There Sure are a Lot More Like You, Brownie

Connections count for more than experience with a lot of President Bush's political appointees. Former FEMA Director Mike Brown is the most glaring example, a horseshow organizer put in charge of America's disaster response agency.

It worked like this: Joe Albaugh was Governor Bush's campaign manager. When Mr Bush was elected President, he appointed Mr Albaugh as FEMA Director. Mr Albaugh brought in his old college buddy Mike Brown to serve as a FEMA lawyer. When Mr Albaugh left -- to become a lobbyist/consultant, Mr Brown took over the agency.

But he's not the only crony who's landed a job that may be more than he could handle.

Cronyism isn't new, but TIME magazine reports that the Bush administration has turned it into an art form -- with a plan to use friends and supporters to completely remake Washington's beauracracy.

The President has taken advantage of as many as 3,000 political appointments to place political beliefs over experience at the top of important government agencies.

For instance, an ex-lobbyist with little purchasing experience was named the federal government's top purchasing agent. He oversaw $300 billion in spending -- at least until he was arrested.

At the Department of Homeland security, another political ally of the President's with little experience will soon take over the job of preventing terrorists from entering the US.

The watchdogs are a corps of Inspectors General. But these are being replaced with political allies as well, likely to turn a blind eye to inexperience, failure, and abuse. (TIME via CNN)