BREAKING: Gates to stay on as SofDEFENSE and Paulson at Treasury

[PretzelWarrior]

this is a done deal, people. This is going to be WAYYYYYY more bipartisan group than I think many netroots activists are going to be able to stand.

Expect more tomorrow on these developments. They will plan to serve about a year into his first term.

P.S. Hillary Clinton will be Secretary of State.

Stupid muthafuckin' talking head idiots will have to deal with why that plan actually turns out to be successful.

[IndianaJones]

1. its a big tent. nt.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

2. Actually, that may be a good thing because we want them to take the fall for the economy

If Obama got rid of them too quickly, he'll be blamed for the mess that THEY caused. I actually agree with him on this. Just don't keep them too long...

[Jennicut]

5. Agreed. Let Paulson take the fall for a while.

Then get a good sec of Treasury in. Gates is okay with me until we get out of Iraq.

[pnwmom]

76. But how will that work? Won't Obama be blamed if he lets Paulson stay on

and Paulson is perceived to be unsuccessful (or worse -- a crook?)

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

85. Yes he will and should be for keeping him. Keeping Paulson is really not going down well for me.

[rainy]

6. Very good point. At first I was surprised to read this but your point

makes perfect sense.

[PretzelWarrior]

9. yep. I think Daschle as Health and Human Services shows us something

as to why Hillary is being tapped to handle foreign affairs.

Obama wants to push ahead with health care reform, and he doesn't want a bunch of flies in the ointment. Hillary over in foreign policy cannot put her fingerprints on health care. She can't reshape it in the senate. And she won't have anything to do with domestic policy.

Brilliant move, Obama.

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. Hmmm My kneejerk reaction was to freak, but I do see some value in your idea. However,

if he's working for Obama, then people will still see it as Obama's fault, won't they?

[truedelphi]

15. How do "THEY" take the fall of the economy??

Is Obama gonna lose his home? Or not?

Is Paulson or Kashkari?

We take the fall when our government is composed of crooks who are at the helm.

We suffer the loss of the jobs, the mortgages that cannot be paid, the illnesses that we cannot medicate or receive treatment for.

[MNDemNY]

21. Are you nuts?

Or are you kidding? Are we really supposed to play "cover your ass" instead of making real change? You scare me.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

48. They stay on for 1 year. Why do *I* scare you? I didn't make the decision.

Take that one up with the President-Elect. :shrug:

[MNDemNY]

74. You seem to think it is a good idea, that is "Nuts"

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

95. In your humble opinion? Or your *obnoxious* opinion, I should say.

Anyway, it may be moot because there is no real confirmation on the story, anyway.

[eleny]

25. First thing I thought

Keep them on or Obama gets it in the neck a la Limbaugh and his "Obama Recession". This puts a kink in their collective schtick.

Now they have to go find a Plan B. Good luck to them.

[ben_meyers]

32. Wouldn't it be better to get someone who knows what

they are doing in immediately rather than worrying about where to fix the blame.

Possibly you can survive another year of Paulsens incompetence, but many others can't.

Put the best and brightest in place asap.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

50. But if he keeps them for a year, it seems to me that the transition period

could be smoother. Perhaps O can learn more about what they are up to. It's only 1 year.

[Skwmom]

69. Won't he be blamed for not getting rid of the idiot?

[MNDemNY]

3. Calm down, now, PE Obama knows what is best.

[DCBob]

4. Gates is fine but Paulson bothers me.

Do you have a link or was this announced on TeeVee?

[tekisui]

8. My reaction, as well. Paulson can't be trusted.

[DCBob]

26. I suspect it is temporary/transition appointment.

I cannot imagine Obama wants this guy to run treasury for 4 more years.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

86. Ditto

[MNDemNY]

11. Tea-leaves, not teevee.

[blueclown]

7. Thanks for the news, President-Elect.

:eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[MadBadger]

10. Breaking where? Link?

[tekisui]

17. Maybe breaking wind?

The only thing I can find is one Canadian article that says Paulson may stay on for transition period, but looks worse lately.

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=3f401304-9982-4fc1-94b3-a9ee96b79c72

[Shiver]

18. That's what I'm wondering

I can't find anything about it...

[PretzelWarrior]

20. it was spoken by the group on MSNBC.

what was interesting is "Mr. Insider" Pat Buchanan didn't completely hold things to himself when he said "Two Bush people" included in the roles of Obama cabinet.

The ONLY 2 that make sense are DoD and Treasury. Let them continue to hold the bag, and let him focus on other changes while they manage the chaos.

Think about this....why do you think everyone says naming a finance team is so important but NO ONE is mentioned other than Office of Budget and Management? He's got Paulson in there for at least a year.

[MadBadger]

28. LOL, your basing this on What Patty said? So you have ZERO Breaking news

Plus, I believe he was only referring to Gates

[Shiver]

31. And we're trusting Pat Buchanan's word on this....

....why?

