A pretty testy exchange today during Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner’s hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, as Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell pushed Geithner (and, by extension, the Obama administration) to speed up delivery of the $30 billion to community banks that Obama proposed during his State of the Union:
Money quotes—or, at least, the back-and-forth that Cantwell’s office is flagging for reporters:
Cantwell: “If we don’t implement change right now, we are going to lose more jobs. Do not wait for legislation. Come to terms with the community banks on reasonable terms that they can agree to … and I think that that we will be well on our way to getting Americans back to work.”
Geithner: “I agree with you, the president agrees too. And we’re happy to work with you and your staff on the best ideas of how to do that.”

Eli Sanders has a boner for Maria Cantwell. What’s with your obvious obsession with this bitch?
I don’t perceive Timothy Geithner as being in favour of community banks. Last week I saw an interview where Mr. Geithner paid lip service to customers demanding integrity, fairness and high standards from their banks, but did not think it a good idea for customers to rebel against new and higher fees their banks charge them by going to community banks or credit unions.
Wow, I’m generally against earmarks, but can we get one to buy Geithner a new rug? That thing’s hideous.
I like Cantwell. She keeps getting tougher, and it’s nice to see someone with a backbone in the democratic party.
Way to go, Mr. Nelson!
cantwell is a droning clueless sack of shit