Monday, May 08, 2006
Crony Fairy No Magic
Being president is a tough job, and the worst of it can be this appointment business. In 2001 Bush eliminated the longstanding role of the American Bar Association in the evaluation of prospective federal judges, but like an old neutered tom cat they continue to come out. Although not asked, they have rated his latest appointment "not qualified". Vanessa L. Bryant would be the first black woman in New England to be a federal judge. She is a sitting state judge and teaches Sunday school. Vanny was recommended by governor Jodi Rell. It is not clear whether Vanny is a 2nd or 3rd degree crony.
If the ABA is going to continue with the unsolicited opinions, it would do well to take into consideration just how difficult it is to find minority women within the 7 degrees of crony. First, men and women don't crony easily. Jodi herself may actually be a 2nd degree crony, relating through the White House Project. Then there is the race thing, and while there is such a thing as a "token crony", there is usually a two stroke penalty.
If the ABA is going to continue with the unsolicited opinions, it would do well to take into consideration just how difficult it is to find minority women within the 7 degrees of crony. First, men and women don't crony easily. Jodi herself may actually be a 2nd degree crony, relating through the White House Project. Then there is the race thing, and while there is such a thing as a "token crony", there is usually a two stroke penalty.
