Team Obama AWOL on the economy

What's the most pressing issue in the country, and the world, right now.

I'd say it's the economy.

Then why in the hell isn't the Treasury Department staffed yet?

Two top contenders for senior posts at the U.S. Treasury have withdrawn, people familiar with the moves said on Thursday, dealing a blow to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's efforts to build his staff to fight the financial crisis.

Former Securities and Exchange Commissioner Annette Nazareth withdrew from consideration to become deputy Treasury secretary for personal reasons to remain in her private securities law practice, one of the sources said.

Caroline Atkinson, Geithner's choice for international affairs undersecretary, also has withdrawn. Atkinson, a senior official at the International Monetary Fund, has decided to remain at the institution, a person familiar with the decision said.

Both Nazareth and Atkinson had been vetted for the jobs but were not formally nominated for U.S. Senate confirmation.

The withdrawals come as Geithner is trying to boost market confidence in the Obama administration's ability to battle the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

How much would you like to wager on tax issues being the issue on these rescissions.

Thanks to reader Mark

More....