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New York Times’ Frank Rich Named Obama’s Top Economic Adviser

By on 10.26.10 @ 6:08AM

We have to assume he’d come cheaper than Paul Krugman.

Things are not going well for President Obama in his search for an economic adviser to replace the departing Larry Summers. The President had hoped to reach across the aisle — no, make that the ditch — to find a top businessperson to take the job.

You know the ditch. It is the muddy resting place for that badly damaged car, a.k.a. the U.S. economy, which the president is trying to rescue. He says that the same people who drove the car into the ditch (i.e. Republicans and business people) have refused to help, playing the part of idle on-lookers — “sipping their slurpees.” Now he is surprised to find that none of the CEOs whom he so freely insults wants to join him in his fetid, fly-infested ditch. Left to his own devices, with no one but his fellow Democrats to help, the president continues to gun the fiscal accelerator, causing the wheels to spin and the car to sink ever more deeply and hopelessly into the mire. As Albert Einstein supposedly said, the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result.

“Any CEO who knew something about the job was not likely to take it,” an administration official told the Wall Street Journal, “and anyone who didn’t know anything about it was not likely to succeed.” That is not a made-up quote. You will find it in the Journal story on Oct. 15 (“Obama Backs Away From CEO Search”). It states: “The White House is no longer actively seeking a corporate chief executive to be President Barack Obama’s top economic adviser, an appointment administration officials had hoped would ease tensions with the business community.”

Well, I have a suggestion. Since no CEO is willing to take the job, I nominate Frank Rich to serve as the new Director of the White House National Economic Council. That’s right — Frank Rich, the ultra liberal New York Times columnist.

Many readers will object, saying that Frank Rich is a blithering idiot, a left-wing nut case, and totally insufferable besides. But that is my point exactly. I think of the good that would come from having a top economic adviser in the White House that no one — including the president himself — could take seriously.

This is how Rich begins his latest column in the Times:

President Obama, the Rodney Dangerfield of 2010, gets no respect for averting another Great Depression, for saving 3.3 million jobs with stimulus spending, or for salvaging GM and Chrysler from the junkyard. And none of these good deeds, no matter how substantial, will go unpunished if the projected Democratic bloodbath materializes on Election Day. Some are even going unremembered. For Obama, the ultimate indignity is the Times/CBS News poll in September showing that only 8 percent of Americans know that he gave 95 percent of taxpayers a tax cut.

I’m glad that Rich is there to remind us of those “unremembered” tax cuts. Sometimes even the president forgets to mention them. That’s because they are so squirrelly as to constitute a major embarrassment.

Let’s say I borrowed a large sum of money from you and then gave you a small portion of it back. Should we treat that as some kind of a gift from me to you? Should we call it a “tax cut’?

You do if you are this government. What this government has done is to borrow almost three trillion dollars from you, me, and the People’s Republic of China (plus Saudi Arabia and anyone else willing to buy our nation’s IOUs)… and then turn around and send a small portion of the proceeds back in what Mr. Obama and the Democrats are pleased to call “tax rebates.” And most of those “tax rebates” have gone to people who pay no income tax anyway. A more descriptive phrase would be “welfare checks.” Eventually, we or our children will have pay back the nation’s IOUs… or repudiate them through a great burst of inflation, which would have the unfortunate side-effects of destroying everyone’s savings and (forget about the ditch we are now in) sending the economy over a real cliff. Imagine paying for 37% of your household expenditures with borrowed money. That is what this government has been doing over the past two years.

There is no need to spend much time rebutting other claims — the 3.3 million jobs that were “saved” even as unemployment rose, or the “averted” Great Depression. If the current administration did such a great job in keeping us out of a 1930s style depression, why has the U.S. economy performed less well over the past two years than almost all of the other major economies in Europe and Asia, which were caught up in the same financial panic that hit this country in late 2008?

In the same column, Rich complains that “The Obama administration seems not to have a prosecutorial gene.” They are too nice to the bad guys on Wall Street. Rich knows all about them from a recent viewing of the movie Inside Job, narrated by the economic savant and well-known movie star Matt Damon:

With the aid of the “Manhattan Madam” (and current stunt New York gubernatorial candidate) Kristen Davis, the film … asks why federal prosecutors who were “perfectly happy to use Eliot Spitzer’s personal vices to force him to resign in 2008” have not used the rampant sex-and-drug trade on Wall Street as a tool for flipping witnesses to pursue the financial crimes that have devastated the nation.

