Timothy Geithner: He's Way Smarter Than You, and He Could Kick Your Ass

Of the awe-filled profiling of our treasury secretary there is no end, and the Atlantic has one this month that is so staggering in its scope, so wide in its perspicacity, so epic in its erudition, that one thing is for sure: you'll never get through the goddamn thing. (Full disclosure: I haven't yet either!)

So while I may have more to say later, I do have to point out my favorite part so far (after how it stresses a bit better than other Geithner profiles I recall how indebted his career is to having been anointed by Kissinger, for those who like to think about permanent entrenched elites):

In the course of many interviews about Geithner, two qualities came up again and again. The first was his extraordinary quickness of mind and talent for elucidating whatever issue was the preoccupying concern of the moment. Second was his athleticism. Unprompted by me, friends and colleagues extolled his skill and grace at windsurfing, tennis, basketball, running, snowboarding, and softball (specifying his prowess at shortstop and in center field, as well as at the plate). He inspires an adolescent awe in male colleagues.

It feels less than encouraging to me that this dude is surrounded entirely by sycophants who think he's not only, like, the smartest guy they've ever met, but could also likely whip their ass at any of the manly physical arts. However, let's remember the mantra of the Obama econ team: It could be woise!