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Mandel Ngan / AFP - Getty Images
President Barack Obama announces his choice of White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew as the next Treasury Secretary in the East Room of the White House on January 10, 2013 in Washington, DC.
President Barack Obama nominated Jack Lew, his current chief of staff, to be the next Secretary of the Treasury Thursday, elevating his wonky former budget director to a position at the center of fights over the nation's deficit and spending.
"Jack knows that every number on a page, every dollar we budget, every decision we make, has to be an expression of who we wish to be as a nation, our values," the president said at the White House announcement of Lew's nomination.
Related: Team Obama trips on cabinet shuffle
The president did not indicate who will replace Lew. The leading candidates for the next chief of staff are former Biden chief of staff Ron Klain and Deputy National Security Adviser Denis McDonough.
"I don't want to see him go, because it's working out really well for me to have him in the White House," Obama said of his departing chief. "But my loss will be the nation's gain."
Lew, known as a tough negotiator who clashed with House Republican aides during last year's debt ceiling negotiations, previously served as the director of the Office of Management and Budget under both Obama and former President Bill Clinton.
Lew will replace outgoing secretary Tim Geithner, who took the post at the start of Obama's first term, when financial markets were still roiling from the 2008 meltdown.
"I couldn't blame Tim when he told me he wasn't the right guy for the job," Obama joked.
Praising Geithner for his handling of the economy throughout his four year tenure, Obama noted that he pleaded with Geithner to stay on despite his onetime desire to leave before the end of Obama's first term.
Economist Greg Ip and CNBC's Steve Liesman share reactions from the markets, foreign capitals and Congress to Jack Lew as the Treasury Secretary nominee.
"When the history books are written, Tim Geithner's going to go down as one of our finest Secretaries of the Treasury," Obama said to sustained applause from the audience at the White House.
In remarks, Lew joked about his famously loopy signature, saying that he and Geithner share "a common challenge with penmanship." (The Treasury Secretary's signature appears on all paper currency.)
Obama wryly responded that, while he considered rescinding Lew's nomination over his sloppy signature, the new pick had promised to work to make at least one letter legible so as to "not debase our currency."
Critics have pointed out that Lew, who served as chief operating officer of Citigroup Alternative Investments in 2008 before coming to OMB, benefited from that unit's investments in anticipation of the housing market collapse.
That's likely to be discussed at his confirmation hearings, and Republicans like Senate Budget Committee ranking member Sen. Jeff Sessions have already voiced opposition to Lew's selection for the post.
On Thursday, Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue described the new Treasury pick as an experienced veteran of fiscal debates.
"Jack's been around for a long time," he said. "He's a tough dude."
For more about Lew's background, click here to read NBC's coverage from yesterday.
NBC's Bob Costantini contributed to this report.
Leave a Comment:
Congress already wrote and mailed the checks to our creditors and the creditors have deposited the checks and are now waiting for the check to clear so they can pay their employees and creditors. To not pay is to default causing economic distress around the world.
The only legitimate purpose for a Debt Ceiling in the current process is to create a discussion that allows politicians make points about the size of our debt but since the money has already been spent it should not be an excuse to deny an increase of the debt ceiling.
It is not used by most other countries – The U.S. and Denmark are the only democratic countries in which Congress has to approve borrowing separately from spending. In most other countries the authority to borrow money is tied to the authority to spend money.
Solution: Change the process so the authority to borrow is part of every spending bill. Using that method will force Congress to address the amount of spending for each and every spending bill. Or use a less full-proof method by voting to increase the debt ceiling at the same time as final passage of the budget.
Lew is a Washington insider, having good will from both sides after having worked at high levels since the 1980s. He is not a Wall Street insider, different from Geithner.
I agree, Dennis, this debt ceiling mechanism started in 1917, about a century ago, and has exhausted its usefulness. Time to get rid of it.
I agree, but I also can't stress enough that without a budget, lawmakers/congress does not know how the allocation of funds should be spent.
Michelle,
Congress writes the budget resolutions so yes they [people like Ryan] do know where in general the money should be allocated and that guides how they write the appropriation bills and as has been the case for almost 3 years the Budget Continuing Resolutions.
Budgets do not control spending ... spending bills do
You obviously have no clue that Obama and Reid fought the debt ceiling tooth and nail saying it was proof of failed leadership and unfair to saddle our kids with the debt. Are you a hypocrite like them??
Lew is a Wall Street insider. He loved working for Citigroup when it failed and had to be bailed out under TARP and the Federal Reserve handouts. Lew also said Obama's budget will not increase the deficit.
I am talking more of a general budget standard, like 3% GDP or the likes....
Michelle,
I am of the opinion that GDP fluctuates too much to be a guide for determining budget levels.
In Q1 of 2009 our GDP growth was minus 9%. If the budget were matched to that we would have to lay off 200,000 employees and we could not meet our Constitution mandate to conduct the 2010 census.
Did anyone think he would make a good decision? He hasn't in over four years so why start now.
Dennis - I understand that. Sometimes you have to tighten the belt.
Do you think all of our constitution mandates are followed to the letter? If you know that the 2010 cencus is coming up, can't you spread the budget out over 10 years to allow for that?
If you can't afford something, don't buy it... the housing industry would be in much better shape with that simple rule.
Some kid just shot a person in a California high school... when will it end?
Gee, does Lew owe back taxes like the last guy Obama appointed to SecTreasury did?
Lew was/is in with citigroup, which is one of the companies that obama just extended cronyism corporate tax breaks to while at the same time letting middle class tax breaks expire.
Are you libs seriously going to say you support Lew?
As far as the budget, where have the budgets been from Reid and obama? You might not like the house budgets, but at least they put one out according to the LAW. The LAW you libs seem to consistently forget/ignore.
But only 6 years ago it was a useful mechanism. I wonder what has changed so quickly?
