Anyone else feel Obama, esp. after last night, should have given that speech instead of Geithner?

[Dawgs]

Geithner may be a great economist(I really don't know), but he sure isn't a good speaker.

Obama needs to be the one selling this stuff. He's the one people love, and he's the one that could sell these proposals.

Am I way off base here?

[babylonsister]

1. I don't. He has a Cabinet for a reason. He can't do it all. nt

[Dawgs]

3. I understand what you're saying, but some things are just too big to let others handle.

And, Geithner was way out of his relm.

[babylonsister]

6. I didn't think Geithner was bad at all. And Obama obviously has

a lot of faith in him. That's good enough for me since I'm a rube at anything having to do with economics.

[Ocracoker16]

15. Obama is a better speaker than Geightner, but

he would be out of his realm if he decided to figure out how to fix TARP on his own. He is a smart man, but he is no economist. That is why he has Geighterner work on structuring the remaining TARP money so he can work on advancing the stimulus package which is most important. We wouldn't want Geightner doing a press conference about the stimulus package, because he is very detail oriented and he would speak as an economist which would turn people off. Barack had to get up there and talk about the effects of the downturn on the average American. He has to go hold town meetings to show that he understands the suffering caused by lack of jobs and home foreclosures.

Since, Geightner was responsible for designing the TARP plan he is the best person to introduce it. Obama is familiar with the basic outline, but Geightner knows all of the ins and outs of the plan so he is better equipped to present it and take questions. Obama didn't put Geightner out there to try to sell his plan to the average 4th grade level American. His audience needed to know all the details so they could know exactly how the plan might work. During the press conference, Obama was very vague on how the stimulus money would be spent, because he was trying to get support for it in general. The numbers would have distracted folks.

[jpak]

2. I thought Geithner gave an excellent speech

it was wonky, to the point and told it like it is...just like Obama's news conference last night.

:thumbsup:

[Clio the Leo]

4. At some point we need to get past the notion that ALL of this...

...rest on Barack's shoulders. He's the pace setter, not the be all end all. One day he wont be President anymore and someone will need to step up to the plate and carry on.

Sucks, I know.

[Dawgs]

11. I'm not asking Obama to take on ALL of it.

That's not my point at all. But, Obama needs to be the salesman for these large proposals. I'm not asking him to come up with the plans, just present them when they are as large as this.

[genna]

5. Yes you are off base

What will Obama look like at the end of the term if he calls all the plays, executes all the moves, and then assesses all the shortcomings?

A depleted visionary.


Give his team time to become better at explaining themselves. Obama got better as he went along. The same will be true of his team.

[Dawgs]

12. I was suggesting he be the salesman; not the engineer, marketing, and executive.

Geez!!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

7. boring for sure. Yikes the market hated what he said. nose diving...nt

[Teaser]

8. A good sign that they hated it

It means that the know some kind of mark to market is coming down the pike on the shitpile assets.

[uponit7771]

9. Geithner had an "announcement" and didn't announce shit!! WTF was he thinking??!! He's STILL ....

..."formulating" valuation for the bad banks?!?! WTF!?!?! Just mark em down and if equities don't like it then let them fail!!!

We dont' need em!!

They're not lending ANYWAY!!!

[Teaser]

10. That's why the market is tanking

The Obama admin is slowly facing up to the fact that there is nothing to do but mark these assets to market.

If people are smart, they'll get out of financials now. Like yesterday.

[Uzybone]

13. I dont, Obama can't do ALL the work

The poor man needs to rest and step out of the spotlight once in a while.

[Baikonour]

14. I think if Obama gave the speech, the DOW wouldn't be dropping as much as it is right now.

Geitner doesn't exactly exude confidence.