Steven Rattner, a former New York Times reporter whose short tenure as Obama's so-called car czar "came under a cloud in April when details of alleged influence-peddling surfaced," announced his resignation yesterday, the Washington Post's Peter Whoriskey and Tomoeh Murakami Tse reported today.
Yet despite President Obama's penchant for naming numerous policy czars, news of the resignation was shuffled off to page A11 rather than trumpeted on the front page. Curiously, the Post did find space below the fold on page A1 for a story that basically boils down to how the stress of being U.S. Attorney General is wearing on Eric Holder.
What's more, the Rattner story itself is front-loaded with praise for Rattner from Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Obama-approved GM chief Fritz Henderson, while less savory details about the influence-peddling investigation were buried towards the end of the 18-paragraph article.
But have no fear, we may not have heard the last from Rattner. As Whoriskey and Tse note at the end of their July 14 article:
A person close to Rattner who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that he would not be returning to Quadrangle. Rattner has long held political ambitions, and Treasury's statement yesterday left the door open for his return to the public sector.
"I hope that he takes another opportunity to bring his unique skills to government service in the future," Geithner said.
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Comments Policy
Exposing the problem
July 14, 2009 - 15:17 ET by 10ksnookerOf unvetted czars -- You could be hiring a crook. As if that mattered to Colonel Obama.
Real Story
July 14, 2009 - 15:17 ET by JDWThere are ongoing state and federal investigations into kickbacks from pension and businesses which have caught up with Ratner.
JDW
DAILY WAVE
When people fear their government there is tyranny.
When government fears the people there is liberty.
JDW... That's good
July 14, 2009 - 15:25 ET by bigtimerJDW...
That's good news...I've heard little bits and pieces here and there about the rumblings regarding Rattner.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
You Heard Right
July 14, 2009 - 15:39 ET by JDWConsider all who turned down appointments, just by chance?
There is a probe into his pension dealings and the news media is not talking. He got cold feet thinking getting out of the spotlight would give him a better opportunity to avoid charges. Who knows, maybe he will leave NY.
JDW
DAILY WAVE
When people fear their government there is tyranny.
When government fears the people there is liberty.
Quitter?
July 14, 2009 - 16:10 ET by needleApparently the Degenerate Media is not calling RATtner a “Quitter”
Apparently in 2009 newspeak a “Quitter” is: a futilely pejorative epithet for a giantess/giant who frees herself/himself from Lilliputian scoundrels, who are trying to tie her/him down (and render her/him impotent) with a morass of litigation.
- Relying upon the MSM for your information is like relying upon an embezzler to manage your portfolio.
If Rattner wants to make a come back
July 14, 2009 - 15:22 ET by FastEdhe should start an investigation into the "death" of the Prompter. It has been suggested that the "prompt", as it was effectionately known, had committed suicide - however, I would suggest that it was an assisted suicide, with the One being the assistant - this comes to mind in that the Prompt was not getting the message out, as directed by Barry, and hence was becoming a burden, or shall we say, a turncoat? In any event, Rattner could very possibly become an investigator, dare I suggest a Prompt Czar?, and disprove this theory, showing the facts that this prompter was Joe Bidens prompter first, and had picked up the "open mic" syndrome from Joe, and was willing to speak 'out of school'.
In the political spotlight of DC, this could not be, and it was then decided that the honorable way to go was through a very public 'end-it-all'. Unfortunately, the truth will not come to the fore, as the loser stream media will continue to cover-up the presidents' assistance.
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
Car Czar sounded so catchy too ...
July 14, 2009 - 15:22 ET by metaphorsbwithu"Rattner Abandons Sinking Ship"
... or vice versa?
metaphorsbwithu
Wow...Rattner has political
July 14, 2009 - 15:23 ET by bigtimerWow...Rattner has political ambitions...who knew?
The stress on Holder is taking it's wearing on him...to heck with that, the stress he is causing the American people, and has just begun is going to be more than we can handle...and I hope it shows in the midterm elections.
I despise print and the SRM on television.
Nothing like omission when they need it...nothing like front page news when they need it.
Agenda is never-ending.
Btw...I want to know when there is going to be outrage with the repubs over Czars in the first place...so far only KKK Byrd is the one who has really spoke out about this...and of course who listens..they have made him irrelevant.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
If you think WaPo burying a
July 14, 2009 - 15:37 ET by jdhawkIf you think WaPo burying a story about a bambi czar is something, look what NB is doing to the health care story - nada, zip, zero coverage of the issue that will have a much more and far reaching impact on all Americans than some dufus "czar!"
20+% of our economy is going from 50% controlled to 100% controlled by our government and this blog can't seem to find a story about it that migh just be a little on the media bias side.
Reminds me of NBs coverage of the crap and tax issue leading up to the vote in the House . . .