If Ms. Davis said that, I think she was probably joking. Not that Frank Rich would have noticed. Like so many other uber liberals, he might have the prosecutorial gene but he is clearly missing the humorous gene. Of course, this is not to say he can’t be unintentionally funny. Who knows, he might even succeed in getting Barack Obama to recognize the silliness of his failed economic policies.

That’s why I have nominated him to be the president’s chief economic adviser.

About the Author

Andrew B. Wilson, a frequent contributor to The American Spectator, writes from St. Louis.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (44) |

Tim*| 10.26.10 @ 6:29AM

RaceBoy Obama is reduced to, "We don't mind the Republicans joining us. They can come for the ride, but they gotta sit in back."
Black Liberation Theology Buffoon continually dances around the edges of The Race Card.

This Buffoon Is The Poster Boy For The Peter Principle.

The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.

Rise Up In Rebellion!

TennesseeVolunteer| 10.26.10 @ 7:06AM

Nov. 2, 2010......tick.....tick.....tick!
Freedom!

Patrick| 10.26.10 @ 1:40PM

Nov 2, 2010 is not the timer for freedom, not by a long shot.

The bell will have rung, but the referee is a crook, and won't bat an eye if Nancy "the Braying Jackass" Pelosi throws a few fouls before breaking up.

Then on January 4th, 2011, we get Round 112. You'd better hope it's not John "the Anemic Elephant" Boehner stepping in the ring. I'd prefer to see Eric "the Pounding Pachyderm" Cantor.

Winner takes all.

jrjr| 10.26.10 @ 4:55PM

Good comment Patrick, replacing Reid and/or Pelosi with McShame/Boehner would be a serious mistake --- one that the Tea Baggers and we silent tea baggers would resent.

Lesser Weevil| 10.26.10 @ 5:10PM

Ah, yes, Eric "the 0.017% Kid" Cantor, and over in the Senate, Mitch "Milquetoast" McConnell, Lindsay "Lantern Jaw" Graham, and of course, the old Maverick himself, dazzling us with their fancy footwork and slippery defense--it should be a thriller. I sure hope that they give Paul "Third Rail" Ryan and some of the newcomers a shot. I don't think that they will get another crack at the title after this.

The Bishop| 10.26.10 @ 7:09AM

What Tim said...Amen!

Balletomame| 10.26.10 @ 7:55AM

Frank Rich replaced a fine dance critic to become a terrible theater critic. Now (according to a good source) he wants to edit the whole New York Times. To paraphrase my latest T shirt;"Frank Rich is like a Slinkey--fundamentally useless but he makes you smile as you push him down stairs."

Doctor Right| 10.26.10 @ 7:58AM

Didn't Frank Rich get his start as a theater critic at the New York Slimes?

If so, his selection as an Economic Advisor to Obama is highly appropriate since all of the Democrat's current economic policies are nothing but cheap theatre, anyway...

Doctor Right| 10.26.10 @ 7:58AM

Didn't Frank Rich get his start as a theater critic at the New York Slimes?

If so, his selection as an Economic Advisor to Obama is highly appropriate since all of the Democrat's current economic policies are nothing but cheap theatre, anyway...

wodiej| 10.26.10 @ 8:08AM

If the CEO's and people who supposedly drove the economy under the ditch are so bad, why is Obama trying to RECRUIT THEM??

Clinton nee Publius| 10.26.10 @ 8:47AM

Are you kidding me? A dance critic is now the head of the President's Council of Economic Advisers? What's the matter, did Bozo The Clown turn Barry down? He would have been better served pardoning Bernie Madoff and hiring him.

Albert| 10.26.10 @ 11:20AM

I'm confused. Is Frank Rich Bozo the Clown? Or is Obama Bozo the Clown? Or perhaps both are? "Send in the Clowns, don't bother, they're here." They're here all right, and I agree with Mr. Wilson, Frank Rich SHOULD join Team Bozo. Then the Economic Advisor Bozo would know as much about economics as the President Bozo knows about being President.

loulou| 10.26.10 @ 12:43PM

I think Rich was the Food Critic for the NYT. Or something like that.

