Obama needs to rethink Geithner.

I have been watching the House Committee testimony of Secretary Geithner today. Both he and Bernanke are impatient and condescending in explaining what has happened to the American people. They seem to have the attitude: Look, we are experts. How dare anyone challenge or question our judgment.

The Secretary of Treasury and the head of the Fed need to have the skills of educators. They need to be able to patiently explain to the American people what has happened and why they made the decisions they made. In my opinion, Bernanke and Geithner seem to have the attitude that it is a bother and a distraction for them to have to testify before Congress.

These men are, no doubt capable technicians. However, neither of them has the temperament to handle the public scrutiny that they are now undergoing. Geithner should, at the very least, be demoted. Hire a professor who has lots of experience explaining complex financial concepts to the public instead of Geithner. Same for Bernanke.

hour on a bad situation, with ridicule from us, and without tools, regulatory power to solve this.

Gee, never criticized Greenspan for anything, and is dour as they come.

And continue to do so.

you wouldn't show any patience either. The arrogance of those people in Congress. They're nothing but big show offs in front of the cameras. They act all high and mighty, they are the ones who wrote and voted on TARP. Why the hell didn't they put tougher restrictions and rules in it? They ask Geitner a question and cut him off before he can even answer. Just rude assholes

I've-got-that-covered-myself technique had me bristling too.

American people. He is impatient, arrogant and condescending in his manner. Get someone into that position who can be a spokesman for the administration. The Secretary of Treasury does not normally need the kinds of people/communication skills that are needed at this time.

The ones asking him questions were. He couldn't even get a chance to answer them.

Watch it here

http://cspan.org/Watch/watch.aspx?MediaId=HP-R-16671

And tell me who is arrogant and condescending

and condescension in such a way that he wins over his audience. Obama does it very well. Even Bernanke performed better than Geithner in that respect. These Congresspeople are Geithner's judges and jury (as are the American people). They are his bosses. Geithner needs to treat them with humility. They are not wasting his time. They are performing their oversight obligation. He needs to let them know that he respects their work and understands why they are questioning him. They are doing their jobs. Parr of his job is to answer their questions respectfully.

My advice to Geithner is based on experience. I have dealt with some of the meanest of the mean. I am a tiny little woman, and when people see me, they don't understand how I can do my job. Charm and patience get you everywhere.

Geithner needs to go and so does most of Congress.

They bristled a bit when there were direct challenges to their ethics. I thought their response was unequivocal and emphatic. What would be worse would be to appear to be weaseling on such responses. I found them both credible.

And congress is mostly grandstanding and nipping at their heels while trying to score political points by fueling anger in the sheeple.

I would have an attitude as well were I them. Most of the stuff spewing from the congresspeoples mouths is nonsense.

Financial industry deregulation, almost-free trade with China, and now the Great Banker Bailout of 2009.

Wow!

Clearly you prefer someone with none

Let's put Brownie back at FEMA.

Wait... how about we put in *experienced* people who do not have a *successful* record of *supporting* the middle class. What a nutty idea, huh?!!!

stupid questions without arrogance. Obama needs to find one of them to speak for his administration.

Why suffer fools?

Geithner is talking to a jury. He needs to slow down and explain what he is doing in clear language that ordinary people can understand. These hearings are his chance to talk directly to the American people. They are teaching opportunities. He is missing these opportunities. He sees these hearings as a pain in the neck. I admit the theater behind him is probably disconcerting, but he should view these hearings as opportunities to communicate his ideas to Congress and the American people. He seems to view them ans an annoying waste of time. This is his job. He is not a technician any more. He needs to act like a statesman.

person who is capable of dealing with the public in the Secretary's office. Geithner may improve, but thus far, he is too impatient, talks too fast and acts arrogant around those he considers to be his less knowledgeable than himself. He seems to say: "Who are you to ask me to explain what I am doing or why I am doing it. I'm in charge here, and you Congresspeople should just let me do what I want without oversight." We had enough of that with the Bush administration. Geithner may not really think that way, but that is the way he acts. Maybe he can learn. He needs to know how he comes across.

but he's here to stay (at least through the first term, I think). We can only wait and see if his plans will work.

... have NO regulatory or oversight duties. Because ground zero of this disaster is NYC.

... because if they did there would be outrage.

of them would support global currency. I think our President has a problem with both of them and I think you are right, President Obama should rethink Geithner's position.

Is that the problem with Geithner? How about an actor then? Someone reassuring, a fast learner. George Clooney? Didn't he have some kind of business training? James Cromwell might make a reassuring, fatherly presence for the Homeland Heartland, if you want to go with that.

Does it occur to you that the people have understood the "complex financial concepts" of banking piracy very well, and have a visceral sense of how the bottom line is coming out of their hides, probably a better one that Geithner's?