Perino: Obama ‘Should Want’ Bush’s Political Appointees In His Administration
Perino: Obama ‘Should Want’ Bush’s Political Appointees In His Administration
The Washington Post reported this morning that between March and November, the Bush administration has “burrowed” at least 20 political appointees into career civil service posts, initially depriving President-elect Obama of the chance to install his own appointees in key jobs.
In today’s press briefing, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino defended the “burrowing,” saying that Obama’s administration should want experienced Bush political appointees in his administration:
PERINO: But there are people in the federal government who — and you should want people who have worked in the administration who think that they might want to make their careers in government. We have a lot of smart people all across the government with a lot of expertise — in the financial sector, in the energy sector, in the environmental sector, the Labor Department, etc.
Watch it:
These people are political ideologues, who likely cannot be counted on to implement Obama’s agenda. Matthew McKeown of Bush’s Interior Department promoted private owners “over the public interest on issues such as grazing and logging” and sued to allow road-building in national forests. Interior’s Robert Comer used “pressure and intimidation” to produce a grazing settlement “with total disregard for the concerns raised by career field personnel.”
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has made similar efforts, replacing political appointees with hand-picked career staff. The Wall Street Journal noted that the effort may be perceived as an attempt by Chertoff “to overextend his influence” into the next administration.
In 2006, the House Oversight Committee found that the executive branch had increased the number of political appointees by 33 percent since the Clinton administration, a move that had ramifications across the federal government.
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Perino: Obama ‘Should Want’ Bush’s Political Appointees In His Administration»
– - Change We Can Believe In? Not so much, Dana.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:09 pmWhy on Earth would President Obama want people who’s “experience” consists of endless, epic failures?
November 18th, 2008 at 5:15 pm**banging head on desk**
November 18th, 2008 at 5:15 pmWould you even trust any of them to babysit your children? I don’t think so. And, where would their loyalties lie? Not with the Constitution. They have already demonstrated that.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:15 pmPerrino is SUCH a tool. So tell us you shameless gasbag. Would BUSH have WELCOMED Clinton doing the same thing to HIM? The rightwing would have been screaming so loud we would all go deaf
November 18th, 2008 at 5:16 pmAnd so when Obama removes these political ideologues and replaces them with anyone, no matter how qualified, the Right will compare this with the judicial purge that Bush oversaw.
When it comes to dirty tricks, the Right sure knows its game…
November 18th, 2008 at 5:17 pmThe only experience Bush’s appointees had before he gave them a job was writing out checks to his campaign.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:18 pmExactly, Blondie. Just like I’m sure your boss valued all the Clinton appointments that followed into his administration — right?
November 18th, 2008 at 5:19 pmSo I heard that the outgoing Bush people are vandalizing all the keyboards so that b types as s. Actually I made that up but who cares. Seems there are still some idiots that believe the Clinton staffer’s myth so why not update the fantasy…
November 18th, 2008 at 5:19 pmIf the attending press didn’t break out in laughter at this statement, they’re as worthless as the lying b*tch shoveling the sh*t.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:19 pmBimbo Perino is living in her own little fantasy world these days, isn’t she?
I think that Obama has the wherewithal to handle ideologues embedded in the government. All he has to do is to hire competent and loyal managers who can keep these people in check or find a way to fire them.
There are other more urgent things to worry about than this.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:22 pmDana is certainly on a roll today — first, we never tortured anyone, and now the President who has promised change is expected to value appointed holdovers from the worst administration in history.
Like buying a shiny new Maserati with a lot of 1963 Corvair parts, but saying that’s a great idea because the Corvair parts are “experienced”.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:22 pmWe have a lot of smart people all across the government with a lot of expertise — in the financial sector, in the energy sector, in the environmental sector, the Labor Department, etc.
