A couple of recent comments turned on the light bulb over my head.

One liberal commentator on Hannity last night, mentioned that Geithner is a Wallstreet guy, which is why Republicans aren't exploiting his tax problems more voraciously.

I thought that made a lot of sense. If Republicans don't confirm Geithner, they would likely have someone far less amenable to rational economic policy.

Dan Riehl confirms that view from an unnamed Senate source.

Supposedly the inside argument is that Geithner is probably the most conservative nominee they would likely see from Obama for the spot and any replacement would probably be worse.

This is the thing that drives me crazy about Washington--nothing is as it seems. There is always some hidden agenda, some "real" reason behind the superficially ridiculous rhetoric. That's the stuff I want to know, but can't seem to find anywhere.

Just to name a few.

1. Why have Democrats consistently opposed energy development in this country?--the real reason.

2. Why the hurry to pass global warming legislation when the entire country is freezing its collective butt off?--the real reason.

The state media is completely AWOL on these questions, and while there is a temptation to ascribe the basest of political motives--power, and more of it. I'd like to believe that these people are more sophisticated than that, and might in fact have genuinely patriotic reasons for pursuing a program that politically they feel they can't be honest about.

On the other hand, they could just all be idiots, making it all up a day at a time...