# Disappointed with Obama's nominations? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 3, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289 "2009-02-03T18:40:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/21 "2009-02-05T23:55:18Z")
Because we were promised “change”. Now we are getting a cabinet of the same corrupt Washington hacks, that we have had in several past adminsitrations. Yeah “change”…together we can! ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/22 "2009-02-06T04:25:30Z")
Oh, come on, **ralph** , you were going to be “disappointed” no matter whom Obama picked, even unto the Angel Gabriel and the whole heavenly host. I’m disappointed in you, though; you didn’t manage to work in the obligatory Kennedy-bashing. ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/23 "2009-02-06T04:46:00Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Because we were promised “change”. Now we are getting a cabinet of the same corrupt Washington hacks, that we have had in several past adminsitrations. > Yeah “change”..together we can! This makes me roll my eyes a bit. No matter who he appoints, the Obama administration is a _huge_ change from the past eight years. The inclusion of some Washington insiders is necessary for the administration to be effective, since Washington insiders are the people who know how to get things done. If you thought Obama was campaigning on a platform of “Change from everyone currently working in Washington”, then I think you misunderstood what sort of change he was talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/24 "2009-02-06T05:09:45Z")
> [@tim314](#): > > This makes me roll my eyes a bit. No matter who he appoints, the Obama administration is a _huge_ change from the past eight years. The inclusion of some Washington insiders is necessary for the administration to be effective, since Washington insiders are the people who know how to get things done. > > If you thought Obama was campaigning on a platform of “Change from everyone currently working in Washington”, then I think you misunderstood what sort of change he was talking about. His campaign wasn’t “change” it was “change we can believe in”. If to be effective his cabinet has be be filled with people who know how to get things done he can start with people who know how to get their taxes done. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/25 "2009-02-06T06:01:56Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I’ve worked in the federal government for 22 years and seen my share of appointees come and go. I have yet to see a single presidential appointee that I felt was uniquely qualified for a particular position. I think the cost imposed by distractions such as nannygate/tax issues outweighs any unique qualifications any individual might bring to a particular position. > So - yeah - I have difficulty imagining a scenario where going with the best qualified “clean” candidate would not be the best decision. The Economist [explains](http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13059829) Daschle’s qualifications: > [@](#): > > The problem for Mr Obama is that, in terms of practical politics, many of Mr Daschle’s vices are also virtues. One reason why “Hillarycare” imploded was that Mrs Clinton failed to court the barons on Capitol Hill. Mr Daschle was ideally placed to sell his prospective reforms to his former colleagues in the Senate and the House. Another reason why it failed was that Mrs Clinton failed to pay enough attention to industry groups. Mr Daschle’s innumerable entanglements with those groups might have helped to assuage their worries. Mr Daschle was well-versed in the mind-boggling intricacies of health-care reform; his position as both White House insider and head of the department would also have increased the chances of producing a workable reform. > [@Magiver](#): > > His campaign wasn’t “change” it was “change we can believe in”. If to be effective his cabinet has be be filled with people who know how to get things done he can start with people who know how to get their taxes done. Do you seriously believe that there is a connection between how people pay their taxes and how they can push health care reform? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/26 "2009-02-06T07:53:38Z")
> [@Lakai](#): > > Do you seriously believe that there is a connection between how people pay their taxes and how they can push health care reform? Healthcare represents the second largest expenditure of taxes. It’s easy to spend other people’s money. So yes, I see a connection. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/27 "2009-02-06T14:41:36Z")
> [@Lakai](#): > > The Economist [explains](http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13059829) Daschle’s qualifications: Sure. Sounds good. But I have a very hard time believeing that there is NO ONE who is ALMOST as good, but who would not have caused a distraction such as that related to Daschle’s inability/unwillingness to pay his taxes. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/28 "2009-02-06T15:57:39Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > How do you figure Dean is a pariah? He was chairman of the DNC for four years. You can’t be more of an insider than that. And guided the Democratic takeover of Congress and the White House. Yeah, Democrats will never forgive him for that… ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/29 "2009-02-06T20:46:46Z")
I do have an issue with politicians who want US to pay taxes, while they wiggle out of paying. The whole issue of illegal immigration is bound up in this: President Obama has an aunt, who lives in Boston, on public assistance (welfare), in a public housing apartment. She is a kenyan national, and has ignored a federal deportation order for 4 years. Should she get a pass? Should wealthy politicians be able to employ illegal aliens, and not pay SS taxes to the same government that pays THEIR salaries? ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/30 "2009-02-07T00:58:59Z")
On one hand, I am worried that Obama’s vetting staff has given unnecessary red meat to the opposition, and wonder what they’re thinking. OTOH, no one sane was still talking about Clinton’s nominee problems by 1996… > [@Kevin Nealon](#): > > In light of Kimba Wood’s withdrawal from consideration as Attorney-General, the White house has added five new questions to its candidate-screening process. > > #1: Have you ever hired an illegal alien? > > #2. Are you sure? > > #3. Are you absolutely sure? > > #4. Seriously. Don’t jerk us around here. > > And #5. Alright, let’s move on now - True or False: I have hired an illegal alien. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/31 "2009-02-07T01:09:27Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Healthcare represents the second largest expenditure of taxes. It’s easy to spend other people’s money. So yes, I see a connection. That makes absolutely no sense. By that criterion, nobody who’s ever fucked up his taxes is eligible to work for any government. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/32 "2009-02-07T02:16:30Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > That makes absolutely no sense. By that criterion, nobody who’s ever fucked up his taxes is eligible to work for any government. Geithner was given a tax manual by his employer specifying what needed to be paid. He wasn’t able to follow the instructions and after he was audited deliberately did not pay the taxes for the years not audited. Dashle, the (former leader of the Senate) should have known basic tax structure and that company benefits are taxed. He got the benefit of the principal value with only the tax liability. He also neglected to report direct income. : **[Daschle](http://www.slate.com/id/2210336/), by contrast, omitted income. Sure, there’s a gray area around what constitutes a gift or a fringe benefit (on which you don’t have to pay taxes) and a business transaction (on which you do). But the car service provided by InterMedia Advisors, for which Daschle sat on the board and earned more than $2 million in consulting fees, doesn’t seem particularly ambiguous. “Under Section 132 of the Internal Revenue Code, the value of transportation services provided for personal use must be included in income,” the finance committee reported last Friday. “Senator Daschle estimated that he used the car and driver 80 percent for personal use and 20 percent for business.” Even less gray is the $80,000 of consulting income Daschle simply failed to report. He’s got a decent excuse—InterMedia screwed up its calculations and didn’t include that income in its annual statement. But the disparity should have been clear in Daschle’s books. (Apparently the IRS agrees: While the service didn’t penalize Geithner, it did slap Daschle with fines.)** ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289/33 "2009-02-07T02:18:28Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Sure. Sounds good. But I have a very hard time believeing that there is NO ONE who is ALMOST as good, but who would not have caused a distraction such as that related to Daschle’s inability/unwillingness to pay his taxes. Well I can’t argue with that. It’s just that for the past eight years we’ve seen people get hired solely based on their partisanship, rather than their qualifications to do the job. When I see a nominee that is remotely qualified I don’t want him to go down because of some fairy tale notion of public service. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-with-obamas-nominations/484289.md?page=1)