My Hunch About Warren's Appointment or Lack Thereof

[Yavin4]

I think that there's a raging battle within the WH over Warren, and it's not really over philosophy rather it's politics. The WH and the Democratic party leadership is afraid that Warren's appointment would trigger an avalanche of money to the Republicans right before the elections, and it may swing close races.

I don't think that Summers nor Geitner have any problems with her philisophically. I think that this is all the Dem party leadership and Rahm who are worried about Wall Street funding going to Republicans.

[napi21]

1. WS $$ already ggoes to the Pubs. The creation of this dept.

by itself created the atmosphere of WS donating to the Pubs. I don't see that Warren or anyone else will make much of a difference.

[Yavin4]

2. I Know That and You Know That

But the leaders of the Dem party go nuts when they see campaign cash going to Republicans.

To us, elections are about votes. To them elections are all about money.

[rucky]

3. Why create the agency if they're not willing to fight the ensuing battles?

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I hope it's not the case.

[Yavin4]

4. That's Today's Democratic Party

Balance the need to do the right thing without motivating an entire industry to donate all of their money to the opposition party.

[rucky]

9. If they chose to fight that battle instead...

and won. It wouldn't just mean Wall Street reform - it would mean elections reform, without depending on Congress or SCOTUS to do it. If we win elections for doing the right thing - they'll stop trying to buy elections. The ROI wouldn't be there anymore.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

5. I think that they know that they're already on shaky ground with Wall Street

How important that they think that they need to keep (most of) it is another matter. I think that we can mostly all agree that less cash coming in from Wall Street might not be such a bad thing for the Democratic Party and it may not help the Republicans as much as the two parties think it might if they're only pumping money into a bunch of unelectable "teabaggers" (or candidates trying desperately to pander to them). Don't most teabaggers supposedly hate all of the bailout money that went to Wall Street anyway? :shrug:

[flpoljunkie]

6. If obama fails to appoint Warren, Wall Street will be the least of his worries

The base will revolt--and rightly so.

[Exilednight]

7. It will not be the entire base, but he is losing us through a slow bleed process .............

HCR, FISA, Iraq, Afghanistan, his lack of change of Washington insiders in his cabinet and a host of other things has slowly driven groups off a few thousand at a time.

[paulk]

11. it will be the straw that breaks a lot of backs

that's for sure.

I would think a bruising nomination fight would help for the fall elections - what Obama does here is going to be a major defining point in his presidency.

[depakid]

13. A fight WOULD help Democrats in the fall

but:

A. I'm not sure the administration is keen to help the Democratic House; and

B. Their past record indicates they have little stomach for any sort of fight.

Hence, my guess is that it'll be a recess appointment.

[DFLforever]

8. My hunch is Obama will appoint her once he's certain

he can get her nomination through the Senate. I think that's what we're waiting on.

[flpoljunkie]

10. Senator Dodd seems to be doing his best to thwart Warren's nomination

POLITICS
JULY 31, 2010

Dodd Sounded Out Bair Over Consumer Post
By DAMIAN PALETTA

Sen. Christopher Dodd approached Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Sheila Bair in recent days to gauge whether she would be interested in running the new consumer-protection agency, according to people familiar with the matter.

The chairman of the Senate Banking Committee's behind-the-scenes courtship of Ms. Bair suggests he is trying to find a nominee who might win favor in the Senate. It will be Mr. Dodd's job to move the nominee through a preliminary vote on his committee and then defend the person's record on the Senate floor.

Many consumer groups, labor unions and liberal Democrats are pushing the White House to nominate Harvard Law Professor Elizabeth Warren, who is credited with coming up with the idea of the consumer agency. Mr. Dodd (D., Conn.) has publicly expressed reservations about whether Ms. Warren could garner the 60 votes necessary to win Senate confirmation. White House officials have said she is "confirmable."

Ms. Bair told Mr. Dodd she wasn't interested, people familiar with the matter said. She is widely expected to leave the government when her term at the FDIC expires next year.

Ms. Bair, a Republican, would be an unlikely pick for the White House to run the agency, which is called the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. She has clashed with the banking industry and has called for tougher curbs on its lending practices, but putting a Republican in the job could anger liberal groups and labor unions. She is popular on Capitol Hill, however, with broad support from Democrats and Republicans.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703999304575399630756279118.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

[CTyankee]

12. I'm DO DAMN GLAD that I'll be rid of this guy come the next Congress.

I'm gonna dance in the street when Dick Blumenthal becomes the next Senator from the great state of CT!!!