Bush Burrowing: 18 New Hires That Will Last Into Obama Term

The National Journal reports that President Bush is making President-elect Obama's transition easier by asking political appointees to tender their resignations -- effective January 20, 2009.

White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten instructed Cabinet secretaries and heads of departments to collect resignation letters from political appointees, with the goal of providing the incoming president "maximum flexibility in assembling his administration."

Bolten said Bush's directions are "consistent with past practice," which is correct: Then-Chief of Staff John Podesta, acting on behalf of President Clinton, sent a similar memo to government leaders in November 2000, and previous presidents have taken similar steps.

The exceptions to Bush's order are federal inspectors general and "those individuals who hold termed positions," Bolten said. "Non-career Senior Executive Service and Schedule C appointees at independent and regulatory agencies headed by termed appointees" are also exceptions to the resignation order.

But the New York Times reports that, below the top levels, Bush is burrowing staff into his administration whose terms will last well into Obama's presidency.

Word was leaking out that President Bush had bought a new house in Dallas, workers were building the inauguration stage for his successor right outside his front door and his top aides were helping the new guy to prepare to take over.

Still, on Tuesday alone, Mr. Bush hired 18 people "to serve in his administration," a White House news release said.

The appointments and nominations mostly involved multiyear terms to small boards and commissions that most Americans have never heard about.

...

All told, Mr. Bush has made roughly 30 personnel moves since the November election, some in nominations that will require Senate approval, and others in direct appointments that will last well into President-elect Barack Obama's term and beyond.

Yet, unlike some of the contentious, late regulatory moves by the president, none of the appointments, and reappointments, have raised a peep of protest from the Democrats, Mr. Obama, or even the liberal interest groups that have so closely monitored his personnel decisions.

Mr. Fratto pointed out to the New York Times that Mr. Bush's term is four years, not 3 years, 10 months and 4 days, and said the president will not pull punches as he makes potentially still more appointments. "We actually do have not just the authority," he said, "we have an obligation to do what we think is best for the country up until 11:59 a.m. on January 20."

Comments

[Donnat]

Obama's term starts in about six weeks. Burrow all you want Bush, Obama will drain your poison from the country come 2009.

[Rosey]

Bush and ALL his fellow Bushies should resign TODAY and we should swear a new Prez in tomorrow! No more no more last minute crap!

[Clayton139]

I know so and agree !

[HOG42]

This is only one way Bush is getting even with America. Read more at heywoodgould.com

[bygollymissmolly]

And all Obama has to do is to give these people a cubby in the basement and a stack of papers to file. There is more than one way to get rid of an employee, even if they are a civil servant.

[gregjones]

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[AlwaysFairDem]

The only thing you know to do is doing a cowardly act.

COWARD!

[gretcheno]

IA if he was concerned about the US he could have held off not hiring anyone. This man makes himself look more like an ij diot daily. I cannot wait for 11:59 pm the 19 good riddance.

[starlady7]

Try 30 appointments since the election. I don't want any of people in regulatory agency positions or else where. Can you imagine what kind of damage they could do out of the sight of public!!!! Obama's people will have to micro-manage things just to get things undone that are harmful to Obama's progressive agenda.

[SteveDenver]

"we have an obligation to do what we think is best for the country"

Don't they mean "the country club" -- like McCain: "Country Club First"

If you want to do some good, immediately get the hell out of there and stop acting like you know what you're doing. Stop saying you have principles and values, because we know what they are. Stop touting your achievements, because they're mostly bullsh!t.

We're broke, out of work, out of jobs, and Bush debt will oppress the nation for decades.

[Rog49Thomas]

As President Pan bequeaths these fine "public" servants to the incoming administration, I hope that our new President is thinking of ways to use their considerable talents.

Our Embassies in Kabul and Bagdad need highly motivated and dedicated staff. And I am sure these folks would do fine - perhaps at a new consulate in Sadr City or Fallujah.

