CNN: Bush Plans To Install Inexperienced, Bush Loyalist Clay Johnson At Homeland Security

[RedEarth]

This morning, CNN’s Suzanne Malveaux reported that “very senior level sources” inside the administration are telling her that Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff will replace Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Additionally, these sources say Chertoff will be replaced at Homeland Security by Clay Johnson III, the Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget

Johnson, who has no homeland security experience, is a professional Bush loyalist. While Johnson may have familiarity with some aspects of DHS’s budget, he appears to have no experience in the many responsibilities of the department, including immigration, air travel security, disaster response, and other aspects of our nation’s homeland defense.

He is one of Bush’s oldest friends, having attended both prep school and college with the President. Johnson served as Bush’s gubernatorial chief of staff in Texas before heading up the Bush-Cheney transition team.

When Bush first chose Johnson as his chief of staff in Texas, he said it was specifically because of his friend’s loyalty to him:

“I want someone whose primary interest is me — George Bush — and who doesn’t hope to parlay this into something and isn’t trying to curry favor with this one or that one,” Bush told Johnson and his wife, Anne Sewell Johnson, over lunch.

Asked about his relationship to Bush, Johnson told the New York Times recently that “there’s a lot of devotion to George Bush the person.” Johnson, who “is probably the only person to have spanked” the president’s dog, Barney, “keeps a George Bush doll on his desk.”

Clay Johnson appears to bring the same qualifications to Homeland Security that Alberto Gonzales brought to the Justice Department.

watch video here.........
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/27/clay-johnson-dhs/

[n2doc]

1. "Professional Bush Loyalist" = Crony

Why can't they just come out and say it directly?

[BOSSHOG]

2. bush continues to be very honest to his base

He's told them all along that government does not work. Put me in charge and I'll prove it and I have people I can appoint that will drive home that point on a daily basis.

[LiberalEsto]

3. Could this guy be a temp?

And could Gonzales replace him in a couple of months?

[charlie]

4. Shades of Brownie

President of 2 mailorder companies, deputy director of an art museum, sold Fritos and tennis racquets. Sterling resume.

[Ilsa]

5. So Bush is transferring another inept person into a critical position. nt

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. And upon his replacing Chertoff, there will be a window of up to

4 months wherein DHS will not be responsible for any terror attacks in this country because 'he was not yet up to speed' in his new job.

[Jim__]

7. Does the Senate have to confirm this appointment?

If so, I hope the dems have learned enough to just say no.

[peacetalksforall]

8. This is puking sickening. Loyalist? Not curry favor? What puke crap.

How can I immediately disrespect someone I had never even heard of when I woke this morning?

This guy was the Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget?

Does that mean he signed the check for the million dollar - dollar tool? Does that mean he knows how much money has been paid to contractors? And how much money was taken from the people to pay the contractors? And how the money was laundered? Does that get him out of trouble in his Department (safely assuming he's in trouble by virtue of giving the king what he wants)? If yes, does taking another job provide an excuse to not appear before a congress in a hearing? Well, that's the routine that's going on. The pattern is all down pat.

[DutchLiberal]

9. He will do a "heckuva job"!

[Nick at Noon]

10. I feel much safer with a man named Johnson

At Homeland than I do one named Chertoff. Who is our worst terrorist enemy ? Muslims. Who do the Muslims hate ? Jews. Johnson gives them a smaller target to bomb.

[AspenRose]

11. "I want someone whose primary interest is me"

Yikes :scared: