Bush's talent for cronyism: foxes guarding the henhouse

Bush's talent for cronyism: foxes guarding the henhouse | Incompetent at best, dangerous at worst

James Baker: Iraq Debt Envoy ... BUSH appoints James Baker as Iraq debt envoy. Baker is senior counselor to the Carlyle Group, a global investment company that has done business with the Saudi royal family. He is also a partner in Baker Botts, a Houston law firm whose client list includes Halliburton and the Saudi Royal family. Mr. Baker's law firm will most likely represent the Saudi Royals in the suit against them filed by the 9-11 victims families ....

John Snow: Secretary of Treasury ... Under Snow's watch, despite raking in close to a billion dollars in pretax profits since 1998, CSX paid no federal income taxes in three of the past four years – magically making all of its profits "pretax." What's more, thanks to a combination of accounting gimmicks and tax shelters, the company was even able to score a hefty $164 million in tax rebates during that time. Tax rebates on taxes that CSX NEVER PAID....

Mike Leavitt: former EPA administrator current Secretary of Health and Human Services ... As Utah governor he allowed US Magnesium to emit over 42 million tons of Chlorine per year-nine times the Chlorine emissions from all other states. ... Kennecott, Utah has one of the world's largest ground water contamination problems as a result of its mining operations and Leavitt's refuals to do anything about it ... Leavitt struck a back room deal with the bush administration to open six million acres of wild lands in Utah to mining, clearcutting, oil and gas drilling, and bulldozing. ...

Linda Fisher: Deputy administrator at EPA ... Former Mocnsanto V.P. Second in ranking only to EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman. Her appointment was opposed by critics of genetically modified (GM) foods who raised concerns about industry's ability to influence Fisher. ...

Gale A. Norton: Secretary of the Interior (retired) ... Appointed Gale A. Norton, former mining industry lobbyist and current secretary of the interior: She is a proponent of "self-audit" laws, which allow industries to decide on their own whether or not they comply with environmental regulations. ...
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ETC. ETC
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Rear Admiral Cristina Beato: Acting Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of Health and Human Services ...(but the curriculum was developed while Beato was still a medical student). ... (but the clinic existed before she was hired, and there was even another medical director before her)
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Stan Suboleski: Mine Safety and Health Review Commission ... Suboleski is an executive with the A.C. Massey Coal Company which, according to the United Mineworkers, has one of the worst safety records in the industry. ...