Rich on Ruben: "The Citi may never sleep, but he snored ..."

Killer Frank Rich today!

He passes, for now, drinking the Kool-Aid on the Obama Transition, and hones in on, not the big billboard National Security team, but rather the Economic geniuses tapped by the President-Elect.

And, while he slathers some particularly aromatic relish on Lawrence Summers and Timothy Geithner, Rich goes with all the works for their mentor, Robert Rubin.

From 'The Brightest Are Not Always the Best';

Summers and Geithner are both protégés of another master of the universe, Robert Rubin. His appearance in the photo op for Obama-transition economic advisers three days after the election was, to put it mildly, disconcerting. Ever since his acclaimed service as Treasury secretary in the Clinton administration, Rubin has labored as a senior adviser and director at Citigroup, now being bailed out by taxpayers to the potential tune of some $300 billion. Somehow the all-seeing Rubin didn’t notice the toxic mortgage-derivatives on Citi’s books until it was too late. The Citi may never sleep, but he snored.

Ouch!

Ruben may have to use some of his gigantic salary to visit a plastic surgeon, to get the palm-print of Rich's slap off his face.

A few more snips;

Well, nobody’s perfect. Given that John McCain’s economic team was headlined by Carly Fiorina and Joe the Plumber, the country would be dodging a fiscal bullet even if Obama had picked Suze Orman. But I keep wondering why the honeymoon hagiography about the best and the brightest has been so over the top. Washington’s cheerleading for our new New Frontier cabinet superstars has seldom been interrupted by tough questions about Summers’s Harvard career or Geithner’s record at the Fed.

And;

No doubt the Pavlovian ovations for the Obama team are in part a reaction to our immediate political past. After eight years of a presidency that valued cronyism over brains (or even competence) and embraced an anti-intellectualism apotheosized by Sarah Palin, it’s a godsend to have a president who puts a premium on merit. I also wonder if a press corps that underrated Obama’s political prowess for much of the campaign, demeaning him as a professorial wuss next to the brawny Clinton and McCain, is now overcompensating for that mistake. No one wants to miss out a second time on triumphal history in the making.

There's much more rips on Ruben, so, go read Frank Rich's 'The Brightest Are Not Always the Best'... It's a great read!


Bonus Riffs

Robert Reich: Citigroup Scores

Hilzoy: Who's In Charge Here?

Brilliant at Breakfast: So why DID we just throw a truckload of money at Citigroup then?

The Heretik: And the Smart Money Is On . . .

Top Ten Cloves: Things About Citigroup Keeping Stadium Sponsorship After Getting Government Bailout

Breaking ... Obama Team Vetting Food Tasters

Breaking ... Obama Team Vetting Food Tasters

Sources have told The Garlic this evening, that within minutes after announcing his National Security Team, President-Elect Barack Obama's transition squad began a scheduled vetting of food tasters, that will be employed in the administration.

"This has been in the cards for quite some time," indicated the source, an Obama insider.

"Once they won the primary, and began thinking about the "Team of Rivals" thing, this was put in motion."

It is not known who these potential "Food Tasters" are, how they will work, if they will actually taste the food for the President, or merely test it.

The Obama Team has no concerns, as to the integrity of the White House Chef, or any member of the staff.

However, guidelines are continuing to be worked out.

During Cabinet meetings, in which the President will attend, Cabinet members, and any staff, will have their own, separate table of food and beverages, the President, his own, guarded by Secret Service agents.

The President will drink from a covered, travel-type mug, and any food brought into the meetings must be sealed, and have a Secret Service escort.

Other meetings (outside of the White House), and formal events, in which Cabinet members are in attendance, a similar protocol will be implemented.

Should a Cabinet member visit the President in the Oval Office, that Cabinet member may have a full search conducted, before entering, and they will be instructed to sit, at minimum, ten-feet away from any food items the President may have in his office.

Another recommendation, that our source indicates the President-Elect was balking at, is that he must wear surgical latex gloves when shaking hands with any Cabinet member.

More, as this story develops ...


Bonus Links

CNN: Obama rolls out national security team

Robert Stein: Clintons Front and Center Again

Mary Ann Akers: It Hurts To Be John Kerry Today

Katharine Q. Seelye: Live Blog: Presenting the National Security Team

Frank James: Obama rebukes Bush years with Clinton

Kevin Drum: Press Conference Follies

Top Ten Cloves: Ways To Tell Your Neighbor Is Being Vetted For An Obama Cabinet Post

News Item: Barack Obama and the Culture of Leaks

10. They asked you to TIVO the Obama's visit to the White House, and now come over every day to watch, gushing over it

9. Family is listening to audio book "Dreams of My Father", with the volume cranked all the way

8. Your weekly bridge game gets constantly interrupted by Secret Service agents, asking probing questions

7. Clinton friends and supporters have begun threatening you

6. You used to live next door to Michael Vick

5. Rahm Emanuel has already kidnapped their children, as leverage, to prevent them leaking to the media

4. Rather suddenly, family walking around, wearing Chicago Bears jerseys - And you don't live anywhere near Chicago

3. You hear banging, a commotion, and you're neighbor crying, sobbing "But I've never been a lobbyist ... I don't even know any lobbyists"

2. You've seen the book, ''Team of Rivals' on their coffee table

1. Their kids are running all over the place, swearing like Joe Scarborough

Top Ten Cloves: Things About The Meeting Today, Between President Elect Obama and John McCain

News Item: McCain: I'll "Obviously" Help Obama With His Administration

10. Surprise for Obama - McCain delivered cookies, baked by Cindy - from her own family recipe!

9. McCain's office sent out Press Release, that the Senator was "suspending" his schedule for the day, to meet with Obama

8. Rules for the meeting? ... McCain limited to only three "My Friends" during conversation

7. McCain conveyed that The Wasilla Whiz Kid was sending Obama some "Good Luck" winks

6. Obama pressed McCain, hard, for how much he'd let the old Dead Campaign Express bus go for ...

5. What's the real scoop? ... McCain whined for over 2-hours, about those 10 Town Hall Meetings, still pressing the issue

4. McCain badgered Obama over a Cabinet post, White House job, anything, for Joe The Plumber

3. Obama said he almost didn't recognize McCain, not having Joe Lieberman with him, to stand off his shoulder

2. Instead of greeting each other with handshake, it was the "terrorist fist jab"

1. McCain admitted he is relieved that he didn't win, and could stay "Divorced from day-to-day challenges people have"


Bonus Obama Riffs

SNL - We Had To Endure Hillary, But Then Came The Obama Files

You Say Lapel Pins ... I Say Lunatics...

Top Ten Cloves: Ways Obama Campaign Can Re-Introduce Michelle Obama

Breaking! Obama VP Call Delayed - Piece of Paper With Name Lost

The "B" List

Top Ten Cloves: Possible Surprising Things Barack Obama Will Do With His Paid Infomercial This Evening