Say No to Larry Summers as Treasury Secretary

[G_j]

Please sign this petition from Open Left: http://action.openleft.com/page/petition/nosummers

As Matt Stoller writes, "The Washington Note is reporting that former Clinton official Larry Summers is one of the leading nominees to become the Treasury Secretary for the Obama administration. In 1999, Summers was one of the key proponents of the banking deregulation that led to the rise of 'mega-banks' and the current financial crisis. At the time, Senators like Byron Dorgan and policy advocates like Public Campaign were warning the financial deregulation, but Summers did not listen. In addition to this remarkable lapse in judgment, Larry Summers has argued that women are innately less gifted in science than men, that 'Africa is Underpolluted', that child sweatshop work in Asia can be justified, and that energy used to oppose job destroying trade agreements was 'very, very badly misplaced.'"

[fascisthunter]

1. If This Happens, the Democratic Party is DONE!

I didn't work and worry my ass off so some fuckingderegulating "free-market" elitist scumbag could have a hand in this government. That's not change... that more of the same.

The fact that he is being considered is disgusting.

[G_j]

5. Naomi Klein agrees

(this petetion was forwarded by her)

[Why Syzygy]

21. Man.

If Obama is one of "them", I will never be able to vote for another Democrat as long as I live.

[Metta]

2. Done. Many thanks. This guy deserves only to be shown the door out.

He's the opposite of what Obama stands for. I hope Keith and Rachel, et. al., pick up on this.

[ingac70]

3. Done. n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Done, and asked them to consider Paul Krugman instead.

[depakid]

8. Why would Krugman want the job?

He's got 2 fine gigs where he is and his writing influences public policy in ways that others cannot.

[Greyhound]

13. Because the President of the United States asked him to, that's why.

How old are you?

[depakid]

16. Just because someone asks doesn't mean you take the job

My bet is that Obama has to go through a number of candidates, many of whom may well turn him down- especially for that position.

This happens in every administration. Not everyone's interested in (or well suited for) government service.

[Greyhound]

18. You would lose that bet. When the President directly asks for your help, you do it.

None of these people are in need of income and the Oval Office carries the greatest home court advantage on the planet, it is a very rare person that can, or wants to, say no under those circumstances.

[fishwax]

19. Krugman has said that he's not temperementally suited for it

He was too outspoken for Clinton's team back in '93, and has said that he's just not temperementally fit for that kind of role. He's not good at biting his tongue, it seems :) I think Obama is the kind who could be fairly comfortable with an outspoken and occasionally disagreeable guy in his cabinet, but Krugman has said if Obama asked, PK "would urge him very much to reconsider": http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/51386/

[Greyhound]

23. Wow, I had no idea, thanks. Still, there have to be many people suited

and qualified for the SoT post that are not Wall Street shitheels, I simply cannot believe that this group of Banksters are the only options.

[fishwax]

28. I agree wholeheartedly

"Banksters"--haven't seen it put like that before, but that's perfect :)

[Greyhound]

30. I'm reviving it from the 30s, and I agree it is so apropos. It is the same gang

doing the same thing as last time.

Maybe this time around we'll trash the system that is built to do this and replace it with one that does the job.

Q; What's the difference between the financial industry and the Mafia?

A; When the Mafia says they're going to do something, they do it.

[liberalhistorian]

34. Um, no, you don't automatically do it, nor do

you have to do so. There are innumerable examples of people turning down presidential invitations for jobs, from every single administration since Washington. You are not automatically obligated to accept such an offer, and not everyone is cut out for a presidential administration job. Believe it or not, not everyone wants to do it, they may feel they can serve in other ways.

[Greyhound]

37. I didn't say you are required to do it, sorry if that's how it came across, but

OTOH, it's not the same as turning down a subscription to the local trash-can liner either. When the President specifically asks for your help, there is an enormous amount of pressure to do so. Sure, some say no, (more likely you've already been approached informally to gauge your willingness) but they are the exception.

[lelgt60]

6. It would be nice if Obama would open a website that solicited everyone's opinions n/t

[fascisthunter]

12. Yeah... only problem is who will be picked to moderate that website?

a DLC corporate tool?

[greguganus]

32. Maybe Skinner would be interested in running "DLC UNDERGROUND"?

Edited to say I'm not calling Skinner a DLC tool.

[Why Syzygy]

22. He has a new website ..

but I can't find it now. Maybe someone will post it again.

[leftofthedial]

7. Here's a "no" for you

[ingac70]

9. kicking.

[Greyhound]

10. Sure, why pick a Nobel Laureate when there is "greed is good" asshat available?

I hope there is some method to his apparent madness.

[G_j]

11. story coming up on KO n/t

[G_j]

29. well,

that was dissappointing.
:-(

[Kitty Herder]

14. Done. nt

[bread_and_roses]

15. Done. Why on earth would we want to see a person who supported the very policies

that have so gutted our economy, have had such a dire impact on our "commons," and have allowed the greatest wealth transfer from workers to the wealthy since - what? the gilded age? since forever? I thought Obama was reported to be looking elsewhere than retreads of past admins?

[slipslidingaway]

17. Done K&R n/t

[AlCzervik]

20. done!

[Ellen Forradalom]

24. Woman-hating asshat

Disqualifies him right there.

[Generator]

25. Oh vey.

What will day 3 bring? I know we must trust Obama-I've read that several times here (oh irony heh) but the devil is in the details. I guess I need the nah nah fingers in the ears that others have. Also you reality based people are a buzz kill. People hate that. They want to BELIEVE. Well after the last eight years, the Clinton sellouts, and John Edwards-I'm ready to disbelieve. WHY is Obama considering this guy?

[Kitty Herder]

26. I think this needs a kick.

:kick:

[G_j]

27. k

[G_j]

31. kick again

[greguganus]

33. Shouldn't we let Obama pick his own cabinet? n/t

[G_j]

35. He will, obviously,

yet the people have every right and an obligation to speak about what they think.
He did say he would listen, did he not?
If he does care about what we think, that is a huge change in itself.

[G_j]

36. `

[chimpymustgo]

38. This is not "change". OTOH, it's been noted that If Obama were going to pick Summers

he would have named him by now.