More Advice Obama Won't Take: Ron Paul for Treasury!

A blogger at a community site run by pop-investment team "Motley Fool" calls for it. Excerpt:

--He's a Republican. Not only that, but he's a Republican primary candidate who the rest of the contenders basically hated, mostly for his repeated statements about where the economy was headed (which pretty much were dead on). You've got a win-win for the Obama camp: "Across the aisle" with a guy who's been beaten up by the rest of the Republican establishment. Talking about having your cake and eating it too: Obama would be able to use the terms "Uniter" without becoming a caricature while lobbing a grenade into the middle of the RNC.

--He's a policy guy, not a banker. This is important because Paul wouldn't have any "former associates" in the banking industry to cover for, sympathize with, or protect. Paulson, on the other hand, can't escape the whiff of insider-ism in everything he's doing. Questions like "Why isn't the bailout being used as originally planned?" and "Why can't we get a clear picture of who's getting the money and who's being turned down?" may have a reasonable answer, but the overall tone of Cover-Your-Buddy's-Ass can't be ignored.

...........

--Convergent ideas. Iraq War: Obama against; Paul against. Economic disaster looming: Obama warned; Paul warned. Fix Bush/Cheney damage to foreign relations: Obama for, Paul for.

Could this happen in the universe we live in? Nope. Good idea? I think so. Not for Obama politically, or Paul's reputation or future, but the greater good of this here nation.

Comments

SIV | November 19, 2008, 8:52pm | #

As likely as Szasz becoming head of HHS.

Lefiti | November 19, 2008, 8:59pm | #

Jesus, when your political hero is a boring old racist fuck with a fixation on the gold standard, you know you're part of a marginal political cult. Sometimes I forget just how really loony libertarians are, and then along comes a post like this. Thanks.

cunnivore | November 19, 2008, 9:03pm | #

That sounds nice, but keep in mind we nihilists would lose a vote in the House. We'd regret it, I tell you, if all those 434-1 votes turned into 435-0.

Lefiti | November 19, 2008, 9:16pm | #

Hey, that wasn't me either!

I swear if you bastards don't stop impersonating me, I'm going to stuff sausages down your throats and starving dogs up your butts!

cunnivore | November 19, 2008, 9:23pm | #

Our snake problem is rapidly turning into a mongoose problem. At least the "real" Lefiti wasn't posting every two minutes. If you guys want to mock him out 2000 times a day, knock yourselves out...on your own friggin blog. I don't come here to read juvenile attempts at humor.

ghost of vince foster | November 19, 2008, 9:30pm | #

Ha! They way the other positions are being filled, I expect the next slot to to go to someone named RonRahmLanny McHubbellbrownrubinalbrightsummerson.

ghost of vince foster | November 19, 2008, 9:32pm | #

too juvenile?

Pro Libertate | November 19, 2008, 9:34pm | #

cunnivore,

I posted a similar comment about the Ersatz-Lefiti surplus in an earlier thread today. However, I must disagree with your statement, "I don't come here to read juvenile attempts at humor." Not only do I come here to read such things, I post them myself [maniacal laughter].

Orange Line Special | November 19, 2008, 9:44pm | #

As likely as me being appointed Secretary of Gettin' Down.

Plus, didn't Reason - together with hatchet boy Jim Kirchik make a big deal about something in some newsletters or something?

Cab | November 19, 2008, 9:45pm | #

I miss ol' Ron Paul.

Pro Libertate | November 19, 2008, 9:46pm | #

A Paul appointment would be nice. Or maybe Steve Forbes, to flatten our taxes? Maybe Obama will accidentally appoint a libertarian to the role, and the Senate will be confirming so fast that no one will notice.

Thomas Paine's Goiter | November 19, 2008, 9:55pm | #

Paul with carte blanche over the bailout money would be interesting. He'd probably refund it all to taxpayers or pay down debt. Or burn it all to reduce money supply.

Whatever - it would be interesting.

Kolohe | November 19, 2008, 10:12pm | #

FWIW, I come here *specifically* for the juvenille attempts at humor. But also, fwiw, Lefiti schtick is getting tiresome.

