Hank Paulson is getting antsy. He’s been in DC for almost a year now and the old boy doesn’t have much to show for it. When Paulson left Goldman Sachs, he planned on using his Hammer-like deal-making skills to get stuff (Social Security, Doha global trade talks, China) done. But, according the Wall Street Journal, the same qualities that made Paulson an efficient higher up at Goldman, and allowed him to outs Jon Corzine from the company (while JSC was away with his family for Christmas in Colorado)–impatience, forcefulness, an insistence on interrupting people and monopolizing conversations–just make him a dick at the Treasury, and a frustrated one at that.
Spoiler alert: Washington is full of long lines and red tape, because of this thing called politics. While he’s had some successes (he gained Charles Rangel’s support on free-trade pacts with Panama and Peru, China has said it will allow the Yuan to rise slowly and has opened its doors (by an almost negligible amount) to foreign financial firms), progress is occurring at a snail’s pace (or whatever a snail’s pace is for a former offensive lineman with “nearly boundless energy. Media outlets: we get it. He played football in college. Tell us one more time and you will have qualified for a free copy of Jack Welch’s Winning: Answers).
Setbacks, disappointment and aggravation have not necessarily convinced Paulson that he no longer works at 85 Broad Street. He still operates like a “take-charge Wall Street executive, sometimes taking the spotlight from other cabinet officers and treating his Treasury staff as if they were Goldman partners always on call.” Makes people work on Sundays. Only allows short power naps during flights to Vietnam and China. Looks in the mirror every morning and tells himself, “You own this town, Paulson.”
Today Paulson will meet with top Chinese officials in Washington for two days of talks. The Strategic Economic Dialogue (created by HP last year) is expected to cover the Chinese environmental record, our policy on exports to China, and China’s “unwillingness to allow its currency to rise freely against the dollar, which would make Chinese goods pricier and less threatening to U.S. competitors.”
Paulson’s got the relationship he forged with over 70 visits to China during his time as Goldman CEO on his side, plus the fact that, as a Christian Scientist, he’s got no regard for his own well-being and has that “nothing to lose” mentality. He can also palm a basketball, and that’s got to count for something.
Paulson Finds Deal Making Is Tougher in Washington [WSJ]
Has he been able to use his china connections to finally find out who this General Tso is, and why a General is cooking chickens?
“palm a basketball” heh.
“palm a basketball” heh.
mato – leave the jokes to carney and bess
outs or oust? either way, the beltless govnor of the meadowlands got worked.
leave the jokes to carney and KEITH
uh, leave the jokes to BESS and occasionally carney.
Let’s face it, Keith is the real comedic talent here. He has a real edge. Bess, not so much. Carney is very funny too, but only in an unintentional “what-are-you-guys-laughing-at?” way.
P.S. Eff BSD
keith says balls…real “edge” ya got there.
I’m with 12:12, Bess talks about threesomes and relies on sex starved analysts for her following.
At one point her writing was charmingly quirky, but it’s been going downhill for quite some time.
when did she reference sex in this article? right, she didn’t. “You own this town, Paulson.” is hilarious. get a life, quakes.
i come here for bess’s humor, carney’s backdating shit and keith’s bonus charts.
i come here for bess’s humor, carney’s backdating shit and keith’s bonus charts.
if you don’t get bess, you have no sense of humor. yes, keith is more direct, but the subtle wit is what makes ma bess shine.
i find it hilarious that people think bess is subtle.
well…she is…like the freckles on her nose.
bess’ writing screams “i’m really trying to be funny in a subtle way”. opposite of subtle.
Bess’ writing has improved tremendously these last couple months. This was an excellent post – informative with just the right amount of subtle wit. This is what DB should be all about.
actually, she just is subtle. but carney on w/ your projections on her, 1:14. we all know you wish you had the courage to quit your job taking it up the A and hang out at DB.
that should’ve been “carry on”
no one’s lived until they’ve seen (pale) Freckles do karaoke to Take Me Home Tonight.
wow, for once i actually agree with BSD.