Ben Bernanke's able use of monetary policy to steer the economy during the current financial crisis sometimes makes it easy to forget that Bernanke helped steer the ship into that crisis early in his term as Federal Reserve Chairman and a member of the Fed's Board of Governors. That's a point Strategic Forecasting (Stratfor) founder and CEO George Friedman made when asked the likelihood of President Obama reappointing Bernanke.
"The probability of Bernanke being reappointed to the Fed is near zero," Friedman said during an interview on CNBC's Aug. 11 "Squawk Box."
"Bernanke presided over the events leading up to the greatest financial crisis we've seen in quite a while," Friedman told CNBC's Steve Liesman. "The best that can be said is that he didn't make it any worse than he already made it. The president is not going to be wanting to reappoint the man that most of the country regards as responsible for the problem."
Wall Street has had a love affair with the current Fed chair as of late. He had been roundly criticized by the likes of CNBC's Jim Cramer in 2007 for not acting promptly in the face of a pending economic crisis, but had won favor after showing a willingness to slash rates and avert the crisis. However, Friedman said the bad press of the last few years has marginalized Wall Street's influence.
"Wall Street's desires at this point are next to nothing in anybody's calculation," Friedman said. "Wall Street is seen as the problem. The idea that Wall Street is going to dictate the solution at a time when they don't even have enough sense to control the bonuses that are given out - I mean, that's just not of interest to the president."
Friedman noted that the power has shifted from the financial community to Washington, D.C. - a result of all the bailout culture.
"The economic decision makers have lost all power over their own system," Friedman said. "The political leaders are moving in to stabilize the system. So, the most important effect of this entire downturn is that for a period of time right now, it really doesn't matter what the financial community thinks about things. The politicians are making decisions and that's worldwide."
Freidman's Stratfor has a solid reputation in matters of global intelligence and their impact on financial markets worldwide, often cited by Barron's and conservative host Rush Limbaugh.




















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The same could be said
August 11, 2009 - 15:05 ET by 10ksnookerThe same could be said about near all the Congressional clunkers in the wheelhouse, couldn't it.
What you see at these Town Hall meet ups is Congressional clunkers who don't seem to know how to read or comprehend the bills they vote on. And that goes for both Republicans and the Democrats. I assume they got by this long with the state run media covering their lies, or just ignoring them.
The state run media is a disgrace to journalism.
And the alternative?
August 11, 2009 - 15:06 ET by expatriotLosing Bernake is no great loss, but what will we get from B Hussein Obama? I don't like the idea of the elected elite getting more involved in the financial system. That scares the bejesus out of me.
OT - Listening to some town halls and the elected elite are getting an earful. Keep it up America
I wonder how long the media
August 11, 2009 - 15:29 ET by optimistI wonder how long the media will harp on his firing as another Bush failure.
Bernake, Micky Mouse, Dufus
August 11, 2009 - 15:44 ET by jdhawkBernake, Micky Mouse, Dufus the Rufus, who cares who's at the helm of the Federal Reserve? The Federal Reserve has absolute power over setting the low end of the interest rate curve. That they manipulate it with as poor a record as they do and get away with it is the crime here not who is doing it.
How many times do they have to screw it up until Americans will take away this power to manipulate the lowest of interest rates?
I have a revolting idea. Why not let market forces determine what the lowest interest rates should be?
If market forces determined the lowest of interest rates, when Americans save as they are doing now, the interest rate would be low. When they stop saving, then the lowest interest rates would rise. Instead, for example, when Americans saving was actually negative a few years ago, interest rates were at rock bottom - curtesy of the Federal Reserve.
I don't know about you, but I am tired of the boom and bust cycles that are brought about by the Federal Reserve controlling the low end of the interest rate curve. At some point, enough Americans will realize that they too are getting screwed and abolish the abortion that is the Federal Reserve.
Let
August 12, 2009 - 09:22 ET by jessieHLet's not forget about Barney Frank, who said " there is nothing wrong with Fannie Mae & Freddy Mack.".