It is not that, as Andrew Bolt notes, that the process has been so flawed to date that it’s fair to use the phrase “spivs and chiselers” without exaggerating. Very Commonwealth-y, but not exaggerating.
It is not that, as Gawker’s Owen Thomas notes, that it’s now come out that new chief vetter Gregory Craig’s wife herself apparently hasn’t been paying her business taxes, to the point where there’s now allegedly an investigation going on about that.
(Both links H/T Glenn Reynolds)
It is not even that the first reaction that everybody had - including you! Admit it - to hearing that Gov. Sebelius got the nod for HHS Secretary was “Hm. I wonder whether she’s paid her taxes.”
Nope. The funny part is that this process isn’t going to stop for months.
Vacancies abound in crucial US posts
Obama vetting policy slows appointmentsWASHINGTON - As President Obama rolls out one of the most ambitious agendas in US history, federal agencies are struggling to administer hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of new projects and to enact sweeping policy changes with a mere handful of senior staff members in place, in part due to an increasingly tough vetting policy initiated by Obama himself.
Only about 70 people have been formally nominated to fill the roughly 500 senior posts in the Defense, State, Treasury, and Education departments and dozens of other government agencies, according to White House records. Dozens of nominations are still pending as FBI and White House officials scrub potential nominees’ tax returns, financial ties, and former activities in government.
You have to wonder why they’re still bothering. I mean, it’d be one thing if the process was producing people who were paying their taxes, not up to their eyeballs in pay-for-play, living with lobbyists, or avoiding being in violation of ethics law. But it’s not. It’s not even coming close. So they might as well junk it as a bad deal and at least fill up the slots. Let me put it another way: there’s a quote from the movie War Games
But I’m betting that you can guess what it is anyway.
Moe Lane
Crossposted at Moe Lane.
Sebelius..
Alone_in_the_Dotte Saturday, February 28th at 9:36PM EST (link)I seem to be link-challenged tonight. Google “Sebelius Kansas Drop The Soap”
I wonder if the vetting team has seen this. Or cares.
Since it started as an art school project
bk Sunday, March 1st at 8:23AM EST (link)maybe he’ll have a better shot now at getting an NEA grant as he expands his sales office from the governor’s mansion in Topeka to the new resident in Washington.
Unbelievable.
Two can play the game
nivlem Saturday, February 28th at 9:49PM EST (link)Can’t we play them like they play us?? Earlier I posted that we delay, delay, delay…..meaning the house and senate……
Isn”t this another too for delay….they cannot staff until appointed, so why
give them the authority????
Slow it down…..delay…….give the public the information they need to make a
decison.
That is where the Republicans can maike a difference…
TeamObama™ is actually vetting people?
phxg Saturday, February 28th at 9:53PM EST (link)I was under the impression there was a hat with peoples names in it.
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. –Aristotle
Obama's Sweeping Ethics Reform
6eorge Jetson Saturday, February 28th at 11:24PM EST (link)They're appointees ... not real people
GreyCloak Sunday, March 1st at 2:32AM EST (link)From your cite:
Who do you think does the actual work? The same aides, temps, and career employees that have always been there!
Appointees are there only to take the blame if something goes wrong … few do much … but their salaries add up to many $millions, and are used to reward the politically faithful.
The Federal government is a stronghold of patronage … much as Chicago has employees that “work” from 10 to 4, the President gets to appoint all sorts of “senior officers” and (incidentally) over 100 US Attorneys. Clinton replaced all of them; Bush was castigated for dumping eight, and Obama can replace all of them again (excepting maybe Patrick Fitzgerald).
I had the unfortunate experience of interviewing one of Reagan’s appointees … a Director of Social Security. He was a nice guy … my topic involved a paltry $37 billion question related to overpayments and debts owed the system. Many aides and career employees were trying to solve the problem … the appointee said something to the effect of “keep up the good work” … as he conducted the interview while reclined on his couch.
Appointees are needed to sign important regulations and policies, but “Acting” senior officers can do the same … they just don’t want to take the blame, or defend themselves to Congress or the media.
At least Sebelius had some experience in Insurance … Daschle’s accomplishments were related mostly to Indian Affairs, Nutrition, and Forestry!
This argument would reassure me more...
Moe Lane Sunday, March 1st at 8:09AM EST (link)…if one of the vacancies wasn’t Ambassador to Iraq.
Which is one slot that we do need filled. As in, yesterday.
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