Margie| 10.26.10 @ 1:30PM

I hear Michelle's waiting in the wings for that job.

Petronius| 10.26.10 @ 8:58AM

I'm sure the market makers are trembling. Clinton had pipeline Bob Rubin to stop him from making a mess. If this twit knows a grand plie' from put option, that would be news.

Kishego| 10.26.10 @ 4:10PM

Rubin is criminal of the highest order. If you think Fort Knox is full of gold, think again. Rubin and Clinton Leased it all, then Rubin helped set up a huge scam. Just research "Tungsten Gold Bars". There are a whole bunch of gold bars in ciculation that are basicaly tungsten plated gold.

Anthony| 10.26.10 @ 9:10AM

It's a tough call between the red queen of the NY Times, Frankie boy Rich, and Frankie's favorite movie character Alice-in Wonderland, Paul Krugman.
Seeing that both terminally clueless, like their fearless leader Obozo, Obozo would do well with them as his dynamic duo economic team.
Ya know, come to think of it, Frankie & Paulie have a point there with their funny math; I saved 5 lives this morning by walking to work rather than driving.
Hey, maybe I'll apply for the job. I need a government pension.

Patrick| 10.26.10 @ 1:43PM

Throw in Maureen Dowd and you have a deal.

Richard| 10.26.10 @ 10:50AM

Debate a liberal about Frank Rich's veracity. I can attest that it is an exercise in sheer futility.

Patrick| 10.26.10 @ 1:50PM

Rather, "Debate a liberal; I can attest that it is an exercise in sheer futility."

Facts, figures, functions, formulae - none of it matters to a liberal, who is too busy foundering in feelings.

Peppermint Tea| 10.26.10 @ 11:20AM

O-bomb watched his poll numbers tanking
in the ditch the economy sank in.
When Herr Summers left town,
They all turned him down,
So "O" chose a joker, Al Franken.

believer| 10.26.10 @ 12:31PM

Would any of you put any of the past 6 Presidents economic advisers in charge of your portfolios? even President Reagan thought that the Nations rising debt was'nt a problem, and he was the last President who could have gotton a handle on it. Listen to me friends, start saving rice and ammo.

Patrick| 10.26.10 @ 1:56PM

Sorry, you lost me on rice.

I'll settle for wheat and barley. The ammo is a good idea, especially since the used brass may well be worth more than the bullet you purchased. Too bad that between my jalopy's repairs and paying my way through school, my "buy a better pistol" fund has stagnated.

Patrick| 10.26.10 @ 2:00PM

I know, I know....there's plenty of grains that can be brewed, but sake has a very limited range of appropriate use in Wisconsin.

Doug| 10.27.10 @ 9:51AM

The debt Reagan piled up was insubstantial compared to our ability to pay it, and in exchange we gained a vibrant economy, strengthened military and the collapse of the Soviet Union. The current debt is enormous, is hurting the economy, and the funds have been utterly wasted. I would take the Reagan economy over the Bush 1, Clinton, Bush 2 and Obama economies any day.

Bob Miller| 10.26.10 @ 12:40PM

Maybe he supports tax cuts for the Rich.

jomo2009| 10.26.10 @ 3:23PM

At the very least he should be able to sing some pretty good Broadway showtunes.

PattyMor| 10.26.10 @ 3:35PM

It doesn't matter who Obamster puts in the job; they will reflect the views of the Prez. So a theatre critic, writer, it doesn't matter. Anyone with an ounce of integrity wouldn't come near this administration.

Mikw| 10.26.10 @ 5:39PM

Sorta like Barney Frank being in charge of a boy scout troop!

bob alou| 10.26.10 @ 6:42PM

"Many readers will object, saying that Frank Rich is a blithering idiot, a left-wing nut case, and totally insufferable besides." I object. In a field so rich you left out far, too many possible pejoratives. At least include jackass.

Jack Bauer| 10.26.10 @ 7:19PM

The truly funny thing: Frank Rich as Obama's chief Economic Czar is almost believable.

KRAPP'S LAST TAPE

As the great Homer says "It's funny cos it's true."

Occam's Tool| 10.26.10 @ 7:47PM

Well, it's interesting that he can't work with the AMA on his health care reforms now because he accused all MDs of being crooks.

