(CNN) - President Obama says Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s job is safe, according to excerpts of Mr. Obama’s interview this week with CBS’s “60 Minutes.”
If the embattled Secretary were to submit his resignation, Obama said he’d tell him, “Sorry, Buddy, you’ve still got the job,” according to the excerpts.
Obama told CBS that neither he nor Geithner has discussed a possible resignation from the Treasury Department.
Geithner has faced increasing criticism since it was revealed that ailing insurance giant AIG doled out massive bonuses to executives after accepting more than $170 billion from the federal government.
In response to the criticism, Geithner told CNN’s Ali Velshi, Geithner defended his actions, but said he should have known about the scale of the problems sooner.
The president told CBS that criticism is natural, especially given the scope of the financial crisis his administration is facing.
Obama also shot back at former Vice President Dick Cheney’s criticism of some of his administration’s policies.
"How many terrorists have actually been brought to justice under the philosophy that is being promoted by Vice President Cheney? It hasn't made us safer. What it has been is a great advertisement for anti-American sentiment," Obama told CBS.
Since taking office in January, Obama has announced plans to close the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to halt the military trials of suspected terrorists there, and to make CIA officers follow the Army Field Manual's rules on interrogations. Cheney said the administration appears to be returning to the pre-2001 model of treating terrorism as a law enforcement issue, rather than a military threat.
Cheney last week told CNN’s John King that Obama is making some choices that he thinks “will, in fact, raise the risk to the American people of another attack."
CBS’ interview with Obama was taped Friday and will air Sunday.
From CNN Politics
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Good job Mr. President. Don't let the Republicans bully you into anything. They ruined this country with their people and now want to tell you how to do your job and with which people. We need to let Geithner try and get this country back on track before we can tell him to resign (yes, even as Geithner does things that may unpopular).
Keep up the good work Mr. President. We support you.
Let's see. Obama has been in office 2 months, and Darth Cheney has seen fit to declare we are less safe now than when he and President Shrub drove us into the ground over eight years. Geithner is not perfect, but he at least deserves more than a couple of months to offset the willful ignorance and stupidity that drove us into the ditch.
Idiots.
Of course Geitner's job is safe.
We are dealing with someone who has no experience in hiring or firing, so why does anyone expect that he would make a good selection or get rid of a bad selection?
The above is typical liberal spin if something bad comes up on Obama or any of his cabinet you always bring up Bush & Cheney to cover. It's time Obama started to answer for Obama not Bush. Bush is history and it's time for liberals to accept that.
The dreaded "vote of confidence." Uh-oh, Timmy, better start dusting off your resumé. With the bang up job you've been doing, I'm sure AIG or Bank of America would be thrilled to have you.
You've been doing a great job in difficult circumstances Mr. President, but no one is perfect, & Geithner & Summers have been a huge mistake. Time to get Volcker in there–he knows how to clean up a mess.
People in this country act like they've never made a mistake in their life before. The anappologique republicans after screwing the country for 8 years with the dumbest president in the american history are not even ready to admit they've made a mistake in Irak.
A man with so much to do on his own and get this with no team in place yet because of a stupid congress, made a mistake and recognize the mistake and even promise to fix it by getting the money back and they want his resignation. The first person that never made a mistake can trow the first stone.
Why didn't you ask for cheney's resignation or Bush impeachment or trial?
You should be outrage about the money trown at the window in Irak as well.
Well done Mr. President! Thank you for standing behind your man! It inspires us to do the same!
The audacity of arrogance. This administration lives by the mantra "Do as I say not as I do." The conceit, lies and double-standards will eventually become the undoing of this administration, and the collective American voice of reason will loudly proclaim “Enough is enough!”
This is nothing more that the GOP's agenda of negativity unleashed on the Country and the President. These people have nothing positive to offer other than negative things. No solutions (they certainly tried to destroy the country). Just tear down not attempt to correct their mistakes (and there were plenty). The only survival to that party at this point is to come clean beg he people's forgiveness and fall right behind all efforts to turn the country around. Nothing less than that will insure their survival. All present GOP people are on their dying beds. New blood is needed now. They need to stop all this hatred and think and put the people well being and the country first. As it stands, maybe in 15-20 years they might come back into power.
How many terrorists brought to justice? Thousands. Im not president but I can count.
This wasnt a mistake by Geithner. The bonuses were specifically allowed. The Obama administration made a decision. They should have the intestinal fortitude to stand by it.
ib and Steve, again, I am asking for intelligent discourse on a subject. Was the media liberal when it got Bush re-elected? Was the liberal media spin a problem when Bush railroaded our Constitution? So, lets drop the yellowed speech of how the "liberal media" is creating this superhero known as President Obama. Frankly, I feel that the media scrutinizes him more than Bush received in 8 years. Yes, many things happened on the Bush time watch. Get over it–it did. Because of Bush/Cheney, we will be digging ourselves out of a ditch that they claimed was not there in 2006, even though economists told them that the ditch was there. For a group of people who claim personal responsibility, Republicans have a hard time taking it.
Yes, the Bush administration did drive us into the ground over the last 8 years. Now , in a few short weeks, the Obama administration has done more damage than it took Bush a Cheney 8 years to do. God help us all because we need it.
It's one thing to stand up for your man, but you have to reevaluate...
perhaps he's NOT the best man for the job. His inexperience is showing.
Do ya'll remember "Brownie" and FEMA's response to Katrina under his guidance? I don't recall you all giving him much leeway or even a couple of weeks to figure out how to respond to the largest natural/federal disaster in this country's history.
I am a Democrat and sadden by the horrible job Obama and the Democratic controlled Congress is doing . . . they are making the deficit Bush created look like child's play and seem to being making bad decisions at ever corner and then blaming it on the past administration. That only shows a president and administration that doesnt have the fortitude to lead and that has no real experience or direction. I am afraid people are starting to regret their choice in Obama . . . I know many people where I work who already wish they could change their vote.
And really, just because someone disagrees with the policies of Obama doesnt automatically make them "Republican". People who continue to use that kind of reasoning are ignorant themselves. Many people have the intelligence to think for themselves and not follow political rhetoric and call things the way they are.
Proof again that BO is not a leader. Things are bad and he has no intelligent response on why he would keep the tax evader in power. I guess he would have trouble getting a person with skill to handle the situation. So, it has started and it continues . . . no leadership . . . lack of intelligence (unless the words are pre-written on a teleprompter), and a fun loving guy unable to do real work.
Of course Geithner has his job. He takes the heat away from Obama.
Mr. President you are doing a good job trying to bring this country back on its feet. There are and will be many obstacles along the way and they call them Republicans. I believe the party of NO has put us on this path. With your and Mr. Geithner's direction our country will get out of this mess and the American people have realize this major problem has no quick fix. GO OBAMA/GEITHNER!
Fire Geithner then resign yourself
Oh please Mr President. How about actually doing your job instead of just flapping your lips. Geithner lies. (But then again, so do you. So it's understandable that you think lying is OK). I sincerely hope you are getting the message that promises and tall tales do not provide real solutions to economic and business problems.
