Geithner Alone on Top

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner was able to squeak through his confirmation hearings, despite prior tax difficulties, but the rest of his staff isn’t faring as well. The Wall Street Journal reports that “Two candidates for top jobs at the Treasury have withdrawn their names from consideration, complicating efforts by Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner to staff his department at a time of economic crisis.” Annette Nazareth was supposed to be deputy Treasury secretary, while Caroline Atkinson was in line to oversee international affairs. “People familiar with the matter said Ms. Nazareth and Ms. Atkinson withdrew in part because of the long vetting process, which had dragged on for weeks and included several rounds of intense questioning.”