Geithner Emerges as Obama’s Indispensable Man

Opinion piece by Albert R. Hunt for Bloomberg
http://noir.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=ariXVQ63R.Wk

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If, two years ago, reports of Timothy Geithner possibly leaving reached the White House, some advisers would have seized on them as an opportunity; President Barack Obama’s Treasury secretary got off to a very rocky start, and was considered a short-termer.

Today, if rumblings that he’s thinking about stepping down made their way to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., there would be near panic. Geithner is as close to an indispensable figure as there is in the Obama administration.

The 49-year-old Treasury chief is unrivaled in economic policymaking in the administration, commands respect in Asia and Europe, and is a presidential favorite.

Some associates say that in recent months, he has ruminated privately about leaving before the end of this term, perhaps when the battle over the debt ceiling is resolved this summer. A few knowledgeable people take this seriously; most doubt it.
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Long story very short--the man has the president's ear and a lot of power. Some people have embraced him as the economy has begun coming around while others feel he is not only tone-deaf but unable to grasp the concerns of the common folk.

In my opinion, though, his popularity and fate is tied to the economy. As long as things keep getting better on a macro-level his star will continue to rise. He will also be the focal point of discontent if everything goes belly-up again.