We have an enormous trust issue going on here. Millions of citizens (and foreign businesses) have a profound lack of trust in the way this administration is handling the economic crunch iand the current administrations plans for the future. What is needed is leadership that we can trust. We have seen on a number of issues that Geithner does not tell the truth. People will no longer trust him. Therefore, he needs to go.
Obama is just one crook protecting another crook. They both have MISMANAGED OUR TAX DOLLARS and one should be IMPEACHED and the other FIRED. These people will cause RUNS on the BANKS and the TOTAL CORRUPTION OF THE AMERICAN WAY.
THE INVESTORS ARE SPEAKING, LOOK AT THE STOCK MARKET.
Bush and Cheney and the GOP leadership in Congress LIED about the reasons for invading Iraq, they then transferred a trillion dollars to their corporate friends (stolen from the taxpayers and NOT counted as deficit) while our soldiers were being killed for lack of body armor and vehicle armor, and thanks to the invasion of Iraq (which did NOT attack us on 9-11), the people who did attack us, Al Qaeda and the Taliban are defeating us in Afghanistan. Bush and Cheney should literally we tried, convicted and imprisoned for life.
Yet since Day One these "patriotic" Americans have been attacking our president and tearing down our country and promoting a Great Depression...for their own financial and political gain.
Anyone who thinks the economy was ruined by decisions made in just the last eight years is foolish. It's the result of decisions that have been made for decades and over several administrations. As for the last eight years, both parties share the blame as do we the public. And if we are short-sighted enough to not learn the lessons history should teach us we will do it again. I feel sorry for anyone who is blindly loyal to either party. As for wanting to dismiss Geithner after 2 months that seems silly and reactionary. An unpopular decision is not necessarily a wrong decision.
Geithner has brought nothing but problems to this Administration and if the President doesn't see that then he's not the man for the highest job in the land. He evaded taxes and now has clearly lied about his involvement in the AIG debacle we're facing. It's one thing after another that's going to make this President a one-term President. I supported Barack Obama and am now convinced that it was a mistake.
Obama is better qualifed to be president of the special olympics..
er.. uh.. oops... I immediately apologise for that remark...
Can we get some CNN opinion writers to clean this up and turn my apology the postive focus of that blunder?
I knew obama didn;t know how to run a city muchless a country...by the way ...Bush and cheney didn't run down the country the democrats did
"The audacity of arrogance. This administration lives by the mantra "Do as I say not as I do." The conceit, lies and double-standards will eventually become the undoing of this administration, and the collective American voice of reason will loudly proclaim “Enough is enough!”"
EDR, This is just what happen in our last election! You summed it up very well.
President Obama, you inexperience is showing. It's sad that it appears that your only agenda is to spend as much as you can as fast as you can before leaving office. Pretty soon you will be taxing at 90% everyone over $250,000. Not only did the arrogance of your party show on that move...but the stupidity as well.
I wish Faux News had a "ticker" for then I would be invading their territory on an hourly basis under a multitude of different IP addresses and fake names. The CNN ticker is incessantly terrorized by illiterate GOP Kool-Aid drinkers who bow five times a day to Joe the Plumber. Woo-hoo! Aren't we smart! The GOP followers fall into three categories:
1.) Religious zealots (those that think being a Democrat means you cannot be Christian...hint, hint...read your Bible....I read mine.....).
2.) Ludicrously rich individuals who care more about their bank accounts than their country, complain about taxes, and blame Wall Street, even if it goes UP a 1000 points, on Obama....no hypocrisy here....
3.) Legions of Joe the Plumber lovers who are so incredibly stupid they do not even know they are being HELPED.
So, for all of you liberal bashing folk, know this: we are NOT all LIBERAL. Because we are Democrats who have an EDUCATION does not mean we are LIBERAL. Look in the dictionary for liberal if you can find someone to read it for you (or you know anyone who HAS dictionary).
Liking Obama doesn't mean one is a liberal any more than liking John McCain makes you a conservative. Why? For one, McCain is hardly a conservative, and two, Obama is not a true bleeding-heart liberal.
Obama:
"Sorry Tim. You're a corrupt tax cheat. You're my kind of guy. I just can't stand to let you go." (sniff)
In a nutshell Geithners policies nor performance did not put this country in the econonmic situation it is now facing. Bush and the Republican party did. It would truly be refreshing to see even one Bush "advisor" admit the shortfalls of that administration. We all know that will not happen. Has a Republican, even once, in history openly admitted that they were wrong or misguided? I don't think so. It's an ego thing with you Republicans. Most republican politicians are so wrapped up in advancing their own careers, they have forgotten about the people that they are supposed to represent. Just because a man has been elected president of any country, does not mean that people of that nation should follow them blindly without question. Unfortunately for America, that is exactly what happened during Bush's period of "destruction". Republican politicians are in my opinion spineless, self serviant, and only concerned with "party" policies and follow the leader like a bunch of cattle going over a cliff.
How safe is the tax cheats job when bo is impeached?
Article II, Section 4
The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Has anyone noticed Obama changes at least one issue every single day? Whats new tomorow? Why doesnt he take off a few days and see whats really happening? 365 changes a year for four years? God hope not 8.
The language got inserted to exempt the bonuses because "treasury had legal issues". I wonder if anyone has asked for the Attorney General's opinion which supported this position. This looks more like hush money to keep AIG executives from blowing the whistle on the Paulson/Bernnanke/Geithner bailout of Goldman Sachs via the ploy of an AIG bailout.
@ Jason (The Republican in disguise):
And I know people who wished they voted for Obama and regret voting Republican because they see ZERO leadership and solutions from the Republicans just obstruction. Do you really expect the President to inherit a trillion dollar deficit and then all a sudden have to cut back on health care, education and the economy. Of course he's going to have to spend in order to lead America forward.
As for leadership: Do you really believe that the Republicans who got us into this mess had leadership skills? That Bush had leadership skills? And do you think Palin would have been a better leader? Or McCain who said the 'economy wasn't his strong point?' could lead us out of this. Give me a break. You must be Republican.
Geithner and Bernanke both have to go. They both played roles leading to making the current ecnomic crisis worse as members of the Federal Reserve Board and quite frankly, Geithner looks like a deer caught in the headlights everytime he appears on TV. Of course, he has rarely appeared on tV lately because Obama is not a complete idiot and is keeping him under wraps as much as possible. Geithner's unveiling of the "recovery plan" later this week will reveal much. Personally, I expect that the market will tank once again. While Obama's loyalty towards his underlings is admirable, Geithner is costing Obama large amounts of credability that once is gone cannot be easily recovered.
All of you that are critisizing Obama need to look at the BIG picture here. How can any of you expect things to turn around in less than 4 months that he has been in office??? I support our President and trust that in time things will turn around and progress will be made. We didn't go down the tubes in 3 or 4 or even 6 months of the Bush-Cheney regime so how can you expect things to turn around in that amount of time now? Lord people have some patience here. If things are still in the dumpster after a year then you might be able to critisize.
