[Mb-civic] Cynicism

[Ian]

The cynicism of the Bush Administration seems to know no bounds.  Condider two recent developments.

1.  Bernard Kerik withdraws his nomination for Homeland Security chief.  Why?  According to him, because somewhere way back, he hired an illegal immigrant and didn't pay the proper taxes on her wages.

Really?  Even if that is so, it is hardly the most devastating oversight in the world.  Indeed, didn't this concept (non-paid taxes on domestic employees) become an oft-used assusation against some Democratic nominees during the Reagan/Bush era over a decade ago?

So the Bush Administration is telling us that Kerik's withdrawal had nothing to do with (i) the scandals that arose at the NYC Department of Corrections under his watch, (ii) his quick "about face" vis-a-vis his training of the Iraqi police force, and (iii) most specifically, the conflicts of interest in his Board memberships and his position at Giuliani-Kerik, and its clients?

Why couldn't Kerik simply come out and say, "Due to the number of issues surrounding my nomination, and the firestorm they have caused, I have decided to withdraw my name?," instead of using a lame excuse re taxes from two decades ago?  Because the Bush Administration choreographed the entire thing.

2.  The flip-flop re the re-appointment of John Snow as Treasury Secretary.

First, he was out - by both his own admission and based on some things said by Bush Administration officials.

When I heard this, I said to myself: "No way.  If there is anyone they are going to keep, it's him."  Why?  Remember his background.  He was Chairman of CSX, one of the largest rail conglomerates in the world.  Only months before his original appointment as Treasury Secretary, CSX, under his direction, sold almost half its rail business to...The Carlyle Group.  Just a few months later, he was named Treasury Secretary.  Thus, it seemed highly unlikely that he, of all people, would not remain in the Bush cabinet.  (Just think in how many capacities Carlyle Group Managing Director James Baker has served, and continues to serve, the Bush Administration.)

Two days later, both Snow and the administration flip-flopped, and he was back in.

Peace.
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