Yet another "Male, pale and stale" nominee.
Another dumb decision by an idiot president ... good job, libtards
The irony here is that we are being sucked into diversionary arguments over the gender of nominees, while most of us, me included, do not have the first clue as to whether Geithner or Lew or any of the people who are involved in setting our economic policies actually know what they are talking about.
I tend to think they don't because, if they did, then why are we still in the freaking mess we're in?
What concerns me most is that we never seem to bring any new ideas into the process. Economic experts are a lot like re-tread NFL coaches. How on earth, for example, did Andy Reid get another job so fast?
Anna Molly
Kansas City just does not want to win the Big One.
I love reading these post especially of the progressives.
dennis @1.0 said: "The only legitimate purpose for a Debt Ceiling in the current process is to create a discussion that allows politicians make points about the size of our debt but..."
would you agree that when the junior illinois senator in 2006 said the following that he was just political grandstanding??
"The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies. … Increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that “the buck stops here.” Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better.
Steve Benen, The Maddow Blog:
The New York Times had a fascinating piece last year on the 2011 debt-ceiling crisis negotiations, and House Speaker John Boehner's frustrations that Lew had a "detailed knowledge of the budget" that "outpaced anyone else's in the room." It got to the point that Boehner kept trying to get Lew out of the room, in the hopes that it'd be easier to strike a GOP-friendly deal.
Matt Yglesias explained last April:
Any time Lew, the math guy, was out of the room [the Republican proposal] could look like a promising approach. But if the math guy kept saying the central tenet of the proposal was founded on bad math, then actually no progress was being made. So for a time Boehner got the math guy out of the room and it looked like progress was getting made. But clearly the president of the United States isn't going to agree to a budget deal without running it by his budget director and, indeed, it turned out that "the framework negotiated by Obama, Daley, and Geithner -- and laid out in the Republicans' offer sheet -- unsettled the stomachs of some White House aides" one of whom I'm going to guess was Lew. As Bai tells it, as soon as the deal exited that room it immediately started deflating.
So, Republicans hate Lew the same way a con man hates the guy who knows how a con works.
Of course, some on the left have raised concerns about Lew, too, most notably the fact that worked briefly on Wall Street. That's true, though I think there's evidence to suggest his work was largely administrative and he was never actually a Wall Street insider.
That said, progressives concerned with Lew's ideology should re-read Michael Grunwald's "The New New Deal," in which Lew is presented as one of the most ambitious Keynesians in the Obama administration.
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/01/10/16450460-obama-nominates-lew-for-treasury?lite
billybob,
YES !
Anna Molly
actually he had the lead responsibility for the Clinton Administration’s policies on budget, management, and appropriations issues. Medicare and the rest of the social-safety net are close to Lew’s heart. Also, the fact that he is a tough negotiator who got under Boehner's skin is a plus. We shall see.
God when is the PIG and Blond going away one has not since and the other has one liners that make no since. No wounder Obama won if these two are representative of the gene pool that is voting.
I have to say it seems he was extremely well paid for his "largely administrative" role.
But don't worry, He's not an insider (what exactly is a Wall Street insider and what is their salary?)
I personally am kind of sad to see Turbo-Tax Timmy leave the Obama administration .... he always represented such a GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR HUMOR, especially when he didn't pay his taxes ! LOL !!
It's a little shell game being played by the Republicans.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/05/house-and-senate-unanimously-reject-obama-budgets-or-do-they/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/apr/06/mitt-romney/romney-says-obama-failed-pass-budget/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/16/senate-budget-jeff-sessions_n_1522643.html
Well there probably aren't many that would argue that Lew is the best possible choice for Treasury Secretary. Going before Congress and stating that the Obama budget would not add to the deficit makes him either stupid, incompetent, a liar, or all of the above. Don't be surprised if some senators decide to block his nomination.
Job1
Republicans have blocked everything and anything that had Obama's name on it. Now we will see how they behave with the nominations.Out of something like 500+ nominations in the past, only 9(?) were blocked so the Republicans are way ahead of the norm since they vow to block multiples of Obama's nominations.
bay -- can you offer some reference for your 500 thing? i do not know what it is referring to?
Rick...it is all of the above. ANYONE can see that the Obama budget WILL add to the deficit. Let's get someone in the treasury department that can do math!
billybob,
In all of U.S. history, just 9 presidential nominees for cabinet positions have been rejected by the Senate. And just 12 were withdrawn before coming to a Senate vote, according to the official Senate record.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/01/cabinet-nominees-rarely-fail.php
http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Nominations.htm#10
Dennis, nice post(s).
Pat Boston, well said. Lew is a great choice.
For anyone wanting to know the specifics about Jack Lew or anyone else, use Google or go to Wikipedia. Their credentials, education, experience, etc. are clearly listed. I trust President Obama; he appoints people to positions who have the background, expertise, qualifications to do the work. We may not always agree with Obama's choice for various reasons or preferences but no one can, and be honest, say his choices were mismatched to the position.
"one has not since and the other has one liners that make no since"
.....says Bob James, without so much has a trace of irony. Or, ummm, "sense"?
To paraphrase an old c/w song, "No wonder, no wonder I "wounder".....but I really don't want to know". :)
thanks dennis
He is not a Wall Street insider, different from Geithner.
I'm going to assume you haven't even researched Jack Lew if you are making such a statement...
CoCo, here's some information for you to ponder. Look closely and you'll see that you are flat out wrong; you'll also see that it is republican presidents who do the most federal spending.
Annualized growth of Federal spending by presidential term: Reagan, 8.7% and 4.9%; Bush 41, 5.4%; Clinton, 3.2% and 3.9%; Bush 43, 7.8% and 8.1%; Obama, 1.4%.
bay -- relax. none of obama's cabinet nominees has ever been blocked. speculation such as yours is not helpful
In related news Obama taps taxpayers wallets for life:
America has a budget problem??? Oh well, I'd like to have a taxpayer funded security detail for me and my wife forever.
