White House Is Leaning on Interim Appointments

[cal04]

For now, the most powerful law enforcement official in the federal government is a 47-year-old lawyer little known outside Washington.

Or inside Washington, for that matter.

He is acting Attorney General Peter D. Keisler, who is running the Justice Department until a new attorney general is confirmed by the Senate to replace Alberto R. Gonzales. Mr. Keisler had been in charge of the department’s civil division.

The No. 2 and No. 3 officials are also acting — Deputy Attorney General Craig S. Morford and Associate Attorney General Gregory G. Katsas. More than a quarter of the department’s 93 United States attorneys around the country are “acting.”

(snip)
Michael J. Gerhardt, a law professor at the University of North Carolina who studies the federal appointment process, said that he believed the large number of vacancies reflected a widespread fear by Republicans that the next president, whoever it is, will be a Democrat, and that there is no job security at the top ranks of the executive branch.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/15/washington/15interim.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[babylonsister]

1. Pshaw! The rats are abandoning ship, has nothing to do with Dems. nt

[cali]

3. He's not referring to the rats that have left

he's talking about the inability of the admin to lure more rats onto the ship.

And leaving Justice in the hands of Keisler makes me shudder.

[babylonsister]

5. Blaming this on widespread fear by rethugs that the next prez will be a Dem?

Instead of blaming the sinking row boat that is this admin?



Michael J. Gerhardt, a law professor at the University of North Carolina who studies the federal appointment process, said that he believed the large number of vacancies reflected a widespread fear by Republicans that the next president, whoever it is, will be a Democrat, and that there is no job security at the top ranks of the executive branch.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. During any other administration, perhaps save Nixon

I'd say.. they have a point

Now... not really...

Rule by fiat

[babylonsister]

4. Keisler isn't too popular:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Keisler

Keisler was first nominated for a position on the DC Circuit on June 29, 2006 by President George W. Bush to fill a seat vacated by John Roberts, whom Bush appointed Chief Justice of the United States. The Senate did not act on his nomination and returned it to the President on September 29, 2006. President Bush renominated Keisler on November 15, 2006, but the Senate again failed to act and the nomination was returned to Bush on December 9, 2006 when the 109th Congress adjourned. President Bush again renominated Keisler on January 9, 2007 for consideration by the Senate during the 110th Congress. The Senate has not yet acted on the nomination

[cali]

6. keisler is a criminal

have you checked out his background beyond wiki? And he's smart and a bush insider. He's far worse than Gonzo- hard as that may be to beilieve.

[babylonsister]

7. Yes, I did, and there were some good threads here, but I can't find them,

even using the archives. I know he's really related and evil.