Perhaps it’s because I’m interested in the economy, perhaps it’s because I’m a dedicated Marketplace listener, perhaps it’s just because I’m a big dork, but I paid close attention to the nomination of and confirmation hearings for Benjamin Bernanke. He’s committed to following the Greenspan model, save for some small philosophical differences and, while I’m not a huge Greenspan fan, I’m not smart enough to point to a better model. I have a very different political philosophy than Bernanke, but I’m not sure it matters with regard to the Federal Reserve. Plus, he’s clearly a super-genius, and that counts for something. Bernanke may well have a bigger impact on the nation than Judge Alito, so I figure his nomination is something that I should pay attention to.
Turns out I’m the super-genius, at least when compared to the junior senator from Virginia. Check out George Allen’s take on Bernanke, when asked about the nomination by the New York Times:
[H]ere is what Senator George Allen of Virginia, who is considering a bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, said when asked his opinion of the Bernanke nomination.
“For what?”
Told that Mr. Bernanke was up for the Fed chairman’s job, Mr. Allen hedged a little, said he had not been focused on it, and wondered aloud when the hearings would be. Told that the Senate Banking Committee hearings had concluded in November, the senator responded: “You mean I missed them all? I paid no attention to them”.
Maybe I should run for president in 2008. Or would this make me over-qualified?
(Hat tip to Kevin.)
Elitist!
Come on now Waldo, you’re not being fair. Beranke’s testimony came right on the heels of the Redskins’ heartbreaking loss to the Buccaneers–Alstott’s 2-point conversion that never crossed the goal line. Surely we can forgive Senator Allen for being preoccupied by what really matters. His eye just wasn’t on the ball, ok? I’m sure if you put him back in the game, he’ll do us all proud. But boy, I bet he wishes he could replay that down.
Of course, being the idiot that I am, I never even read the title of this post. You were already there :-).
Wow.
Show me a single person who hasn’t had a brain fart and you will be showing me someone who isn’t a human.
Hans, the point of the article is that this isn’t simple forgetfulness. It’s a total lack of understanding of who Ben Bernanke is, what position he’s up for, and how the confirmation process works.
BTW everyone… Herring won the state senate race up in NOVA in a landslide (62% Herring). This brings the Senate to 23-17 meaning Democrats need 4 pickups next year to retake the Senate (several seats are in NOVA region which is undergoing a major leftward shift). I didn’t believe VA was trending blue but I’m now getting that feeling. Way to go Herring!
Beautiful, now let’s get Harris Miller in there. No more pouting about Webb, kids.
Hans,
A brain fart would be forgetting the guy’s name. George Allen didn’t even know that the confimation hearings had happened – hearings that he was supposed to be taking part in. This isn’t just a moment of forgetfulness. This is pretty good proof that George Allen is an incompetant moron who has no idea how to do his job.
Which, come to think of it, makes him the ideal successor to George W. Bush as bearer of the GOP’s banner in ’08.
“This is pretty good proof that George Allen is an incompetant moron who has no idea how to do his job”
Come on now. This is the sort of thing that makes us look a little silly. Fun to pile on the guy but no need to go overboard…he’s put a pretty serious hurting on just about every opponent he’s ever had. Incompetant morons don’t do that. And even if you believe he is, show a little respect for the people serving you. Even if you don’t agree with them, they believe they’re doing the right thing and make sacrifices to hold public office. Don’t mean to jump down your throat, but comments like that knock us back and do a disservice to legit policy compaints…
Well, Edward Mullen, Allen might be competent at winning elections, but that has nothing to do with running a government. Allen’s clueless admission of missing the change in Fed Director after Greenspan is not just a stupid failure to do his Senate work, or even notice it. It’s stupid politics to get quoted admitting you didn’t pay attention, especially when you’re a leader to inherit the Republican economy built under Greenspan, that the successor will have been running for 3 years by a 2009 inaugudation.
As for Allen’s “sacrifices”, turns out he couldn’t “sacrifice” the time to even hear about Senate confirmation hearings he blew off. Probably he was busy with some campaign/fundraising priority. Which makes him an incompetent moron where it matters most: running the country. There’s no reason to hold back disrespect for politicians who disrespect the people enough to shirk their real responsibilities to serve us.
Yes there is, if for no other reason that if you do not at least pretend to respect your opposition, your opposition’s supporters will not respect you. Matthew, I don’t know what state you’re from, but here in Virginia, we Democrats don’t win statewide elections without convincing Republicans to support us.
Wow, this post made it all the way to Daily Kos. Nice.
Wow, made the big time.