- Home
- About Us
- Contributors
- Departments
- Topics
- Back Issues
- Weekly Archives
- AmSpecBlog
- Subscribe
- Newsletter
- Advertise
- Donate
- Contact Us
- Daily Digest
- Templeton Essays
Washington Prowler
Transition Costs
SUSPICIONS
Even before the Obama/Biden transition team had a chance to
review them, Republican staffers on the Senate Finance Committee
were seeking any and all documents related to the run-up of the
bailout of AIG, one of the world's largest insurance companies,
and a bellwether of the Wall Street collapse in October. The
documents, according committee staff, will be important to the
confirmation hearing for Timothy Geithner should
he be nominated as Obama's Treasury Secretary.
"We think he [Geithner] was more deeply involved and had greater knowledge about AIG's situation earlier in the process than has been publicly disclosed," says a Senate Banking Committee staffer, who says some Democrats on that committee would like to see Geithner appear before their committee before a Senate confirmation vote to explain his recent activities at the New York Fed.
Over the weekend, both the FBI and the Obama transition team were doing background checks and research on Geithner. While the FBI had no issues, according to an Obama transition team member, the transition team had a number of questions for Geithner related to his role as president of the New York Federal Reserve.
"We need to know what he knew and when he knew it, regarding AIG in particular," says the transition source. "He's been involved in a lot of these rescue plans throughout his career, but this one is the hot potato for confirmation."
The fact that Geithner has dealt with so many rescue plans in his career, says a senior aide to a Republican Senator who will be involved in the confirmation process, highlights another concern some Republicans and even some Democrats have voiced:
"[Geithner] is a bright man. He's testified up here several times, but it has been underwhelming to say the least. The fact is, he's never held a real job in his career. He's been an academic and a government bureaucrat. He's walking into a completely different job and a different role, and some of our bosses have their doubts about him."
Geithner is a protégé of Clinton-era Treasury leaders Robert Rubin and Lawrence Summers, who is believed to have accepted the chairmanship of the National Economic Council. "Larry is going to make this a smooth transition," says the transition aide. "Any rough spots that Tim may have, Larry is going to smooth out."
NOT HIM AGAIN!
Late last week, as stories swirled around Sen. Hillary
Rodham Clinton's possible jump to the job of Secretary
of State, another longtime Clinton aide's name began to crop up:
former journalist and Clinton back-room consigliere,
Sidney Blumenthal.
Should Clinton accept the Secretary of State job, Blumenthal, it is believed, will move to Foggy Bottom as a counsel to the secretary, a post that will not require Senate confirmation, but will require an extensive security and background check.
According to Obama transition team sources, Clinton aides presented them with a list of potential senior staff for the Secretary of State office, and Blumenthal's name -- without a title or role described -- was on it.
Also on the list were the names of most of Clinton's senior Senate aides, including several who had left her office in the past two years for the private sector. All have been contacted about possibly returning to public service should Clinton accept the cabinet position.
Comments
Leave a Comment
- Obama's Vision Through History
- ‘Call Fox’
- Michael Ledeen on Iran and Democracy
Are you in a mob?
The Democrats say Obamacare opponents are a mob. Are they right?
Participating in this survey will subscribe you to the American Spectator email newsletter. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Rocco| 11.24.08 @ 7:07AM
Well now, isn't a cabinet supposed to reflect the president who puts it together? With Geithner, we have one cipher chosing another. So now, what is so surprising about that?
Hold on to your wallet!
Daphne Kenward| 11.24.08 @ 7:19AM
The idea of Bailing out companies, using public money can only be discribed as insanity, and the idea was dreamed up by people who have found some loope hole to make them selves very rich.
I Imagine after the Bail out 6 Months to a year they file Bankrupt, with no libelities,
or accountabilities. If these companies are not viable, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which is closely associated to the Housing Market
and the housing market will be in a mess for a very long time to come, these companies which is not viable should be allowed to closedown.
AIG the mess with that company will be covered up for may years. These companies are broke, propping them us is a waste of money, if that were not so, they would have enough people in the private sector wanting to invest in them.
The FED who prints the monopoly money needs to go, to fix what is wrong with the American economy. Thus solving the Global crisis because that is the source of the problem.
Jason| 11.24.08 @ 7:45AM
The Obama Administration doesn't even exist yet, and I'm already tired of it.
P. Aaron| 11.24.08 @ 10:35AM
It doesn't matter who they appoint. The time for cynnical reflection is past. They are all recognized as enemies of liberty. Fight them at every turn.
goodman| 11.24.08 @ 12:39PM
Please, not Hillary you are only inviting trouble. She and her husband are to be feared and it would be the biggest mistake for the president elect. How come her, there are so many other and much more qualified people. Obama is toying with fate and will be a move he will ultimately regret. Havoc will abound, you must remember she will be in line for the presidency, so start counting. Based on past history, if you must, increase security and hire a food taster.
Alan Brooks| 11.24.08 @ 2:15PM
oh, geez, you guys said the same things about Clinton in november-december of '92. And he gets re-elected 4 years later, natch.
See, I didn't vote for Obama because I don't trust anybody.
All the same I'll bet you granny's portfolio that Obama will be reelected, because you are counting him out already-- so the expectations are lowered for him. The bar is all the way down.
You hairshirts, you.
ruth| 11.24.08 @ 2:24PM
Ewwww, not Sidney! I remember his name cropping up contantly in The American Spectator magazine when Clinton was in office. This guy is a real piece of work--and nasty, too. I thought Obama was all about change, this is just Clinton redux.
