Ok, I must voice my disapproval regarding the "ethics waiver" issue.

[StrongBad]

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/01/23/obamas-pick-for-no-2-post-at-pentagon-gets-ethics-waiver/

This is one of the first times Obama and his team have caused me to disagree with them. If we are to be truly serious about no lobbyists in our government there should be no exceptions.

Be honest, if Bush did this you'd flip your shit.

[elleng]

1. Sure, but bush had no judgment;

I tend to trust Obama's judgment, and choose to give him a chance.

[babylonsister]

2. It's not 'ethics' really, it's a lobbyist. I'm just not that worried. nt

[Still Sensible]

3. I would agree that at least

if he was going to be put in an administration position, it should be one unrelated to the lobbying entity he came from.

At the same time, I understand the argument that sometimes the best person for a given position could be someone like this.

And on its face, a nominee for Treasury with a tax problem is an obviously screwed up situation, especially when there appears to be available highly qualified alternatives.

[dflprincess]

4. I wonder about how they're getting around Daschle's wife

being a lobbyist - and doesn't she lobby for health care interests?

[MadBadger]

10. Did he appoint Tom Daschle's wife for something?

[dflprincess]

16. There is certainly the appearance of a conflict here.

though I'm sure Daschle's wife will have no influence on him at all. No doubt they have promised not to discuss health care or what her clients want with each other :sarcasm:

[jefferson_dem]

5. Same here.

This is one of the few times I have found disagreement. Consistency on this issue is critical...if he really wants to claim an era of "new politics" has arrived.

[ErinBerin84]

6. it's hard to believe that there was no one else that they could get

And it's an important area for there not to be a former lobbyist in.

[formercia]

7. It just proves he can be co-opted.

He is a person of weak character, regardless of his qualifications as a manager.

[FrenchieCat]

8. It doesn't prove shit about his "character",.....other than you never liked the man.

Next!

[formercia]

11. Hot buttons are fun

Chains, chains, yank one and see who comes out of the woodwork. :rofl:

[MadBadger]

9. "A person of weak character"

:eyes:

[formercia]

12. Who do you think I was talking about?

It wasn't the President.

Assume= Make an ASS out of U and ME.

[skeewee08]

13. I agree, this is 1 thing I disagree with, there has to be someone else.

[AtomicKitten]

14. Although Obama assures us Lynn is a noteworthy exception to his ban,

the "appearance of evil" does reek and I think it would behoove Obama to not stray beyond the guidelines he himself has set. That said, if this indeed is an isolated exception and taking into account Obama's assurances, I can live with it with feet firmly planted on this slippery slope.

[GeorgeGist]

15. Waving ethics ...

is nonsense.

[hay rick]

17. Maybe he's the best man for the job

Intimate knowledge of the pentagon is not acquired by accident. Current or former employees of defense contractors probably dominate the small pool of people qualified for this job. I think 1) Obama really likes Lynn better than any other plausible candidate for the job and 2) he thought it was worth paying the broke-the-no-lobbyists-pledge price.

The government-lobbyist revolving door will not disappear overnight. Obama can make large strides in the right direction without going cold turkey.

[DRoseDARs]

18. I'd really like more than Peter Orszag's "trust us" explanation.

"...said in a statement that 'it is in the public interest to grant the waiver given Mr. Lynn’s qualifications for his position and the current national security situation.'"

Uh huh. The more things change, the more they stay the same. This is probably a fluke and there's probably a very good reason for it, but still annoying.

[soccermomforobama]

19. I think the "it is in best interest" bit has to do with Gates more than Lynn.

I think Gates agreed to stay on under Obama only if Lynn was made #2. If that is the case, Obama would have to grant the waiver.