The Bush administration continues to neglect the welfare of human life by making unqualified appointments to critical government positions. For a crowd that sanctimoniously chants paens to the
Culture of Life, they show remarkably little respect for it where it matters.
Perhaps the presence of special interests and partisan patronage is something that we will always have to live with in political life. But this administration appears to be gunning for Guiness.
Leaving out examples of pure cronyism, like that of disgraced former FEMA director Michael Brown, BushCo has tread a wide path toward the monarchism that would no doubt satisfy his powerlust.
At the very top, of course, we have the most obvious example of Bush the First, Bush the Younger, and Jeb the Sire of Cons. But it doesn't stop there...
The Myers Dynasty
General Richard Myers is the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Now his daughter, Julie has been
nominated to head the bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE is a division of the Department of Homeland Security that is headed by Michael Chertoff, whose son just married Ms. Myers.
The Powell Dynasty
While serving as Secretary of State, General Colin Powell's son, Michael, was appointed to chair the Federal Communications Commision.
The McClellan Dynasty
Scott McClellan is currently the President's press secretary. His brother, Mark, is the Medicare Administrator.
The Cheney Dynasty
Elizabeth Cheney, the vice president's daughter, is a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State. Her husband, Philip Perry, is general counsel at the Department of Homeland Security
There are many other examples, such as Sen. Mitch McConnell and his wife, Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao. Or Republican National Committee chair Ken Mehlman, and his brother, Bruce, an Assistant Secretary of Commerce.
Maybe one or more of these people actually have the qualifications to perform their jobs. But if even just a few of them are priveleged hacks enjoying the benefits of class and connections, we could be in for trouble.
The lesson of FEMA is not that cronyism and nepotism are undesirable, it is that they are fatally dangerous. It's time to make this adminsitration feel some heat with regard to their irresponsibility and their failure to keep the oath of office wherein they swore to:
...faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.