So, in a nutshell, Ben Bernanke said some things and then the markets tumbled.
But in the run-up to the Fed chairman speaking at a press conference this afternoon, following the Fed policy committee’s two-day meeting, the cable business networks spent hours discussing what he might say and what it might mean. The award for the most bombastic conversation of the day (and isn’t that what it’s about?) goes to CNBC’s Rick Santelli and the Wall Street Journal‘s chief economics correspondent Jon Hilsenrath. I’m starting to think Santelli doesn’t really cotton to the economics types.
Santelli said Hilsenrath, and other Fed reporters, ask softball questions at Bernanke’s rare press availabilities. Hilsenrath called out Santelli for being a doomsayer.
“Part of me holding people accountable is holding people like you accountable, Rick” said Hilsenrath. “Good. Ask me anything pal,” Santelli shot back.
Watch after the jump…