Yabba dabba dooo!!!! Finally someone in the Obama administration who doesn't play the center, but concentrates on the little guy.

No doubt Jared Bernstein is a wonderful fellow and probably a top-notch economist, but his hiring begs the question: Why does the VP need a Chief Economist and Economic Policy Advisor? You have the President hiring all sorts of economic advisors, why does the VP need one when the VP doesn't do a damn thing? It's just pissing away more taxpayer money and adding to the government bureaucracy.

I'm guessing Jared included the desperate gasps of a dying movement statement on his 64 question vetting survey, and that he will not have to go through a confirmation process.

Jim - why did Cheney need a PR person? Or a David Addington?

Danp - short answer: he didn't and see what happens when the VP goes beyond his or her Constitutional perogatives.

Jim, the VP is also a key player in selling the policies of the President to the public. Biden is also a part of Obama's team and does have some influence on policy as well. That Biden wants Bernstein's input is an indication that he's wanting a progressive perspective on the economy, which is a welcome change.

In one of his letters to the Romans, Paul states that Obama was born in Kenya.

I'm really looking forward to Vice President Biden. It will be nice to not have a Bond villain as VP.

"I'm really looking forward to Vice President Biden. It will be nice to not have a Bond villain as VP." Posted by: Saint Zak

Nah, the Bond Villians were all more classy that Darth Cheney.

The VP needs a economics advisor to give him a different perspective to put to the president than what is coming out of the West Wing. Otherwise you get bubble-syndrome.

The "Obama-Biden administration"? Might want to check with the boss before declaring yourself co-president, Joe.

It's all a dastardly plot to position Bernstein to be the new Secretary of the Treasury when Paulson gets the boot.

Can't happen too soon, IMHO.

The "Obama-Biden administration"? Might want to check with the boss before declaring yourself co-president, Joe.

I realize that "[President]-[VP] administration" is a not uncommon usage, but it still strikes me as a bit presumptous when Biden uses it.

They've had their turn and they've failed.

They [republicans/conservatives] have "failed" only in the eyes of sane people. In the eyes of republicans/conservatives they have actually been a huge success in terms of their own stated goal to 'drown and strangle Government in a bathtub'.

People are nuts to continually think of republicans/conservatives as if they average sane people - they are nothing of the sort.

So instead of 4 years of 'now its our turn', it will be 4 years of being tied up fighting every insane distraction, trumpted-up phony/false accusation, and obstruction republicans/conservatives can dream up to make Obama and the Democrats fail. Remember, the average American matters not one wit to republicans/conservatives and the county matters not one wit to republicans/conservatives. Republican/conservative's ONLY objective is to enrich themselves while keeping as many others as possible oppressed.

" In the eyes of republicans/conservatives they have actually been a huge success in terms of their own stated goal to 'drown and strangle Government in a bathtub'." - pluege

Actually, in the eyes of Grover Norquist and the like the Republican'ts over the last twelve, eight or six years have been abject failures at shrinking the size of government. Government has grown under Boy George II and they actually blame that (and fiscal inconservatism) for their defeats in 2006 and 2008.

And yes, I think again they will be infighting so badly in 2010 and 2012 they will lose again. I hope they won't make up any ground in 2010.

This is so cool giving great hope that we will finally get going in the right direction rather than just protecting the holdings of the wealthy.

Great choice and stay being yourself Jared.

Now if only Obama would include Naomi Klein as a policy adviser...Makes me wonder if "The Shock Doctrine" has even been brought to his attention. It should be required reading. Well over the heads of McCain/Palin but Obama would get a lot out of it...if he hasn't already.

Given Jared Bernstein's public statements on the bankruptcy bill, I have to wonder if he might want to lower his expectations on changing the point of view championed by the Senator from MBNA. I can't see how this can last.

Actually, in the eyes of Grover Norquist and the like the Republican'ts over the last twelve, eight or six years have been abject failures at shrinking the size of government.

that's the deek. The little public gnashing they do is a ruse to distract from what they have actually achieved. The reality is that by stealing the nation's wealth and pocketing it among their plutocratic thieves in order to put the nation hopelessly in the hole, they have achieved their goals of enriching themselves and preventing the nation's wealth from ever being spent on average and disadvantaged Americans.

We need common sense intellectuals like Pat Buchanan, not more harebrained economists who are unworldly and mired in bean counting.