Stock answers from cabinet fuel suspicion

-- Paul Learned

Since the election, a rash of cabinet departures has plagued President Bush. In almost every case we’ve heard that the person is leaving because they want to spend more time with their families, more time working at what they enjoy, and in one case—an honest answer we can all relate to—money. Half of the presidents’ cabinet has jumped ship—with stock answers as to why.

When I see these answers I think the real reason is that there is something going on they either can’t stand or can’t be a part of. In the case of Bush’s presidency, I can believe both. Colin Powell was publicly humiliated by being forced to lie to the United Nations; and Tom Ridge had his hands tied while he watched his department become a rubber stamp, unable to truly do anything about homeland security. The one bright spot was the resignation of John Ashcroft, but it was quickly followed by the nomination of an even worse man for the job.

The result of this high attrition rate will be President Bush being unable to unite the government or the people. Hopefully, because of these turnovers, he will also lack the power to do things like gut Social Security and Medicare. This rash of resignations will make life difficult in the Bush White House. A more important concern is why? Why are these people leaving? And what is happening that is forcing so many appointed to leave their posts? I may not like many of these people, but they do have the advantage of four years of experience. Replacing them now makes no sense to me.

I am sure the president forced some of these departures. Others caught him by off- guard. The surprise departures should cause some concern about what is going wrong. In business, when you have a rash of resignations you look at the cause and see what can be fixed. Government is no exception, and in some cases, it’s even more crucial to retain your staff. What is it the administration is doing wrong? Perhaps the habit of hanging people out to dry when the goings get tough and things get ugly? Or maybe it’s the obvious lack of foresight and planning that people just can’t deal with. In any case, the results of these departures remain to be seen. But I am putting money on the odds things will become difficult for Bush over the next four years. And the only person to blame for it will be the president, himself. After all, the buck stops there.

Contact Paul Learned for comment at learnepa@go.metrostate.edu

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