The man is, to quote one of my favorite movies, someone who fits this picture (to get the full effect, imagine a badly dubbed voice):

"They say I am a bad man. They say I do things it is not correct to do.

This is a lie. I am a happy man, and I think nice thoughts all the time. Let me tell you a joke: what do you get when you cross an owl and a bungee cord?

Answer: my ass."

From "Kung Pao: Enter the Fist."

Or, to put it another way---evil, incoherent, and not especially funny as he is too violent to be funny.

bluecollarbytes| 10.26.10 @ 10:19PM

If Obama had any intention of changing course from his assault on business, he could find a "CEO" willing to take a shot. He would have already sent out feelers, emphasizing his intention to learn what the hell he should be doing or not doing. Such an undertaking would probably require a middleman- who would actually know CEOs to contact. Maybe Obama can't even find a middleman, or maybe he has no intention of surrendering anything.

DG in GA| 10.27.10 @ 12:19AM

Wow. I saw the headline and I thought you were serious! After all, it wouldn't be that much of a stretch from Obama's other top appointments. And Frank Rich is just as qualified to be Obama's top economic advisor as he is to be a political commentator for the NYT.

ghostwriter| 10.27.10 @ 1:38AM

I am from Texas where it was considered at least a little bit trashy to refer to folks by what class you considered them to be. I know I am not "high class" in California as I don't belong to the kind of country clubs my family did in Dallas - in fact, if there is one comparable to the old DCC, I haven't seen it, so I must be middle class and on a down hill chute to upper lower class, if all it means any more is money.

It used to mean whether you went to the right school, dressed like a lady or a Third Street Hooker or, if you were a man whether your fingernails were meticulously manicured, wore $5,000 boots and you didn't pick your teeth with your shrimp fork.

Now, it appears if my 401K is losing value and my bank balance is missing a couple of zeroes at the end, I am low class.

Obama must have taken very seriously the song, If They Could See Me Now - as he is "eatin' fancy chow and drinkin' fancy wine" and labors under the delusion that he is high class.

Another thing I am getting tired of is," playin' by the rules" and whatever the rest of that cliched saying is. What rules and who is playing by them if they can Pass Go, have a GET OUT OF JAIL FREE card and collect $200. What rules are big unions playing by, when they give their Republican members' dues to a Democrat Community Organizer Sleaze Machine so he can further ruin the country - - and make me lower class?

I am starting a new party - The Country Club Dues is Too Damn High!"

Oldefarte| 10.27.10 @ 2:11PM

Andrew, I hope that your second profession [the first being a writer] is as a COMEDIAN. Placing some moron such as Rich in and advisory role is a recipe for economic/financial disaster [even though that cake is now mostly baked]. The imbiciles that are now running our government is demoralizing and ludicrous, but of course, what would a sane and half-literate person expect from the election of a Chicago community organizer with a Harvard law degree. I guess the only other option besides Rich would be CHUCKLES THE CLOWN!!!!!!!!!

Claire Solt| 10.28.10 @ 8:12AM

Libs have had a long ride on the gravy train and it is time for some tough love. People like me have seen Republicans handle recessions over and over without comparing them to the Great Depression. We instiinctively know that it does not have to be this way and Dems are wrong. I think Tuesday's election will be an expression of the silent majority gave gave Reagan landslides and has elected a lot more Republicans than Democrats since.For a while we should be done with vapid theorists who only purvey propaganda, especially, if we can retire the nattering nabobs who enable them.

wholesale beads | 4.15.11 @ 2:01AM

China Wholesale Beads is your best choice for beading.

weddingdress | 7.1.11 @ 1:08AM

Wow. I saw the headline and I thought you were serious! After all, it wouldn't be that much of a stretch from Obama's other top appointments. And Frank Rich is just as qualified to be Obama's top economic advisor as he is to be a political commentator for the NYT.

Adult toys | 7.4.11 @ 3:42AM

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　　first guy:I made love to my wife 2.5hours and she screaming for 1.5hours;
　　second guy:I licked my wife for 2hours and she was screaming whole time and even 1/2hour after I was done;
　　third guy:that’s nothing,I made love to my wife 10mins and I came twice,wipe my dick on the curtain and my wife still screming at me up to now!

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