White House Tries To Push Unqualified ‘Cheney Clone’ Into Lucrative Telecomm Job
White House Tries To Push Unqualified ‘Cheney Clone’ Into Lucrative Telecomm Job
One of the White House’s persistent gripes against the Senate is that it refuses to push through President Bush’s controversial nominees, including James Holsinger, a man with a history of homophobia whom Bush would like to become Surgeon General. There’s also the nomination of torture advocate Steven Bradbury to become chief of the Justice Department’s Office of Legislative Counsel.
A less-noticed controversial nominee also being blocked is Neil Patel, a senior aide to Vice President Cheney who was shortlisted to replace Scooter Libby. In March, President Bush nominated Patel to head the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, a division of the Commerce Department that shapes telecomm policy.
The problem with Patel is that he appears to be a crony nominee, with very little telecomm experience:
Several congressional and telecom insiders questioned how Patel, with relatively little communications experience, got the nod — albeit for what many consider a thankless job — and at time when the acting administrator has received mostly positive reviews from Democrats and Republicans. [...]
Patel has no broadcast experience, though he previously served as assistant general counsel at an Internet service provider. He advises Cheney on several issues, including telecom policy.
Patel may have been pushing for the spot in order to take advantage of the revolving door after the Bush administration, “angling for a title he could turn into a well-paying lobbying job.” “They’re certainly not going to confirm a Dick Cheney clone so he can put a little star by his resume,” a source told CongressDaily.
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has publicly spoken out in favor Patel’s nomination. Perhaps not surprisingly, Martin’s wife, Catherine, is also former Cheney aide.
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If your a loser, Bush has a job for you in our government.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:13 pmSee? This is why we should ban cloning!
July 10th, 2008 at 1:14 pmPatel has no broadcast experience, though he slept at a
Holiday Inn Express last night.
There, fixed it for you.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:16 pmPatel has very little telecom experience-but is a loyal Bushie. A perfect candidate for the job, by WH standards.
The Senate will cave-in for his confirmation in 4….3….2…1..
July 10th, 2008 at 1:16 pmBut…how much does he know about Arabian horses…???
July 10th, 2008 at 1:17 pmDemocracy for sale! Democracy for sale! C’mon cronies, everything’s available to steal, rape, kill, etc., etc.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:18 pmO.T.:
Btw, ya think the Revolutionary Guard Photoshop’d those pics of the Iranian missle launch, or did Cheney’s office do it to stoke the fire?
At least we know Iran can Photoshop Israel off all the maps.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:20 pmFCC = Freakin’ Cheney Clone?
July 10th, 2008 at 1:21 pmWhile yesterday’s twin debacle of the FISA vote and Mukasey’s collosal F.U. appearance on the Hill leads me to think anything is possible, I can’t imagine anyone who worked as The Dick’s mini-me has much chance of confirmation for anything that doesn’t involve deployment to Iraq without a flak jacket.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:22 pmCheney has a clone? So, that’s what he keeps in his man-sized safe?
July 10th, 2008 at 1:30 pmHow is this different from any other bush appointee? Unqualified political hacks are the only way to prove the bureauacracy doesn’t work. Hasn’t that been the plan from the beginning of this nightmare? The only ‘qualification’ is the amount of the donation.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:38 pmOne of the White House’s persistent gripes against the Senate is that it refuses to push through President Bush’s controversial nominees,
For crying out loud, the Senate gives Bush almost everything he wants. Trash the fourth amendment? Sure, no problem, anything else we can do? How about appointing an Attorney General who has no regard for the rule of law? You betcha, we’ll get right on it!
Will this nightmare never end?
http://progressiveworldreview.com
July 10th, 2008 at 1:42 pmI see that “heckuva job, Brownie!” has taught these guys nothing…
Maybe Bush just wants to best Harding’s record for cronyism.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:44 pmNot with my effin’ tax dollars!
July 10th, 2008 at 1:51 pmWell, of course Bushco needs a crony in this position, since they need telecoms as accomplices.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:54 pmthe National Telecommunications and Information Administration, a division of the Commerce Department that shapes telecomm policy.
!!!
“very little telecomm experience” makes him PERFECT in bushco-bizzarro-world…
keep up that block!
July 10th, 2008 at 2:38 pmHe has soft lips, and that is all the qualifications you need in Bush’s Administration.
Pucker up, to kiss the Kings’ butt.
July 10th, 2008 at 2:43 pmHey, there’s only six more months left before these assclowns are history.
We can do without another crony for that long.
Shitcan his nomination. On second thought, shitcan him as well.
July 10th, 2008 at 3:02 pmShould be a shoe-in. How much did the traitors in Washington save the telcos?
July 10th, 2008 at 3:43 pm