Experience Not Required?

Lot of openings too. NY Times (03.24.05):

"The Bush administration moved to fill a top post at the Treasury Department on Wednesday, but stumbled in its attempt to fill another. President Bush announced that he would nominate Timothy D. Adams, a policy adviser to Mr. Bush's presidential campaigns, to succeed John B. Taylor as under secretary for international affairs." White House Makes Dent in Openings at Treasury

They also wanted Mark A. Weinberger, "who oversaw tax policy at the Treasury Department in 2001 and 2002 and is vice chairman of Ernst & Young,", to be the new Under Secretary for international affairs, but Mr. Weinberger "quietly took himself out of consideration several weeks ago...." According to the article, "Administration officials say about a third of senior Treasury positions are vacant....". Check out the number of slots listed as "Vacant" here. Unlike his predecessor, who was "a well-known monetary economist at Stanford University", the new guy's "primary experience has been as a political and policy adviser in Washington." Then there's the number two post, Deputy Secretary. Guy who was there (Samuel W. Bodman) got himself appointed Secretary of Energy. The President has designated the Treasury Department's general counsel, Arnold I. Havens to fill in until they find someone permanent. Who is Mr. Havens? Why he "is a longtime industry lobbyist who was head of government affairs at the CSX Corporation, the railroad company, when (current Treasury Secretary John W.) Snow was CSX's chief executive." Huh. Imagine that. See "The Economist Tees Off", wherein TheEconomist suspects that The President's approach to economic policy seems to be one where "loyalty is more important than knowledge". Ouch.