The Senate Whisperer

WASHINGTON—Timothy Geithner knows how to listen. Barack Obama’s nominee for Treasury secretary couldn’t have been more polite as he sat through his confirmation hearing Wednesday. The get-together was a flea market of ideas and demands. One senator wanted to be sure Congress got advanced warning of major legislative votes, one wanted to check whether Geithner was open to rethinking the fiscal implication of Medicare, one analyzed the stimulus’ impact on clean coal. In response, Geithner would reassure the senators by saying he’d bring that up with President Obama, and that Geithner “look(ed) forward to working with you.” He was the best house guest possible. While the senators went on their mini-rants, Geithner sat behind his table and microphone, eyes fixed to the speaker. Below the neck, he was completely still. Above it, he was constantly nodding. In Democratic chairman Max Baucus’ initial testimony, he outlined his thoughts on what makes for an effective Treasury secretary. “The secretary ... (link)