My beverage came out my nose and on my keyboard when I read this one. LOL
November 18th, 2008 at 5:23 pmI’m guessing part of the change Obama will implement will not include unqualified, incompetent Bush appointees that put the wants of special interests ahead of the American people.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:23 pmPERINO: But there are people in the federal government who —
Whenever one of the BushBots starts a sentence but doesn’t finish it, I know that the spin cycle is getting activated.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:25 pmPERINO: But there are people in the federal government who — and you should want people who have worked in the administration who think that they might want to make their careers in government. We have a lot of smart people all across the government with a lot of expertise — in the financial sector, in the energy sector, in the environmental sector, the Labor Department, etc.
Dana: You misspelled “cronies and nepotistic appointments, GOP political thugs, and RW ideological hacks”. You know, like Monica Goodling and Lurita Doan … not to mention “heck of a job” Brownie.
Cheers,
November 18th, 2008 at 5:25 pmALL Chimpy folks, political or otherwise, should be put in jail – en masse. January 21 should be the opening day for the new Federal prison to hold them all – in Mexico.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:26 pmIn the spirit of post-partisanship, Obama should offer the position as Head of FEMA to Brownie. He’s experienced and probably needs a job. And he should ask Biden to step down so he can appoint Shrubby as VP. After all, you want an experienced guy at your side, right?
November 18th, 2008 at 5:30 pmThese people are doofi.
You Betcha dog chow – Good grief, she and govnr Gidget would make a good time. I hate the fact that she is from Denver – where did we go wrong :(
November 18th, 2008 at 5:31 pmAstonishing. About 2 months left and the lies and policical chicanery just keep on coming. Why trust the W catastropies-in-waiting? To quote Shakespeare, “Those friends, whom I would trust as adders, fanged”. Oh well, at least the outgoing administration can be firmly trusted to keep on heading lower and lower. To quote Milton, ‘And in the lowest deep a lower deep, still threatening to devour me, opens wide, to which the Hell I suffer seems a Heaven”. The W legacy, lurching on towards its end, at last.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:32 pmImpeach, while There’s Still Time!
Dana doesn’t want to “update” her resume…because that would mean a change in undergarments to match her new master’s requests. Perino is a nice choice of white meat in the White House, but take her out of there and Washington and she’s just another pretty face who has to work her way up the ladder again.
She knows she’s screwed and has no padded cushion(s) to land on.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:35 pmObama may be inheriting the most screwed-up Federal government ever.
I’ve read that an unprecedented number of government employees–the experienced professionals who keep the government running under all administrations–have simply quit government service under Bush II.
We all know valuable employees were replaced or hounded out. But there has also been a wave of resignations by people at all levels in the government bureaucracy–dismayed to see their lifetimes of government service derailed by the Bush parade of incompetent cronies and looniness.
Our new President will have to virtually restaff the Federal government, beyond even the obvious Bush clinkers.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:35 pmRight. About as much as he wants a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
Dana Perineum, STFU!
November 18th, 2008 at 5:36 pmI would have a pretty simple litmus test if I were working on the transition. If you were hired by the corrupt Bush administration don’t let the door hit your butt on the way out. The last thing we need is a government run by twits indoctrinated by Pat Robertson.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:38 pmWe have a lot of smart people all across the government with a lot of expertise ( like… we had a horse club president handling Katrina ) — in the financial sector ( just ignore the market crashes and economic meltdown happening now ), in the energy sector ( Record profits for oil companies, empty wallets for consumers, but full wallets for Congress Critters ) , in the environmental sector ( would you like another spoon of arsenic or mercury with that glass of water? ), the Labor Department ( record unemployment, whooo-Hoooo! ), etc.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:38 pmObama ‘Should Want’ Bush’s Political Appointees In His Administration….
….Bwa-hahahahahaha….hahahahaha…. (gasp) ….hahahahaha….ne…ed…air….can’t stop….lau…ghing….bwa-hahahahaha…..ribs….hurt….stop….please….stop…. (gasp) …..you’re…killing…..us…..bwa-hahahahahahaha…
….yah, we need to keep incompetent failures on staff…maybe for dart practice.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:40 pmWe could probably find a herd of wildebeast better qualified than these Bu$hco dopes.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:41 pmBoth McCain and Obama ran against a serially incompetent Bush administration and Barack should want George W.’s political appointees?