"Obama signs law giving himself, Bush lifetime Secret Service guard"
"President Barack Obama on Thursday signed into a law a measure giving him, George W. Bush and future former presidents and their spouses lifetime Secret Service protection, the White House announced...
The legislation rolls back a mid-1990s law that imposed a 10-year limit on Secret Service protection for former presidents. Bush would have been the first former commander in chief affected. At the time, lawmakers who supported the measure said it would save the government millions of dollars. They also argued that former presidents could hire private security firms."
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-signs-law-giving-himself-bush-lifetime-secret-184305122--politics.html
How on earth could a former president possibly afford their own security??? Thank goodness Obama was able to ensure that he and Michelle can continue robbing Americans for decades to come. Once a Dictator always a Dic.
When is our novely act of a President going to present a budget? I have a feeling he never will so he can keep blaming Congress for everything. I love this quote: "When the history books are written, Tim Geithner's going to go down as one of our finest Secretaries of the Treasury," Obama said to sustained applause from the audience at the White House.
Does garbage just spew from his mouth when it opens?
And Lew is a career politician, liberal hack, yes man. Great choice.
@ Jody --
My own point, Jody, is that most of this monetary and fiscal stuff is voodoo, and therefore, it doesn't matter what Lew's qualifications are to be chief witchdoctor because voodoo is still voodoo.
And, as far as I can tell from what I've read about Lew here, his qualifications seem to match better with Secretary of HHS, or even Budget Director (a math job), rather than Treasury, which requires a different sort of global, big picture expertise. Think for a moment about Paul Ryan, another self-professed math guy, as Treasury Secretary. It just doesn't work that way.
I'll stand on my comment about re-treads. Especially as it relates to Treasury. Re-circulating the same old ideas about the economy is slowly-but-surely wearing all the copper off the pennies in a way that no shiny trillion dollar platinum coin could repair.
Dennis, Columbus, Ohio
thank you
billybob-6210632
my speculation is based on Senators like Lindsey Graham or John McCain who are vowing to obstruct nominations. I guess you are right, I should not take seriously these 2 village idiots.
pjam09 -
Uhh, you deliberately left a few things out from your own link. Like, for instance:
"The legislation, crafted by Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, rolls back a mid-1990s law that imposed a 10-year limit on Secret Service protection for former presidents."
And then there's also:
"The bill had sailed through Congress with bipartisan support—it cleared the House of Representatives by voice vote in early December, and then it zipped through the Senate unopposed".
The bolding is mine.....but how on earth do you manage to twist this around to somehow being something President Obama came up with all by himself?
Did you really think nobody would check up on your lie?
This is just a snapshot of GOP blockability, from June 2011, just imagine how many more there have been since then. This is from "The Nation" website
When I was younger "tapping" someone had a completely different meaning.
JoAnne in PA
he's spreading this crap on other vines as well...some people have no shame.
note to leftist water carriers , Barry's budget got soundly rejected by the far lefty controlled Senate without A SINGLE YES VOTE , good thing Republicans in the house saw the stupidity too
"God when is the PIG and Blond going away one has not since and the other has one liners that make no since. No wounder Obama won if these two are representative of the gene pool that is voting."
Can someone translate this for me? Seems to be someone from some sort of gene pool that is voting, but seems to have some sort of central nervous system malady.
drive-by: You are on your own. That is a language all by itself.
Another former investment banker just like Bush had for that position.
Wow, I'm sure glad we have such a wide range of choices when we vote.
MSNBC mispelled he president's nominee. It's spelled LOOOOOOOOO didn't you see his signature?
Another typical appointment by the president. This guy will run the treasury and he actually thinks at the current level of federal spending the government will not only not run a deficit, but will actually cut down the country's debt. Now they'll want to raise the amount they can borrow from China next month.....Man it would be funny if it wasn't so pathetic....
Lewd Jack is just another horrendous choice by Obama. This is the same moron who stood before the Senate Banking Committee and declarerd that "Obama's budget" would not only balance the budget, but would reduce deficits. In short. HE LIED big time and we cannot have another financial absurdity running the Treasury.
We must have someone who understands a Debit from a Credit. This fruit loooooooooooop is just another Obama leg humper who can tell a bold lie and keep a straight face while doing so.
Charlie followed by numbers
to answer your inquiry.....hopefully soon
Why doe that sound like a plumbing job? Oh, HA ... Ha ... ha ... snooze ...
Which is worse? The tapping or the wonky?
Carrie ... maybe a little more thought and better choice of words for the next article? ;-)
Headline writers are really just pining to write for Hallmark.
Look at the thickness of his glasses...he must be smart.
Amy B. Portland, ME
My X of some fame in the academic financial world is coming over ... I'll get back to you on that.
Amy.....he can read and understand the fine print......
It is great to know we will have another Jew in charge of our money. They have been doing such a wonderful job.
Do Not Feed The Troll!
Talk to Switzerland and then get back to me.
Oops ... sorry DaNoid.
ralphh I'm really glad to see that you like Jews. I'm sure they will complement you on the comment you posted. I'm glad to see you are a caring man and are concerned for the Jewish Community.
@Smitty -- ralphh cares more than Hagel.
ben That was a great reply. I'm glad you said that. Than you would agree that ralphh should get that job. The Jewish Community will agree with you. You guys on the right are just so darn smart.
Ralph,
It really does look like there is prerequisite to be a Treasurer; Greenspan, Geithener and now Lew. One can say, "isn't there any non-Jews in this country who is expert on financial matters?"
You may have many reasons to believe this is not a such a good idea: For example, you might say:
- Bernie Madoff was biggest crook Jews ever produced. This is not just any person, this guy was NASDAQ Chair. Only God knows what tricks he did and robbed all of us investors.
