How Geithner Can Bow Out Gracefully

Two words: sex scandal. I'll come back to that but first, while his departure may not be necessary to save Obama, Geithner is beginning to look like a guy with an overloaded cart at the baggage claim area, scampering alongside of it as the bags on top of the pile begin to slide off. It's hard to push the cart when you're doing that. And if somebody comes after him yelling, "Hey buddy, you forgot this one!" and throws another on the pile...

That's when the A team starts to look for the graceful exit, usually centering around the idea that while the official has done nothing wrong, he doesn't want to become a distraction.

Unfortunately, in this case it will be seen as an admission of failure, that this was the wrong guy for the job, his appointment was a huge mistake, the presidency will be seen as in disarray, and there will generally be hell to pay.

Which brings us back to sex. This is the one piece of baggage which Geithner may not have on the carousel. But finding a ring of high class hookers in Washington is like going outside and throwing a rock, in pretty much any direction. One appointment with a professional, any time of the day or night. Then, a generous tip if she will agree to blow the whistle on him, a couple of days of denial, then the public apology, the supportive family, the resignation, and the fact that none of this will reflect poorly on the President! He will be deeply saddened, and accept the resignation immediately.

The press will be in their familiar tizzy, so much so that the whole subject of the bailout, the economy, the bonuses, the banks (what banks?) will be off the radar screen entirely. Instead, there will be pictures, lots of pictures, breathless profiles of the professional woman, and plenty of commentary on all aspects of the scandal. And we can find a new Secretary of the Treasury, not a member of the banking elite, (may I suggest Robert Reich?) and move on!

Comments

[Larry Arnstein - Huffpost Blogger]

Well, gee, I've never responded to responses before, and I'm not really sure how to do this, but I'll try: first, thanks to everybody who took the time to make a comment. Second, a few of you have taken my light-hearted jest way too seriously. For the record, I happen to think Obama is well on his way to becoming our greatest president since FDR and possibly since Lincoln.


I don't care too much one way or the other about Geithner, just hope his baggage doesn't weigh too much. It doesn't seem to be affecting the bond Obama has with the American people, which is what matters, and what will carry us through this mess. And if y'all haven't read "Dreams From My Father," drop everything and do it now! It's a great book, hard to believe it was written by a guy we elected president. And for the blogger who misidentified my candidates: it was Obama from the get-go and still is. Just wanted to make a helpful suggestion in the event Geithner or one of the others needs to step down gently...

[LizM]

The very best bloggers around here don't just blog...they respond and engage in "discussion", often with a healthy dose of humor. You have just begun to join their ranks! Make someone's day next time and hit their 'reply' thingy :-)

[Larry Arnstein - Huffpost Blogger]

The different "backstage" areas and screens kind of confuse me, but thanks for your respnses, and so I'll hit the little "reply" icon here at least, as you suggest. You're the Geithner fan, I think, he doesn't have too many at the moment, but maybe he will later on. Galbraith seems to be on some other planet, (I hope) even Krugman a bit around the bend. Oh well, I guess we'll see.

[LizM]

How's this for a prediction...the American people will eventually get down on their knees - literally - and thank their lucky stars for Geithner and his staff and everyone at the Fed, too.

[wrrock]

Obama and Geithner Knew and Bonuses Flew. There are many reasons we cannot trust Geithner. Chief among them are the grossly incompetent way the treasury has handled the AIG bonuses. Both Obama and Geithner knew of the bonues and then acted outraged when the public showed uproar. In addition, they still have not corrected mistakes like TARP. They
should correct what mistakes were done in the past before they ask for more money. Otherwise we are burning money. Get the full details here:

http://www.butasforme.com/2009/03/17/obamas-stimulus-bill-explicitly-grants-aig-the-legal-right-to-hand-out-bonuses/

[Edmonsky]

President Obama is a pragmatist and centrist who believes in the balance of Wall-street and Main-street. He does not believe choosing one or the other. President Obama does not share your views of political science and fiscal policies. The most honorable thing for you to do is to find and elect the candidate that serves your interests.

In the last election, your candidates were Mike Gravel and Dennis Kucinich and both lost because they are not main-stream. It is intellectual dishonesty and political corruption when your candidate does not win election but you want to impose your political ideologies on the person that won through the backdoor by using crude political blackmail.

[MPeter]

You guys need to stop screaming like you have answers and let Gaithner do his job. He has been on the job for two months. It took two decades to create this mess. Why did you not offer these helpful suggestion to snowe or Paulson?

[querencia]

i lovvvvve this idea- sort of in the category of if you can't beat them join them (because after all- politicians who don't pay for sex are few and far between and kicking someone out of office for not being able to keep it zipped is sort of a Republican tactic)

see http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/26793903/the_big_takeover for a great article about the crisis