Obama’s brain drain

[EC]

President Barack Obama has a big to-do list for his final two-plus years in office. But he doesn’t have all the key people in place to pull it all off.

A POLITICO analysis of the 15 Cabinet agencies plus several other departments with high-priority policy agendas found a recurring theme for the outgoing Obama administration: plentiful job openings and several slots where long-term vacancies could have real-world consequences for policies from national security to the economy and the environment.

At the Homeland Security Department, Obama has no Senate-confirmed policy chief in place to handle terrorism and cybersecurity threats and the immigration crisis on the southern U.S. border. Obama wants to act on climate change, but the Environmental Protection Agency is missing several of the political leaders needed to shepherd regulations through a demanding process with tight scrutiny from industry, environmentalists, other federal agencies and the White House’s own budget crunchers. And the scandal-plagued Department of Veterans Affairs is hesitant to make some big new policy changes until it gets a fresh batch of political leaders.

More than 220 nominees are still awaiting Senate confirmation to fill vacancies across the administration, and a senior Democratic aide said Majority Leader Harry Reid is planning to force floor votes on a “good number” of them before the November election. Still, the openings are sure to grow as more staffers make their strategically timed exits through D.C.’s revolving door while the cachet of having Obama-related experience still means something on a résumé.

It’s a painful reality check for the president — and one that would only grow worse if Republicans win control of the Senate. Back in early 2009, he had the cream of the Democratic crop gunning to work for him. Now, as Obama relies more on federal agencies to bypass Congress and help secure his legacy, he’ll be lucky if his second, third or even fourth stringers are on the clock.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/09/obamas-brain-drain-110731.html#ixzz3CoeEfvWS

[massadvj]

The organization rots from the top down.  I, for one, hope the inefficiencies of this administration continue.  Can you imagine how much worse things would be if these people were good at accomplishing their objectives?  As it is, the GOP is trying to run out the clock, and things are still spiraling out of control.

[alicewonders]

Regardless of Obama's Marxist core - he is a piss-poor CEO.  All of these unfilled vacancies and the only way he ever hears anything is on the news like the rest of us.  He is surrounded by "yes" people that don't dare tell him the optics of constant golfing and fundraising are getting really bad.  His most high-and-mighty schemes usually blow back in his face - like Arab Spring, the Occupy Movement and inviting thousands of illegal children to the country - unaccompanied by adults. 

Regardless of his philosophy - Obama gets failing marks just for leadership abilities.  Worst President ever - possibly worst leader ever.