- There are inordinate number of news stories that depict Jews as fraudsters.
A- You hear ENRON (Years ago) collapse, biggest fraud at that time. The fraud was facilitated by Festow. While many people attempt to commit fraud, most or all are caught at Stage 1 level. But because festow was Jew, he was able to find "support" in the financial industry (by fellow Jews) through 8-10 years. The bankers, financial analysts, fund managers you name it, they let fellow Jew go unnoticed.
B - Anytime there is a Ponzi Scheme, there is a 50-50 chance a jew is involved in it.
C - One of the biggest Investment bankers, Goldman sucks chief Blankenfain testified in Congress that being unethical is not a crime. What GS did was they sold investors equities that they know will lose value, and, turned around and shorted the same equities with company capital. So, GS made big money in 2008 crises while average investor, including myself, got f*cked.
D - While all this going on, Financial Governing bodies who oversee the Wall Street were in a sleep. SEC and other similar institutions are either led by, or heavily represented by jews. One may say "So what?". Well, for example, SEC did investigate Madoff in 2002, years ago before all this s*it hit the fan. And the investigation went like this:
-Mr madoff, we have complains about your investment activities. How do you manage to make so good money?
-Madeoff said:" because I am very good, do you know who I am?".
Based on this in-depth investigation results, SEC closed the case.
However, same SEC investigated - for two years - an Indian broker for insider trading. They spent thousands of man hours for surveillance, forensic accounting etc to uncover $6 million...
E - IMF chief , the perv, DSK, You know all about him sexually. Imagine what he did with money while running the IMF.
F- Israel Foreign Minister Liberman; Kicked out of cabinet for fraud.
Moral of the story:
All this may cause some people to speculate and be suspicious of jews in financial matters.
But, thats not right.
Sicktired,
You forgot to mention they all have big noses, are cheap, and kill children for their blood to make their Passover Matzo.
Just like Germany in the 1930s all the financial woes of the country are the fault of Jews. Next you'll install a little man with a funny mustache in office and we'll be required to raise our hand and say sig heil.
Sicktired,
You forgot to mention they all have big noses, are cheap, and kill children for their blood to make their Passover Matzo."
And that's just for starters. I heard the bastiches wear black shoes, and drive cars....on OUR roads. AT NIGHT, yet!!
Jerry
I do not think what you are saying is true (Well perhaps except Woody Allen's nose). Those are what anti-semites think.
Hmm...so I'm supposed to be opposed to this nomination because of financial ties to Citigroup and suspicion that he profited from the housing market collapse...is that how this works?
In the interest of full disclosure, wouldn't it be interesting to know how many committee members had vinancial ties with Citigroup and profited from the housing market collapse?
I'll wait to see what Elisabeth Warren says.
Can't think for yourself huh. Typical of a Barack "Jim Jones" Obama Society cult member.
Ben-636050
You can tie the nefarious to both political Parties and it is boring to do so ... stones and glass house, do move on.
Wow... Looks like lil' Bennie got up on the wrong side of his cage today... So now, approving of the job our duly elected President is doing (also the majority opinion of true Americans) means we've all joined a cult (and oddly, a society) that kills its "members" rather than allow free thought and/or choice...
Calling that kind of horse$hit a stretch would be far too kind... Bennie makes the deranged and fanatical Jim Jones look like a reasonable, scholarly fellow in comparison.
Chick binder,
What is a true American?
Oh you mean Fauxcahontas?
At $1.1million salary and a $900K bonus after the bailout, yes I think you should.
"At $1.1million salary and a $900K bonus after the bailout, yes I think you should."
OK, now I'm confused as hell. I thought biggie salaries, and bonuses, paid at the expense of others was a GOOD thing??
Hello, righties- can y' explain this one to me???
It is a good thing, if it is earned and never at the expense of others.
The problem is, this is everything the President ran against, bankers taking bonuses after the government had to bail them out with TARP money. The righties are asking ,why does the left not have a problem with him given his job at Citibank.
Jack Lew, another Wall Street shill.
Oh darn it, Romney is not President and did not nominate his own Wall Street shill. Maybe some guy from AIG?
BCWC,
Dah! Insurance companies are democrat strongholds.........not republican.
Why am I not surprised to read: "Republicans like Senate Budget Committee ranking member Sen. Jeff Sessions have already voiced opposition to Lew's selection for the post." There is NO ONE that President Obama could appoint to any post that the Republicans would approve of. They just want to constantly obstruct the President in the hopes of wearing him down and keeping him from addressing his agenda. It is so wearisome---no wonder people have a higher opinion of cockroaches than they do of Congress.
checks and balances are good for this country...
Republicans object to Lew because he's no better then Geithner.
Alan - Well said.
Republicans object to Lew because he is not one of theirs. What was the mantra about dictators? He maybe a bastard, but he is our bastard. Get over yourselves.
Jack Lew has been thoroughly vetted over a number of years:
Jack Lew 101: Facts You May Not Know About the Expected Treasury Secretary Nominee:
Today at 1:30p ET, President Obama is scheduled to announce his nomination of Jack Lew as Treasury secretary. Want to know a little more about Lew? Check out this background information from the Fox News Brainroom.
1:45p ET UPDATE: President Obama has officially nominated White House chief of staff Jack Lew for the position of Treasury secretary.
foxnewsinsider.com/.../jack-lew-101-facts-you-may-not-know-about...
Good choice Mr President. We need more people such as Jack Lew in Government.
Lil Michelle - I agree we have hearings in the Senate on Presidential appointments as a check and balance. But the liberals don't believe in check and balance, only that Obama should get everything he wants without any discussion.