Mike | November 19, 2008, 10:48pm | #

Interesting, we at LibertyMaven.com had the same idea back on 9/28:

http://libertymaven.com/2008/09/28/bailout-compromise-reeks-of-socialism-appoint-ron-paul/2189/ (at the end of the article)

And then a satire of similar nature two days ago:
http://libertymaven.com/2008/11/17/ron-paul-to-be-liberty-czar-in-obama-administration/3295/

I guess we're all on the same track here... :)

cunnivore | November 19, 2008, 10:54pm | #

I tend to prefer the senile attempts at humor, myself.

robc | November 19, 2008, 11:01pm | #

cunnivore,

Step 1 - greasemonkey.
Step 2 - reason filter
Step 3 - never see a lefiti post again

Now if you would stop filling the damn blog with complaints about posts I dont see, everything would be peachy.

robc | November 19, 2008, 11:05pm | #

BTW, the filter is known as INCIF - the Indisputably Non-Coercive Idiot Filter.

Thanks to Eric the .5b

Hazel Meade | November 19, 2008, 11:17pm | #

How about chairman of the Federal Reserve?

I certainly think Paulsen should be fired. As quickly as possible.

I fear who Obama might put in charge though.

Mo | November 19, 2008, 11:17pm | #

Uh, is his Republican status supposed to be a positive? You usually have 0-1 opposing party members in the big 4 (State, Treasury, Defense, AG), usually zero. With the scuttlebutt that Gates may stay on as SecDef for a year or so, there's no chance any Republican gets nominated to Treasury, gadfly or no.

If you want to be within the realm of realism, hope for Warren Buffett. He's in a charitable mood, can turn a quick buck and a Democrat. On the plus side, he's actually worked in the real world and applied theory to reality, which for all of Paul's policy strengths, a doctor/politician has never had to do.

Hazel Meade | November 19, 2008, 11:18pm | #

The above is unclear. What I mean was ironically to nominate Ron Paul for federal reserve chairmen. For the sheer humor.

Then segue to seriousness.

robc | November 19, 2008, 11:19pm | #

A doctor has never had to work in the real world?

or

A doctor has never had to apply theory to reality?

Im trying to figure out which statement Im supposed to be mocking you for making.

The_Chef | November 19, 2008, 11:23pm | #

Lefiti | November 19, 2008, 8:59pm | #
Jesus, when your political hero is a boring old racist fuck with a fixation on the gold standard, you know you're part of a marginal political cult. Sometimes I forget just how really loony libertarians are, and then along comes a post like this. Thanks.

Please go stick a pineapple up your ass.

Douglas Gray | November 19, 2008, 11:57pm | #

I'm sure that if Obama chose Ron Paul for that position, that the banking industry would hire some one to take him out.He'd need more Secret Service protection than everyone else combined.

matth | November 20, 2008, 12:01am | #

Ron Paul scored some points for that very position in a NYT online poll not too long ago. Don't have the link, sorry.

Warty | November 20, 2008, 12:21am | #

I don't come here to read juvenile attempts at humor.

Your name is cunnivore. Your name is cunnivore. Your name is cunnivore.

For what it's worth, the Lefiti I'm-Spartacus posts are awesome.

Famous Mortimer | November 20, 2008, 12:54am | #

"A Paul appointment would be nice. Or maybe Steve Forbes, to flatten our taxes?"

That's what it's all about, isn't sweetheart?

Also, the Lefti imps only make his comments seem all the more potent. He's pushing the right buttons if he get you to obsess over him like that.

Libertarians can become very effeminate when contradicted.

Sparky | November 20, 2008, 1:02am | #

(Very tangentially) related the Lefiti issue, when was the last time LoneWacko's shit-spams contained links to anything besides the virtual diarrhea that is his blog? God forbid anyone here actually clicks on the links to that steaming pile of inter-poo, but since he contributes nothing but ads to his NativistPropagandaRag, I hope Reason is charging him for the pathetically undeserved attention.

On the other hand, more attention is probably the best way for folks to see what a WasteOfFlesh he is. Keep posting, LoneWacko! The world desperately needs more of you, to make it clear how the world desperately needs fewer of you!

Syd Henderson | November 20, 2008, 1:05am | #

"More Advice Obama Won't Take: Ron Paul for Treasury!"

Of course he won't take it. He's not a raving lunatic.

Brandybuck | November 20, 2008, 1:06am | #

Well if I can't get a pony from Obama, then I'll settle for a Ron Paul treasury...

The Angry Optimist | November 20, 2008, 2:01am | #

He's pushing the right buttons if he get you to obsess over him like that.

Is this the validation of every troll? That his childish spewings are validated when people get tired of him and flame him from the threads?