This is amazing. Where were all of you whiners and complainers 6 years ago when Bush was beginning his destructive adventure through the country and the world? This new administration hasn't even been in office for 100 days and everyone is saying "Fire Geithner."
Bunch of hypocrites. But I would expect nothing less from the "President Palin in 2012" crowd.
Wow, this a Repub forum, or what. Im definately not Rep OR Dem, but let me say a thing or two. No, thousands of terrorists were NOT brought to justice, only a devotee of the Repub religion would say such a thing. Most killed in Iraq were not terrorists, most capturred and interrered at Guan. Bay were not given justice one way or another, aswour gov. decided to write a new rule for them. It is true, Bush put us in a hole, and Obama is sealing the deal, both parties are opposite sides of the same big business coin. Wake up America, it is close to too late. kris_danzig@yahoo.,com
The last 2 yrs of bush's admin., was govern by a democrat congress. I'm a registered dem. and personally both parties are so full of corruption and incapability that 98% of them should be replaced. They can keep bo as a 'talking head' but they need somebody behind with a brain to make decisions to save our country not destroy it.
What kind of example does Geithner set for our children, Mr. President?
That you can repeatedly fail and snugly maintain high level of office without repercussions.
Geithner needs to be fired ... what type of change is this??? It isn't
Time to cut him loose, if Obama wants to see the promises he made during the campaign fulfilled, he needs to consider replacing Geithner with someone that is not personally tranished.
Geithner made a serious error of judgement, one that caused a fury of public response and is serving to drive a wedge between once united Demoncrats. He does not have the confidence of the public. We should ask our Democrat Senators and Congress to withhold support of Obama's financial agenda until new leadership is selected.
He started out with a BANG all right.... shooting himself in the foot!
"The presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training" – Joe Biden, referring to Obama. A little warning that America should have heeded.
why in the world would obama nominate a tax dodger for this job in the first place are you going to tell me their are not ant economist out there or some one from our university who is more caoable then geithner i guess the group the who put it best in there song wont get fooled again that fits obama about change the lyric goes meet the new boss same as the old boss.
love all the "republicans ruined the world" comments. The dems have been in charge of both houses since Jan 2007 ... what responsibility do they have?????
I was not a bush supporter but quite possibly he did keep our country safe. bo is all over the board. One minute it is one thing next min. something else and nothing good is being decided for our country. As I said before the last 2 yrs. of bush's admin. was a demo. congress. They were just like the repub. when the controlled congress "0". They approved whatever bush wanted. Maybe our politicians (both parties) should remember that they work for us and decide what country they work for.
I don't think Mr. Geithner is doing a good job at all.
It's a shame that President Obama is being surrounded by a lot
of unqualified people.
Larry, worry about your own house man. You are too worried about people failing and criticising. That is the one thing I really despise about this country.... the propensity to try to break its leaders down... instead of recognizing and pulling together to make it work. Do you know that the more support Obama gets from us the easier and faster it is for him to do his job? Did you know that? You act like a frekin Yankee fan fo godsake. Wake up and grow up. Americans sound like little kids who got thier lollipop taken away. THE GUY IS TRYING TO LOWER YOUR HEALTH CARE AND IMPROVE YOUR EDUCATION... NOT TO MENTION CURE CANCER FOR GOD SAKES WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!111
I am a fan of President Obama.
I also believe in fiscal conservatism. The debt Obama/Geithner are creating is very scary. Religious Republicans are more scary.
The government owns AIG (majority owner). In a corporate takeover, purchasers usually spend significant time on due diligence, checking for lurking surprises, making adjustments to the deal, or walking away if necessary - preparing for shareholders' approval.
The buck stops with Geithner, CFO of AIG's new owner. He should have known and made full, true and plain disclosure of the outrageous bonuses for his shareholders' (taxpayers') approval. He should have insisted that the takeover was contingent on a new executive management slate and no bunuses.
Now, his CEO, who, unlike most CEO's, has admitted culpability, sees fit not to fire him, so let's move on and let them untangle their web. In four years the majority AIG shareholders (taxpayers) can fire them both, if they continue to screw up.
If the Pres listened to the bashers who think they're "experts" every single time, we'd have a new Treasury Sec every 3 weeks. Get a grip.
Thanks you PJS. Perhaps you are right, but you would hope that the "Change" people voted for would be change for the better, not worse. We need new leadership in every corner of Washington.
It has only been a few short months since we endured an administration that had no idea what caused the current economic crisis or what actions will restore the economy. At that time, the money changers responsible for the crisis were celebrated as 'the chosen' of our society. As major sectors crumble, there is a sense of urgency to act, but without clear precidence, it isdifficult to know what should and can be done. Obama and Geithner have been cast into roles as emergency medical technicans standing over a badly mangled accident victim. Action may cause harm, but inaction will result in great long-term suffering, possibly death. We allow them to act or stand around waiting for divine intervention.
One more thing then I will get off of here. The reason I am supporting Gov. Palin, so far, is she is one of the very few politicians that I have seen so far that is not bred & born to be a politician. She is down to earth and works for her citizen rather than trying to destroy them. Maybe if we put a 'net worth' limit on people running for congress and definitely 'term limits' we might actually get some people who are working for the taxpayer and not themselves.
Whenever the boss has to run defense - things are not good.
- D'ja ever note the resemblance of the Treasury Secretary to South Park's "Tweek?"
@Lori
When you're in debt you don't keep spending to restore financial health. You cut back. This administration is on a shopping spree.
Is it not possible there is a non-partisan solution to our problems? Of course there is, but it appears that both parties are committed to slash and burn policies and then blaming each other. Bush/Cheney were horrible. As a life-long republican voter, I admit that. Their arrogance (especially Darth); their unwillingness to listen to dissenting voices (especially Bush); and their foolish decision to go to war with Iraq will affect us for decades.
But Obama has yet had to deal with anything near the threat of 911 and must be given the chance to set the course he told us he would set. I did not vote for him but thus far he is doing everything he said he would do. And now Cheney ( it is terrifying to think that Cheney, Limbaugh and Palin have become the voice of conservatism) is out front criticizing. As a result, expect 16 to 24 more years of Democratic rule.
Answers are in the middle, not at either extreme. I just pray that enough politicians have the courage to see that reality and to start acting on it; on both sides of the aisle.
Change we can believe in. PFFFFFFT.
Considering the amount of time it took for the economy to implode, we need to be more patient and allow this to work. It wouldn't matter who held the Treasury job at this point, this will take time. To ask for Geithner's resignation would be short-sighted. We need to support the current administration and quit complaining.
Our founding fathers are rolling in their graves right now. Never in this country's history have we seen a more reckless and incompetent administration than this. Sad time for us, 2012 can't get here any sooner~!
Annie, I was not bread and born to be a politician any more than she was and yet that is the lamest reason to make me President. Maybe Governor is the best she can ever hope for, not President. She represents "maconservatism" which is conservatism light. Is there not someone better lead from the Republican Party. If she is the 2012 nominee I predict a landslide for Obama. Let's move on and find a real leader, not a caricature of Republican feminism. (Oh where is Maggie Thatcher's American clone?)
