Obama's Treasury Secretary A Cursing, Skateboarding "Hipster-Wonk"

The Economist profiles Barack Obama's Treasury Secretary pick, who they approvingly describe as a "seasoned crisis manager":

Mr Geithner looks a lot younger than his 47 years (though not as young as he did before the crisis began). He skateboards and snowboards and exudes a sort of hipster-wonkiness, using "way" as a synonym for "very" as in "way consequential" and occasionally underlining his point with the word "fuck". In temperament he seems similar to Mr Obama: he is suspicious of ideology, questions received wisdom, likes a competition of ideas and is keenly aware of how uncertain the world is.

...

He is a quick learner: within a year of joining the New York Fed he could debate the intricacies of monetary policy with academic experts. But he will join an Administration rapidly filling up with heavyweights on economic policy, not least of them Mr Summers. Indeed, one of the big questions of the new team that Mr Obama is expected to unveil on Monday is just how Mr Summers, a brilliant but intimidating and sometimes abrasive figure, will fit in.

Read the whole thing.

Comments

[mauibob]

He is pro Wall Street and Free Trade. This is a good pick as Obama is showing that he may lead differently than his voting record indicates. Along with the moderate ex-Clintonites, I am very happy indeed.

[canucklivinginUSA]

Yeah, I was seriously worried about that. Protectionism is bad for the economy and the potential growth that could emerge from the green revolution. We saw how protectionism helped Japan remained in stagnation for a better part of the 90s. We definitely do not need that

[IkeChicago]

Should be an interesting conversation between Geithner and Rom Emanual, Obama's chief of Staff. Quick hide the women and children.

[HappyIdiot51]

LOL. Just because you say it does not make it true.

[MontereyJack]

they don't call yo the happyidiot for nothing.

[Tom95134]

It's just a word.

[Big0725]

Betcha the two of those guys could curse for 10 minutes straight and never repeat themselves.

[NMO14]

In other words, they have Tourette's?

[MRDFS]

I sure hope Nouriel Roubini is SOMEWHERE in Obama's economic advisory network

[HappyIdiot51]

He has one opinion but no power.

[MRDFS]

you've heard something specifically?

[Eres]

I would beg to differ with your suggestion that Roubini "has one opinion but no power."

For almost three years Roubini has been extremely vocal with his assessment of the the convoluted financial industry and his warning about the impending housing bubble -- the power elite just didn't want to hear about it, and they didn't want mainstream America to hear about it, but there were plenty of folks, mostly fellow academics, who were listening and in strong agreement. Now that Roubini's enlightened and controversial assumptions have been proved correct, the influential certainly do look to him for advice.

[boing007]

MRDFS

I sure hope Nouriel Roubini is SOMEWHERE in Obama's economic advisory network.

So long to Kash & Karry.

[canucklivinginUSA]

Oh that would be soooo awesome. I love Roubini. Oh man, now you got me all excited

[mommamia526]

I see a goat there. Geit is the dutch word for goat. Now I look at the snowboarding and skateboarding, and I say, hm, yes, consistent. Then that look! Does it make you think of that big goat standing on a rock above you as well? Good-looking *dude*. Men his age are are at the top of their game. Finally adults, and still full of vigor. I say, yes, I like that one. Now let us see what he will do for us. If he is half as agile as that big goat, we will be fine.

[MontereyJack]

he went to Dartmouth. that adds doubts about his politesse, but being polite is secondary, really.

[canucklivinginUSA]

I do not know Darthmouth very well, but apparently it was the epicenter of the race-baiting narratives which permeated the GOP. The fact that Laura Ingraham went there makes me not want to know anything about that school

[xmw]

Buh - Bye Hank!!! Let the doorknob hit ya!

[Viper]

James Baker is suggesting that Geroge Bush step to the side now and let Obama start taking charge... We cant afford 60 more days of a President no one trust.. here or abroad.

Regards

[SCG]

"W" hasn't listen to Baker's council these past eight years, I doubt he will now.

[canucklivinginUSA]

That is a really bad idea though. He steps in, nothing happens and then he gets blamed for the recession. I can already hear ROOSH say its an Obama recession, while he sticks that big cigar in his a$$

[NMO14]

Let's face it, unless Obama can pull a rabbit out of his hat in the early months of his tenure, there will be blame attributed to him if things don't shape up in a timely manner, unless you are the most partisan and inept hack. He can have Gen Xers, Gen Yers, Gen ABC to the whatevers, it won't matter if nothing gets accomplished other than mere words and promises.

[KansasWrangler]

I like him already!

[gifu]

Smith grind over the deathbox in the White House swimming pool? Somebody get the pump and hoses!

[kasinca]

So no more sanctimonious hypocrisy? What happened to the ideology of hypocrites?

[HappyIdiot51]

What you focus on thrives.

[harriscrl3]

He's NOT ideological? I LOVE him already. One of the advantages of this guy is that he is an ECONOMIST instead of a politician and he has worked in the treasury department so he knows the lay of the land but he is also INTELLIGENT you can't ask for more.

Carol

[MIMom]

The headline scre.ams it as if it were a bad thing....

[MissKaren]

Gee, if you can't let loose some cuss words from time to time, this economy can wreck your hormones.

[HappyIdiot51]

The media at its best.

[Erdgeist]

I think I see where Geithner is coming from. He has always been aware that when you have dumb economic ideas put into law by fanatical right-wing dreamers, economic disaster will eventually occur. He saw as far back as 2004, and maybe earlier, that nonbank financial institutions possess a huge amount of assets and were basically unregulated and, therefore, dangerous to our economic safety. He said:

"...there are a large number of nonbank financial intermediaries operating outside the supervisory safety and soundness framework established for banking organization, that are sufficiently large or integral to the financial system that their failure or anticipated failure could have major implication for the functioning of the markets in which they operate and their financial instution counterpar­ties." [Source: _Systemic Financial Crises_ by Douglas Darrell Evanoff, George G. Kaufman, page 32]

[canucklivinginUSA]

Why am I not surprise that no one listen to him in the Boosh administration.

[CBS]

Way past time for Paulsen to go on a cruise and play bridge and shuffleboard and whatever people like him do

[indypete]

".....what­ever people like him do...."

I worked on cruise ships for many years and don't remember the activities including pickpocketing, so he'll probably be out of luck.

[MontereyJack]

he r ebuilds old plymouth valiant autos. not collector items, junk, really.

[rockerdelight]

So I guess he an Rahm Emanuel can compete for the "pottiest mouth" ... such a refreshing change from the holier than thou

[NMO14]

Tourette's makes its national debut.

[rockerdelight]

So I guess he an Rahm Emanuel can compete for the "pottiest mouth" ... such a refreshing change from the holier than thou religious fruitcakes of the last 8 years. I fear we will be run by real people.

[boing007]

Dick Cheney had a potty mouth. Behind closed doors most of us do, more or less.

[canucklivinginUSA]

Shut the f u c k up! :)