Keep Tim Geithner

uesday, 11/24/2009 - 11:00 am by Bo Cutter

I don’t think for a moment that Tim Geithner is in any trouble with his boss. But given Congress’ general idiocy as they talked to him last week, and a similar lack of regard I’ve heard from way too many progressives, someone should stand up for him and make the vastly-stronger counter arguments. It comes down to this: the combination of brains, guts, calmness, and a willingness to act are virtually non-existent in Washington in any era, but particularly in this one. When you find the combination in a significant cabinet level job, you should value it.

At the moment, progressives or liberals hate him because he did not take over or dismember the banks, and publicly execute their senior managements. He also manages to be tarred by proximity to the now much despised Goldman Sachs — although he is not an alumni. Conservatives hate him because they feel he was unkind to the banks, and hurt senior managements’ feelings. Of course, he also caused the financial debacle, and the recession; and mis-designed the Federal Reserve Board 97 years ago. And no one thinks he is tall enough. If you read the accounts of Secretary Geithner’s hearings last week, you know this is all classic Washington behavior. If there is one thing at which the glibocracy in DC excels, it is coming out of the hills after the battle is over and shooting the wounded. This is Washington today, a system in total gridlock, in which counting coup is the central activity.

Lets review the bill of accounts against Tim Geithner more dispassionately.