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swag

(26,487 posts)
Sun Sep 15, 2013, 04:36 PM Sep 2013

Summers Withdraws Name for Fed Chairmanship

Source: Wall Street Journal

By DAVID WESSELCONNECTWASHINGTON— Lawrence Summers, a former U.S. Treasury secretary, called President Barack Obama Sunday to say he is pulling out of the contest to succeed Ben Bernanke as chairman of the Federal Reserve.

"I have reluctantly concluded that any possible confirmation process for me would be acrimonious and would not serve the interest of the Federal Reserve, the Administration or, ultimately, the interests of the nation's ongoing economic recovery," Mr. Summers said in a letter to the president that followed the telephone call.

The move forces Mr. Obama to look to other potential candidates for the Fed job including Janet Yellen, the Fed's vice chairwoman; Donald Kohn, a former vice chairman; and former Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. Mr. Obama has said that he interviewed the first two. Mr. Geithner has said he isn't interested.

. . .

Mr. Summers, who was chairman of Mr. Obama's National Economic Council early in his presidency, had been widely believed to be the president's first choice for the Fed job, but opposition from liberals and women's groups—and, importantly, from some Senate Banking Committee Democrats—has been mounting.

For them, Mr. Summers became a symbol—a caricature, his admirers say—of all the failures of financial regulation that they said led to the devastating financial crisis.

. . . more

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323981304579077442028100408.html

60 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Summers Withdraws Name for Fed Chairmanship (Original Post) swag Sep 2013 OP
Now do the right thing, Mr. Pres., and nominate Janet Yellen (N/T) swag Sep 2013 #1
I think he will roll over and pick someone who pleases his real boss, the banks. olddad56 Sep 2013 #38
This should make a lot of people happy. NYC_SKP Sep 2013 #2
It should but probably not. They want to complain about the President somehow. nt kelliekat44 Sep 2013 #49
Wow! nt onehandle Sep 2013 #3
Wow! dkf Sep 2013 #4
It certainly does make me happy... No, he isn't a caricature, but a cretin. hlthe2b Sep 2013 #5
Great news. Whew. Faygo Kid Sep 2013 #6
. DURHAM D Sep 2013 #7
That's good news! k&r Little Star Sep 2013 #8
Too many skeletons Larry? nradisic Sep 2013 #9
The Proles go wild. Berlum Sep 2013 #10
+1000000 TexasTowelie Sep 2013 #22
And I'll raise you another 100K Populist_Prole Sep 2013 #43
GOOD. Triana Sep 2013 #11
Thank God. Here's another link BumRushDaShow Sep 2013 #12
best news of the week, I think.... mike_c Sep 2013 #13
Sweet...happens when too many reasonable and influential people conclude you are an asshole BeyondGeography Sep 2013 #14
Thank you, Larry. roamer65 Sep 2013 #15
It's gotta be worse than we think for him. He doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who faces up to CTyankee Sep 2013 #59
I think Tim Geithner has changed his mind. roamer65 Sep 2013 #16
Yeah, Geithner's qualified in that he has Wall Street's endorsement. Scuba Sep 2013 #29
I understand your sentiment. roamer65 Sep 2013 #41
I think Geithner will face similar opposition if his name is floated as a possibility -- n/t mazzarro Sep 2013 #30
I wonder if his talk with Elizabeth Warren helped him decide this? Kablooie Sep 2013 #17
Krugman for Chairman! nt Cryptoad Sep 2013 #18
+1000 - Yes indeed! -- n/t mazzarro Sep 2013 #31
Hah,,,, yes indeed Cryptoad Sep 2013 #33
It's Chistmas in September! Thank you Santa! nt TeamPooka Sep 2013 #19
I love DU!!! babsbunny Sep 2013 #20
Good news The Second Stone Sep 2013 #21
Has he yet? RC Sep 2013 #36
WOOHOO!!!! NutmegYankee Sep 2013 #23
Good!!!! hrmjustin Sep 2013 #24
THANK YOU SCUMMERS, but why did Obama even ENTERTAIN the idea of nominating him alp227 Sep 2013 #25
Great news! DCBob Sep 2013 #26
Praise Jeebus BadGimp Sep 2013 #27
How about someone with some "progressive" credentials? Scuba Sep 2013 #28
Like Paul Krugman? mazzarro Sep 2013 #32
+ 1000 nt Cryptoad Sep 2013 #34
Sure, but we'll probably get Geithner. Sorry, my cynicism guage is redlined right now. Scuba Sep 2013 #48
Krugman suggests Yellen. Orangepeel Sep 2013 #53
+1 nt Vanje Sep 2013 #56
Yay!!! Squinch Sep 2013 #35
Thank God and good riddance! liberalhistorian Sep 2013 #37
K&R DeSwiss Sep 2013 #39
Yahh K&R pam4water Sep 2013 #40
Currently working on my celebration. mmonk Sep 2013 #42
I am happy, too. roamer65 Sep 2013 #44
Please don't link to something we can't read. n/t duffyduff Sep 2013 #45
>* HAPPY DANCE!! *< lastlib Sep 2013 #46
I was traveling yesterday but when I saw the front page of the NYT I nearly burst into song at the CTyankee Sep 2013 #60
I think he was pushed. It is a face saving gesture for Summers. SunSeeker Sep 2013 #47
Best news all day! elleng Sep 2013 #50
Kick! n/t Tx4obama Sep 2013 #51
Australia's stock market hits a 5 year high on the news. roamer65 Sep 2013 #52
Oh... the poor man.... Bigmack Sep 2013 #54
Here's another link without the paywall. greatauntoftriplets Sep 2013 #55
Hallelujah! snot Sep 2013 #57
If only more slugs would salt themselves... yurbud Sep 2013 #58
 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
2. This should make a lot of people happy.
Sun Sep 15, 2013, 04:37 PM
Sep 2013

Paging Janet Yelen.