I am not to concerned about Jack Lew being appointed Secretary of the Treasury, and he will probably be confirmed. I would hope that Jack Lew would tell Senator Harry Reid to do his job and come up with a FY Budget and also act on the appropriations bills sent over from the House. Continuing Resolutions are no way to run the Government, it gives to much spending power to the Executive Branch.
sfcret - I'm liberal and I believe in checks and balances. I don't drink the kool aid, I believe in what is good for this country.
As for budgets, see my post #1.2 to see that I totally agree...
checks and balances are good for this country...
What an astute observation.
I'm liberal
Yeah, keep telling yourself that.
Steeler Fan: "no wonder people have a higher opinion of cockroaches than they do of Congress."
"Also more popular than Congress: root canals, NFL replacement referees, head lice, Canadian rock band Nickelback, colonoscopies, carnies (that is, carnival employees), traffic jams, Donald Trump, France, Genghis Khan, used-car salesmen, Washington political pundits and brussels sprouts."
"It wasn’t all bad news for Congress, however; the elected body still managed to beat out John Edwards, lobbyists, telemarketers, the Kardashians, North Korea, Lindsay Lohan, playground bullies, Fidel Castro, meth labs, communism, gonorrhea and the Ebola virus."
http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/01/08/congress-now-less-popular-than-head-lice-cockroaches-and-the-donald/
@ Alaskagirl - I'll do that, thanks!
sfcret: "But the liberals don't believe in check and balance, only that Obama should get everything he wants without any discussion."
Excuse me, but you don't speak for this liberal. I, for one, welcome discussion, and I suspect the President would welcome it as well. But a reasonable discussion has to include something besides "No", "Nope", "No way", "Not if I have anything to say about it", "Not even when hell freezes over" and "What was the question? Oh, never mind, if Obama's for it, I'm against it".
At least that's how it used to work.....
@ JoAnne - that is exactly how I feel! ;-)
@ Gingerbread Mamma
Another thing you might not now about him that was not included in your bio.
"Obama’s nominee for Treasury Secretary Jack Lew is a revolving-door lobbyist who worked at Citigroup in 2008, and then got a $944,518 check from the failed bank on January 15, 2009, according to his financial disclosure statement. That was just weeks after Congress passed the Wall Street bailout, funneling $45 billion in taxpayer money to the bank."
Steeler Fan, the GOP sounds like a broken record. I honestly think President Obama could appoint the Pope and the GOPers would complain he was Catholic.
Lil M, checks and balances has absolutely nothing to do with it. It's unnecessary GOPer whining without reason, without objectivity or open mindedness, and without so much as a confirmation hearing. Even those charged with crimes are innocent until proven guilty. These days, the GOP finds everyone President Obama nominates guilty without a hearing. It's tiresome and it makes the GOP look petty and vindictive.
that said, has anyone in 4 years had as many people leave the staff as President Obama?
Lil M, you're a liberal, you should know.
Alaska Girl, you may want to research or look at Lil's comments of the past. Yes Virginia, she is a liberal. Stop bashing one of your own. You're starting to sound Republican by doing so and we can't have that now can we?
Alaska Girl - you are on FIRE today! LMAO
I'm not convinced 'it's" even female let alone a liberal...
Lil Michelle: "that said, has anyone in 4 years had as many people leave the staff as President Obama?"
Okay, this is the third time I've posted this tally this week - and I promise it'll be the last. Almost every President has the same turnover - if not more - during their terms.
Ronald Reagan had two Secretaries of State and two of Defense while he was President - not to mention three each in Education, Energy, HHS, Treasury, and Attorney General. George W. Bush also had two different States and two in Defense, plus three each in Treasury and Attorney General, as well as FOUR separate CIA Directors, UN Ambassadors, and Press Secretaries. And Bush 41 managed to go through two States, two Attorneys General and three Chiefs of Staff just in one single term!
Oh....looks like Richard Nixon went through four Treasury Secretaries - in less than two full terms - too:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obama_Cabinet
Thanks, Feisty! Yes, the wannabe libs and the gun "enthusiasts" have really put some fire under my fingertips today! I may need to get a new keyboard!
Talk to the hand: You are so easily deceived. The clincher of a wannabe was: "we libs" in a recent post. "We libs" don't say that. HA!
Talk to the Hand/AlaskaGirl-759554
Now I know why lions eat their young. Nice to see you support each other and have Feisty come to referee.
Oh and AlaskaGirl-759554 - nobody wants to be a liberal. You're born that way and can't help yourself. More like a genetic problem.
We libs also don't play with "imposters"...
Nothing brings out the bat @!$%# crazy crowd like "Obama gonna take my guns" thread! LOL
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL
Glad I have you on ignore.
sfcret
Checks and balances are good when they are used correctly. When one opposes just to oppose because they don't like the president or the nominee is of another party and nothing of significance otherwise that is not check and balance. Unfortunately some on the GOPers tend to oppose everyone Obama appoints no matter who they are or what their record is because Obama appointed them.
Sure you do cupcake... sure you do... *wink wink*
Stop voting for yourself, makes you look like a bigger loser than we previously thought! ☺
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL
Still glad you are on ignore.
BTW - You'll have to do a better job of keeping your minions in line. You look like Boehner trying to heard the Republican cacus!!
Lil Michelle - looks like Feisty gave you a "time-out". Can't go against the "party line" and hope to keep posting with the "in" crowd. You can come back at me now and get back some street cred with the Libs -R- Us crowd. Good luck in the future.
Speaking of the gun thing- I say LET teachers have them. Here's my logic:
A good many decent citizens (and likely U N I O N ones at that!) could then remove from society those chicken-sh!t cowards that think they need an assault weapon do their talking for them.
"Glad I have you on ignore."....
He said, as he read the comment, and was glad at the same time that he didn't, because the author was on 'ignore'. Hmmmm....was the reader on 'ignor ant', perhaps?
Buzz,
Glad I didn't have to waste a prime minnow on her, she prefers the cheap "worm" bait...
