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We Need New Leadership, Now

Washington's following 'business as usual' amid crisis

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 23, 2008 6:32 AM CST

(Newser) – Washington is carrying out “business as usual in the most unusual economic moment of our lifetimes,” writes Thomas Friedman in the New York Times. It’s time for our leaders to wake up to the enormity of the financial crisis, the real "weapon of mass destruction,"  a problem that only serious capital and confidence can resolve, he warns. One step toward getting that confidence: inaugurate Barack Obama now.

That’s logistically unrealistic. But we could call for President Bush to immediately appoint Obama’s proposed treasury secretary, Tim Geithner, Friedman suggests. “We can’t afford two months where the markets don’t know who is in charge or where we’re going,” he emphasizes. Our current crisis is largely due to “loss of confidence." Obama can’t wave a “magic wand,” but his presence would help, Friedman notes.

The White House.
The White House.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
A banner of  President-elect Barack Obama flaps in the wind outside the Kluczynski building, where Obama met with President Bush earlier this month.
A banner of President-elect Barack Obama flaps in the wind outside the Kluczynski building, where Obama met with President Bush earlier this month.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
President Bush walks with President-elect Barack Obama down the Colonnade of the White House in Washington to the Oval Office earlier this month.
President Bush walks with President-elect Barack Obama down the Colonnade of the White House in Washington to the Oval Office earlier this month.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
Guest
Nov 24, 2008 7:22 PM CST
Corona King, I think you have had one Corona too many.
carol
Nov 23, 2008 1:07 AM CST
Its everybodys fault. Buying without thinking. Spending way over our heads. We are all guilty.
Guest
Nov 23, 2008 12:37 AM CST
Yes impeach them all.

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