Over at
Soft Money, Hard Law Bob Bauer (big Democratic lawyer) points to this disastrous idea:
"We'd like to see a process where the White House does the screening" (of FEC candidates), McCain said, in order to select Commissioners that are more independent of the party establishments on both sides of the political aisle.
"McCain Urges Action on 527 Bill
BNA Money and Politics Report (April 6, 2005) [subscription only]
I'm hoping that the rest of the article continues "McCain paused, then guffawed loudly and said 'But seriously folks...'" But sadly this is completely serious.
More snark after the jump...
Bauer captures this just right, I think:
Democrats were likely cheered by the prospect that President Bush, with the support of Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove, could bring nonpartisanship to the FEC appointments process. He might consult with the Republican National Committee, perhaps also with the congressional campaign committees, for there are always matters of form to be observed. But when all is said and done, sharing the Arizona Senator's commitment to reform in the public interest, President Bush would establish once again that he was a uniter rather than a divider and would nominate candidates with unsullied credentials as men and women above politics...
What would lead anyone to take this process seriously?