Wisconsin Gov. Walker Hires Dropout for $81K Job



Gov. Scott Wanker Walker, from Raw Story



It's not what you know, it's who. And if that who is the Republican Governor of a state--even one who is slashing and burning everything in sight in the name of "the budget"--who cares? So what if you're not qualified for the job? It's good to know the king! 



Here in Nevada, there is a mini-hubub about former Congresswoman Dina Titus getting a plum job at UNLV, and getting paid a lot for it. Nobody would care (or even know about it) if Titus wasn't already a favorite local punching bag for the right. But UNLV itself--being partially taxpayer funded--is also a favorite local right-wing punching bag. But nobody questions her qualifications! They just think she's being paid too much. I wonder what my favorite conservative former Wisconsinite blogger might think about Governor Walker's new hire?

[Excerpt]



With no degree and little expertise, Wisconsin Governor’s appointee pulls in big bucks

It's good to be born to people who know people.

That's largely the perception many Wisconinites are taking away from this weekend's revelation that the son of a major political donor to Republican Governor Scott Walker landed a very well-heeled post in the state's Department of Commerce with apparent ease. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

Karl Rove to Join FOX "News"?

Image from source, Think Progress

Oh well why not. This won't surprise anybody who's a critic of the Bush Administration, or of FOX "News." And it won't bother Bushies or FOX-heads. But, man, am I ever ready for this surreal span of time to be over. If there was ever a new century (millennium?) that needed a "do over," this is it.

[Excerpt]

Fox News political contributor Karl Rove.

President Bush’s close political adviser Karl Rove will reportedly be joining Fox News as an on-air contributor to be “used throughout Super Tuesday coverage.”

Source: Think Progress

Conflict of Interest: State Department & Blackwater

Hmmm, this smells pretty bad.

It's a huge story, but I still don't feel quite up to the task of an in-depth opinion piece on the whole Blackwater imbroglio. The story is very dense, and only partially exposed so far, but not much of it looks good. And when a high-ranking State Department official has a brother who is a board member, and seemingly lots of evidence in both directions for preferential treatment. . .I think the administration may have a powder keg on their hands here.

[Excerpt]

State Dept official's brother linked to Blackwater

The State Department's top investigator recused himself on Wednesday from probes into the Blackwater security firm after discovering -- during a break in a congressional hearing -- that his brother was connected with the company.

Howard Krongard, who began a hearing of Rep. Henry Waxman's government oversight committee by denying the "ugly rumors" that his brother "Buzzy" was linked to Blackwater, returned after a recess to say he had just contacted his brother and learned he had attended a Blackwater advisory board meeting. . .

Read more at: Reuters