Ruminations

SCI-FI: I gave it a couple of viewings but like most of America, I realized that Life wasn't worth watching. They lost me when the hot chick started sleeping with her shmoe of a boss. Another NBC success story.

A GREAT JOB IF YOU CAN GET IT: Seems our National Security Advisor has the time to bike home for lunch. I would guess that all told it probably takes three hours out of his day. Good thing he's unimportant, otherwise he'd be missed.

EXILED: At first, I thought Joe Biden, given his latest goof, was sent to Siberia. He's actually in Serbia.

CAFE CHIP: Something tells me that President Obama's move to increase vehicle fuel mileage is nothing more than a bargaining chip to be used sometime down the road.

RUNNING: I know of some registered voters in New York City getting three to four mailings from the Bloomberg campaign. It's safe to say, he's not taking chances.

SNOWED: Marc Ambinder is keeping an eye on the meme that Obama is easily cowed by his generals. Perhaps, but Bush was swayed by his defeatist brass -- Pace, Casey, and Abizaid. Success in Iraq came when he finally got rid of two and kicked the other upstairs.

IMPOTENCE: As the Senate Majority leader, things can't get any worse for Senator Reid given his erroneous reports, his poor polling numbers, and a President who disses his state's leading source of revenue.

Ruminations

My biggest nightmare? Being trapped in a room with those pitchmen for The New York Times weekender subscription plan. The guy who is "fluent" in three sections scares me.

Those folks who sell Eight O'Clock Coffee are limiting the appeal of their product, right?

The Pro Bowl and the Grammys were held yesterday. The day when the nadirs for both the sports and cultural world collide. Quick -- who won what in 2007? I thought so.

Give credit where it's due: The New York Times has been steadfast on the unsuitability of Geithner and Daschle for Cabinet positions. Moreover, they have been a thorn in the side of Congressman-for-Life Charlie Rangel.

In grammar school, I had a friend pitch a dumb idea to the teacher. He almost had his head ripped off. Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid have Obama Barack pitching their stimulus plan. When it fails -- like my dumb idea -- who do you think's going to feel the heat from the voters?

Speaking of the stimulus plan, do you recall when you waited until the final weekend for that high school or college term paper? It was a rush job but you were OK with the "C" grade because, well, you didn't really apply yourself -- despite the fact that you had a month to get it done? I get that feeling with the "stimulus" proposal.

If I were Manny Ramirez, I'd be checking my investments about now. Why? Because the days of the million dolar plus incomes may have abruptly come to an end.

On a sad day, I sing a happy song and realize that I'm not Plaxico Burress.

On a really sad day, I sing a happier song and realize that I'm not Roger Clemens.

Geithner Gone?

A few items lead me to suspect that Tim Geithner will not be Obama's Treasury Secretary.

First, the Senate Committee that will confirm Geithner -- chaired by the Democrats -- has adjourned for a week to review the matter of Geithner's taxes and the status of a foreign national whom he employed.

I think the facts on both matters are evident. In my view, the Committee has given Team Obama a week to come up with a replacement that can be announced in tandem with Geithner's resignation. Also, they are probably looking for a soft landing for Geithner somewhere in the Administration that wouldn't require Senate confirmation or with a sympathetic think tank.

Moreover, when asked about the matter, the President-elect chose to discuss the fact that everyone makes mistakes. He did not say that he intends to have Geithner as his Treasury Secretary.

Furthermore, Geithner is in a weak political state. For instance, Hillary can withstand criticism of her husband receiving boatloads of foreign donations for his endeavors, because any rejection of Hillary as the Secretary of State will cause serious discontent from a significant faction of the Democratic Party. The splash from throwing Geithner over the side of the boat, in constrast, will be minimal. Nobody will grieve over his dismissal.

Lastly, Obama is all about image. Having a tax-dodger on his team will send the wrong signal about tax compliance, respect for the law, and double standards. Geithner is not worth the hassle.

On a couple of related notes, Senate Democratic Leader Reid's initial defense of Geithner continues to show how Reid's political tone deafness is making him increasingly irrelevant in the political process. Given his missteps, it's only a matter of time before people will stop listening to him.

Lastly, Mickey Kaus, notes that a lot of Democrats are worried about this whole issue.

Early Confirmation Notes

Some notes as the nascent Obama Administration begins to take shape:

• During the early stages of the Bush 43 administration, Colin Powell was spinning the concept of "smart sanctions" against Iraq. It was a case of "old wine, new bottle" but it prompted someone to ask if the old sanctions, which had been in place for a decade, were "stupid." I'm picking up the same vibe when I hear Ms. Rodham-Clinton discussing "smart power diplomacy". Were we practicing "stupid power diplomacy" for the past 16 years? I ask since I thought the liberation of 15 million people wasn't, well, a moronic thing to do.
• Tim Geithner's tax dodging has been described as a "hiccup" by the Senate majority leader and as a "distraction" by Candy Crowley on CNN as he faces confirmation hearings. (You'll have to trust me on this but she said it last night. Curiously, as I write this, there is no mention on CNN's home page about this issue. Go figure.) How about this -- a f*ck up? Moreover, he certainly gives the appearance that if he wasn't going to be named as Secretary of the Treasury then the IRS wasn't going to get a check. He may get confirmed, but he's damaged goods.
• In the schoolyards, we all learn at a young age, never to make a threat that you cannot carry out. More importantly, if you have to choose a side, go with the guys likely to win. I say this because Obama came out in support of the Senate Democrats who opposed Rod Blagojevich's selection of Roland Burris to be his successor. Now that Burris will be the new Senator from Illinois, it looks like Team Obama would have been wise to have kept quiet.
• The noted philosopher, Michael Tyson, once noted: Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth. So it goes with Obama's plan to spend the remaining $350 billion of TARP money without limited Congressional strings. Moreover, his economic "recovery" plan also faces opposition. I trust that Team Obama has developed a Plan B (and C, for that matter.) Bloody mouths are not pretty.

Well, we're only a week out. Things should get even more exciting!