Another yes man
Olmert sought finance minister who would be dedicated to him in every sense
Haim Ramon was not passed over for the post of finance minister because of the sex offense for which he was tried and served his sentence. Because if Haim Ramon is considered suitable for the post of vice premier, a highly respectable job offered by the prime minister, then why shouldn't he serve as a finance minister? And a good one at that.
The reason Ramon didn't get the Treasury was different: Ehud Olmert feared Ramon's independent and pragmatic thought process in the post of finance minister. He feared Ramon's agenda. Not his lust, but rather, his ability to hinder him. Olmert did not want a finance minister who could do anything substantial. He wanted a finance minister who could do little, similar to the Avraham Hirchson model, but clean and void of corruption charges. He wanted a finance minister who would be dedicated to him in every sense. All the rest is irrelevant.
Haim Ramon discovered Olmert's preference rather late. He attributed his failure to receive the portfolio to Bar-On's insidiousness. He was wrong. It's was not because of Bar-On, but rather, because of Olmert.
Strong managers appoint strong people to key posts; weak people appoint weak people. Late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was a strong man, gave the finance portfolio to Avraham Shochat; Ariel Sharon didn’t hesitate to give it to Benjamin Netanyahu. Olmert, based on this same principle, preferred Bar-On over Ramon.
Olmert filled the post of finance minister twice, and from the experience he gained he reached an unequivocal political conclusion: The prime minister has to keep the finance portfolio under his wing. Close to his chest. Namely, a finance minister who would serve merely as a transmission wheel between him and senior Treasury officials. A minister who is a messenger and mediator, as opposed to one who is a loud "mover and shaker."
Ronnie Bar-On has a relatively meager and brief ministerial background. He is neither a great economist nor a great manager. It is doubtful whether he would have the mental stamina and professional acumen to deal with the old-timer officials at the Treasury. Key decisions would be transferred to the Prime Minister's Office.
In short, Bar-On is a finance minister to Olmert's liking. The leaks that came out of Olmert's office as to the offers made to Stanley Fischer, to Shlomo Nehama and to Benjamin Netanyahu to serve as the finance minister were designed to block criticism towards the appointment of another close associate to the obligatory national post.
Now Olmert can say: I asked, offered, begged – they were not interested. All that's left is Ronnie Bar-On. But there was only Ronnie Bar-On from the outset. Netanyahu understood this well. He never seriously considered the "offer" to enter Olmert's' cabinet.
Ramon had detailed action plan
People remember Netanyahu in the role of finance minister because he was an economic leader, a driver of change, a revolutionary. He devoted the majority of his time and energy to large-scale reform. Even if it had not been for the emotional-political conundrum of joining a government whose days seem to be numbered, Netanyahu would not have agreed to serve in the Finance Ministry under Olmert.
During motivational talks for the appointment of Bar-On Olmert was told: Bar-On will pass the 2008 budget for you in the cabinet and in the Knesset, just as you want and without taking the credit for himself. He will attribute all his achievements to you, and that's what should interest you right now. The prime minister is not likely to reach the 2009 budget anyway.
Haim Ramon had a detailed action plan in his arsenal set to revolutionize the ministry. Had he entered the Treasury, the building's foundations in Jerusalem would have trembled. Ramon would have dared question the Treasury's generations of entrenched verities and put them into action. He would have led and realized a structural revolution. The Treasury after Ramon would have been very different than what it was beforehand. This is how he conducted himself in previous public posts - as the secretary-general of the Histadrut labor union federation, as the health minister, and as the interior minister.
And this is exactly what the prime minister feared. Overly influenced by media preaching, Olmert is not looking for a storm; he doesn't want any noise and is not interested in conflicts. He wants calm and serenity. This will be provided by Ronnie Bar-On.
Finally, Ramon's political roots worked against him. Haim Ramon recently left the Labor party. Ehud Barak is a still a member of the Labor party. Had the finance portfolio been given to Ramon, Ehud Olmert would have found himself with a defense minister from the Labor party on his left, and with a former Labor party member as finance minister on his right. This is a very uncomfortable seating position for one who was considered until two years ago to be one of the senior members and founders of the Likud party.
