How many more Mike Browns are out there?

I'd say a lot. Good that people are actually starting to realize that now.

A benign cronyism is more or less presumed, with old friends and big donors getting comfortable positions and impressive titles, and with few real consequences for the nation.

I'd say that's true, but the thing is, you should be looking amongst friends and supporters for someone who is also actually qualified for the job you're giving them. And in this administration, not only does that not seem to happen, it's almost as if Bush actually looks for the most uniquely unqualified for a particular position, like it's a big joke to him.

The Brown debacle has raised pointed questions about whether political connections, not qualifications, have helped an unusually high number of Bush appointees land vitally important jobs in the Federal Government.

Questions? Raised? Now? Forgive me if I don't understand that. Since, I think those questions have already been raised, answered, and so completely accepted as fact that no one even pays any attention to them anymore.

The Bush Administration didn't invent cronyism; John F. Kennedy turned the Justice Department over to his brother, while Bill Clinton gave his most ambitious domestic policy initiative to his wife.

Yeah, except those people were probably also qualified. We're talking about someone who may have been President had he not been killed, and someone who may yet be President, and both were elected to the Senate. I'm guessing Michael Brown never gets anywhere near anything like that.

Maybe if people had paid as much attention to Bush's stupid ass appointments before a bunch of people drowned, things could have gone better in New Orleans. And maybe if they paid any attention before that, things could have gone better for the country in general.