She swallows the hook, line & sinker... EVERYTIME! LOL
Second one today I've busted with the "I have you on ignore" bull@!$%#!
The other one ran like a scalded cat when called out, this one is too slow & stupid!
"Second one today I've busted with the "I have you on ignore" bull@!$%#!"
Like shooting fish in a barrell, huh? With a BUSHMASTER!
Freaking bastiches. But ain't they worth the entertainment though?
Adler - Just keep spouting the left wing talking points. The GOP only opposes appointments when necessary and it is the responsibility of the House and Senate Republicans to participate in the Check and Balances process.
JoAnne - When the President makes remarks like "I won, get over it." The President is only interested in discussions where he thinks it will go his way. If denied something he runs to the news media and whines and you left wingers yell the Republicans are "Obstructionist, racist, losers and hate the President" and other remarks. How many times have I seen posts from the left that "Bush did this, Bush did that," well wasn't Obama to change all that happened in the Bush administration, and wasn't Obama going to be more open and transparent?
Hey, red- gonna check out, and link to stock quotes for a while. I think my retirement just got brighter again today. God, I love this president, and how much better off I am now, than 4 years ago.
"When the President makes remarks like "I won, get over it." -
He said THAT?!?
Link, please....
drive-by-observer
She really is on ignore. In point of fact you don't have to directly read anything she writes to know what is in it. Looks like even with her on ignore I have just proved my point!!
Good luck in the market.
Come on Buzz, you don't seriously expect Gomer to back up his BS..?
That ranks right up there with the back of the bus urban legend, there isn't a LIE out there they won't propagate!
Then they wonder why they had their asses handed to them in November... LOL
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL
From DBO - "Second one today I've busted with the "I have you on ignore" bull@!$%#!"
You do know that your loyal minions copy and paste what you type don't you?? My but you are soooooo easy.
My guess now is you'll try to come back with something smart alecky and fail. May as well go start dinner for your family now. I have proved my point once again!
Honey,
Contrary to what you want us to believe, you couldn't prove a point with a sharpener and #2 lead pencil!
Please, continue to *cough* ignore me, I haven't had this much fun making an ass out you in months!
Nothing can drive me to *giggles* like someone who is only a legend in what is left of their mind....
You might want to think about going and blowing your husband, he'll leave the twenty on the nightstand to cover your Prozac co-pay!
Don't quit your "day-job" Miss Cleo - once again you fail epically! LMAO
"...smart alecky.."
Uh....is that like 'glib' or something?
By the way- where is that link I asked for??
Drive by - I am sure you can google "Obama's "I won.." you will find several references. But just to give you a short cut try this link http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17862.html
Gomer's only defense was to post an expired link... not that we would expect anything less from the truthfully challenged nitwits!
You like our darling little Rebbie don't have a shred of credibility, YOU got nothing...
Put UP or STFU "Sarge"...
We are done babysitting your lazy, lying asses!
Feisty - Maybe you should try the link again. Now for the name calling I have told you many times that I really feel sorry for you as you have no life except for posting snide remarks and making a complete ass out of yourself. You and a few of your idiotic left wing friends need to get off the computer and get out and get some fresh air, I am sure it is real stinky in all of your basements.
Have a good night, if you ever get off the computer. See you tomorrow, NOT.
Take you all day to come up with that weak comeback there, sfcret? So, in your book "idiotic" is not name calling? Wow, must be nice to live by two sets of rules.
Speaking of fresh air, by all means go change your urine soaked G-string! We are ALL tired of having you smell your stench!
I dine on smelly douche-bags like you & your ilk daily! LMAO
drive-by-observer
Obviously it doesn't take you too much time to check your stock (singular). Hope your retirement is a bit longer.
"...smart alecky.."
Uh....is that like 'glib' or something?
It is kind of like glib - nice pick up BTW but I used smart alecky so as not to say bull$hit. Unfortunately you forced my hand.
SatanNick - now tell us again how much Paulson garnered on the deal? The man that made how many billions of profit on the failure of AIG, that is now suing the US? Surely, SatanNick, you can illuminate us on the trillions that flowed, or are you stuck with a few billion in your nether regions and your complaints about your hero, Paulson. If I didn't know better, you are simply Albany Joe with just a couple million at the tip of your pinky that Adelson could suck out of you with lips wrapped around your organ.
Jack Lew is a thief, a liar, and a criminal. He has stolen from the American people, and he gets paid to lie and help the New Nazis, American Marxists, drain every last drop of life from the middle class, poor, and minorities.
You're almost as upset as I am .
Steve.....how about you supply us with some links or even background to your claims...thanks.
Message to the Republican paid comments here you need to check in your bosses "why" I do not think Republican party want to get the Jewish community mad by attacking a Jew and lose that support. They lost too many voting blocks already. This country really does not need just one party which if only old white men are Republicans only voting block GOP will slowly vanish into the sunset.
You obviously are bloviating trash, there, Stevephoenix. If you knew anything you would know that Fascists (Nazis) and Communists are at extreme opposite ends of the political spectrum. Who is the liar now Stevie boy? Look in the mirror.
Watch it, Adler- he's armed with a Pendaflex folder full of women, and will unleash them at the drop of a hat!!!
What Steve is referring to is his involvment in CitiGroup and with Robert Rubin during the financial crisis of 2008, were both of them profited heavily from it......Here's the links you were looking for:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Lew
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rubin
There are 944,518 reasons to disqualify this Liar.
If Obammer made Lew his choice then it has to be the worst choice ever made by mankind!
tongue in cheek
"...every number on a page, every dollar we budget, every decision we make, has to be an expression of who we wish to be as a nation, our values," the president said"
OMG!!! this is priceless. Tooooooo funny!! This coming from Mr. Transparency himself, who was going to go line-by-line to eliminate pork. So he's saying the ridiculous pork spending from the stimulus bill is an expression of our nation?!?!? Almost a billion dollars to teach men in Africa how to wash their genitals? Almost a quarter of a million to study college girls' sex habits - to see if drinking makes them more likely to have sex??? WOW. This is how he wants the rest of the world to view us...... UNbelieveable
What are you talking about idiot?