Stinks like partisanship.
Why can't we be Americans?
Good Americans at that.
The idiots on the fringes of both sides are getting the attention, and are a diversion from settling the issues.
Keep it up idiots. Nothing solved.
Is Obama going to go as far as saying Geithner is doing a "heck of a job"?
Let's see, first we find out Geithner is a tax cheat. Now we know he's also very good at lying to the American people. He's way in over his head, just like the President. Hmmmmmmmm, wonder what else we'll find out about Geithner.
Just remember Mr. President, you're known for the company you keep. Go ahead and stand by your man. I'm sure that will really help you in 2012.
OK Quite frankly think Americans truly don't understand what in the world we are doing. We blame the Bush administration for this economic mess. Maybe it is because most people don't remember past presidents sending engineering jobs over seas never to return. How about making it easier for folks to buy homes. Then compounded with a war that was pretty well planned by emotion and not fact. The media that label Obama a hero. YES they have is he held to a higher standard then Bush ....NOT even close. If a Republician had placed a cabinet with several tax dodgers in place...oh the field day that would have occured.
Then there was the Sen Dodd adminition our tax money was knowingly allowing for bonuses.......Did the public know this NO if so do I think AIG would have gotten this money? No. Instead our new government acts just like the Bush Administration did and throws away the Constituion....by trying to push through a Bill of Attainder.
What about Holder throwing away the Bill of Rights to appease Mexico. Please stop the madness. I am an Independent. How about some unbiased reporting. By the way if Rush is silenced you must silence Metzger (Racist ) Maddow, and everyone else who believes in freedom of speech........Just throw the Constitution away and welcome Chavez because next we will just execute those who disagree with the folks in power are always right.
of course the job is safe, no surprises here; obama is a corporate man.
Run the country into bankruptcy defending this administration,it appears that Democrats love Obama more than the United States.
Their foolish "war" got us into this economic mess. It has not made us safer. It has made us weak and vulnerable. It did nothing to help the USA. Osama got exactly what he wanted. Good job Bush? Cheney!!! Now all these other country are seeing there opportunity here. I want a trail for war crimes. That would help us be safe!
Zion; I never said Bush was a good president but if you think he wasn't bashed by liberals from the time he took office then you live in a dream world. It is time for Obama to start taking credit for what he has done and has not done. It is time to let Bush- Cheney go and stop referring back to them ever time this adminstration screws up and it has been doing a lot of that since Obama took office. He still is trying to get people to take positions and how many have had to back out due to problems in their past??? Are liberals going to cover up for Obama by bringing up Bush for along as Obama is in office???
It's an odd thing – when people write "lacking intelligence", no leadership exactly to whom are they referring, and what are they using as basis for comparison? I have rarely come across an intelligent person making such claims, which make me wonder who it is that comments.
If you really believe you know how to make it all better again, you are truly amazing,unique, and unfortunately probably also a total idiot.
But, if you really must comment, think on this, in 5 years time, when things are different ( may be better, maybe not) your comments will have exactly what value?
It is so annoying, that I now feel obliged to comment.
On my calculation it's been a handful of days to handle an enormous crisis, a couple of bad wars, incredible greed, an opposition that actually was, and may still be, a prime cause of the situation we are all in. They even have to deal with the IMF, who are prime example of misery and gloom – any steps forward are to be clouded with pessimism.
Believe something – not every thing that the banks say is bad on their books, can possibly be bad. It would mean that nearly every decision they took was a bad one. Now just how possible is that? Someone is pulling strings out there – why not try and make sure it's not you.
Housing market slumped? Well yes, may be so, but people have to live in houses still, so there is demand, and real the problem is to find a way to satisfy it.
So what is Obama to do? There are plenty of people out there willing to be negative, who are really clever after the event, and are driven by dogma. The fact is that there are few people out there who can make a difference, and maybe some of these are not perfect, but you have to work with you've got.
There is no magic wand, no magic lantern with a cheerful genie inside.. There is plenty of scope for mistakes, particularly when no-one has really seen a situation like this before.
So when people are trying to find ways out of the holes others have dug, the way forward is to put your shoulders and back behind their efforts.
This comment now makes me suspicious of Obama. Now I don't trust his judgment. I don't think he's behing honest with the American public. Why would he protect this guy?
lori, how the republicans ruined this country. this country has this recurring morbid need to flipflop over which flawed way it should be run; clearly, nearly way is working or continue to struggle with the result of the other. as for what obama might be contended regarding gop bullying; this mess is ENTIRELY on obama and his pips; they have no idea what they are doing. I have a feeling you did not console bush when considering what he was dealing with clinton's legacy such as key deruglation and the lending woes startong on his watch and most importantly how many opportunities clinton refused to take to either seize or stop bin laden. there is no bullying going on here, just a country in a mess because either way we go it leaves us dissatisfied. but for sheep like you hell bent on your party's success spilling bucolic rubbish contributing to the problem by your lacky tendencies.
I used to trust Obama's judgement. But now it just keeps getting worse and worse. Geithner is a joke and Gibbs is just abnoxious.
Of course Obama's buddy is safe. Now for the millions of people losing their jobs...too bad...but don't worry, Obama's got the back of his millionaire amigos!
America we have to look at the Big Picture. We choose our current President to make the best decision possible for our country to move forward but we have to give President Obama and his team time to sort out the mess he inherited from the Previous Admin. Secretary Geithner and President Obama can only learn from the few mishaps of the first days in office. We should direct our attention to those who paid out the bonuses and those few Americans who were greedy enough to accept the money in this stressfull economic time. Those are the true terrorist that are killing America from the inside, and they should be the ones that we are asking to be FIRED!!!
@David: Yes, you must cut back on what you don't need but to restore financial health, you must spend too. How else do you put money back into the economy without money?
@Bill: You stated the the Dems were in office for 2 years and what responsibility do they bear. Answer: Not nearly as much responsibility as the Republicans who had the President in charge for 8 LOOONNNGGG years and the Republican congress for 6 years. If you knew math you would agree that 6-8 years means the Republicans hold majority of the blame, the Democrats minimially.
Hey the alternative could be McCain/Palin running this country. Some people liked Palin b/c they felt she 'seems nice'. Remember the last time we voted for someone b/c we felt we could have a beer with them? Alaska is in a disaster and the Republicans want us to believe that Palin and McCain could be doing a better job. GIVE ME A BREAK!
Dear President Obama,
You mean to tell the general public, and the citizens for which voted in your behalf that you are going to play politics, lies, deception, and go against the will of voting America. Sir I live on my Social Security Disability; and you need to inform everyone that receiving Social Security is in-fact being taxed on theirs as well.
Mr. President You should also let the citizens of this great nation know of the budget faults and deceptions which will fail to help after the long run we will be back were we are now if not worse off, and upon the people of this great nation. You should infract resign from office if you are going to back one of a known liar as for AIG brouhaha, and the bounces.
