Crony Baloney: The Sequel

You've got to hand one thing to the Bush Administration: They're a consistent bunch. Amid revelations surrounding its unconstitutional spying on Americans, a casual observer might suspect the Bushies would rein in -- at least for a bit -- their flagrant dismissal of checks and balances.

But no. That, friends, is part of the impressive chutzpah of a White House incapable of humility, generosity or contrition.

So perhaps it really was no surprise to discover earlier this week that sneaky ol' Dumbya bypassed Senate approval by installing Julie Myers to head the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division of Homeland Security. Because the Myers appointment, steeped as it is in cronyism, was stalled in the Senate, the prez simply waited until senators went home before placing the 36-year-old Myers in charge of the agency and its annual $4 billion budget.

"By installing Myers in office while Congress is in recess, Bush circumvents Senate approval of her nomination," the Houston Chronicle reported. "Her appointment will expire in January 2007, when the next session of Congress begins."

Myers has some stellar qualifications. Namely, that she is the niece of Gen. Richard Myers, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Oh, and her husband is chief of staff to Homeland Security boss Michael Chertoff.

Those must be her qualifications. After all, her experience with immigration and customs issues is little to none.

But what do I know? She'll probably do a heckuva job.