Mens genitals on your mind ehy?
Johnny, before you call me names and attempt to be funny, I suggest you research where our stimulus money went. You know, every dollar spent , every decision made.......
Oh these right wing crash dummies.
Generally, the president gets the cabinet he wants with no fuss. The question has always been whether he can do the job, not whether we agree with him or like him. In all of US history only 9 nominees for cabinet positions have failed to be confirmed. The last was in 1989, a guy who drank too much and shared secrets with the Soviets. The previous failure was 30 years earlier. Now, two of Obama's nominations are about to be fiercely challenged.
McConnell proposes to fight the nomination because there was a time when Lew "irked" him. Boehner objects because Lew "was right in the middle of things."
The tactic is clear. Stop Obama from accomplishing anything. The standing filibuster in the Senate and the noisy and powerful minority in the House have largely succeeded. Everything is blocked. The ATF hasn't had a leader for six years. Even minor diplomatic appointments are blocked. And just wait until the debt ceiling rolls around.
The posture is destructive but it's psychologically and morally satisfying. Morally, if Obama is "evil" then everything he touches is evil and must be fought. Psychologically, look up binary thinking on Wikipedia.
Robert Maxwell, well said.
The right constantly implies that President Obama is ruining the country yet it is the GOPers in Congress who seem determined to destroy democracy at every turn.
Lew is Obama's budget director....has Obama ever passed a budget??
Good question ... the best you will get from libs is a reply he has submitted budget PROPOSALS ! None of Bam-Bam's budget proposals has ever received the first vote of support ! Besides, Obama is allergic to BUDGETS.
jim if you call the Presidents Budgets Proposals so bad than how come the house budgets never got read? I'm sorry I have to answer that. The house budgets were so bad the senate didn't waste its time reading them.
Not a single Democrat is House or Senate voted for Obama's budgets in 3 years prepared by Lew.
It's a little shell game being played by the Republicans concerning the budget. Here are the facts.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/05/house-and-senate-unanimously-reject-obama-budgets-or-do-they/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/apr/06/mitt-romney/romney-says-obama-failed-pass-budget/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/16/senate-budget-jeff-sessions_n_1522643.html
Hope, Congress passes budgets not the President; it's always been that way. I'd suggest if you're going to post a negative remark aimed at President Obama, you should at least choose your words more carefully.
Job 1, thanks for the links. We all know that the far right believe as did one of their own several decades ago that if a lie is big enough and told often enough by someone who is supposed to be an authority it will be believed as true. When the truth is exposed those esposing the truth are called names such as traitors. Herr Goebbels also believed that the truth is the enemy of the lie and thus of the liar. This is why those on the fringes of the right wing are yelping about Obama all the time. He is their enemy because he is the bringer of truth.
Why does it even matter if the President submits a budget or not? The authority for the Budget is vested with the Congress. The President may make a budget request but Congress is free to 1)ignore, 2)debate and amend and pass, 3)pass as submitted, or 4) vote against. If they do 2 or 3 they fullfill their obligation. If they do 1 or 4, then they are required to pass their own. For decades now sitting Presidents have submitted budget proposals which have been debated, amended and passed. Only rarely prior to the most recent 2 administrations has Congress failed to pass an actual budget be it the President's or their own.
Robert Maxwell You could say that again only louder so the republicans can hear you. Wait republicans are brain dead and can't hear.
Great job, he will be in charge of printing all the new 20's; you know the ones that will make the ones we have in our wallets worthless. Only problem for him is that he won't have much time for a vacation..
GO ahead and tap Lew Obama, when your done bend over and he will tap you back!
"When the history books are written, Tim Geithner's going to go down as one of our finest Secretaries of the Treasury," Obama said to sustained applause from the audience at the White House. " This is the biggest joke in the article.
Since little timmy didn't pay his taxes before getting the original assignment from the liar-in-chief, how much will he not pay now that he's stepped down? How much did he ever pay back if any, and how much is he going to NOT pay now.
Has THIS guy paided his taxes.
It must be White House CODE PINK jargan.
Everywhere you go now on the internet - OBAMA is Tapping Somebody New !
This woman is the liberal poster child. Certainly there is a cabinet position for her!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpAOwJvTOio
You might have to wait for it to strt but it is welll worth the wait for those who want to know just who it was that elected this man!
I'm sure Lew will screw things up even more. I'm surprised that the people didn't catch on to him when he picked Joe "Stand up for us Bob!.....oh, I'm SOOOO sorry" Biden. Great pick Obama. You're just full of snazzy ideas.
Lew is a great choice for Treasury Secretary. He is low key and smart and a great negotiator.
Message to the Republican paid posted comments here you need to check in with your bosses "why" I do not think Republican party want to get the Jewish community mad by attacking a Jew and lose that support. They lost too many voting blocks already. This country really does not need just one party which if only old white men are Republicans only voting block GOP will slowly vanish into the sunset
Heah IN Dem....I don't think the Republicans ever lost the other supporter's, in the first place.....It's more like, they didn't B.S the special interest group like the Dem's did! Admittedly, they failed in their P.R campaign. Clearly, it proves that Democrats are better liar's. The sleazy campaign the Dem's had to run, just to bring their messiah back for another four years of nothing! The way your party tore apart a good man just to win an election was an embarrassment to our nation. Doesn't it even make you ashamed that your president has failed you again. His promises mean nothing. He'll tell you whatever he wants....and you're stupid enough to STILL believe him! Taxes are going up, not down. The rich will pay more...and so will everybody else. The only ones that aren't affected are the 47% that Gov. Romney told the truth about....Where do you fit in, IN Dem?
