Bernanke’s getting a free ride

Anyone else with Ben Bernanke’s track record at the Federal Reserve would likely find themselves out of a job. But unless all 30 senators who have refrained from commenting on his renomination vote no, opponents opt for a filibuster and convince 20 of those holdouts to join them or enough senators in the pro-Bernanke camp change their minds, we are looking at another four-year term for Bernanke as chairman.

For the record, here is how things are lining up, according to Bloomberg:

• Full Senate: 49 yes, 21 no and 30 who have not commented.
• Democrats 35 yes, six no, 17 not commented.
• Independents: one yes and one no.
• Republicans: 13 yes, 14 no and 13 not commented.

By the way, both of New Jersey’s senators — Democrats Bob Menendez and Frank Lautenberg — are on record supporting his renomination.

• Send me an e-mail.
• Read poetry at The Subterranean.
• Suburban Pastoral, a chapbook by Hank Kalet, available here.

Author: hankkalet

Hank Kalet is a poet and freelance journalist. He is the economic needs reporter for NJ Spotlight, teaches journalism at Rutgers University and writing at Middlesex County College and Brookdale Community College. He writes a semi-monthly column for the Progressive Populist. He is a lifelong fan of the New York Mets and New York Knicks, drinks too much coffee and attends as many Bruce Springsteen concerts as his meager finances will allow. He lives in South Brunswick with his wife Annie. View all posts by hankkalet