Obama left short-handed on economy

[xchrom]

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-obama-econ-team-20110813,0,1348621.story

Reporting from Washington—
As he confronts the threat of another recession and turmoil in the financial markets, President Obama is being advised by an economic team that is noticeably short on big-name players — potentially hurting his ability to find solutions and sell them to Wall Street, Congress and the American public.

"When you ask about the economic team, it's kind of like, 'What economic team?'" said Edward Mills, a financial policy analyst with FBR Capital Markets. "They are very thin at a very critical time."

The administration needs all the firepower it can muster, experts said. Yet the team is missing a key messenger in selling Obama's policies. The post of chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors — an influential position — is vacant and is likely to remain so at least into the fall.

When Obama took office in early 2009, he was counseled by an all-star economic team that included former Treasury Secretary Lawrence H. Summers, Great Depression scholar Christina D. Romer and former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul A. Volcker.

[Skink]

1. He met with the heads of all the big emploers in this coumtry just yesterday.

I'm sure he got some good advice.

[tblue]

2. Eliz. Warren, Robert Reich, Paul Krugman,

I don't know if Ms. Warren would want to come back, but I have a feeling all three would answer the call if asked.

[bhikkhu]

3. ...and apparently Krugman, who could fix things in a jiffy if he had his way

would rather be a weekly blogger than inhabit any real responsibility.

In any case, congress is likely to block any and all appointments.

[pscot]

4. The President can talk to whomever he likes

I haven't heard that he has Krugman or Dean Baker or Jamie Galbraith on speed dial.

[Creideiki]

5. Not after shutting out Christina Roemer

Of course, she had the sense to say that yes, we're pretty darned fucked.

[Tansy_Gold]

6. He can PM me here and I'll

give him my cell phone number.




TG, TT

[xchrom]

7. ...

:spray: oh to be a fly on the wall for that conversation.

[txlibdem]

8. He's inept on the economy??? How surprising.

The Pres. is inept on the budget? How surprising.
He's inept on social programs? How surprising.
He's inept on keeping his campaign promises? How surprising.

How many more surprises do we all want to see?