Why Praise Rubin? He Watched Citi Crumble

But in the years since at Citigroup, there can also be little argument that he either a) was just collecting a paycheck while napping with his feet up on his desk or b) gave some advice that defines him more as part of the current problem than any automatic solution.

No matter. We have seen this so many times before: A new CEO comes in and gets a honeymoon period from the business media, one that invariably pushes up expectations (and the stock price) more than is warranted, even when the CEO does show promise.

But in this case, the ridin'-in-on-a-white-horse story lines are a particular stretch, considering Rubin's record at Citigroup.

With all the write-offs and all the apparent distrust of corporate leaders -- particularly of financial companies -- I expected more critical thought. Silly Business Press Maven.

Anyhow, take a tour of this worshipful article. And make sure you don't go falling for anything like it, for it's the verbal personification of expectations that are too high and thought that does not take into account a morsel of history.

Here is the tongue bath of a lead from a piece by Eric Dash:

"Throughout a long, public career, Robert Rubin spanned the highest reaches of Wall Street and Washington, and succeeded wherever he went."