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Politics and Journalism in Washington: Celebrating the Departure of a Political Appointee
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March 11, 2010
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Political Appointees
INS
Wed Oct 22, 2008 11:42 AM
Post Reply
I don't know Mr. Block, but I can honestly say that in the twenty-five years I worked for the government, I did not serve a single appointee that I (and my colleagues) thought much of.
No, I'm not saying that the practice should be abandoned. As bad and completely unqualified as many appointees are, they do serve as a kind of speed bump that needs to be removed now and again (say every four or eight years).
A more insidious problem, I think, is adherence to the mentality that thinks federal managers don't need to know much about whatever it is they are being appointed to manage. A case in point: the Citizenship and Immigration Services adjudications centers are now being "managed" by SESers, none of whom know anything about the adjudications done there. Another case in point: The training of adjudicators is under the fiat of a Phd. in Education who has never been an officer in the agency and has never done any adjudications. And so we hire SMEs ("subject matter experts").
You've got to be kidding?
DHS
Wed Oct 22, 2008 11:52 AM
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From someone who experienced Mr. Bloch's tenure from the inside of OSC, I cannot believe that you would dismiss Bloch's follies as political fallout. Bloch politicized enforcement of the Hatch Act, decimated OSC's staff, directly hired inept chronies, closed hundreds of complaints without investigation, and repeated lied to the media and investigators about his actions. No matter what side of the aisle you're on, this is not acceptable for any public servant.
Re: You've got to be kidding?
DOL
Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:34 PM
The Real Problem
DoD
Wed Oct 22, 2008 12:10 PM
Post Reply
Bloch walked into a hand-picked leftist staff, and got into immediate trouble for accurately taking the position that discrimination based upon sexual orientation was not within OSC charter. Truth was not a defense, and he was immediately pillored--and that has not stopped.
Did he always do a perfect job? I don't know, but it is obvious that he never got a fair shake.
Scott Bloch - the First True Leader of Change
U.S. Air Force
Wed Oct 22, 2008 12:18 PM
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Scott Bloch should be hailed with multitudes of applause and gratitude by the American people to whom he provided a responsible approach toward cleaning up the bureaucracy within the Belt Way back there in DC.
Neither Obama or McCain will be as effective in fighting wasteful spending of tax payer money, due to lobbyists and bureaucrates who remain part of the "good 'ol boy network back there. And yes, the lib media is included in that network.
Re: Scott Bloch - the First True Leader of Change
been there/done that
Fri Oct 24, 2008 8:38 AM
Dare to have different ideas
US Dept of Labor-ESA-Wage & Hour Division
Wed Oct 22, 2008 1:53 PM
Post Reply
Having been a Civil Service employee for many years I can say that new ideas and goals are discouraged. Civil Service employees are encouraged rather to become civil servants literally to the bureaucracy. Its sad that this gentleman's accomplishments have not been given the recognition deserved.
My position was not close to a political appointee. I am sure those positions are even harder to push forward with new ideas. I commend the five years he served.
You're Joking Right?
Army
Wed Oct 22, 2008 6:30 PM
Post Reply
Yea, I always thought Saddam got the short shrift in politics just because people disgreed with him too. Saddam did not share the same goals as many of the interest groups that exist within the Bagdad Beltway. That, apparently, is also unforgivable and he was shoved aside, derided and ignored and now any reference to his accomplishments are not worth mentioning as we celebrate the departure of this person who must be terrible, incompetent and guilty of having had different ideas. Shameful.
Wowza!
none
Fri Oct 24, 2008 1:30 PM
Post Reply
"From someone who experienced Mr. Bloch's tenure from the inside of OSC, I cannot believe that you would dismiss Bloch's follies as political fallout. Bloch politicized enforcement of the Hatch Act, decimated OSC's staff, directly hired inept chronies, closed hundreds of complaints without investigation, and repeated lied to the media and investigators about his actions...."
I was one of the people who got sucked into Bloch's OSC only to have a complaint dismissed by the barely literate 'intern' who was given control of it. After -winning- the court case and, properly, notifying OSC of the results in order that it could take appropriate action against the culprits who had been identified in court, the intern informed me the complaint was being dismissed and recommended I pursue the case in court....
Clearly, Bloch's goal was part of the administration's as a whole - destroy as much of responsible government as possible and drown what was left in the bathtub.