RUH ROH!!1!! Bush announces new appointments for 24 aides and supporters

[elehhhhna]

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/
December 25, 2008
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Christmas came a few hours early for two dozen White House officials and supporters Wednesday, who were appointed to three- to six-year positions on government committees and councils.

The full list released by the White House – which includes Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former Karl Rove deputy Israel Hernandez – after the jump.


Personnel Announcement

President George W. Bush today announced his intention to appoint 24 individuals to serve in his Administration.

The President intends to appoint the following individuals to be Members of the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, for terms of four years:

–Carol Ann Bartz, of California;

–Maria Cino, of Virginia;

–Israel Hernandez, of Texas.

The President intends to appoint Jennifer E. Sims, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Public Interest Declassification Board for the remainder of a three-year term expiring 10/03/11.

The President intends to appoint Mark Sanford, of South Carolina, (Governor), to be a Member of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, for the remainder of a four-year term expiring 06/10/09.

The President intends to appoint the following individuals to be Members of the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee:

–Kevin R. Johnson, of Washington;

–Kay Sears, of Virginia.

The President intends to appoint John M. Hart, of Maryland, to be a Member of the National Capital Planning Commission, for a six-year term beginning 01/02/09.

The President intends to appoint the following individuals to be Commissioners of the United States Section of the United States-Russia Polar Bear Commission, for an initial term of four years:

–Geoffrey L. Haskett, of Alaska, (Federal Representative);

–Charles J. Johnson, of Alaska, (Alaska Representative).

The President intends to appoint the following individuals to be Members of the Board of Trustees of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, for six-year terms expiring 10/23/14:

–Sander R. Gerber, of New York, to be Vice Chair;

–Charles E. Cobb, of Florida, (Public);

–Carlos M. Gutierrez, of Michigan;

–Barry Jackson, of Ohio.

The President intends to appoint the following individuals to be Members of the Federal Service Impasses Panel, for five-year terms expiring 01/10/14:

–Barbara Bruin, of New Mexico;

–Mark A. Carter, of West Virginia;

–Grace Flores Hughes, of Virginia.

The President intends to appoint the following individuals to be Members of the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts:

–Nancy Goodman Brinker, of Florida, for the remainder of a six-year term expiring 09/01/14;

–Condoleezza Rice, of California, for the remainder of a six-year term expiring 09/01/14;

–Leonard Sands, of California, for the remainder of a six-year term expiring 09/01/13.

The President intends to appoint the following individuals to be Members of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board:

–Jean Loretta Becker, of Texas, for a three-year term expiring 09/22/11;

–Gary R. Edson, of Illinois, for a three-year term 09/22/11;

–Anita B. McBride, of Connecticut, for the remainder of a three-year term expiring 09/22/11;

–James L. Oblinger, of North Carolina, for a three-year term expiring 09/22/11.

Filed under: President Bush

[MercutioATC]

1. Al of these people are replacable under a new administration, aren't they?

I know there's resistance to do so, but it's not like Obama can't revoke these appointments in less than a month.

[MadMaddie]

2. That's what I was thinking...

* is determined to plant sabotage into every organization. I am guessing if we look up these individuals I bet most are not qualified for these positions.

[SharonAnn]

10. No. They appear to be for defined terms (years) starting when appointed?

There are various ways that terms are established in various government boards and commissions.

For example, there might be a board with 6 members where seats 1 and 2 expire in 2009, seats 3 and 4 expire in 2010, and seats 4 and 5 expire in 2011. Each "seat" is a 3 year term but it has defined expiration dates. If someone is appointed this year to seat 1, then that appointment expires in 2009. However, if the person is apointed to that seat in 2009, then the appointment would probably expire in 2012.

So, it might be unlikely that these appointments can be undone.

[jwirr]

3. Many of these look to be his way of paying people back - just about

money. Hopefully President Obama will be able to replace any that would be any real trouble to change.

[rucky]

4. Can they be unappointed on Jan 21st?

[AZ Criminal JD]

12. No. They are there for the terms.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

5. Can Condi telecommute from the Hague?

[tabatha]

6. This kind of stuff has to stop.

[shraby]

7. It's illegal for people to hold more than one

office at a time. They would have to resign the office they're holding now in order to be appointed to another.

[kentuck]

8. They have infiltrated and polluted our entire government...

Unfortunately.

[otohara]

9. Did Clinton Ever Do This?

I did a small search and can't find an instance where he did this.

This just doesn't seem right, but then nothing Bush did was right.

[SoCalDem]

11. All of these people will be in a minority position

and will be of the lowest seniority. There are ways to keep them in check.. They can (and probably will) be assigned non-sensitive boring stuff to work on, and can be monitored closely, so if they screw up, they can certainly be "released" from their contract for cause.

and

some of them may actually see the light, and moderate their own stance, if they see that termination vs job might be in their futures..

I would like to see some congressional action on these "midnight-appointments", regardless of the party. Thje ONLY reason this is done, is to add shit-sprinkles to the sundae.. If these positions were SO vital, why would a president with 3 weeks left to "serve", suddenly feel the need to hire new people?

A lame duck president should be PROHIBITED from making ANY job appointments after the election..If HIS party prevailed in the election, he should have no "worries" about the continuity of his philosophy..and if his party lost, it's obvious that his ideas are not valued much..