Changes

Billionaire [[Warren Buffett]], former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, and former Clinton Treasury Secretary [[Robert Rubin]] constituted Obama's transition team of Economic Advisers.<ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601110&sid=aSzNv81CYh0c Obama to Meet With Buffett, Daley, Economic Advisers], Bloomberg, Nov. 6 2008.</ref>  Rubin has been sharply criticized for his role in the collapse of [[Citigroup]] which has taken $45 billion in federal bailout money.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN0930738020090109 Robert Rubin quits Citigroup amid criticism], Reuters, Jan 9, 2009</ref>  Buffett has since the inauguration been an outspoken critic of the administrations declared objective of not allowing "a crisis to go to waste"<ref>http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/03/buffett_hits_obama_congress_on.html</ref> and Obama's massive tax increase on the needy and those least able to afford it.<ref>http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/09/buffett-cap-and-trade-is-a-regressive-tax/</ref>

Billionaire [[Warren Buffett]], former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, and former Clinton Treasury Secretary [[Robert Rubin]] constituted Obama's transition team of Economic Advisers.<ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601110&sid=aSzNv81CYh0c Obama to Meet With Buffett, Daley, Economic Advisers], Bloomberg, Nov. 6 2008.</ref>  Rubin has been sharply criticized for his role in the collapse of [[Citigroup]] which has taken $45 billion in federal bailout money.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN0930738020090109 Robert Rubin quits Citigroup amid criticism], Reuters, Jan 9, 2009</ref>  Buffett has since the inauguration been an outspoken critic of the administrations declared objective of not allowing "a crisis to go to waste"<ref>http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/03/buffett_hits_obama_congress_on.html</ref> and Obama's massive tax increase on the needy and those least able to afford it.<ref>http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/09/buffett-cap-and-trade-is-a-regressive-tax/</ref>

Economists polled by the ''Wall Street Journal'' in July 2009, expressed concern that the Obama administration's economic performance is problematic. According to the ''Wall Street Journal'', in March 2009, [[Barack Hussein Obama|President Obama]] and Treasury Secretary [[Timothy Geithner]] both "received failing grades for their efforts to revive the economy."<ref>Obama scored 59 in March 2009, Geithner 51, and Bernanke 71. See Phil Izzo, "Obama, Geithner Get Low Grades From Economists," [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123671107124286261.html  ''Wall Street Journal'' March 11, 2009]</ref> By contrast, Fed chairman Bernanke scored much better, with an average grade of 85; in addition 93% of respondents believed Bernanke should be reappointed by Obama when his term expires in 2010.<ref>Phil Izzo, "Few Economists Favor More Stimulus," [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124708099206913393.html ''Wall Street Journal'' July 10, 2009] </ref> The economists, however, were broadly supportive of the Federal Reserve. Over 85% agreed that its proliferating lending programs are well-designed, well-executed and helping the economy.

Economists polled by the ''Wall Street Journal'' in July 2009, expressed concern that the Obama administration's economic performance is problematic. According to the ''Wall Street Journal'', in March 2009, [[Barack Hussein Obama|President Obama]] and Treasury Secretary [[Timothy Geithner]] both "received failing grades for their efforts to revive the economy."<ref>Obama scored 59 in March 2009, Geithner 51, and Bernanke 71. See Phil Izzo, "Obama, Geithner Get Low Grades From Economists," [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123671107124286261.html  ''Wall Street Journal'' March 11, 2009]</ref> By contrast, Fed chairman Bernanke scored much better, with an average grade of 85; in addition 93% of respondents believed Bernanke should be reappointed by Obama when his term expires in 2010.<ref>Phil Izzo, "Few Economists Favor More Stimulus," [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124708099206913393.html ''Wall Street Journal'' July 10, 2009] </ref>  

====The Obama Accountability Index====

====The Obama Accountability Index====