Comments on: Who Should be Treasury Secretary? How About Someone Who Got It Right?

By: T-Bear

T-Bear — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:07:21 +0000

Severely EPU’d. This report at The Guardian has a needed observation about knowledge of “real” Keynes as opposed to ersatz interpretations. I don’t know if it had come to your attention given the politics of recent weeks.

Will the real Keynes stand up, not this sad caricature?

The great economist is back in fashion, but it will be a disaster if his brilliant theories are now misapplied

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comm.....ohn-keynes

By: sanantone

sanantone — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 06:45:07 +0000

Lawrence Summers? Africa is “underpolluted”? Girls can’t do science? Egad!

By: MarkH

MarkH — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:24:09 +0000

Volcker was pretty decent, but I don’t really get the feeling he fits with this administration. How old is he now? I remember him from 1980 and he seemed old then. Of course, I’ve also suggested Alice Rivlin for either Treasury or maybe OMB. Who knows how these individuals feel about their own abilities or where they would like to work. It’s easier for Obama to figure this out.

By: MarkH

MarkH — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:20:30 +0000

ROBERT REICH
He was reasonably prescient, he’s completely progressive, and he’s smart. (Also funny. Also experienced at the policy level.) There is no choice more progressive and practical.

I think I’d rather see him at Health and Human Services.

By: MarkH

MarkH — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:17:04 +0000

To tell the truth I don’t know who else to head the SEC who has any cred.

Maybe that’s the better position for someone like Sheila Bair.

By: MarkH

MarkH — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:05:57 +0000

Interior has a lot of responsibility for what occurs on our lands. I want to see someone who’s not oil/mining friendly.

Someone with great character and a love of the land and a real knowledge of the West. Maybe Janet Napolitano? Not sure. There are probably a few other names to put on a short list.

By: CitizenE

CitizenE — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 04:59:48 +0000

Roubini seems comfortable with either Summers or Reithner (http://www.rgemonitor.com/blog/roubini). I would like to know their ideas to have any sense of things; I like that Reich is on the advisory team. Folks seem to respect Volcker and Buffett as advisors, but I must say to be honest, it appears to me not all that many people know all that much. I like Jeffrey Sachs’ commentaries, but he wants folks to pay their taxes (instead may I say of laying it on their grandchildren at interest), and that is not going to be a big sell. Still, since the people I understand–Roubini and Sachs–seem somewhat optimistic about Obama’s direction, and Obama’s track record at being a lemonade maker has been pretty good so far, at this point I am willing to wait, watch, and get better educated.

By: wesgpc

wesgpc — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 04:59:29 +0000

If we could extract the economic logic portion of Krugman’s brain and implant into some one with a managers’ personality, that would be perfect. I think Krugman is too much of an academic, and is interested mainly in research and teaching. He has said he has no interest in any position with real world responsibility and I believe him. Most of the creative minds I have known in academics have little aptitude or interest in a position that requires management skills. There are very rare exceptions, but Krugman himself says that he is not one of them. But… maybe if asked he will sacrifice for his country and his ideas will redeem the managerial chaos of his term.

By: NonCompassionateLiberal

NonCompassionateLiberal — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 04:52:17 +0000

I’d like to see Paul Krugman with the job.

By: eqbal00

eqbal00 — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 04:50:04 +0000

ROBERT REICH
He was reasonably prescient, he’s completely progressive, and he’s smart. (Also funny. Also experienced at the policy level.) There is no choice more progressive and practical.

I gotta confess, I find the possibility of J. Stiglitz sort of intriguing, but way odd.