[waxhaw]

As I have stated before on this forum, I've been serving overseas in our embassies and consulates since 1988. I work for the Dept. of Defense and have naturally come to know hundreds (if not thousands, by now) State Department Foreign Service Officers and employees. I could count on the fingers of one hand the number of State Department employees who would be worth the powder it would take to blow them up. The vast, vast majority I've met have been corrupt at worst, incompetent at best; many are not only liberal but open about their anti-American sentiments. I've long been convinced that the State Department was infiltrated a long time ago by bolsheviks; these bolsheviks are now in the senior policy-making positions and they ensure the current status quo continues. Reagan tried to cleanse the State Department but was blocked by Democrats and the media... even, unfortunately, by his own SecState George Shultz.

[B4Ranch]

Accountability is having a difficult time and will continue to do so as long as we have "political correctness".

[Bob Buchholz]

Bush is missing a golden opportunity. He should send dismissal notices to the employees that processed these applications.

The unions will, of course, raise hell and insist that they cannot be summarily dismissed.

All Bush has to do then is present the union demands and arguments to the American people, most of whom will see the idiocy of the union arguments.

He then can explain that this is the reason he is demanding the right to hire and fire in the homeland security department.

[Faithfull]

Great article. On this same issue, President Bush has not made a clear case as to why the Homeland Security Bill he wants is being held up by the Democrats. This is a winning issue when explained quite simply and yet no Republican has done this well. They need some repetitive talking points on this issue so the masses 'get it'. All they need to repeat is that the American people deserve a homeland security department in which the right people, regardless of job seniority are placed into the right positions. They need to know that few government employees are fired for incompetence but the HSD is one in which the best and brightest must be employed. I'm so frustrated by the lack of good campaigning.