FM, don't be jealous, we flame Lefiti because it is funny. We pretty much don't bother with you because you have consistently shown to have "serious" yet terribly shallow analytical skills.

John | November 20, 2008, 2:55am | #

Does anyone think the real Lefiti has posted in the last four or five days? That is assuming that Lefiti was an actual left-winger to begin with and not a libertarian prank.

MAX HATS | November 20, 2008, 3:05am | #

Lefiti is the new Jesus. Many debate what, if anything, was truly said by him. Indeed, many doubt he really existed at all. All we know is that his name was carried on the lips and in the hearts of many.

And then came the lions. . .

Lefiti | November 20, 2008, 5:16am | #

I am actually many minds contained in one body, thats why there are soooo many posts.

Some Guy | November 20, 2008, 7:20am | #

Among people that might actually have a shot at the job, I think Volker would be a decent pick.

Mo | November 20, 2008, 7:21am | #

A doctor has never had to apply theory to reality?

Im trying to figure out which statement Im supposed to be mocking you for making.

A doctor has never had to apply economic theory to reality.

ed | November 20, 2008, 7:48am | #

Has anyone mentioned ponies yet?

VM | November 20, 2008, 8:14am | #

*head explodes*

VM | November 20, 2008, 8:19am | #

gahhhhh! fuck!!!!!

Zubon | November 20, 2008, 8:24am | #

"Libertarians can become very effeminate when contradicted."

That all you got? You call for the big guns, and "effeminate" comes out? Let me know how that "misogyny as political criticism" thing works out for you.

Reinmoose | November 20, 2008, 8:24am | #

Why do we need a treasury secretary if after Obama takes office I won't have to pay my mortgage or car loan?

VM | November 20, 2008, 8:30am | #

Rein - if that's true, it was Ruby Ridged - set up under a bush where the next guy gets the blame...

ARGH!!!! mein gott. the worst fucking president is about to leave. that's at least something. he's not having a jackbooted thug (barely) go after LIBERTARIAN pasttimes, or at least two of the three. This last president was a social conservative, big government, quasi socialist, imperial one. Let's make sure we're backing away from that.

but for all of you who thought eight years ago that those who were really worried about bush were silly, look at how you sound. if you didn't think that way, look back to eight years ago.

Bingo | November 20, 2008, 8:39am | #

But 8 years ago we didn't even have iphones! Bush really is the greatest president.

Reinmoose | November 20, 2008, 8:46am | #

VM - I was merely paraphrasing that lady that they interviewed in a video and posted on Reason a while back.

I don't really expect that Obama will do much of what his supporters seem to think he will do, but will be much more authoritarian on all fronts (including socially) than his boosters seem to think. Notice he didn't run on a platform supporting gay marriage, and he demonized free markets. There's no way he'd ever pick Ron Paul for treasury, and if he did, he'd be completely betraying his supporters' trust.

Episiarch | November 20, 2008, 8:50am | #

But 8 years ago we didn't even have iphones! Bush really is the greatest president.

Dude, we have 3G iPhones. Bush is like a god or something.

Stretch | November 20, 2008, 9:03am | #

There's no way he'd ever pick Ron Paul for treasury, and if he did, he'd be completely betraying his supporters' trust.

Well, possibly so, but at this point I feel like Obama could move the prisoners at Gitmo to the White House basement to use as his personal torture dolls, and his supporters would rationalize it all away.

And as much as I'd like to see it, what actual qualifications does Paul have to be SecTreas.? I don't think he has any.

joe | November 20, 2008, 9:16am | #

Well, possibly so, but at this point I feel like Obama could move the prisoners at Gitmo to the White House basement to use as his personal torture dolls, and his supporters would rationalize it all away.

Obama could move all the Guantanamo prisoners to lofts in SoHo, and libertarians would still say their slaves because they have to pay income taxes, and ha ha you suckers who thought he would be any different from Bush.

Carl | November 20, 2008, 9:27am | #

Would being Sec of Treasury make it easier or harder for Ron Paul to get earmarks, oops I forgot they are now called "tax credits", to his friends in the shrimp industry? And just how would Ron Paul's isolantionist views,oops that is now called noninterventionist, fit with Obama's liberal, oops that is now progressive, agenda for more involvement with groups like the UN and Bill Clinton's international charity?

Stretch | November 20, 2008, 9:32am | #

And here comes Joe, right on cue!

