Sidney Sweeting, DDS (http://www.weblogbahamas.com)
This blog is the first in a series to show that the crown is losing it's lustre.
In March 2009, Vanity Fair magazine rolled out a special issue replete with "historic portraits of Washington's new establishment". The first group photos showcased Obama's seven A-list cabinet members and nominees. On the far left of the photo was Tom Daschle who vowed to transform health care. The fanfare was premature because the Washington Post soon reported "Daschle out as Health nominee due to tax problems". That was just the start. Soon there were two more. Bill Richardson was number two to go (Commerce) over a long running pay-for-play probe in New Mexico. Number three was Treasury Secretary Geithner's "tax goofs" involving his failure to pay taxes for four separate years.
By the end of his first 100 days Obama had set a turnover record for an incoming cabinet with the withdrawal of number four Senator Judd Greg who was to replace Bill Richardon. His sin was fiscal policy disagreements.
Let's compare: Bill Clinton had six dropouts during his eight year presidency, George W. Bush had two, George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter had one each. So, by the hallowed 100-day mark Obama had announced fewer than half of the Senate-confirmed Cabinet department positions he needed to fill and only 10 percent had been confirmed.
The popular joke doing the rounds on the internet:
What is the difference between Obama and Jesus?
Jesus could actually build a cabinet.