Geithner should have never been confirmed as the Treasury Secretary in the first place...like Daschle, who was NOT confirmed as Health and Human Services Secretary, Geithner is also guilty of tax evasion. Geithner getting the Treasury Secretary job was wrong in the first place. Now, his excessively sloppy work on the AIG matter requires that he step down or be removed from his post. Plain and simple gross incompetence. Oh yeah, almost forgot. Senator Dodd should be forced to give up his Senate seat as well. His part in the AIG mess is also completely unacceptable.
@ David
People borrow money everyday they don't have to lay the ground work for a prosperous future. How do you think the majority of small businesses get started? They borrow money on their insurance policies, homes, etc. to start a business. They develop a blueprint for what the money will go toward and a strategy for a short term and long term plan and present it to the bank. This is exactly what Pres. Obama has done with the stimulus plan. Instead of just repeating talking points of one group or another use common sense. Everyone knows that you do borrow to get ahead.
Prtesident Obama is very inexperienced and we do not have time to give President Obma on job training. President Obama never held an executive responsibility in the past. I never supported him for Presidency. First two months of his Presidency is not very impressive. But I'm willing to give him some more time and benefit of doubt.
I am a moderate middle-aged independent voter. I'll tell you why I have great faith in the leadership we have been fortunate enough to elect this time around. Its the ability to take the long term view, the desire to include and empower as many as possible, the practical and decent efforts to find solutions to long standing problems for the good of everyone, the underlying sense of fair play and doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. Add to all of that good minds, and lots of combined experience and I can't help but be grateful and optimistic. I say to my fellows, no matter who you are or what position you hold, do something to contribute.
Dick Cheney's policies, in fact, greatly increased those from outside and inside our country who wish to take us down. Dick Cheney also is openly willing to suspend our Constitution forever and to dishonor international protocol and agreements. Dick Cheney would willingly return us to a country of nobles and peasants forcing the peasants to do his dirty work, calling those peasants unpatriotic if they refuse to do his dirty work, and would very quickly bring down everything this country has accomplished since its inception. Dick Cheney is the #1 reason that the Bush administration will quite possibly go down as the worst administration in our history. This is a difficult reality for Dick Cheney to face and thus he must try to do everything he can to make sure that no other after him appears to be successful. Don't buy it America.
Of course Geithner's job is still safe. It's not like Obama can fire one of his bosses.
I always thought that bonuses were given to acknowledge hard work when the company showed a profit. When did the rules change?
Rather hard to clean up somebody else's mess. If Obama or his staff twitches their nose wrong, the Repubs will criticize. Comes with the territory. Repubs cannot stand to not be in control. And some of the subjects supposedly intelligent men choose to jump on and criticize is beyond belief.
Hey Vinod –
I'm sure he's relieved that you're willing to give him an extension.
I agree that Geithner should never have been confirmed and now needs to do the honorable thing and step down regardless of President Obama's perception. It is time to set the standards in this country. Bare minimum standards such as not being in arrears on your taxes does not seem to be too much to ask. Time to clean house in our government and our business community once again. Every so often we need these reminders of where unfettered greed takes us and it is not a pretty picture. To play partisan politics and try to present one side as more forthright than the other is simply ridiculous. Greed does not occur simply due to party affiliation. Our system of government and our business community is structured to promote greed and resist accountability. Too bad because it is strong, ongoing accountability in all sectors of our society that will ultimately continue to keep us on a path of success.
President Obama is trying to fix TOO many things in TOO short of a time (That is -inexperience). He should list 5-6 priorities for 2009 and go for that. He has 4 years to accomplish his agenda. I'm sure economy is his TOP 1 priority if not we are all dead.
Yet another mistake by BO and many more to come. It is a sad day in America...
We have bigger fish to fry than Geithner. Its time we start focusing on understanding who we are dealing with and what our objective is when it comes to our economy. Politicians are doing what they do best, blaming each other. Let's face it, we don't have that luxury.
Truth: Government isn't equipped to run any company. FDIC may work for dismantling Banks but, there is no department yet with the capability or authority needed for Insurance companies. Do we think Congress can do the job? Geithner? President Obama?
Truth: The CEO of AIG who previously held the same position with Allstate, who by the way is only making $1.00 a year without bonuses or kick backs says, PAY THEM so we can PAY YOU back.
Truth: Economics 101. the greater the demand + limited supply = higher costs.
Here's another truth, at least the way I see it. These bonus takers are disgusting to my sense of fairness but, life isn't always fair and this is another example of that. We ARE hostages to AIG, IF we want our money back. Now, we can focus on getting our money back OR we can focus on fairness.
It's crunch time, what is our objective? Don't forget, politicians work FOR YOU! YOU decide, then call your government rep and tell them what the goal is and to get the job done, no excuses.
To Lori – Don't know where you get your info on Alaska but it is one of the few states that is doing alright. Gov. Palin maintains a plus 60% rating and most govenors would love that! As far as bush verses bo – both stink. As far as demmies vs repubs both parties are full of corruption and evil people who are only seeking to fill their own pockets. Lori, these people work for us not the other way around. This is the quality I have admired Gov. Palin for (so far-'cause things can change in a heartbeat). She works for her citizens and what is best for them in the long run. Some of the things in this stinkulus pkg have so many strings attached that in 2 yrs it will bankrupt many states who take the whole pkg. Are these gov who are taking the whole thing thinking ahead as to what they will do in 2 yrs.?
Alan M - thanks for your calm and rational commentary. Too bad most of the posters don't understand calm and rational! But it's the only way to go if we're going to get out of this mess.
I love how many on here want Geithner to leave his post will we are in the middle of the worst economy we have seen since the great depression, a situation that most have said we have never been in. While the Repubs and Dems are busy pointing fingers at one another, the president and his team are trying to focus at the bigger job at hand and are the only ones right now who are taking action. Geithner is doing the absolute best that he can considering he is under staffed at Treasury. Can anyone on here tell me what congress is doing in trying to help clean up this mess? Anyone? ::crickets:: That's what I thought. Absolutely nothing but pointing fingers.
If anyone for a minute thinks this economic disaster, which took 10 years or more to get into, should have been fixed by now, you are kidding your self. If this could get done in two months, it would have been fixed by now. This is too complex of a problem and it is going to take more time. The political pundits and critics can hate on the president and Geithner all they want to. The bottom line is it doesn't matter who is in office, it is going to take a while.
As long as EVERYBODY is in DENIAL,nothing will get better,it will continue to get worse,and it will get worse.Stop defending stupidity.
This Monday morning quarterbacking is absurd. What is happening to our economic situation is not simple and cannot be handled simply. The Republicans now say we should have done nothing–no helping the banks, no helping General Motors and have suddenly become fiscally conservative. One of the easiest things to do is to put a bandaid on something and let someone else deal with the cancer later. This admininistration has the courage to say 'no more bandaids." We have underlying problems that must be dealt with. Are there going to be missteps along the way, of course. I find it it fasinating that the Republicans just a few months ago were arguing against any cap on bonuses and NOW they are outraged.