That’s would be TARP worthy level of bait and switch.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:41 pmShe’s going to have to be escorted from the building when the time comes.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:41 pmvinylspear Says:
She’s going to have to be escorted from the building when the time comes.
“Dana’s walked into the closet again, someone help her find her way out and show her where the door to the parking lot is is….”
heh
November 18th, 2008 at 5:45 pmPerino: Obama ‘Should Want’ Bush’s Political Appointees In His Administration
To keep late night hosts stocked with material ………….
November 18th, 2008 at 5:46 pmZooey Says:
**banging head on desk**
Don’t know about you, but I have calluses on my forehead after 8 years of doing that.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:47 pmGive this poor nitwit a break. She wasn’t hired for her ability to think independently and therefore, a brain isn’t necessary. She was hired to only parrot exactly what she was told. That’s what she’s paid to do. Perhaps she’ll wrestle with her own conscience when she’s out of a job. Maybe not. You never know with these people. Ari Fleischer is still a huge Bushbot, Scott McClellan not so much.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:48 pmWe’re always looking for part-time bus drivers, Dana.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:48 pmWayne Says:
Zooey Says:
**banging head on desk**
Don’t know about you, but I have calluses on my forehead after 8 years of doing that.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
You should see my desk.
Yep…kindling.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:49 pmUhmmmm. I think they are called ‘moles’. you know, those awful little rodents who scurry around under the cover of darkness to derail Obama’s plans and keep alive Bush’s plans.
Poor little Barbie Perino, bless her heart. She is surely going to hell.
November 18th, 2008 at 5:54 pmThe last thing we need is a government run by twits indoctrinated by Pat Robertson.
HELL yes!
One of Obama’s first moves should be ensuring an unemployment office (with flashing lights!) is opened across the street from Regency University.
Send a lil’ message to the religious rightwingnuts…
November 18th, 2008 at 6:00 pmUhmmmm. I think they are called ‘moles’. you know, those awful little rodents who scurry around under the cover of darkness to derail Obama’s plans and keep alive Bush’s plans.
You mean like Lieberman? (One of the stupider decisions ever by the Dem caucus.)
November 18th, 2008 at 6:01 pmPlease..
Memo to Barbie Perino: Step away from the koolaid please…
November 18th, 2008 at 6:10 pmLet me add the full Quote:
Obama should want people from the incopetent, immoral, and patently illegal Bush Administration like a diner should want a good case of Food Poisoning.
November 18th, 2008 at 6:17 pmOh, yeah, right.
Just like I want ‘em to find cancer cells in my mammogram.
November 18th, 2008 at 6:20 pmGive me broke-dick dog break blondie!
The Botch assministration had Richard Clark on board from the Clinton adminstration and failed to even LISTEN to him because they HATED Clinton SO MUCH they decided to ignore ALL ADVICE from the Clinton people!
That’s how Condo’ Lice ended up looking like a HUGE IDIOT and the reason the Botch assministation quickly built the DHS to cover for her DUMB ASS for her!
We didn’t need the DHS. We needed oversight and accountability!! Condo’ Lice owes her life to the cover the creation of the DHS gave her.
Her ignorance and Botch’s hatred of Clinton helped 9-11 happen!!!
November 18th, 2008 at 6:20 pmDana has remained dumber than a bag of rocks.
November 18th, 2008 at 6:21 pmSimple solution. Send these Bush “career” hires out on fact finding trips…to places like say Mosul…without flak jackets…bet lots of career spots open up.
November 18th, 2008 at 6:30 pmThe post-election Republicans are like the new vampires of True Blood: Promising a new way of doing business, of abandoning their ancient evil because they’ve eschewed Koolaid for Troo-laid! But do not trust them. They want to do bad things to you.
