Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Paulson   [Rich Lowry]

This is what I'm picking up from a few conversations. It is significant that the White House managed to get someone of stature, since the conventional wisdom had become that no one serious would take the job. Paulson is not a Bush insider like Don Evans (who had been rumored to be the pick) and has a sterling reputation on Wall Street. What he says will carry real weight with the markets. The speculation is that Paulson must have said no repeatedly, but Josh Bolten finally succeeded in twisting his arm. Some people guess that Paulson taking the job might mean that the position will have more heft than it has had to this point in the Bush administration and also that there may be some significant policy proposals coming eventually. He has a reputation as a very smart guy and has been a defender of the Bush tax cuts. He should pretty quickly give Bush added credibility on the economy.

05/30 02:01 PMShare