"Three months later, Hebert "resigned," and Pat Wood replaced him. So, I guess we do know who was running FERC then...Ken Lay. "
If, after review, you don't see the illogic of your conclusion, then I understand why you don't "get" the humor in my reply.
Mr. Lay also secured important victories in the regulatory arena, helping to shape the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in the past year.
When Mr. Bush came to office, he had two FERC slots to fill. Mr. Lay set out to ensure that both were apostles of Enron's deregulation philosophy. Former Texas utility regulator Pat Wood, Mr. Bush's personal pick and a longtime friend of Mr. Lay's as well, was almost guaranteed one of the positions; the question was whether he would take over as chairman. A power struggle ensued between the White House and acting Chairman Curtis Hebert, who had his own powerful Republican allies in Congress. In the end, Mr. Bush elevated Mr. Wood to the chairmanship, after Mr. Hebert quietly resigned in August.
Mr. Lay, meanwhile, pushed hard behind the scenes to promote Nora Mead Brownell, a Pennsylvania utility regulator who favors deregulation. When her candidacy was opposed by Pennsylvania officials, Mr. Lay said, he phoned Mr. Rove, the president's political adviser, to tell him of her important role in pushing deregulation in Pennsylvania. Ms. Brownell won the second seat.