Browsing these comments, most of which are critical of the Obama Administration's efforts so far, shows me that the vast right-wing smear machine has cranked up and is attempting to "Clintonize" the Obama Administration. Their strategy is to keep up a shouting chorus of negative information that is innaccurate, exaggerated, one-sided, and mean spirited.
Conservatives, of course, never admit that they caused most of these problems and ran up most of the national debt during prosperous times. Conservatives would rather rule a bankrupt nation than help govern a prosperous one.
We can all ignore this hot wind of Conservative criticism. They don't mean it. It is just a strategy to gain power, not an heartfelt expression of opinion. They don't even care about the issues they are raising. It was Conservatives who told us that the national debt didn't matter – back when they were running it up.
Looks like another bad appointment! How can you have any confidence in his abilities when he cheats on his own taxes????
Obama is a pathological liar...he continues to lie because he believes his people will continue to idolize him inspie of all his lies...
I'm not sure why Obama kept protecting this guy. At some point he will need to cut this guy loose.
I'm betting he'll be gone in about two weeks.
sally March 22nd, 2009 10:11 am ET
of course the job is safe, no surprises here; obama is a corporate man.
****************
BHO is not a corporate man! He is a puppet.....a pelosi puppet.
Geithner's job is safe, but the rest or our's are not! Obama really knows how to pick 'em! Both his and Geithner's inexperience is very evident.
bush administration=8 years....obama administration=2months..........oh wow its been 2 months and he hasnt fixed the economy...omg....he hasnt forfilled all of his promises in 2 months...omg........and yes I am being sarcastic....only a complete idiot would think all this is going to be fixed in 2 months
What I have noticed is most republicans have an unwillingness to accept the actions of Obama's team as anything but orders from hell meant to destroy the United States. I have also noticed that most of those same republicans posting here do not know how to check their spelling and grammar. Is that just a coincidence?
'Senator Dodd should be forced to give up his Senate seat ' I agree completely with Steve D. At first Senator Dodd claimed he had no idea about what must have permitted AIG to pay out such a large Bonus . Much later he confessed to knowing about it. Give me a break. This is absurd. An absurdity against the transparency of Obama's Government. I think Obama should read the writings on the wall. There are alot of people who want to see him fail. Not only some Republicans but also some Democrats. Obama should watch out for that wolf in a sheep' skin. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner should resign. It would be too late for Obama to cry when his head is off. As a Treasury Secretary with so much experience he should have seen the clouds above before it turned into some acid rain showers.
AS IT SHOULD BE!!! Give me a break the guy has been on the job in less than two MONTHS!!!
This just goes to show how much of a "RIGHT NOW" culture we live in. People it took time to get into this mess it is going to take time to get out of it. So folks sit back and get ready for a long bumpy ride!!!
I think the President and his Administration are doing a really good job given the fact they have been on the job for THREE MONTHS!!!
Guantanamo Bay is a very mixed bag of moral and military webs. On the one hand we must use extreme measure to extract information we need. On the other hand, if we do so, we are no better than the terrorists. My sense is that at this point in time, we defer to the 3000+ people who died in 911 an nothing is of limits. War is not pretty, that is why you try to avoid it!
The bonuses are inexcusable, but were created long before Obama took office. Politicians can posture and nash their teeth over them, but as unethical as they were, there was nothing illegal about them.
The bonuses amounted to less than 1% of the total bailout. Meanwhile we continue to borrow money to support a war in Irag that costs $10 billion a month. A war that will continue to cost us in blood and treasure long after our current economic crisis has past.
It took years to get us in the economic mess we are in, it will take more than a few months to get us out of it.
Don't kill the messenger just because you don't like the message. Quit the carping and lets get on with America's business.
Good god, Geithner has only been the Treasury Sec. for a few weeks! Give the guy a break. And give him a chance to actually start doing his job! Are we as a nation going to let our (terribly inept) media start questioning every politician's performance and fitness for office a few weeks after they start??? Of course the Republicans (desperate for any sort of support) are going to criticize everything the Obama administration does. (Ironic since he's trying to repair their 8 years of gross mismanagement). In the case of the AIG bonuses, those contracts were written under the Bush Adminstration. And the Obama people didn't want to get bogged down in lawsuits. So in the collective good of the nation, let's stop all this negative energy and give these people a chance to do their jobs and let's start judging their performance in a year or so!! Please!!
Obama's statement just shows more of his communist way of thinking. No one see's the problem with his response to Torbo Tax Tim?
Last time I looked, some of the constitution was still being observed by democrats. It's a free country; if you don't want the job any more, you have the right to resign and quit.
Guess Obama does not see it that way.
Please remember, the absolute unbridled greed, negligence, and unregulated rich boy politics of the Bush/Cheney administration has caused this mess. Not only will there be no quick fixes, but there may be no fixes that will work to rescue the mess that was left behind. It's appalling to blame the current administration who has been put in this desperate situation by those that preceeded them. Bush and Cheney should be in jail for what they have done to this country and to our economy. Instead they are laughing all the way to the bank. To claim that Bush/Cheney is history is like claiming the aftermath of Katrina was not caused by a hurricane. Clean up will continue to be long and hard. No administration has inherited such a mess and to deny this is just stupidity.
Give it some time and expect some mistakes. No one has the answers to solving the absolute collapse of our economic system, but we know that it will take considerable time to recover if we recover at all.
Geitner will go. Bloomberg will take over. Competance trumps corruption
Mr. President, you have seen and read those provisions before signing the stimulus bill into law. And you should also take the blame and responsibility for its initial failure. You are a lawyer and you should know the implication of bonuses.
I am so sick of these self righteous Republicans and their constant criticism and berating of President Obama and the ambitious and necessary plans he has put forward. They have no plans of their own, no alternatives and the cold hard fact of life that is we have tried it their way – it didn't work!!! Yes, this is a time of great financial and emotional turmoil within the country, but our President is trying to fix problems which have been ignored, overlooked and festered for 30 years or more. This President deserves our support and his programs, propsals and solutions should be given the opportunity to work before jumping on the bandwagon of criticism. If you have alternatives or compromises, bring them forward, present them to the administration; if not shut up!
Treasury Secretary Tim Geitner sure knows how to catch flak and divert it away from the President. He must be taking lessons from Vice President Joe Biden.
While our Connecticut Attorney General reveals AIG paid $ 218 million in bonuses, not $ 165 million, buses are rolling through the Nutmeg state giving tours of homes where those AIG executives live. It's like Graceland for recessionistas.
President Obama made a boo boo when he compared his bowling score to the Special Olympics on Leno. It's nice to know the guy can make mistakes and apologize. I hope former President Bush was watching.
Sienna College, 3,000 students, beat Ohio State, 52,000 students, in the NCAA Tournament. We like it when the little guys win.
Add the Seattle Post Intelligencer to the growing list of newspapers that have published their last issue. Meet The Press moderator David Gregory showed us how delivery boys used to fold the paper before they tossed it on the lawn. I was a paper boy. You got the fold wrong David !
