bribes, Kick-Backs, Self-Dealing, Rewarding Cronies and Punishing Enemies

This whole bailout is an open abuse of power.

[MiniMe]

20. Paulson has said that he doesn't plan on staying

[sad sally]

35. Paulson needs to hang around awhile to show 'em where all the bones are buried

[vanderBeth]

17. I haven't thought about it seriously, but

I like Krugman a lot. I just bought another book by him yesterday.

(My mother is going to be mad if I change my major because of Krugman. :()

[ElsewheresDaughter]

21. I think Krugman is a good pic

[Native]

24. What do you think Obama's plans are for Volcker, if any?

[IndianaJones]

26. I think DU could get behind a Republican for that post. nt.

[Overseas]

34. NO NO NEVER !! Republicans ruin the economy every time. No reward for failure.

Republicans have PRETENDED for far too long that they are fiscally responsible.
The evidence proves otherwise.
Republicans run up huge deficits. They cut taxes and put the debt onto our grandchildren.
They pushed trickle down which has been a dismal failure.

STOP THE MYTHS NOW BY REFUSING TO REWARD THEIR FAILURES.
Republicans always wreck the economy
and they endanger our National Security too.
So do not appoint them to those positions.

They lie that Republicans are better on national security-- another LIE. The Bush-Cheney gang should have soured us on Republicans in that arena for years. They've made us MUCH LESS SECURE. They made us into war criminals who break the Geneva Conventions and have secret prisons where people can be detained without charging them.

Republicans have sunk to new lows with their war profiteering in Iraq. We need to de-privatize lots of military services so we can bring back the quality we need.

More Democrats have served in the military, so they have more respect for our generals and other military professionals too. Less likely to let armchair warriors like Rumsfeld and CHeney dictate their military tactics and strategies.

[bornskeptic]

28. Alan Blinder is one possibility. n/t

[CK_John]

29. Most likely it will be someone connected to Univ of Chicago, conservative but not neocon. n/t

[Doctor_J]

55. If another Friedman disciple is picked, we should head to theWH with torches

Those people have destroyed the world economy

[AZBlue]

33. I'd heard Warren Buffet.

But I have no idea how solid a rumor that is.

[StreetKnowledge]

46. That would be an excellent choice.

Buffett is one of the best investors in history (if not THE best) and one of his big points with Berkshire Hathaway is that his companies have NEVER laid off someone when they are profitable. Filthy rich, socially moderate, has made his fortune in the game we want him to lead. I say he's nearly the perfect choice.

This might be a little off-topic, but I think Obama should reward Colin Powell for putting him over the top. Powell would be an excellent Secretary of Defense, I think.

[AZBlue]

52. I'd love to see Powell as Sec. of Defense!

If he'd want to "re-up" - of course, under Obama his job would be very different, so he might just go for it.

[mwooldri]

48. Now that's a rumour that I'd like to see come true. nt

[Sebastian Doyle]

38. Here's an idea for an "outside the box" choice....

The Bush Crime Family has filled the position with corporate bankers, and has treated the Treasury as exactly that - a corporate bank that hands out money to the rich.

Maybe Obama should hire someone who's been in charge of a credit union? Someone who realizes that the members own the institution, and it's their money you're playing around with. And in the case of the US treasury, ALL of us are the "members". It's our money, though our contributions aren't entirely voluntary.

[beachmom]

39. NOT Bob Rubin. nt

[Elidor]

41. Nouriel Roubini would be an interesting choice, though it will never happen

And he's worked at Treasury before, so he'd be on familiar ground.

[endthewar]

44. SHEILA BAIR

:bounce:

[depakid]

45. Krugman has a fine gig right where he is

I rather doubt that he'd want to take the job, though I'd be fully supportive (and perhaps a bit relieved) if he did.

[rucky]

47. Hopefully somebody too smart to be famous. n/t

[Deep13]

50. Bill Richardson

He has a long history Federal executive experience.

[CADEMOCRAT7]

53. This is very good question, I have been wondering this.

I just hope it is someone with stellar morals and integrity on top of a superb financial acumen. They will be faced with dual relationships that play against one another's interests.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

54. IMO NY Fed President Timothy Geithner would be by far the best choice, because

of his unique experience at the wheel of the Fed's market operations throughout the unprecedented financial storm since last summer:

From http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1844554,00.html :

Treasury Secretary Paulson, 62, was one of Wall Street's toughest dealmakers as CEO of Goldman Sachs. Fed chief Bernanke, 54, is a quiet academic who was the chairman of Princeton's economics department and is one of the foremost scholars of the Great Depression and other economic catastrophes.

Least known of the three is (NY Fed Preisdent Timothy) Geithner, 47, whose years at Treasury in the 1990s and position at the Fed's pivotal New York City office make him the trio's eyes and ears on Wall Street. There is some speculation that Geithner himself might be Treasury Secretary someday in a Democratic Administration. "A very unusually talented young man," said Paulson. "He understands government and understands markets."