The Quarrel Over Bernanke By THE EDITORS

The Quarrel Over Bernanke
By THE EDITORS
http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/201...mith&st=cse

Ben BernankeJason Reed/Reuters Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke at his nomination hearing before the Senate banking committee last month.

The Senate is expected to vote this week on whether to confirm Ben Bernanke to a second term as the Federal Reserve chairman. Though it appears that he will overcome a filibuster threat, opposition to Mr. Bernanke has grown, along with worsening jobs numbers and public anger over the Fed’s failure to regulate banks before the financial crisis. His Democratic and Republican opponents have criticized him as the architect of the Wall Street bailout and being out of touch with the woes of Main Street.

How much is Mr. Bernanke to blame for the regulatory failures, the weak recovery and high unemployment numbers? Could a new Fed chairman make a difference?

* Robert Kuttner, The American Prospect
http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/201...p;st=cse#robert

* Tyler Cowen, economist, George Mason University
http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/201...cse#cowen"]http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/201...mp;st=cse#cowen

* Yves Smith, financial analyst
http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/201...amp;st=cse#yves

* Mark Thoma, economist, University of Oregon
http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/201...mp;st=cse#thoma

* Robert J. Barbera, economist, I.T.G.
http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/201...;st=cse#barbera