Right next to the
July 14, 2009 - 15:39 ET by RR GOPRight next to the unemployment and deficit/spending statistics? Or are those actually a few pages further back?
I need to get a coworker of mine to give me his NYTs when he's done with them. It would save a lot of money rather than using paper towels in the bottom of my bird cage. Heard newspapers are good for cleaning windows as well.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).
RRGOP... I'll stick with
July 14, 2009 - 15:42 ET by bigtimerRRGOP...
I'll stick with the paper towels for cleaning the windows, but the wood stove is a perfect place for the fire starter...and they burn well. ;-)
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Der Kommisar. . .
July 14, 2009 - 15:51 ET by JustAl. . . is no longer in town!
Alle ist nict klar heir kommisar?
One kommisar down, how many more to go?
Obama Czars Come and Go Faster than I can Keep Up?
July 14, 2009 - 17:55 ET by Retired Geek1. Herb Allison-TARP Czar
2. Alan Bersin-Border Czar
3. Dennis Blair-Intelligence Czar
4. John Brennan-Terrorism Czar
5. Carol Browner-Energy Czar
6. Adolfo Carrion, Jr-Urban Affairs Czar
7. Ashton Carter-Weapons Czar
8. Aneesh Chopra-Technology Czar
9. Jeffrey Crowley-AIDS Czar
10. Cameron Davis-Great Lakes Czar
11. Nancy-Ann DeParle-Health Czar
12. Earl Devaney-Stimulus Accountability Czar
13. Joshua DuBois-Faith-based Czar
14. Kenneth Feinberg-Pay Czar
15. Danny Fried-Guantanamo Closure Czar
16. J. Scott Gration-Sudan Czar
17. Richard Holbrooke-Afghanistan Czar
18. John Holdren-Science Czar
19. Van Jones Green-Jobs Czar
20. Gil Kerlikowske-Drug Czar
21. Vivek Kundra-Information Czar
22. George Mitchell-Mideast Peace Czar
23. Ed Montgomery-Car Czar
24. Dennis Ross-Mideast Policy Czar
25. Gary Samore-WMD Czar
26. Todd Stern-Climate Czar
27. Cass Sunstein-Regulatory Czar
28. Paul Volcker-Economic Czar
I can say without contradiction 'Dennis Blair' the Intelligence Czar won't find many of those in the Barack Obama administration.
Can someone help me complete my list?
→ Biz Czar?
July 14, 2009 - 17:58 ET by Cool ArrowIs that Jeffrey Immelt?
Czar Over the Great Lakes????
July 14, 2009 - 18:15 ET by Retired GeekI heard there was a 'Water Czar'?
When California goes 'Belly Up' some one said that Maxine Waters might resign her elected off ice and become the California Czar??
Louis Farakhan or Dennis Kuchinuch (sp?) might be candidates for 'Space Alien Czar'.
Wow, Geek
July 14, 2009 - 23:46 ET by DoktorFrankenYou may be retired but you sho iz bizay!
I think the Teleprompter Czar got fired the other day. Just guessing.
→ Dok
July 14, 2009 - 23:53 ET by Cool ArrowInteresting, that the source of his wisdom, fell, shattered before him rather than show him the lies he wished to speak.
Cool!
July 15, 2009 - 03:52 ET by DoktorFrankenThat's pure poetry!
Obama to appoint Flatulence Czar
July 14, 2009 - 17:34 ET by Retired GeekBarack Obama has found out that the average Human flatulates 1 to 3 pints per day.
Obama has discerned that Human Flatulence is a major contributor to Global Warming.
HELP FOR LIBERALS: Flatulence is called 'Farts' in Liberals speak.
Obama plans to pass a 'Cap and Trade' system where those who do not pass more than 1 pint a day, may sell 'Flatulence Credits' to those who needs them.
Obama may also have 'Taco Bell' be a distributor and sell 'Flatulence Credits'.
Obama may install Flatulence collectors in elevators so that people may simply back up to the 'Collector' and receive coins based on the amount passed into the collector.
Obama stated that by removing elevator music and substituting the sounds of people contributing to the Elevator collector everyone will save money.
Obama says this will also make the streets safer as 'Street People' and those needing money will ride the elevators instead of pan handling.
Obama claims thousands of new 'Green Jobs' will be created for those who collect and recycle the flatulence - he proudly announced; "try and export those jobs Big Business".
Retired Geek
July 14, 2009 - 17:36 ET by MrShyHahahahaha..... :)
I Am
July 14, 2009 - 23:50 ET by DoktorFrankenAt the very least, I am the Midwest Czar Of Flatulence (by default). My family calls me 'The Gaseous Anomaly'. For Father's day they got me a CD of just Flatulence.
We laughed! I farted! They left!
WHORISKEY???
July 14, 2009 - 17:44 ET by SickofLibsI thought that was the cheap swill they served you when you say to the hooker the obligatory line "Can I buy you a drink first?"