Snow resigns, Paulson nominated:

Treasury Secretary John Snow officially resigned this morning from the BA, after months of speculation. No surprise here, Snow was getting tired and rather grumpy over the last year or so, unable to successfully push GWBush's radical tax cut/economic strategy. Of course, I really don't think that anyone with a brain could have been excited about more and more tax cuts for the rich. Snow had to get pretty creative towards the end in talking up the TC's. Besides, John was probably missing his multi-million dollar salary that he'd get in the private sector from CSX. He's gotta get that parachute.

W's choice to replace Snow as TS is a minor surprise. He picked Henry Paulson, CEO of big-time financial firm Goldman Sachs. Paulson is well known for his supposed financial expertise, and will probably be better suited to spin W's failed economic policies. But one surprise about Paulson is that he was director of the Nature Conservancy, and has warned of the economic consequences of unchecked global warming in the past. Wow. And this is W's choice? No doubt this will be similar to the Harriet Miers SC nomination, with W and the BA caving to incensed right-wing demagogues who are already whining about Paulson's pro-environment record. Heck, they were whining on April 11, when some right-wingers released a letter urging W to drop Paulson from consideration for the job because of HP's support for the Kyoto global warming treaty.


"As head of the Nature Conservancy, Paulson often made decisions that benefited the Conservancy at the expense of Goldman and its shareholders," said John Carlisle, policy director at the National Legal and Policy Center. "Based on his private sector record, Paulson simply can't be trusted as Treasury Secretary to faithfully adhere to important Administration policies on Kyoto and the environment."

Have no fear neo-con's, for Paulson is still way too tight with W and friends. Paulson was a key figure in the Nixon administration during Vietnam, and was implicated in the Watergate scandal. Paulson also has contributed heavily to W's reelection efforts, being named a "Pioneer" for giving upwards of $100,000 to GWB. Paulson has also donated some serious cash to Republican Senate and Congressional election efforts, and also individual GOP candidates.

........................................................................................................................................................................

W + Enron:

The real story of the Bush administration's close ties with Lay and Enron? You tell me...