[karynnj]

40. So, Pat Buchanan has more access to Obama than anyone else in the media?

This is only slightly better than "someone wrote it on the internet" The fact is that Gates has been rumored by almost everyone. To guess 2 Republicans is not a wild unlikely thing - to jump and say it is Paulson is pretty iffy. Now, Obama and the Banking Committee and Finance Committee Democrats made big changes in Paulson's plan - saying it was way to open. It now looks like even with the changes, it was too open. Given that, would Obama want Paulson?

[babylonsister]

13. Link? nt

[mojowork_n]

14. Barack's asking the Fox to stay in charge of the Henhouse?

Paulson must have a photograph of someone VERY important, with a cub scout, or a farmyard animal.

Or whatever the equivalent of that would be, in some other arena of political leverage.

[redstate_democrat]

16. I don't think Paulson at Treasury will instill much confidence in the markets

and I believe that is what we're looking for: confidence. This is the same guy who just a few months ago said everything was fine... and then one day he bursts through the doors screaming at the top of his lungs with a 2 paragraph ransom note called a "bill" to fix the economy.

HELL NO PAULSON MUST GO. Crooks. All of them.

[political_Dem]

33. I agree. Paulsen (and Bernanke too) doesn't deserve a place in the new Administration.

They're representative of the Companies that ran away with the bail-out money--only to go on a spa retreat not a week later.

There isn't any positive spin on this news.

[BootinUp]

56. Bernanke seems to be a smart fellow

Anyone know when his term is up?

[BootinUp]

19. I think the OP info on Paulson is doubtful. nt

[PretzelWarrior]

27. watch and wait. It will be a 6 month to 12 month transition to his own

finance guy.

[MadBadger]

34. Your post is dishonest then. Your subject title says that Paulson WILL definitely be the Secretary.

[totodeinhere]

75. I agree. I remember hearing somewhere that Paulson is very anxious to get out of Dodge.

I'm sorry. I don't have a link to back that up, but I believe it.

[Skwmom]

77. Of course. He wants to get out before the real financial collapse occurs.

[NewJeffCT]

22. I believe on an interim basis only

if I'm not mistaken, right?

[PretzelWarrior]

37. correct. he will get new people in by late 2009

[Sebastian Doyle]

23. Link?

Source this, or delete it. I don't need an aneurysm. :nuke:

[natrat]

24. you guys crack me up trying to put a good spin on this

the power structure of this country is firmly in place and shows no signs whatsoever of weakening. Denial of this makes you sound stupid

[PretzelWarrior]

29. I'm surprised anyone thought it would be different.

But I do know the "powers that be" have been F***ing scared for at least 4 years. Maybe longer. The golden goose is about ready to trip over itself and fall off a cliff, so they are going "UNITY" as a last ditch effort.

[MadBadger]

30. The fact that you believe the OP cracks me up

[natrat]

61. most stuff on here is factual, country is still controlled by bad people

[MadBadger]

62. Most stuff here? There were two things the OP listed, and one of them is complete BS (Paulson)

[screembloodymurder]

35. I'm beginning to agree.

:mad:

[camera obscura]

36. Don't write a headline like that unless you actually have a breaking news alert, alright?

good grief.

[PretzelWarrior]

39. so sorrry. Breaking NEWS: I just figured out what will happen.

;)

[Mojambo]

38. Assuming the info turns out to be correct (big assumption) that is truly change we can believe in.

[BlooInBloo]

41. Has it yet been determined if the OP is just making shit up, or are there links?

[MadBadger]

43. Making shit up, though he is using Pat Buchannan as a source

Patty was talking about how he thinks Obama is using Clinton retreads and some guys from Bush. I took that to mean Bob Gates. Nobody else. THE OP think that means that Paulson has accepted the treasury position.

[BlooInBloo]

44. Gotcha - thanks!

[Erin Elizabeth]

46. OMG PAT BUCHANAN IS HIS FUCKING SOURCE?

NEVERMIND.

[PretzelWarrior]

49. I didn't say accepted. He's not thrilled about staying

I think you will see a few months with Paulson.

[MadBadger]

55. Paulson to stay on, would mean he accepted and that Obama offered.

[Erin Elizabeth]

42. Edit.

Your "source" is Pat Fucking Buchanan. Fuck this thread. Not even worth responding to.

[high density]

45. Paulson is a complete idiot

I can't imagine Obama keeping him.

[PretzelWarrior]

47. LINK on Obama's close relationship with Paulson

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aWSz2kUxdTiU&refer=home

There is too little time for a clean cut over of that post. It won't be changed on January 20 or in the days just after.

[jenmito]

51. I haven't heard ANYTHING about Paulson staying on at Treasury...

he's not even a possibility according to MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27343359/

[elleng]

52. 'ABLE' to stand?

Won't have a choice. That's life, folks.

