Nationbuilding With The Wingnut Welfare Program

So, to build a shining example of Democracy and free-enterprise, one would think you would assemble the best and brightest for the job. But then again we are talking about a program coming from the culture of corruption and cronyism that defines the Bush administration. From the Washington Post.

After the fall of Saddam Hussein's government in April 2003, the opportunity to participate in the U.S.-led effort to reconstruct Iraq attracted all manner of Americans -- restless professionals, Arabic-speaking academics, development specialists and war-zone adventurers. But before they could go to Baghdad, they had to get past Jim O'Beirne's office in the Pentagon.
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Yeah, I said that already. You know there is a "but" in there somewhere.

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To pass muster with O'Beirne, a political appointee who screens prospective political appointees for Defense Department posts, applicants didn't need to be experts in the Middle East or in post-conflict reconstruction. What seemed most important was loyalty to the Bush administration.

O'Beirne's staff posed blunt questions to some candidates about domestic politics: Did you vote for George W. Bush in 2000? Do you support the way the president is fighting the war on terror? Two people who sought jobs with the U.S. occupation authority said they were even asked their views on Roe v. Wade .

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Now, I have never applied for a Federal job before, I always assumed it would be different somehow.

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Many of those chosen by O'Beirne's office to work for the Coalition Provisional Authority, which ran Iraq's government from April 2003 to June 2004, lacked vital skills and experience. A 24-year-old who had never worked in finance -- but had applied for a White House job -- was sent to reopen Baghdad's stock exchange. The daughter of a prominent neoconservative commentator and a recent graduate from an evangelical university for home-schooled children were tapped to manage Iraq's $13 billion budget, even though they didn't have a background in accounting.
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hmmm. This Bush appointee O'Beirne is married to Kate, the far right talking head that spins faster than a Texas tornado. This is basically just a wingnut welfare jobs program for the sons and daughters of rightwing think tanks, all of whom will eventually wind up being "Foxsperts" on some blah blah bullshit sales job on the rank and file of racist homophobic "value voters" Republicans hoodwink into voting for their fundraising schemes.

The article in the Post very long and is an excerpt from a book. I strongly recommend reading it. To be aware of these things makes it very difficult to vote for Republicans. Impossible for me.