So yesterday, a publication called American Banker reported that the White House would use a provision in the financial reform law to appoint Elizabeth Warren as an interim head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau without needing Senate approval.
Politico then rushed out a piece claiming the White House was denying the whole affair.
White House officials denied reports Monday that the Obama administration is considering naming Elizabeth Warren the interim director of the Consumer Financial Protection Agency to avoid a tough nomination fight on the Senate floor.
And Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), a key negotiator on the reform bill that created the position, told reporters Monday that he "absolutely" believed that any person President Barack Obama names to the position - Warren or not - should go through the full Senate confirmation process.
Ah yeah, there was Dodd, ending his illustrious career as an asshole, crying about the administration using a provision he included in the law that bears his name.
But then the NY Times came out with its piece, saying that yes, Warren was on track for the interim appointment:
Two people who have been briefed on the appointment process, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared reprisal, said the White House was exploring ways to have Ms. Warren effectively run the bureau without having to endure a confirmation battle and, potentially, the threat of a Republican filibuster.
Ha ha ha, "potentially the threat of a Republican filibuster"! As if there was any question the GOP would try and obstruct.
And just a short moment ago, Fox News reported that it's a done deal and she'll get the interim appointment, though we're still waiting on confirmation from a real news outlet. (Update, 10:06AM PT, by Jed: Nope, not a real news outlet. Fox has retracted it's story, saying it "misheard" a rumor.)