A vegetable garden and green water in the fountain for St. Patrick's Day at the White House. It's nice to have the People's House back in our hands.
Tom Durfey
swiftpolitics
I am in the financial services industry so I do have a sense of the issues. There is no intellegent life in the House and Senate! They don't get it!
Let's look at the auto industry as an example. We've spent nubers that have more zero's at the end of that I can't fathom to bail them out. We have done the same things with the banks. THE BANKS HAVE THE MONEY! So now the car dealership has inventory. You go to finance the car. The banks say no and keep the money to keep the balance sheet look strong. So we bailed out one entity that has product to sell but cant because the other entity wont give the money so the dealership can sell their product.
If you have a job and are breathing, you should get the loan.
The House and Senate just don't get it. The combined IQ of both is probably 1
Boy, I sure wish I could get my boss in my private sector job to say my job is safe.
This is so un-American it is not even funny.
In a year's time if things get better we wont care.
Today, there are way too many critics letting tjheir mouths overload on almost every thing under the sun.
The President can't joke, The President can't hesitate in his speech, the President can't and so on!!!!
It's time the News Media, all TV Major Networks, Talk Shows Hosts, TV Anchors and the White House Press Corps "COOL IT".
The United States and the rest of the world are in one of the worst financial crisis in history (and I said history).
The former administration (Bush) for eight years did not enforce financial regulations which started the slide that we're in today.
People bought homes (not to live in) but to benefit for financial gain.
Consumers charged (credit cards) almost everything for themselves plus their kids.
Seldom did we see a couple buy a single story home no, they had to have a three story mansion with no kid in sight yet!!
One car didn't fit the bill, they had to have two cars plus a pickup and then came a boat, ATV's, RV, Motorcycle, Snowmobile, Jet Ski, Hang Glider and vacations that were hard to pay for.
Pretty soon most of their credit cards maxed out so, they borrowed on their home equity for a new pool, hot tub & Jacuzzi and then the kitchen had to have a total redue with Marble Top Counters and so!!!!!!
So, when it's all said and done we have ourselves to blame not President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner.
President Obama is doing a great job and he'll bring all of us out of this financial quagmire.
»WELL done,GREAT President Obama. Good.
He's incompetent and he's performing poorly. We don't need a deer in the headlights as Treasury Secretary.
March 22nd, 2009 10:51 am ET
bush administration=8 years….obama administration=2months……….oh wow its been 2 months and he hasnt fixed the economy…omg….he hasnt forfilled all of his promises in 2 months…omg……..and yes I am being sarcastic….only a complete idiot would think all this is going to be fixed in 2 months
It is not that he has not fixed anything, it is that what he wants to do is not going to do anything to fix it. If anything it is going to take us further in the hole. Ok, so he rushed a bill through and no one read it before voting or signing it, however the bonuses were added as a lst minute thing so everyone should have known about them at the very least.
Gaithner is supposed to be updating Obama on a daily basis but neglected to inform him about this clause in the stimulus bill? I have a hard time beleiving that Obama did not know about this. I think he is using it as a rallying cry to show how much he supposedly cares about this Country.
As far as the budget goes, this will bankrupt the U.S. you think we are in a recession now just wait another year. Also no matter what Obama said about the budget to get us through the end of the year he could have refused to sign it and sent it back to get the earmarks out. This was not something that absolutely had to be done right that minute.
This administration is using scare tactics to get what they want and some people are following right along without doing the research themselves. If What Obama wants to do works then great we can all live better, however almost all the wall street people and a ton of economist say it won't work. It will destroy the economy even more.
Deny,deny,deny,tell a lie long enough ,Democrats will believe it.
obama will only do what the teleprompter tells him to do.
Stupid is as stupid does. The immature Obama supports the incompetent Geithner (who can't even use Turbo Tax). Poor decision to elect Obama, poorer decision to put Geithner in that position and Obama is plain old stubborn to keep Geithner around. Shades of Bush and his stubborness. It is not good for the Country!
Obama is going to go down with Geithner.
You "teleprompter" whiners should really get a life. You sound so pathetically juvenile.
For God sake, people, the guy has been on the job about 5 weeks– give him a chance. After all, this administration inherited the biggest mess in just about all of the history of this country. I really don't think it's something that can be resolved in a month or two.
PEOPLE! I supose you all think that you consider your selves good Christians??? Why are you judging? Thou shall NOT JUDGE
You all must feel great in your misery. Instead why don't you pray FOR him? I feel that President Obama is doing a great job,
The two party system is killing the US. I could care less if you are a republican or a democrat – do what is best for the country as a whole and not your self interests.
The problem does not fall completely on the president because (for the record I'm not a Obama fan) it is a position that can only do so much. If you want the problem fixed then vote out the senators and congressman that have been there for decades – until that happens be prepared for the same thing no matter what party is in charge.
I could care less about $165 million in bonuses – I bet Pelosi has spent that much in jet costs over the last few months. What I do care about is the billions that are being spent without protocol in place prior to distribution.
I ask everyone to forget democrat/republican and just look at it as an american and make your own decisions without some talking head doing it for you.
Geithner is a Wall Street and Fed insider. He fully understood the implications of paying bonuses and should have advised Congress to put legal restraints on such bonuses as a condition of federal bailouts. He didn't. In short he reflects the "more of the same" crap that Obama ran against. He should go. So far Obama has failed to live up to his campaign promises. Few, if any, of his cabinet and top tier political appointees are truly from "outside the beltway" and the network of good old boys and girls. The president needs to take a deep breath, get a good night's sleep, and go back to square one. We cannot solve all our problems in one fell swoop and the president needs to lower his sights and limit his line of attack to one or two objectives at a time. I for one feel that the capital markets must be reformed to ban capitalization of everything from mortgages to magnetic emissions from solar flares (yes, I'm being facetious on the last point). This trend gained steam during the Clinton year's and led to a false of peace and prosperity. We are paying for the unwise decisions of the 1990s to let people become rich without really trying. Hence, the dot.com, the IPO, and the onset of the housing bubble. Trying to foist all this mess on the Bush administration is akin to the ostrich burying his head in the sand; it overlooks the realities of the world but is good pablum that soothes the souls of the naiive people who think Clinton was great despite the historical evidence to the contrary. Bush sucked but so did Clinton, Reagan, Carter, the other Bush, and even JFK (god rest is soul). Lets find some of Teddy Roosevelt's DNA and clone a good president.
Go back one year, swap the words Republican with Democrat, and the comments haven't changed a bit. Righteous indignation by the party in power against the shrill criticisms of the party out of power. It's so human! In the end, we are all sheep.
I guess Obama needs a fallguy for when the economy collapse and Geithner's his boy.
Give Tim Geitner a chance to succeed. You can't expect him or anyone to clean up Bush's monumental mess in only a couple of months. After a couple years we will better judge on his performance. The banks are already starting to stabilize. CITI Bank, for example, is reporting a profit this quarter. If people are all up in arms about exec compensation (which the republicans opposed regulating, by the way) then let's enact sweeping reforms of the entire financial system's regulations...and that is exactly what Obama is doing. All the Obama haters will have a lot of crow to eat when the economy rebounds.
