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View Full Version : Inexperienced 28-Year-Old Bush Staffer Appointed to Critical Homeland Security Post


L.A. BRONCOS FAN
03-12-2006, 02:54 AM
The Bush administration has appointed 28-year-old former White House staffer Doug Hoelscher as the executive director of the Homeland Security Advisory Committees.

In his new position, Hoelscher will gather expert advice “on behalf of the president and the Homeland Security secretary” from 20 other advisory boards covering “key areas of homeland security, including threats to infrastructure and preventing terrorist attacks that use weapons of mass destruction.”

His experience?

Hoelscher has no management experience, a review of his professional credentials shows. He came to government in 2001 as a low-level White House staffer, arranging presidential travel, according to news reports. He earned $30,000 a year, salary documents show.

He discussed his job as President Bush’s travel arranger with the Des Moines Register in 2002:

Doug Hoelscher, a University of Iowa political science major and native of Williams, …is living out his dream at age 25. He works as a political coordinator for the president, dealing mostly with Bush’s domestic travel. “Ever since a young age I’ve had an interest in politics,” he said.

Despite Hoelscher’s apparent total lack of professional management or security experience, the press release announcing his appointment praises his qualifications and claims he will now be providing “strategic counsel” to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff:

“The department relies heavily on the expertise and advice of our advisory committees,” said Stewart Baker, Assistant Secretary for Policy. “Outside perspectives benefit the policy and decision making process, and the Administration has named a qualified and talented professional to cultivate these partnerships. Doug will provide strategic counsel to the Secretary and increase overall coordination between department leadership and our homeland security partners, and I look forward to his contributions and counsel.”

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/09/homeland-security-appointment/

The second coming of Jeff Gannon?

elsid13
03-12-2006, 06:14 AM
Not surprising this stuff happens all the time in both parties. But usually folks like this end up in non-critical agencies, Commerce or HUB. Those are the political dumping grounds.

In fact the government departments that usually messed up the most are the ones with most political appointees in leadership.

baja
03-12-2006, 06:39 AM
Yes it does happen all the time but a sensitive position in Home Land Security should not be a political favoritism dumping ground, Please!!!!!!!

elsid13
03-12-2006, 06:57 AM
Yes it does happen all the time but a sensitive position in Home Land Security should not be a political favoritism dumping ground, Please!!!!!!!


I don't disagree. But the real question is what is he doing. I met folks that have real impressive job titles, that basically sit on thier butts and don't do anything that causes problems. But it is this administration, so he probably the one who decides if there threat to the nation and how we should respond.

baja
03-12-2006, 07:04 AM
Maybe he's the guy that signed off on the UAE port deal? ;D

L.A. BRONCOS FAN
03-12-2006, 05:51 PM
Not surprising this stuff happens all the time in both parties. But usually folks like this end up in non-critical agencies, Commerce or HUB. Those are the political dumping grounds.

In fact the government departments that usually messed up the most are the ones with most political appointees in leadership.

The guy's job is to gather info on “key areas of homeland security, including threats to infrastructure and preventing terrorist attacks that use weapons of mass destruction” - yet he has virtually ZERO security, law enforcement, or management experience - and you're giving us the old "move along, folks - nothing to see here?"

You can't be serious. :oyvey:

Hogan11
03-12-2006, 06:28 PM
Wow

Bronx33
03-12-2006, 06:30 PM
Is there such thing as a smart 28 year old?

spdirty
03-12-2006, 06:32 PM
unbelievable.

Lets get the uproar started, just like the port deal.

loborugger
03-12-2006, 06:47 PM
This isnt the first youngster that Bush has put up for an important job at DHS. Last year he put up some 36 year old woman. She had never managed more than 400 people, but he had her up for a position over tens of thousands. She was so woefully unqualified, it was damn near criminal.

It didnt matter one bit that she was related to Chertoff. I believe she was his daughter in law.

elsid13
03-12-2006, 08:15 PM
The guy's job is to gather info on “key areas of homeland security, including threats to infrastructure and preventing terrorist attacks that use weapons of mass destruction” - yet he has virtually ZERO security, law enforcement, or management experience - and you're giving us the old "move along, folks - nothing to see here?"

You can't be serious. :oyvey:


read my second post on this. I learned long ago that job title don't mean squat in this town. He should have be dump into Commerce with all the other political hacks that have no experience.

baja
03-12-2006, 09:37 PM
Is there such thing as a smart 28 year old?

Certainly there smart 28 year olds but none of them by definition would support GWB

Taco John
03-13-2006, 12:36 AM
I'm not going to knee jerk this move. Ever heard of Doogie Howser MD?

TailgateNut
03-13-2006, 07:13 AM
I'm not going to knee jerk this move. Ever heard of Doogie Howser MD?
:rofl: Isn't that called ACTING? Oh, I forgot, it fits in with the rest of the administration!

enjolras
03-13-2006, 08:43 AM
Its amazing... Bush literally learned nothing from FEMA/Katrina. Nothing at all.

L.A. BRONCOS FAN
03-13-2006, 09:03 AM
Its amazing... Bush literally learned nothing from FEMA/Katrina. Nothing at all.

It's amazing, but it shouldn't be surprising to anyone who is actually familiar with Bush's bio.

The man has never been held accountable for a single failure, fraud, or felony in his entire spoiled, entitled life.

He's the guy who was born on third base and is trying to steal home.