Looks like they need a little more work on this item....

You know, make sure nobody on your staff has questionable associations. Stuff like domestic terrorists and crazy preachers. (yes, I am fully aware that is a cheapshot)

UPDATE: Damn, can we get somebody who paid their taxes?

UPDATED FEBRUARY 5, 2009: CIA chief nominee, Leon Panetta, has earned more than $700,000 in speaking and consulting fees since the beginning of 2008, with some of the payments coming from troubled financial firms and from a firm that invests in contractors for federal national security agencies, according to financial disclosures released on 2/4/09.

Panetta received $56,000 from Merrill Lynch & Co. for two speeches and $28,000 for a speech for Wachovia Corp., according to disclosures released ahead of today's scheduled Senate hearing on the nomination.

Those vetters are doing a bang-up job!

ORIGINAL COMMENT FEBRUARY 5, 2009: They seem to be doing a poor job on the cabinet. A statistically significant percentage of nominees has withdrawn over unpaid taxes or shown to be tax cheats. Of course, since leftos like taxes and want everyone to pay taxes except themselves, possibly the background checkers don't see anything wrong with a far left applicant not having "shared" his wealth so that the government can continue to "invest" in worthy social boondoggles.

You'd imagine that Obama's team would have done extensive due diligence before picking his cabinet. Apparently their standards are rather lax. But then again, Obama does come from the Chicago political machine...

One or maybe even two cabinet picks having ethics issues is something that's normal, but when you have more than 4 or 5 with issues, then we have to question whether there's something wrong with the process here.

I nominate Bill Richardson. Oops!
I nominate Nancy Killefer. Oops!
I nominate Tom Daschle. Oops!
Does anyone else see the irony in this??