[PretzelWarrior]

53. well, I think it's clear no one here wants to keep Paulson

but many don't want Gates. Many don't want Clinton. Many didn't want Rahm Immanuel.

[elleng]

60. Right, and we can

and should be able to discuss these civilly, and when tired, go shovel snow!

ME, I LIKE Pretzels!

[PretzelWarrior]

54. SOOOOOO!!!! If you guys don't think it's Paulson....

who is it?

I personally don't want Gates OR Paulson. I want a clean break. There are plenty of Democrats who've been in the wilderness that now need to be at the head of government.

[MadBadger]

58. You said it WILL BE Paulson....why are you backing down?

[jenmito]

63. Why don't you read THIS? It says who the possibilities are:

2nd from the left-top row: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27343359/

[PretzelWarrior]

64. those aren't the only ones they're looking at

Just like there's no way people were thinking "Biden" before he was called.

[jenmito]

65. It says Robert Gates as a possibility for Sec. of Def. but nothing about Paulson for Treasury. n/t

[jenmito]

66. So it's your opinion yet your thread subject calls it "BREAKING"??? n/t

[PretzelWarrior]

67. yup. I just want to soften the blow when it happens.

[jenmito]

72. But it's NOT "breaking." It's your OPINION.

[Sensitivity]

57. NONSENCE. Clinton guys control the transition and GATES and PAULSON are NOT part of team

[TheKentuckian]

59. Gates seems a solid professional but Paulson

is pretty fucking contrary to the guidelines Obama laid down for his Treasury. A lot of people see Paulson as a bright guy that understands the markets and that may or may not be a good assessment but I see ZERO indication that he relates, sympathizes, or understands the common person's plights or needs which makes him unacceptable.

Obama promised someone that would have the people in mind and Hank seems to be utterly focused and concerned with those on the top of the pyramid and feels the best way to help the little guy is to make sure that the top dogs are happy, AKA he's a trickle down man.

No excuses for me on Paulson, he's not only a product but an advocate for the same failed policies that have the ship taking on water by the gallon and drowning those of us in steerage.

I can see a 90 day transition deal but a year is unacceptable. Paulson is a robber-baron for the robber-barons. Its enough to be stuck with Bernake until his term is up but someone needs to be working for US ASAP.

[mollymongold]

68. whats the point of this thread?

WHO is reporting paulson is staying on?

[Deja Q]

70. The point? Why, to distract us from all the sex threads in the lounge...

:yoiks:

[mollymongold]

71. *off to visit the lounge*

[scheming daemons]

73. Using the word "BREAKING" when it is really just a stupid vanity post should be banned

[Phoonzang]

78. Is this a surprise to anyone?

That was one of the more likely scenarios being bandied about by the Obama administration early on.

[trayfoot]

79. I disagree......

I think that if Paulson stays on, then Obama will be blamed for not "making the change" that was desperately indicated by the status quo.

[Flute]

80. Gates was confirmed with what, 99 of 100 Senate votes?

The guy is not a wingnut.

[PretzelWarrior]

81. exactly. as things have gotten better in Iraq....

I don't think Obama wants to change that part of the equation wholesale while dealing on the edge with the economic cratering.

[lumberjack_jeff]

82. Paulson!!!?

[ShadowLiberal]

83. Where have you heard Paulson is staying? I've only heard Gates is staying

[Greg K]

84. Gates is fine, but Paulson seems to be just looking out for his pals.

Get the hell RID of him, ASAP.

[Hotler]

87. SOMEBODY hold me up I feel faint. I can't catch my breath.

First Joe stays in his seat. Then Nancy and Harry keep their positions and now this! This shit sucks big time.

[jenmito]

88. Now WHAT? The Paulson thing is just the OP's opinion. n/t

[MasonJar]

89. NNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO to Paulson!!!!!!!!

[quakerboy]

90. Would that be the same Paulson

that went up to the hill a few days ago and said "I know what the bill you passed said we were to do with the bailout money, but I decided that was a fail and went with my no strings hand out the money to my buds strategy anyway?" Or am I thinking of someone else?

[jenmito]

91. It's nothing more than the OP's opinion. n/t

[quakerboy]

92. I would hope

But there is something a little weird going on right now.

[jenmito]

93. He admitted in several posts that it's just his opinion (about Paulson).

[PretzelWarrior]

96. thanks for your help in this thread

kudos to you.

[JoFerret]

94. Paulsen? That's plain crazy imo n/t

The rest I can live with. And Hillary could prove interesting.

[PretzelWarrior]

97. I admit. I was just floating this trial balloon

if it's good enough for Obama or Clintons, I figured I would see what it was like to throw something out there and see how the public responded. I guess now I know.

But I was also making the point that a lot of this shit we're hearing these days is stupid talking heads with thumbs up their butts not willing to go out and FIND the news....so they go make the news.

I don't think Paulson will get it either. But I think Obama wants the next person in the job to have time to answer the 24/7 grilling they will deal with once their name is public.