Meet Brian Deese, the 31-year-old in charge of breaking up GM
Many of us ABers being in our early- to mid-30s, we're less amazed that another of our ilk has risen to a decisive government position. We are, after all, a generation on the rise. The surprising part about Brian Deese's story is that he's been instrumental in shaping the Obama administration's moves to save General Motors, and this is his first official tour of duty in Washington. What qualifies a guy who hasn't even finished his Yale Law degree to steer President's automotive task force around? From what's been said about Mr. Deese, his quick ability to boil down the often competing economic and political aspects of any given issue.
Deese piped up in favor of Fiat's rescue of Chrysler, pointing out with a memo that a fire sale of the ailing automaker would send unforseen ripples out into the economy as a whole. Speaking out in such an influential manner is definitely unusual considering Deese doesn't appear to be an auto enthusiast or business propeller-head with his nose buried in studies and reports about the car industry. A childhood spent in the Boston suburb of Belmont, Massachusetts under the parentage of a college professor an an engineer, Deese did his undergraduate time at Middlebury College in Vermont before heading to Washington to work for Nancy Birdsall on international aid. A turn with former Clinton policy wonk Gene Sperling before the move to Yale, Hillary Clinton's bid for nomination brought Deese back to DC. With friends in Washington, Deese found himself hooked into the Obama team, and from there he's been running busily around our nation's capital.
If General Motors can successfully navigate Chapter 11, we'll all get to see just how well Brian Deese has done digesting the thorny chestnut that is saving our domestic auto industry.
[Source: The New York Times, Image: Maxhawkins - CC2.0]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Avinash machado 10:35AM (6/05/2009)
Maybe in another ten years he will be the democratic candidate for the presidency.
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Motor_Yakuza 10:39AM (6/05/2009)
Hmm, he will be "the one" in 2016.
Sea Urchin 10:40AM (6/05/2009)
Well we have a commie as a Prez right now, so with any luck there will no elections at all in 2016.
Egon 11:03AM (6/05/2009)
Sea Urine! How'd you get out on a day pass so soon? Hurry along now; Fox News is almost back from its commercial break.
mike 11:08AM (6/05/2009)
Heck of a job Deesie!!!
We are being governed by a bunch of amatuers.
Nice resume:
campaign volunteer - check
'almost' law school graduate - check
hadn't set foot in a auto factory until a couple of months ago - check
I like how he has a beard to try and cover for the baby face.
Just wait for the 'pay' czar, and the health care czar
Kitko 11:21AM (6/05/2009)
In Europe they call them "kinder-management", as in kindergarten.
However, a 30-something makes sense. He is unbiased, he doesn't think about GM as of a national heritage. To him, it's probably a company that needs to be downsized.
Smegley 11:34AM (6/05/2009)
So this guy says "a fire sale of Chrysler will have serious economic ripples" and this bit of wisdom that he probably gleaned a book called "no sh!t, Sherlock" qualifies him to break up GM?
Is that genius statement that a 3rd grader could make really a qualifier for this role? Every freakin election in this country puts into power a regime more retarded than the last. Sheesh.
zamafir 12:08PM (6/05/2009)
"However, a 30-something makes sense. He is unbiased, he doesn't think about GM as of a national heritage. To him, it's probably a company that needs to be downsized."
Correct. All the nostalgic, baby boomer, 50's BS that's put GM in the place they're in will not castrate him as it has damn near everyone in GM responsible for the company’s current lumbering weight and ridiculous financial situation. About time. There’s a reason Ford didn’t hire a CEO from the auto industry when they began their turn around. Less Good Old Boys grab-assing and more focus on reality and results.
geo.stewart 12:30PM (6/05/2009)
not what you know, who you know
ken_aisin 1:54PM (6/05/2009)
"Every freakin election in this country puts into power a regime more retarded than the last. Sheesh."
Could this be the reason why countries like Cuba and North Korea choose not to have an elected government? ;~)
Redeemed 2:31PM (6/05/2009)
"Hurry along now; Fox News is almost back from its commercial break."
Can't you guys come up with something a little more new and original than the "Fox News" and "Rush Limbaugh" comments? Talk about beating a dead horse.
Clay Garland 6:57PM (6/05/2009)
He's just young enough not to ask any questions or try to do anything that his handlers don't tell him.
PaulPaul 10:45AM (6/05/2009)
most important question here is: what car(s) does he own?
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Motor_Yakuza 10:49AM (6/05/2009)
Bet ya' that he owns a Prius.
mike 12:43PM (6/05/2009)
Either a limo takes him to work, or
his mommy drives him in an Odyssey
JZeke 10:47AM (6/05/2009)
AB so behind the curve, I already shared this article on my Facebook a couple days ago...
lol.
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Yaroukh 10:50AM (6/05/2009)
looooooooooool
not
David 10:48AM (6/05/2009)
Good Lord... no wonder this entire GM and Chrysler debacle has gone from bad to worse to unbelievable. A 31-year old with no genuine experience in what he is being charged to manage? Our country is being run by sophomores of the highest order. Only a bureaucracy would think this makes sense and is a clear statement as to just how "important" Obama and his crew really think the U.S. Auto industry is to the strength of this great country. How much can someone actually hate the free-market? Take a good look folks. It will only get worse!
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UCJR 11:07AM (6/05/2009)
Occasionally, though, young people *can* have good ideas.
If 60-year-olds in Congress and the major corporations have been running our country down the toilets for years, might as well try some fresh young blood to see if we get a different result.
If that doesn't happen though... then we're truly screwed!
another_one 11:29AM (6/05/2009)
Experience is a double edged sword. You know what works, so you stick with the same old routine... habit. GM is an excellent example of the habit that coincides with experience. What you need, optimally is experience tempered with ingenuity.
I personally doubt this man has it, and think he might be a possible scape goat if/when this goes south.
Government does not equal ingenuity... PERIOD... ever.
Right now (IMHO) Saturn has a better chance of living than GM; who would have thunk it?