The important presidential nominee who is scheduled for a vote in the Senate on Tuesday is widely regarded as brilliant, has ties to Princeton University and, if confirmed as expected, will influence the lives of ordinary Americans for years to come. . . . Ben S. Bernanke for chairman of the Federal Reserve.Wall Street may be intensely interested in just about every word ever uttered by Mr. Bernanke, the former Princeton economist and chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers who is President Bush's choice to succeed Alan Greenspan.
But in Washington, he is barely on some people's radar screens. Indeed, here is what Senator George Allen of Virginia, who is considering a bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, said when asked his opinion of the Bernanke nomination.
"For what?"
Told that Mr. Bernanke was up for the Fed chairman's job, Mr. Allen hedged a little, said he had not been focused on it, and wondered aloud when the hearings would be. Told that the Senate Banking Committee hearings had concluded in November, the senator responded: "You mean I missed them all? I paid no attention to them."
Amazing. One of the most important nominations of the decade - and Allen has no clue about it. Sounds like someone is doing too much campaigning for 2008, rather than worrying about the job he wants to be rehired for in 2006.
Notice the other Senator who sounds plugged out:
He was not the only one. Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, regarded by some as a front-runner in 2008, also had no idea that the Bernanke hearings had come and gone.
Another 2008 hopeful -- but at least McCain isn't asking Arizona to reelect him this year.
Sounds like Allen has bailed on his duties to Virginia even before this year's election!
(Hat tip Waldo)
God that's scary.