So wait.........
You're defending Flip Flopney?
hahhahahahahhahahahahhahahahha
The same guy that says HIS tax rate is fair but the 47% paying THEIR legal obligations isn't?
hhahahahhahahahhahahahhahahahhahahahhahahhaha
Did Flip say he wanted to raise their rates?
hahhahahahhahahahhahahahhahahahhahahhahahahhahahah
What a fool you are.
Those stepping down have ridden the golden goose as long as they can without getting even deeper in the duck doo-doo. odumbo is having to replace with as many people as he can that are of the same mindset as he.
Kerry is just as bad, he's the male version of the Vietnam Jane. After what he did to our soldiers who fought and died in Vietnam, he's not going to be good for the office odumbo is putting him in. But he's of the same mindset -- destroy America.
What did he do to the soldiers who fought in Nam...like he did?
Lied about his purple hearts and how he got them.
Woodbutcher: He also accused our soldiers of rape, torture, killing the family village people at random,(cutting off heads, etc, etc, etc.) Did you not see the filmed testimony given years ago brought to light when he ran for pres. a few years back?
When Kerry made those comments about cutting ears, etc., he was quoting someone else, not making the allegation himself. That video clip was repeated over and over in the 2004 campaign, but only the "bad" part.
As for his writing his own decorations -- please.
Why not appoint the president of China as treasurer, it's their money anyway.
China doesn't have a president.
What a stupid post.
No Common Sense-4U, they don't...but it is their money! That kinda' make's your post stupid, too! Lighten up on goatman55......
You might have common sense but you're dumber than a tree stump. I understand though cause you're a democrap.
Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao is the President of the People's Republic of China. He was the leader of the fourth generation of leadership of the Communist Party of China. Wikipedia
Born: December 21, 1942 (age 70), Taizhou
Height: 5' 8" (1.73 m)
Spouse: Liu Yongqing
Education: Tsinghua University
Presidential term: March 15, 2003 –
Children: Hu Haifeng, Hu Haiqing
People also search for
Wen Jiabao
Xi Jinping
Jiang Zemin
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Bo Xilai
A guy named "goatman" calling other people out?
Hhahahahahhahhhahahahahhahahahha
And yeah, you really think the poster was talking about the leader of China as "president"?
hahhahahhahahahahhahahahhahah
You radical right wingers are a disgrace
Not calling you out fool just showing you the facts in which you libtards have no clue of what one is. It's ok.
That's gettting old goat, China holds approximately %8 of our National Debt in the form of Treasuries. We the People hold most of it. Check the article from Fox News. For some reason I cannot copy the link but just search "Who Holds the National Debt" It's one of the top hits.
Hey Mikey - isn't it funny how when you point out that China holds as much debt as Japan, or the EU, and it is a drop in the bucket compared to how much we own, the whiners suddenly crawl back into the bottle of Jim Bean, never to emerge. One thing is for sure, they love to spread Limbaugh disinformation as much as they like to spread Limpball-Limbaugh gonorrhea. And to boot, they have a suitcase of little blue, purple, green and yellow pills to get them through the night.
Hey Goat - when you have 10 minutes or so to pull away from your Ewe, perhaps you could enlighten us as to how much of the debt is owned by China.
In related news Obama taps taxpayers wallets for life:
America has a budget problem??? Oh well, I'd like to have a taxpayer funded security detail for me and my wife forever.
"Obama signs law giving himself, Bush lifetime Secret Service guard"
"President Barack Obama on Thursday signed into a law a measure giving him, George W. Bush and future former presidents and their spouses lifetime Secret Service protection, the White House announced...
The legislation rolls back a mid-1990s law that imposed a 10-year limit on Secret Service protection for former presidents. Bush would have been the first former commander in chief affected. At the time, lawmakers who supported the measure said it would save the government millions of dollars. They also argued that former presidents could hire private security firms."
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-signs-law-giving-himself-bush-lifetime-secret-184305122--politics.html
How on earth could a former president possibly afford their own security??? Thank goodness Obama was able to ensure that he and Michelle can continue robbing Americans for decades to come. Once a Dictator always a Dic.
You radical right wingers can't stop complaining.
Try complaining about tax breaks to oil companies that make hundreds of $billions in profits and can't justify why they need them.
What next 4 U.....I'm sure that sooner or later, you'll have to blame President Bush for something! You character's are so busy burning candles in front of the statue of you're messiah (obuma) that you are willing to do anything for him......That's SCAREY! Baaaaaaaah!
it was legislation passed by the Congress. Maybe you ought to be outraged at your GOP boys in the House who may have thought it was important.....since they haven't passed anything of import for 2 years.
You need to change you name to Common Dense 4U
I clicked the link. I think I know why he did this, Pjam09, it makes him look and feel important! Just the fact that he's now got lifetime security paid for by the USA, probably gave him an orgasm.
I forgot to mention, that odumbo should NEVER have his picture taken when the sun is behind him, it shines through his Perky dumbo ears.
The president will need protection for the rest of his life because of ignorant people like you.
That bill was sponsored by Republicans and passed both chambers with nary a dissenting vote.
pjam09 -You keep spamming this lie and I'm going to keep showing you up for the liar you are. As I posted above here:
Uhh, you deliberately left a few things out from your own link. Like, for instance:
"The legislation, crafted by Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, rolls back a mid-1990s law that imposed a 10-year limit on Secret Service protection for former presidents."
And then there's also:
"The bill had sailed through Congress with bipartisan support—it cleared the House of Representatives by voice vote in early December, and then it zipped through the Senate unopposed".
The bolding is mine.....but how on earth do you manage to twist this around to somehow being something President Obama came up with all by himself?
Did you really think nobody would check up on your lie?