[ by Larry Goldfarb ]

The Republican strategy for dealing with spending cuts is now clear: annoy the members of the Obama administration with "hair brain" ideas and bizarre tactics until they quit.  Then, take their time in confirming replacements and bully the new/temporary participants, neophytes, so that they give the GOP everything they want.  

Well the first shoe to drop is Tim Geithner, the Treasury Secretary, who will be leaving the administration by the end of January, prior to the negotiating an increase in the country's debt limit.  Jack Lew remains the leading contender for the Treasury job.  

Geithner, 51, is the only remaining member of Obama’s original economic team and was a key figure in the taxpayer- funded bailouts during the 2008 financial crisis. He’s also had a principal role in negotiations with Congress on the budget deal and in past deliberations over the debt ceiling.

For more information, please read [Bloomberg, 1/3/13].