[Grovenet] Father-Daughter Talk (continued)

[Katie Allnutt]

Speaking of hiring only those that agree with your agenda, not those  
who are qualified for the job....
How about if you hire your friend as the head of the division of  
agriculture because they were fond of cows as a child???? And your  
appointee claimed that this was their main qualification for the  
job.  Heck of a job all over again.



A New York Times story on Sarah Palin's tenure as small-town mayor  
and governor finds numerous instances of Bush-like cronyism. Read the  
whole article for detail, but our favorite wrong person for the job  
is a high school friend of Palin's named Franci Havemeister. Palin  
appointed Havemeister to run the State Division of Agriculture, a 2  
million dollar agency. Havemeister, a former real estate agent, cited  
her childhood love of cows as one of her qualifications.


Katie
(Maybe they could even see Russian cows from Alaska)

PS if you google on 'Palin Havemeister' you will see that folks in  
other countries are trying to close their knowledge gap. There are  
links to articles in many other /languagescountries trying to get a  
handle on the unique folly that is much of American politics. If  
Palin makes it to the VP spot the rest of the world will know how  
little it takes to be qualified to serve as a department head in a  
republican administration.



On Sep 14, 2008, at 12:41 PM, David Morelli wrote:

> After watching the last eight years, where science policy limited the
> publishing of information that was contrary to the policy of the
> administration, and where political affiliation was a requirement for
> employment in federal attorney departments.  I do not see the
> Republicans as going to the "best and brightest" in their hiring
> practices.
>
> By the way, from the 2008 Republican Party Platform:
> <quote>
> State Department Reform
> Advancing Americaís values should be the core mission of every part
> of the federal government, including the Department of State.
> Americaís diplomatic establishment must energetically represent our
> country's agenda to the world. We propose a thorough reform of its
> structure to ensure that promotions and appointments are based on
> performance in supporting the nation's agenda. Our diplomats must
> be the best our country has to offer, and America's diplomatic
> abilities must be an integral part of America's national security
> system.
> </quote>
>
> That should stop any Administration embarrassment over "Niger yellow
> cake" in the future.  Instead of "promotions and appointments" based
> upon skills, honesty, or ability, they will be abased upon
> "performance in supporting the nation's agenda".   Am I too cynical
> when I believe that McCain/Palin believe that "the nation's agenda"
> is reflected in their agenda?  And that they want to hire only those
> who support their agenda?
>
> What kind of world do I want to live in?  I want the whistle blowers
> of fraud and abuse rewarded, and the problems dealt with.  I want a
> place where honest discussion of critical issues like environment,
> energy, population, taxation, social security, medical care, banking,
> military preparedness, and voter fraud are discussed without the
> administration pushing the discussion to favor the financial benefit
> of their friends.
>
> I don't want more of the same no bid deals with the VP's corporate
> buddies.  I don't want diplomats who voice the truth, finding their
> family member's cover with the CIA exposed by the VP.  I don't want
> the President to lie about the connection of a foreign dictator to
> 9/11 and stifle any dissent.  I don't want American generals who tell
> the President that we don't have enough "boots on the ground" in the
> plan for the Iraq invasion, forced into retirement. I don't want to
> see American jobs exported and alternative fuels priced out of the
> market, just so that we can continue to purchase foreign oil.
>
> David
>
>
> On Sep 13, 2008, at 9:44 PM, Tracy Irwin wrote:
>
>>
>> It's funny but I was told the exact same story but the punch line
>> was welcome to the Republican Party.
>>
>> I can't see how this kind of low value attempt at humor is useful.
>> As Americans we have a serious decision to make in the next 50 or
>> so days.  We sit on either side and fire off these volleys at each
>> other it does nothing to further the discussion about what kind of
>> changes we need to make.  How do we fix this country because it is
>> seriously broke and broken.
>>
>> How about it? Huh?  Let's think about what kind of world we want to
>> live in at the end of the day.  There is too much at stake to
>> continue behaving like we are at a frat party.
>>
>> OK, Mrs Crankypants is stepping off her soap box....
>
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