And if she's not game, let's clone a copy of Elizabeth Warren for the slot.

What she doesn't know she can learn.

At least she'll have our backs, and our grandchildren's backs.

hlthe2b

(102,311 posts)
5. It certainly does make me happy... No, he isn't a caricature, but a cretin.
Sun Sep 15, 2013, 04:43 PM
Sep 2013

but at least he's done this one good thing.

Faygo Kid

(21,478 posts)
6. Great news. Whew.
Sun Sep 15, 2013, 04:44 PM
Sep 2013

That was going to be the deal breaker for me. Let him take his ill-gotten gains elsewhere.

roamer65

(36,745 posts)
15. Thank you, Larry.
Sun Sep 15, 2013, 04:57 PM
Sep 2013

You are not the right person for the job and I give you kudos for realizing it and withdrawing.

CTyankee

(63,912 posts)
59. It's gotta be worse than we think for him. He doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who faces up to
Tue Sep 17, 2013, 11:44 AM
Sep 2013

very much criticism. He's a real hardass and IMO totally tone deaf. They must've really had him by the short hairs on this thing...

roamer65

(36,745 posts)
16. I think Tim Geithner has changed his mind.
Sun Sep 15, 2013, 05:02 PM
Sep 2013

I expect Obama will be announcing his nomination soon.

Rumor has it Obama highly respects Geithner and initially offered him the job. I'm guessing Mr. Geithner has changed his mind and Summers is out.

The two qualified people are Tim Geithner and Janet Yellen. Each have experience and have been FRB presidents.

 

Scuba

(53,475 posts)
29. Yeah, Geithner's qualified in that he has Wall Street's endorsement.
Sun Sep 15, 2013, 05:54 PM
Sep 2013

Don't know enough about Yellen to comment. Hope it's someone who will see their charge as protecting the People from the banksters.

roamer65

(36,745 posts)
41. I understand your sentiment.
Sun Sep 15, 2013, 07:18 PM
Sep 2013

...but the job of truly protecting consumers from the banksters lies with Congress to enact correct banking laws. We need to elect many more Elizabeth Warrens so Congress will do its job and re-enact Glass-Steagall.

Cryptoad

(8,254 posts)
33. Hah,,,, yes indeed
Sun Sep 15, 2013, 06:03 PM
Sep 2013

I can the see now the eyes of all the GOP Bankers rolling around and around in their heads if the President were to make the announcement of appointing Krugman!

LMAO

alp227

(32,037 posts)
25. THANK YOU SCUMMERS, but why did Obama even ENTERTAIN the idea of nominating him
Sun Sep 15, 2013, 05:47 PM
Sep 2013

in the first place?

HOPE? CHANGE? My a**!

BadGimp

(4,015 posts)
27. Praise Jeebus
Sun Sep 15, 2013, 05:51 PM
Sep 2013

a win for the 99%

will be interesting to see what the President does next

fingers crossed

 

Scuba

(53,475 posts)
28. How about someone with some "progressive" credentials?
Sun Sep 15, 2013, 05:52 PM
Sep 2013

Or will it be another Wall Street shill?

mazzarro

(3,450 posts)
32. Like Paul Krugman?
Sun Sep 15, 2013, 06:01 PM
Sep 2013

Last edited Mon Sep 16, 2013, 11:19 AM - Edit history (1)

You betcha! He will be my preference indeed.

I know it is a near impossibility, but I can still dream; can't I?

CTyankee

(63,912 posts)
60. I was traveling yesterday but when I saw the front page of the NYT I nearly burst into song at the
Tue Sep 17, 2013, 11:45 AM
Sep 2013

airport. I kept thinking about LOTS of happy dances at DU!

I join you in the festivities!

SunSeeker

(51,579 posts)
47. I think he was pushed. It is a face saving gesture for Summers.
Sun Sep 15, 2013, 08:20 PM
Sep 2013

It beats not being picked after all this talk of him being the nominee and it sure as hell beats being picked and failing to get confirmed after a bruising confirmation battle. I think Obama probably suggested he withdraw his name as the math showed he wasn't going to have the votes. Obama certainly shows no indication that he tried to stop Summers from withdrawing and he does not seem disappointed that Summers withdrew.

Whatever the reason, I am glad he's out.

 

Bigmack

(8,020 posts)
54. Oh... the poor man....
Sun Sep 15, 2013, 09:10 PM
Sep 2013

I hope he doesn't have to eat out of garbage cans and sleep on park benches and wear ragged clothes and ....

I've gotta stop. I'm giving myself a chubby just thinking about those things.

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