GovernmentExecutive.com

Return to Article: Dems expand probe of political presentations at agencies

• 22121
  

  Several of the previous commenters sound like career and political naifs who have never heard of political appointees getting together to discuss and coordinate on policy direction. God knows the Clinton Administration had more such meetings than anybody with more attendees. As to undue political influence, many times at EPA I have heard career SES members --not politicals, mind you-- complain about the policies of Republican presidents, winking at each other to show their solidarity with the party not in power. That's where we need some hearings--into the politically unbalanced governing corps--a task for which the Democrats are singularly unsuited and the Republicans proved unwilling.

  GovExec.com reader Posted April 3, 2007 2:28 PM
• 22065
  

  I second the initial reaction one person had: there is an even bigger issue here: What are 40 non-professional, political appointees doing in that one agency and location? And how many of those are in the process of 'digging in' to real, professional civil service positions that they do not deserve?

  Having that many non-professional politicos in one agency, and in one place, is totally contrary to what our government is supposed to be about: run by professionals on a daily basis, with a couple of political appointees at the top of every new administration to bring on the new policies.

  Dave Huntsman Posted March 30, 2007 7:41 PM
• 22053
  

  Typical Republican rubber stamp and excuses. Us peons damn near have to have permission (actually, I think we do have formal permission), to apply a partisan bumper sticker to our personal vehicles yet these jokers can conduct this sort of stuff and euphemistically call it "brown bag lunch" discussions.

  Other nifty excuses such as only eight months on the job from a career in the private sector are supposed to be valid reasons? What gives? I thought all these "hotshot" private sector type political appointees were so smart, yet they can't figure out partisan activities? Garbage. This reeks of political corruption. Fire/jail/impeach all involved, including those that would excuse those actions!

  Cracked & Wired Posted March 30, 2007 10:35 AM
• 22050
  

  So some poor guy can get fired if he sends an e-mail to someone else in the office saying something about the presidential candidate of his choice, but Doan is innocent because it was a "brown bag lunch" and happens all the time?

  Michelle Posted March 30, 2007 9:52 AM
• 22043
  

  Forty political appointees at GSA attended the meeting with Ms. Doan? I do not know what went on in this meeting, but someone should be questioning why tax-payers are supporting the salaries of so many political appointees. Couldn't our dollars be put to better use - i.e. paying career professionals to get work real work done?

  GovExec.com reader Posted March 29, 2007 9:38 PM