Top scientist says Bush’s ‘burrowing’ of political appointees will ‘leave wreckage behind.’»

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/11/22/scientist-burrowing/

Top scientist says Bush’s ‘burrowing’ of political appointees will ‘leave wreckage behind.’»


Yesterday, the president of the nation’s largest general science organization railed against efforts by the Bush administration to give political appointees “permanent federal jobs with responsibility for making or administering scientific policies, saying the result would be ‘to leave wreckage behind.’” James McCarthy, who heads the American Association for the Advancement of Science, called the “burrowing” of people without scientific backgrounds into science-related jobs “ludicrous“:

“It’s ludicrous to have people who do not have a scientific background, who are not trained and skilled in the ways of science, make decisions that involve resources, that involve facilities in the scientific infrastructure,” said James McCarthy, a Harvard University oceanographer who is president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. “You’d just like to think people have more respect for the institution of government than to leave wreckage behind with these appointments.”

McCarthy particularly questioned the qualifications of Todd Harding and Jeffrey T. Salmon, who received civil service positions at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Energy Department’s Office of Science, respectively.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Perhaps there is some way that the Obama Admin can review the Qualifications

of EVERY civil servant who started in the last 8 years, and use that to weed out the Bush plants.

[Warpy]

4. I think anyone hired at any level in the past 8 years should

have to resubmit a resume. I think most at lower levels will probably be qualified. However, they do need to get the bible college people the hell out of the scientific departments.

This administration tried to destroy everything it couldn't understand. We can't let them continue to get away with it.

[BrklynLiberal]

6. I agree.

[ColbertWatcher]

7. " ... out of the scientific departments." And the Justice Department, too. n/t

[jpak]

2. Obama could reassign thes assholes areas of the country that they absolutely hate

If they are southerners or city slickers - send them to North Dakata.

If they are Califonians or New Yorkers - send them to Mississippi.

etc.

The rats would leave the ship in short order.

[RC]

9. HEY! Enough with that already.

We gots enough religious nutz up here.
Go dump on somebody else. :spank:

[liberalmuse]

3. There is a way to rid oneselves of burrowing critters.

And I really believe the Obama administration will find that way.

[babylonsister]

12. This?

:shrug:

[opihimoimoi]

5. TRICKLE DOWN CRONYISM......That Bush dude is screwing our system that is

supposed to work for the Nation's Best Interest...

Obviously...for Bush...COUNTRY FIRST; MY ASS

[ColbertWatcher]

8. Thank you for posting this. More people need to know and it deserves more than my 1 little rec. n/t

[Metta]

10. Fed civil servants are reviewed after one year and can be let go.

see earlier posts aobut this.

[babylonsister]

15. But do their careers as a political appointee count towards

federal service, similar to someone who was in the military? If so, they'd be harder than hell to get rid of. (Former civil servant here)

[Metta]

17. No, they can be let go at will.

No problems there. Saldos, mi amigo. ... long time social services worker here.

[frebrd]

11. K&R Needs another rec! n/t

[Cha]

13. I know nothing about how this

works but there's gotta be a way to get rid of all bushit vermin once January 20, 2009 arrives.

[malaise]

14. They can be fired for not having the required qualifications

I hope the new administration checks all those bogus degrees as well.

[chalky]

16. I wonder if THIS will address this issue:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7904414&mesg_id=7904414