Alan Brooks| 11.24.08 @ 4:35PM
at least Clinton got into office without his dad being a former prez. Dubya would be manager of a baseball team or oil company (not that there's anything wrong with those professions) right this moment without dad.
The legacy of Reagan was what made HW and W., nothing more.
ruth| 11.24.08 @ 4:51PM
Yes, but all we heard for months and months, ad nauseam, was; "CHANGE, CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN, WE ARE THE ONES WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR," rhetoric, and all we got was this Clinton redux cabinet. Don't you guys feel a little bit suckered? You are suckers. Stupid, thy name is liberal. LOL
Alan Brooks| 11.24.08 @ 5:11PM
I dont want change, you want change? dump the past (thats what real change is) and live in a brave new world?
thats what youre going to get.
careful what you wish for.
ruth| 11.24.08 @ 5:38PM
That's all you screamed for during his campaign. That's what you wished for--and look what you got! Clinton!! And it is a brave new world, courtesy of liberals. I see backpedaling going on.
Dai Alanye| 11.24.08 @ 5:44PM
Is Alan a troll or an orc? I get these designations confused.
ruth| 11.24.08 @ 5:47PM
Six to one--half dozen to another. There are numerous odious liberal trolls/orcs on AmSpecBlog.
Daphne Kenward| 11.24.08 @ 5:57PM
People in America and world wide will get change it may not be the change they had hoped for. The kind of change step out of line and get tasered. Don't forget you have no freedom and what little you have is about to be taken away for good, you will serve Satan the devil if you like it or not.
ruth| 11.24.08 @ 7:22PM
What is it about Daphne's lunatic rantings that AmSpec loves?
Daphne Kenward| 11.25.08 @ 3:54PM
A lot of people thought I was a lunatic, when I told them that oil peice would reach 150.00 Dollars per barrel too, and house prices was going to crash, and we were going to end up in the deepesr recession close to or as 1929 crash. Don't be afraid Ruth, I know more than you think.
Daphne Kenward| 11.25.08 @ 5:48PM
The Bailout, people's taxes used to bailout big banks, that robbed the people. The Government gives them Tax payers money, and then the tax payers goes to the Bank to borrow their own money. And I am the one who is the lunatic?. Don't make me laugh baby.
ruth| 11.25.08 @ 8:42PM
I am not afraid, Daphne. My strong faith in Jesus Christ sustains me through good times and bad. What is the point of being afraid? All matters rest in God's hands anyway. I am thankful for every day I have on this earth. I hope you feel the same way, it would give you peace of mind.
Daphne Kenward| 11.28.08 @ 12:04PM
Ruth.
You speak eloquently about a peace of mind, do you have any idea what creates a peace of mind, what is your interpetation of a peace of mind?
If your peace of mind equates to, the pretence that it is fine that one race commits genocide against another it's fine, is that your peace of mind?.
What makes you think Christ would want anything to do with you?.
Do you know what Christ teachings was?. He said we must love one another as I have loved you, why do you think Christ said that?.
Do you think Christ meant to only love certain groups of people? who commit mass murder, and your peace of mind is as long as it's not you, it's OK. Why do you think, that Christ would want the Palestinians to be murdered and Genocide be committed against them because they are poor?
Yeah, you are greatful for every day you have on this earth why? what are you doing for the good of mankind?, what is your principle? what is your values in life? Why do you think you are a Christian?.
Why do you think the Plaestinians, have no right to live through good times and bad, why do you see them as Terrorist?. Why do you Judge others with no informations about what it is you speak about? do you even know what the Bible says about people who Judge others?.
Darling you are no Christian, you don't even know what the word means, you have failed the test.
Daphne Kenward| 11.28.08 @ 12:22PM
To be chosen by God, you would have to know the 10 Commandments, of how to live. If you can't live by Gods laws, you will die by Satans laws. That is the first thing you should know, and furthermore, the Bible says many will come on the basis of my name, guess who said that Christ. You came to me on the basus of his name, and yet you don't even know what he says about people like you, get away from me I have never know you. You live by your own rules and your own laws, and your own terms, not gods terms.
My I am not perfect, but I know that the people of Palestine is no less human than me and no less human than you, they are flesh and blood.
I will tell you what Christ said about hurting children, he said it would be better to have a million Iron bars around your neck. You who called me a Hitler, called me a Racist for speaking up for the down trodden, if you call me that what do you call Christ. If what is happening to the people of Palestine, were happening to Americans or anyone else my responce would be the same.
I have never been racist in my life, I stand up for the voiceless the homeless, the ones who are suffering. I do not vote for Zionist evil in this world I stand on the side of God the creater of life.
ruth| 11.28.08 @ 11:07PM
Daphne, you protest too much. You are so very, very angry. Why, who has hurt you so badly? I will pray for you so that you find peace. Christ loves all of us, Daphne, if you knew anything at all about our Lord, you would know that. I know that I am loved, I was loved before I was conceived--so are you. God bless you.
Ms. Know| 11.29.08 @ 2:48PM
This is gone so far, the new left-wing illuminati transition team can not advise Obama enough to deal with this mess, and they need to admit it. He is not experienced enough, and time will tell.
NFL jerseys| 8.29.09 @ 3:09AM
It is a wonderful article: NFL jerseys,Photoshop CS2,ghd Hair Straightener,Adobe Photoshop CS4.
supra shoes| 10.15.09 @ 1:42PM
Supra Shoes
Mens Supra Cruizer Cool Shoes