These guys are on training. As president Obama once said let him know and he will sell it. This time, he sells the America. I hope I am wrong about this.
Robert:
At this time Obama has no choice but to keep him around. He has no one lined up to take Gaithner's place and his administration cannot afford another "mistake" in their appointments of people.
Gaithner has taken so much of his time backpeddling and trying to hide that he has not even gotten half his staff yet. How does Obama expect him to get a job done with no staff?
I did not vote for Obama and I definately would not have voted for Hillary. Neither is experienced enough to lead this Country. Frankly I don't think Mcain was either. The problem with Obama though is that he seems to have the "it's going to be my way or no way " approach and that will simply not work in this Country right now.
He had the stimulus rushed through and basically took no advice at all from Republicans or some Democrats in his administration. He wanted it done and no matter what anyone said it was going to get done. It was rushed too quickly and now we all have to deal with the consequences. Obama needs to stand up and do something besides say " it is my fault I take responsibility"
And it should be.
How come no one is asking for Dodd's resignation as he was the author of AIG execs getting their bonuses.
"For God sake, people, the guy has been on the job about 5 weeks– give him a chance. "
Everything he has done so far has made things worse. Given enough time, he may bankrupt the country. Its like a Doctor who gives arsenic as medicine. The patient gets worse and the Doctors fans protect him while he proscribes more arsenic. A very dangerous situation we are in.
Blaine, you are so correct. Obama must realize that the campaign has ended and he is the Nation's President. It is tme for leadership not political campaigning.
Btw, we heard the same comments from a couple of past Presidents and within two weeks the person they were talking about was resigning.
Rod,
When driving a vehicle on a slippery surface,a good driver knows to be smooth with his corrections .Slamming on the brakes will just make you slide straight ahead,tap your brakes and you will gain control.Turn into a slide ,not away,and you will gain control and not spin out,but the best thing you can do is go as slow as you can and stay in control.Life and management is a lot like driving,many drivers crash and kill people everyday because they do not know how to drive,but they do have a drivers license.We are heading for a real bad crash.
It's the inexperience leading the inexperience. There is no responsibility. If they fail they'll blame it all on Bush, and the Democrat voters will eat it all up. The only way things will change is if all the rich liberals start getting poorer and poorer. Finally they'll say enough is enough bring the republicans back.
How many more losers will Obama hire fior his cabinet? I am sick of these type people.
All that is left is for Obama to say "Geity, I think you're doing a terrifc job."
This whole thing reminds me of when the democrats were calling for Rumsfield to resign when he made mistakes on the war in Iraq. Bush stood by him and for the longest time, would not let him go, until public opinion made it difficult to keep him on.
Now we have Obama standing by Gethner saying essentially the same thing, even though public opinion is turning against him as someone who is not qualified to lead the treasury department during these economic times, because of the major mistakes being made.
The question is, will the same people who called on Rumsfield to resign, have the same "courage" to call on Geithner to step aside? Or is that only if it is a republican who makes mistakes, because democrats never make big enough mistakes that they need to resign. So far it seems that it is the latter, just from reading these posts, as so many people are still "praising" for a "job well done."
Stop Bloomberg and the MTA from increasing fares on the poor folk..
The Democrats are good people ,and they think they are taking the country in the right direction,the problem is they have the map upside down,how far in the wrong direction will we have to go be for the Democrats realize the mistake,and will we have enough gas to turn around and go back in the right direction ??
I'm optimistic that things could turn around...we'll see.
The "AIG Bonus Scandal" is proof positive of the stupidity of the American people.
Firstly, with trillions being flushed down the toilet by Pelosi and Reid, Americans are concerned about one-millionth of that amount.
Secondly, the AIG bonuses were perfectly legal and contracted payments.
Thirdly, the Stimulus Bill expressly permitted them!
This is what happens when private companies are nationalized – every private decision becomes public fodder. Socialists, take note!
Also, a special dishonorable mention goes to Eliot Spitzer, who hounded AIG founder Hank Greenberg from office with rumors of wrongdoing (never materialized) to replace him with clowns who didn't know the meaning of the term "risk control".
Geithner allowed those bonuses because contracts are LEGALLY BINDING that means something. When did it become acceptable to break contracts? Taxpayer money looks and is the same as my money, so does that mean I can break contracts too or is it only the government that can? Just because you don't like it , doesn't mean its wrong.
As for those who think that these bonuses were unnecessary, how would you know? If I own 80% of your business, does that mean I know how to run your business too? What about your income from work? If your company pays all of your bills (in essence owns YOU), do THEY know best how it should be spent? Or is it just government who does? Geithner allowed those bonuses to go through because the CEO of AIG said it was NECESSARY and not you or the government can run this company.
You want to change the "cultrue on Wall Street" great but, you CAN'T enact legislation that goes back in time. You take a hit like everyone else and make corrections going forward. You also CAN'T blame someone for doing his job because he didn't do what you want. His job is to fix the economy not, appease you and I. Stop living in a dream world and face reality.
You don't like these bonuses, I don't like these bonuses but, stop blaming Geithner because you don't like what he did. Geithner did what was necessary at the time to stabilize the economy, not what the public opinion polls said.
"I ask everyone to forget democrat/republican and just look at it as an american and make your own decisions without some talking head doing it for you." Thank you, Scott, for being a voice of reason in this seemingly witch hunt days!
Patience is the name of the game! Allow the President and Administration.... what the senate has allowed to be put in place... to do something about this economy without having to fight the rumors every step of the way!
Here is some money for the Treasury:
Raise Taxes!
Raise taxes on Tobacco, Alcohol, and Firearms!
Honestly, I'd prefer to pay these bonuses rather than fund the study to examine why pigs smell so badly. The problem is the entire bill, not this one little item. If Dems were really worried about this, the easy solution would be to allow them to go into bankruptcy where contracts can be LEGALLY re-written.
For those saying just give him time to see what he does. Anyone with a basic understanding of economics knows that Obama is going to destroy this country. You don't need to touch a hot stove to know that it will burn you.
Oh, and maybe if you really are worried about the ecomony till the other 17 out of 18 positions in the treasury.
texas teacher, there is absolutely NO comparison between Rumsfield and Geithner! Rumsfield was by far the Devil in Sheep's Clothing right along with the whole Bush administration. Let's allow that Geithner may be growing into the job instead of proving exactly how corrupt he was over and over and over again as did Rumsfield! -Texas Teacher
Rick
If you honestly believe what you posted about Gitmo, you are no better than the terrorists. We have values in this country. If we violate them out of hate/anger for those whom our government CLAIM are responsible for 9/11, are we anymore noble than them? Our laws of legal proceedings are designed too favor the accused for a reason....our constitution demands true process of law. That means you are presumed to be NOT GUILTY until/if you are proven guilty too the satisfaction of a jury or tribunal. Even the President of this does not have the right (nor should they) too circumvent that process.