Geithner Back From the Dead, Politically

Once-ridiculed Treasury chief now on top of his game

By Gabriel Winant, Newser User

Posted May 26, 2009 9:51 AM CDT

(Newser) – After a rough start, Timothy Geithner has found his sea legs. Many were calling for the Treasury secretary’s head after his botched handling of February's bailout speech and the AIG bonuses. But, reports Politico, as the economy stabilizes, Geithner’s getting the hang of things. His regular meetings have gotten the economic team on the same page, and he’s switched from big speeches to quiet off-camera meetings with reporters, where he does better.

Says a Republican lobbyist, “His speeches are boring, but they’re supposed to be boring. He’s the secretary of the Treasury.” Adds a GOP financier, “It would be very inadvisable to switch generals in the middle of an economic war.” That gets at one of Geithner’s major advantages as he pushes major financial regulations: who else is going to do this job?

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Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner arrives in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, May 22, 2009, for the signing of the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 21, 2009, before a House Appropriations subcommittee. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

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Timothy Geithner, US Treasury Secretary, on Charlie Rose. (CharlieRose)

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All of the inside-the-Beltway pols, and I’m one of them, thought he was toast. He has weathered storms that would have sunk the boat of many other people. - Republican financial lobbyist

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Geithner Back From the Dead, Politically