I feel like President Obama took a long time to get to the place he should have started from.

[randomness]

From http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/obama-nominates-janet-yellen-to-lead-the-fed/2013/10/09/74c8ed06-3113-11e3-9c68-1cf643210300_story.html:

"President Obama on Wednesday nominated renowned economist Janet Yellen to become the first woman to lead the Federal Reserve".

Comments

[drwex]

You have to remember that the nomination comes at a certain point before the current Chair's term expires. The fact that Summers' name got floated early was a trial balloon. I would have liked it better if he had just started by floating her name but the timing of the actual nomination makes sense.

Also, he's making a clear statement about "Congress may be shut down, but I am still getting on with my job."