Treasury Secretary Paul Krugman? Do Liberal Dreams Come True?

[Segami]

With reports now surfacing that Tim Geithner is retiring at the end of January, now eyes are fishing about to determine who will replace him. When Obama first took office, he filled his cabinet using a principle of it being a “Team of Rivals.” Now, Obama’s appointments of John Kerry and Chuck Hagel, it is clear Obama is changing gears dramatically for his second term. Knowing the kind of shakeup he is doing, the list for who is potentially to replace Tim Geithner as Treasury Secretary shrinks dramatically.



The Guardian newspaper is now suggesting that the candidate to fill Tim Geithner’s shoes might be none other than Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman. This would be in line with Chuck Hagel’s appointment, a well-known opponent of the military-industrial complex who does not want war with Iran, and wants us out of Afghanistan as soon as possible. Krugman as Treasury Secretary would be bringing onboard the man who identified the causes of the great recession before it ever happened. He is no friend to Wall Street, and would be the right kind of oversight needed at the Treasury Department. His common sense solutions to financial problems are sorely needed in Washington.



Unlike many in the nation’s capital, Krugman understands the benefits of Social Security, Medicare, and other services. He understands that these are not hand outs, but instead necessary economic tools, the very tools which helped ensure our strength and growth over the years. He understands that attacking these does not bring about fiscal responsibility, and is in fact irresponsible and counter-productive. Furthermore, he accurately predicted the results of the now three sessions of quantitative easing, dismissing critics who claimed they would cause runaway inflation and stagnant growth. He understands the system better than most other men. However, he understands not only the hows, but the whys. Some have called him a Keynesian, and it is a badge he wears with honor.



And in this day and age, it is clear a Keynesian is what we need. For too long we have been enslaved to the neo-laissez-faire from the likes of Milton Friedman and Herbert Stein. They claimed when Reagan took office in 1981 that we would see the largest growth of jobs in the history of the United States. Instead, job growth and wages have effectively stagnated, leaving us with the mess we are in today. We need bold action Mr. President. If you were to nominate Paul Krugman to the cabinet, that would be a clear sign of bold, decisive action which the American people have been craving. There may be others who are more politically safe, or would have an easier time passing through the Senate, but nobody has the economical star power of Paul Krugman. He is the right man for the job at the right time, Mr. President.





cont'

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/01/07/treasury-secretary-paul-krugman-do-liberal-dreams-come-true/

[banned from Kos]

1. Exactly what would Krugman do? Force Congress into a big stimulus?

Tell Boehner to STFU about cutting SS/Medicare?

Take over monetary policy from the Fed?

[Larkspur]

2. He could work with Sen. Warren & her allies to put the screws on the banksters

To be honest, I'd love to have Krugman as Treasury Sec., but I'd be very surprised if Obama nominates him.
However, I'd love to be surprised in this instance.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. The problem with this post is

that it exactly anticipates everything I was gonna say.

Precisely.

[think]

4. He or Robert Reich would be outstanding IMO

A pro Reich for Sec Treasury editorial:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-abrams/going-bold-on-a-treasury-_b_2184787.html

[No Compromise]

5. Krugman suggested the housing bubble, I don't think he is on our side...

To fight this recession the Fed needs more than a snapback; it needs soaring household spending to offset moribund business investment. And to do that, as Paul McCulley of Pimco put it, Alan Greenspan needs to create a housing bubble to replace the Nasdaq bubble. Judging by Mr. Greenspan's remarkably cheerful recent testimony, he still thinks he can pull that off.

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Paul_Krugman

[wilsonbooks]

6. But Krugman is a Liberal and as such the attacks on him

from the DLC wing will begin now......

[banned from Kos]

7. Krugman is more often attacked by the Emo-Progs for his free trade

beliefs as well as his refusal to play this "bankster criminal" bullshit game.

[wilsonbooks]

8. So do you support Dr. Krugman then?

The only people that I have seen that use the term Emo-Progs are third way types.

[banned from Kos]

12. I am fine with Krugman at Treasury.

I doubt he could stomach politics though.

[Fumesucker]

10. The latest term of art is "Progtopian"

Please make note of this in your language files.

[libodem]

9. I like that furry faced guy!

He's freaking smart as Hell!!!

[jwirr]

11. I would love to see this.