White House circulated plan to replace Chu

[Vehl]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Top officials at the White House circulated a plan calling for the ouster of Energy Secretary Steven Chu and other top Energy Department officials as the administration braced for a political storm brewing over the failing solar energy company Solyndra.

An email from a clean-energy activist and former official in President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign said Chu, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, was a brilliant man but "not perfect" for other critical DOE missions, including creating jobs. The Feb. 25 email from Dan Carol, a former issues adviser in Obama's campaign, was circulated by then-Chief of Staff Peter Rouse and seen by at least 18 White House officials, including senior adviser Valerie Jarrett and then-energy adviser Carol Browner.

"This is a HUGE job and he would be perfect for it," Carol said, adding that Chu "is a wonderful and brilliant man, but he is not perfect for the other critical DOE mission: deploying existing technologies at scale and creating jobs."

The memo also says the energy secretary should be "comfortable meeting with bankers," adding that the bookish Chu is not comfortable doing that. Carol also recommended an overhaul of Energy Department staff, including Chu's deputy, the department's chief of staff and its undersecretary.

more here
http://news.yahoo.com/white-house-circulated-plan-replace-chu-223624955.html

<[The memo also says the energy secretary should be "comfortable meeting with bankers," adding that the bookish Chu is not comfortable doing that.>]

^^ Yeah, instead of being a scientist and applying science&tech to solve problems he should have listened to the bankers. We all know what happens when bankers are allowed to have their way.

Seems to me that some are not happy with a person like Nobel Laureate Chu holding this post..as he is less likely to be coerced into doing something silly...like...cooking the books(or in his case..more like turning a blind eye to global warming and other non Eco-friendly activities many corporations are heavily into).

Imho its about time the lawyer-dominance in the US politics (as well as in top government posts)took a hit.It might have been fine in the early years of this country, but nowadays there is a need for politicians or better yet, top officials who hold posts of importance to be experts on the field/area they hold top positions in. It makes absolutely no sense to have say...a lawyer running the FEMA.

[PoliticAverse]

1. 'the energy secretary should be "comfortable meeting with bankers,"'

Be afraid of meeting bankers. Be very afraid.

[pscot]

4. It's all about the Benjamins

[Historic NY]

2. Seems it was outside pressure which they rejected....

Dan Leistikow, a spokesman for Chu, called Carol "an activist with an agenda" and said his email was not solicited by the White House. His suggestion about Chu was not taken seriously, Leistikow said.

A White House spokesman said Friday the plan to oust Chu was not taken very seriously.

[Vehl]

5. seems some of the white house staff circulated the email

I'm sure Obama did not entertain the idea of dismissal, but some on his staff might have

[truedelphi]

6. Chu's their guy -as long as he supports nuclear power. n/t

[ellisonz]

3. Good for Steven Chu.