And lofts in SoHo? Apparently we have the money to bail out Big Terror, so why can't we give lofts in SoHo to the workers?

But seriously, my point was that for the forseeable future, nothing Obama does is going to been seen as a betrayal of trust by his supporters, even if he did something completely crazy like appointing Ron Paul to anything. Do you actually disagree with that?

PM770 | November 20, 2008, 9:33am | #

joe your post @ 9:16 could have been written by Lefiti.

In fact maybe it is Lefiti posing as joe. Or maybe its whoever is posing as Lefiti posing as joe posing as Lefiti.

matt2 | November 20, 2008, 9:37am | #

I think joe knows the difference between "their" and "they're". Lefiti-as-joe, you've been outed!

Pro Libertate | November 20, 2008, 9:38am | #

Famous Mortimer,

That's just a silly remark. The guy just issues insults. He's not arguing or supporting a different position.

idiotface | November 20, 2008, 9:55am | #

Pro Liberate, to Famous Mortimer and other left leaning folks racism is their bogeyman. So, marginalizing Ron Paul as a racist, is the same as a conservative marginalizing Obama as a socialist. Gee whiz, blanket generalizations are fun!

idiotface | November 20, 2008, 10:03am | #

I'm just going to add that starting a thread with "racist" is some sorta Godwin derivative.

Guy Smiley | November 20, 2008, 10:09am | #

Libertarians can become very effeminate when contradicted.

I don't understand how that could be, since having a less popular point of view requires one to become more, not less, used to be contradicted.

what actual qualifications does Paul have to be SecTreas.?

None. Except that he actually understands macroeconomics, unlike all the politicians and court economists that are wrecking the country.

John | November 20, 2008, 10:25am | #

If all else fails, Obama can just keep Paulson and play some Bailout Bingo.

Tom Bemky | November 20, 2008, 10:40am | #

What does being racist have to do with being the treasurer? Hes old and white give him a break. that's how he was raised damnit.

Lefiti | November 20, 2008, 11:30am | #

Ron Paul's Song (to the tune of Moon River)

Newsletters, more vicious than a knife
I’m mailing you in style some day
Oh, war maker, you head breaker
Whoever you’re hatin’, I’m hatin’ your way

Two racists, off to see the world
There’s such a lot of world to see
We’re after the same racist end, waitin’ ‘round the bend
My vicious little friend, newsletters, and me

(Newsletters, more vicious than a knife)
(I’m mailing you in style some day)
Oh, war maker, you head breaker
Whoever you’re hatin’, I’m hatin’ your way

Two racists, off to see the world
There’s such a lot of world to see
We’re after that same racist end, waitin’ ‘round the bend
My vicious little friend, newsletters, and me

BrianL | November 20, 2008, 12:04pm | #

Any person considering Ron Paul a racist is a simpleton,no two ways about it. Obama has made statements regarding white people that I find off-putting ("That's just how white people will do you").It's politics and in a world of 24/7 media coverage all politicians put their foot in their mouth at some point,even the eloquent and all-knowing Obama. Oh yes and Libertarians are crazy : Less government,less spending,non-intervention.NUTS!

DADIODADDY | November 20, 2008, 12:18pm | #

Other Convergences:

Obama; nuttier than a fruitcake
Paul: nuttier than a fruitcake

BrianL | November 20, 2008, 12:29pm | #

Well when the inmates run the asylum,the warden appears crazy.

svf | November 20, 2008, 12:44pm | #

Chairman of the Fed would be ideal, but Treasury will do...

TallDave | November 20, 2008, 4:49pm | #

Terrible, terrible, terrible awful horrible idea.

Make him drug czar and I'll sing hosannas. But this gold standard nonsense he's preaching is dangerous. We so do not need to fall into another liquidity trap. Almost no one alive today remembers what happened when the Fed ran out of gold backing and banks everywhere starting failing in a tsunami that makes our current crisis look like a kid splashing in a toddler pool.

Famous Mortimer | November 21, 2008, 6:00am | #

"FM, don't be jealous, we flame Lefiti because it is funny. We pretty much don't bother with you because you have consistently shown to have "serious" yet terribly shallow analytical skills."

No, you tend to avoid me because I aim for the gut.

If what I said didn't resonate, then you would ignore it altogether.

I know, it's difficult.

Will to power.

WJB | November 21, 2008, 11:38pm | #

[Y]ou shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.