The Mockery of a Senate Confirmation

January 24, 2009
　
To: The U.S. Taxpayer
From: Donald Thomas Regan (The Ghost of)
Re.: U.S. Treasury Secretary Appointment
　
Greetings America, I am the Spirit of Donald Thomas Regan. I served during the Reagan Administration. While working in Washington during the 1980’s I witnessed a travesty against the American political process. The dismissal of the Robert Bork appointment was based not on character, nor qualifications but solely on political ideology. And today we are witnessing the opposite perversion of the Presidential appointment process.

It has been reported this last week that Timothy Geithner is President Obama’s choice as Cabinet Secretary for the U.S. Treasury. Mr. Geithner has some impressive experience in the financial stage, he was a Director for Policy Development and Review Department at the International Monetary Fund from 2001 to 2003. He was named president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in 2003. At the New York Fed, he became Vice Chairman of the Federal Open Market Committee component. In 2006, he also became a member of the Washington-based financial advisory body, the Group of Thirty.
He earned his undergraduate degree at Dartmouth, and his Masters’ at John Hopkins. From his work background and education one may assume quickly that this nominee is the right man for the job as is needed.

Oh, but uhm it appears that there is this one small thing,…….. He tends to neglect to pay his own taxes! From 2001 to present this impressive “Titan of Finance” accumulated $48,268 in back taxes and penalties.

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D- ILL.)
“ No, I don’t think this is a problem.”…..” I think these were errors but innocent errors.”

Rep. Barney Frank (D Mass)
‘No, I don’t think Geithner should be disqualified”

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D- NY)
“I think he is a very, very fine nominee and I think, while he admitted these were mistakes, and I think he will be confirmed.”

What may I ask are the absolute minimum standards for this job if not to pay your own taxes? If Bud the electrician is to answer Joe Biden’s call to step up and be more patriotic to pay more taxes where does that leave the Treasury Secretary?

I may be too simplistic in this desire: My Fireman not be arsonists, My Teachers not be pedophiles and my Treasury Secretary be not a Tax Thief!
　
From the Great Beyond,
　
　
　
Donald Thomas Regan