When you consider that the attorney-general is probably the most important and powerfull cabinet officer (domestic matters, anyway), doesn't it seem strange that there is almost a custome of Presidents appointing AGs who are personally close to them? I understand that William Rogers was a close, personal friend of Richard Nixon's. John Mitchell was his campaign manager. And, of course, John Kennedy appointed his own brother. Alberto Gonzales goes back a long way with George Bush.
I've never heard it said that the President must be above politics, though it would be nice. But surely we expect the head of the Justice Dept. to be above this.
Would it be a good idea if the Senate turned down nominees on the grounds that they are too close? I see no reason why they couldn't.
2007-08-27 08:13:04 · 5 answers · asked by Robert K 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
To Ronin; elect me to the Senate and I will
(man, this could be the start of something great...lol)
2007-08-27 08:28:50 · update #1
to righteousjohnson; I think the Senate could reject a nominee because they don't like his haircut without any remedy.
And the connection between personal closeness and fitness for the job is fairly clear in my question; the worry that the nominee is more loyal to the President personally than he is to his obligation to the people. Isn't that why Alberto Gonzales got into trouble?
2007-08-27 09:04:52 · update #2
bush and his administration is corrupt and degrading. Its end of bush and his nasty Adm.
2007-08-27 08:22:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
No, it's not strange. What would be the reason to do that?
There is no established link (negative or otherwise), between competency and friendship, although you probably could make a case that the familiarity improves efficiency. The Senate would have no Constitutional grounds to reject candidates for that reason. Picking people at random isn't the answer either.
Unless you are secretly lusting after Janet Reno, why would you appoint someone to such a very powerful position that you don't know and trust implicitly?
2007-08-27 08:32:44 · answer #2 · answered by righteousjohnson 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
AG HArriet Miers....
2007-08-27 08:16:53 · answer #3 · answered by outcrop 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that why the government is corrupt. Time for a change.
2007-08-27 08:17:54 · answer #4 · answered by SO_CAL 4 life 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yeah...that's a great idea...why don't you go ahead and implement it...
2007-08-27 08:21:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