[That Guy]

good call

[edwcorey]

Anyone ever see that movie "Attack," with Jack Palance and Eddie Albert? Bush reminds me of Eddie Albert both in looks and in the character he plays--a cowardly dissembler whose persona is shaped by his relationship to a powerful, accomplished father.

[jazzdad51]

"we have an obligation to do what we think is best for the country up until 11:59 a.m. on January 20."

The best thing he can do is hand over the reins to Obama and then just leave.

[GonzoFactor]

One of the first acts of the new administration and Congress needs to be changing the law to prevent this kind of idiocy, and to make it retroactive.

[justoverit333]

They'll be making some of kind
of changes in the near future
to these kinds of actions. The
usual buddy system of the Bush
Administration.

[Gifts]

It seems that President Bush has been very kind to incoming Obama. In addition, there seems to be little difference between the two administrations.

[wadda]

And the beauty of the internet is that the metaphorically blind and deaf can express an opinion.

[Dynamohum]

don't forget dumb....de­af,blind and DUMB

[GonzoFactor]

Har de har de har har har.

[crichloa]

Ok, maybe this might be naive, although Bush is the president, we knew there would be a new president, it seems there should be certain activities the existing president and the PE should collaborate, especially talent management. Of course there are certain hirings that the PE would let slide, for example the hiring of a Janitor or window washer.

lol

[bbednarz]

..Another example of a dis-honorable man. Saying he is making it easier while preventing him from filling posts with his own people because of civil service rules.....­Not even a good example of smoke & mirrors...­more like do as I say, Not as I do........­.......don­'t look at what I'm doing - look at what he's doing Mis-Direction

[schicklett3]

Long as Bosh dosen't start another war before he leaves....­.

[BlueStateMan]

The Obama Administration needs to be careful NOT to fire any of these HACKS for political reasons.

If I were in charge... I'd give each one of these new hires a coloring book with PLENTY of crayons.. with ordres NOT to color outside the lines under ANY circumstances.

Their jobs wouyld be to show up for work every day... go into their offices... & COLOR...8 hours a day/// 5 days a week.

Period.

If they don't like it, they can quit.... but that's ALL their "responsibilities" would entail.

Color.

They can start with a coloring bokk entitles "Emily's Two Mommies" & work up from there.

[anney]

Of course they can't be fired for political reasons but they CAN be fired if they're unable to do the job. Obama's people need to set reasonable job-performance standards, not deviate from them for any reason, and allow people to make it, or not, on their own efforts.

Pretty much all of Bush's government agencies have been do-nothing when it came to carrying out their original missions, and if Obama streamlines and re-vitalizes the departments and agencies, a lot of Bush's people won't survive the new requirements, simply because they didn't have to shine under Bush's administration. They just filled positions, did nothing to further the goals, and collected their paychecks.

While Bush's burrowing of his buddies is extremely annoying (since most of them aren't qualified to tie their shoes), it really isn't an insurmountable problem for the Obama administration. He'll give them a chance but quite likely won't tolerate any slacking or failure to do the job.

[UtahLady]

Most of all, require that they follow OBAMA's (and not Bush's) policies and programs to the letter -- not deviate in any way from what OBAMA says to do and how to do it. Their job responsibility is to follow the directions of their chain of command, not go their own way and do what they think is right.

[anney]

UtahLady,

Yes, the burrowed employees must follow Obama's policies, not Bush's, but that's always the expectation when there's a change of administration. Obama's people at the top, to whom Bush's burrowed employees will report, are responsible for making the pragmatic goals clear and not tolerating any deviance from them in service to Bush's old policies. And I think Obama's people will be vigilant about this.

[Dynamohum]

Not one of you lives in Washington DC and understands Civil Service Employment Rules, Regulations and Laws. Talk about what you may think will be done, but there are things that HAVE to be done. I am not going to waste my time explaining. People who DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT should just not comment and shut up.