A few years back, I was putting together a writing staff for a show I was running. The network president saw the list of writers I submitted and said, “Well, you just want to hire your friends.” I told her, “I only make friends with great writers.” And it’s true — as you go through a career, you like and admire and respect the capable, and shun the mediocre. I didn’t try to hire my neighbor or the guy who cuts my hair. But I had formed lasting friendships with writers I had worked with and knew to be reliable and talented.
Obviously that’s a less-than-complete defense of the Miers nomination.
Maybe someone should look into this “appointment for life” thing.
Doesn’t it seem like some kind of system of review would be good?
And most clearly, President Bush just picked a laughably bad time to turn to the nation with a straight face and say, “Trust me.” Sure, we’ll trust you — just give us a second to get this FEMA/Katrina splatter off our shoe…