Jobs at the Bush Administration are turning over faster than at a Taco Bell. While it is routine for cabinet positions to change hands during a second term at the White House, the rapid departure of so many cabinet officials so soon after the election is disconcerting. Something is rotten in the state of our union.
During a time when we are supposed to be fighting a war on terror, the offices of Attorney General, Secretary of State, and National Security Advisor have all become vacant. Moreover, these departures came shortly after a complete overhaul of the CIA was underway. Only the Pentagon leadership has heretofore been spared of major change, and it wouldn't surprise me to see Donald Rumsfeld soon saddle up and ride toward the sunset for greener corporate pastures.
To those electors who voted for Bush not because of “moral values,” but because they placed greater trust in him to fight the war on terror, I ask the following: Aren't you a bit concerned by this rapid turnover in the middle of a major offensive in Iraq? Do you not find it worrisome that officials in clandestine operations at the CIA have resigned so shortly after we received that nice little public service announcement from Osama?
But most importantly, are you not the least bit concerned that Bush is packing his entire cabinet with sycophants handpicked by Dick Cheney? We now know exactly what Bush meant when he dodged the salient final question in the “Town Hall” debate in Missouri by admitting that the only mistakes he made as President were in some of his appointments. Bush is sorry only for not packing his cabinet with like-minded ideologues who would never question any decision made by Dick Cheney and rubber-stamped by Bush.
The President's pick to replace departing Secretary of Education Rod Paige tips his hand. By choosing Margaret Spellings to head the Department of Education, Bush is attempting to surround himself with only the most loyal of servants. Spellings is a darling of Dick Cheney and one of the architects of the miserable No Child Left Behind Act. She proved her loyalty while faithfully serving Governor Dubya for six years in Texas. Her appointment adds to the growing gang of lackeys Bush has assembled: Goss, Gonzales, and Rice.
As a result, no longer will there be policy debates within the White House. No longer will there be embarrassing leaks damaging the reputation of the Administration. No longer will there be inconsistent messages sent by Administration officials. No longer will any cabinet official question a decision made by Cheney and Bush, whether it be related to war, the economy, domestic or foreign policy. Who needs a devil's advocate when God is on the President's side?
If Bush gets his way, the only folks who will remain - from the insular rooms of the West Wing to Capitol Hill, from the Pentagon to CIA Headquarters in Langley, and in all the Federal Agencies that align Constitution and Independence Avenues - are those bobbleheads who have sworn the oath of loyalty to Bush the Fuhrer.
What this means, folks, is that Bush is not at all concerned about building his legacy. He is solely concerned with staying the disastrous course he began four years ago and making sure that any blunders get covered up.
No doubt the worthless media-run propaganda machine will comply.
On Monday, RW compared the Bush Administration to a sinking ship. Despite his arrogant claims of having a mandate, Bush can feel the water rising at his feet. To illustrate, the son of a former head of the CIA has lost the respect and support of the CIA leadership, and the embarrassing details are coming to light. Thus, Bush has climbed board upon a life raft for salvation. Goss, Rice, Gonzales, and Spellings have joined him. Over the next several weeks, Bush, desperately seeking support, will continue to grab hold of more lackeys.
Soon Bush will have a life raft filled with spineless yes men and women. But a life raft can only hold so much weight before it capsizes. And as Cheney and Bush continue their pathological bent for making horrible decisions, the weight from the unquestioning support of Cheney-Bush's lackeys will eventually sink the raft.
When this happens, who will save all of us from drowning?