May 31, 2006
IT'S THE [BUSH] ECONOMY, STUPID:
A Wall Street rock star is Bush's pick for Treasury job: President Bush nominated 60-year-old Goldman Sachs Chairman Henry 'Hank' Paulson for Treasury secretary, traditionally one of the most powerful jobs in government. (RON HUTCHESON AND KEVIN G. HALL, 5/31/06, Knight Ridder News Service)
Paulson, who goes by ''Hank,'' is arguably the most influential executive on Wall Street, the market's equivalent of a rock star. Associates said he initially rebuffed Bush's overtures, but changed his mind after winning assurances that he'd have an influential role in shaping economic policy. [...]Although Paulson is expected to win Senate approval with little difficulty, Democrats signaled that they'd use his confirmation to highlight troubling aspects of the nation's outwardly strong economy.
Tired of highlighting their opposition to the President's strong anti-terrorist measures the Democrats will now highlight the strong economy? Posted by Orrin Judd at May 31, 2006 10:42 AM
Nice trinagulation on the selection. Getting the CEO from what was until yesterday most Democrats' favorite Wall Street investment firm already has blunted some of the critcism while only producing a few muted protests on the right (mainly because if Chuckie Shumer likes him, there must be somthing wrong here). Going after the economy as opposed to Paulson at the hearings only works if the nominee doesn't dispute their claims, and if he does, we're back to the problem of attacking the guy who's already got Robert Rubin's endorsement.
Posted by: John at May 31, 2006 2:27 PM