November 18th, 2008 at 6:36 pmNo problem. All Obama has to do is to put them under a supervisor. These people have probably never passed a performance review in their lives. Give them the usual one-warning that you get in the corporate world, make them very aware they are being tracked, and they will be out of there.
November 18th, 2008 at 6:43 pmin my inbox, from david plouffe… the main part:
Take this short survey and share your ideas:
http://my.barackobama.com/whatsnext
November 18th, 2008 at 6:48 pmIf the political appointees fail to carry out Obama’s policies, can’t they be fired for cause?
November 18th, 2008 at 6:52 pmi think that’s dana’s pitch to maintain her job under the obama administration…instead of giving lap dances for five bucks which is clearly in her future in jan. 09
November 18th, 2008 at 6:58 pmexpertise — in the financial sector, in the energy sector, in the environmental sector, the Labor Department, etc.
LMAO Yeah they sure have done a great job. Is Purina trying
November 18th, 2008 at 7:11 pmto get a job on SNL? And to say it with a straight face, she’s
good. Ha
Dana and Sarah would make a great team. To bimbo’s acting like they know what their talking about. Everyone in the US even the President has admitted the US tortures. There’s proof with documents and testmoney yet Dana still thinks we don’t torture. This will be her headliner as Sarah was she sees Russia from her window.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:16 pmForget Joe the Plumber..
Perino/Palin 2012
The most scariest political ticket on the planet. The more that Perino and Palin talk, the more dimwit they both sound.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:18 pmIf we were discussing the CIA, these bush appointees would be called moles. That’s the term used to describe someone who joins an organization primarily to subvert the legitimately being done by that organization.
The key characteristic of bush’s appointees has been their primary loyalty to an entity or group directly opposed to the goals and charter given to the government agency for whom they go to work.
And in each and every case, these government employees betray the oaths they take upon starting their government jobs, because they refuse to speak out against the waste, fraud, corruption, and treason going on around them.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:41 pm“work legitimately being done”
November 18th, 2008 at 7:42 pmCan Ms Perino spell:
ignorant?
inarticulate?
liar?
war profiteer?
ethnocentric?
homophobic?
racists?
sexists?
wastrel?
Rich and arrogant prick?
Broke the party…the nation…, polluted the seas and, prehaps the planet.
…left this great nation gasping for economic option.
…broke all but the most powerful unions–still trying.
Heard the voices of imaginary friends and devastated science.
November 18th, 2008 at 7:44 pmObama should “want” Bush people in his administration?
November 18th, 2008 at 7:49 pmDana, honey, go home and put a cool cloth on your head, take two aspirin and a nap, and stop drinking that KoolAid.
The change that Obama has vowed is a change from your boss and his people, Dana, including you.
What’re you gonna do after January 21st?
Like dumb mouthpiece for example?
November 18th, 2008 at 9:10 pmPerino bimbo has trouble understanding that the American People has reject Bush’s policies, polititians and crooks from this imoral adminiatration by a popular democratic vote!
November 18th, 2008 at 11:43 pmWhy?????????
November 18th, 2008 at 11:53 pmWhat would thet have to offer,
lies,
deceit,
and corruption.
lm945 Says:
If the political appointees fail to carry out Obama’s policies, can’t they be fired for cause?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If I am not mistaken I believe they can be shot. The Bush administration officials are lower forms of life.
November 19th, 2008 at 1:28 am100% of the people appointed by Bush/Cheney should be purged from the White House and the Vice President’s office. Frog-march them out the door and bar them from ever coming near a government office again.
Obama needs to clean house, from top to bottom, to rid the White House of the stink of corruption left behind from eight years of the worst presidency in American history.
We need real, honest, hardworking people to help President Obama carry out his agenda. We don’t need a Bush/Cheney fifth column standing in the way of progress. Throw the bums out!
November 19th, 2008 at 9:13 amGet an act of congress to fire them all!!!
November 19th, 2008 at 1:48 pm