Editorial: Shades of Michael Brown

Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2006 | 9:19 a.m.

It is apparent that President Bush has not learned from the Michael Brown debacle that he shouldn't appoint inexperienced people to top posts, especially posts within the Homeland Security Department.

Brown, of course, was the Bush crony heading the Federal Emergency Management Agency at the time Hurricane Katrina hit. His almost total lack of experience in this field contributed heavily to the federal government's inept response.

Now Bush has appointed Julie Myers, a lawyer, to head the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, a part of Homeland Security that has more than 20,000 employees and a $4 billion budget. Bush made the appointment last week while Congress was in recess, thus avoiding a confirmation hearing in the Senate. Last year, after Bush nominated her, Democratic and Republican senators alike had questioned her qualifications.

Myers, 36, is a niece of Gen. Richard Myers, recently retired as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Her husband is John Wood, who is chief of staff to Michael Chertoff, head of the Homeland Security Department.

Before her appointment, Myers worked in the White House as a personnel director and has also held positions with the Commerce, Justice and Treasury departments. She has no experience in managing a large agency or in enforcing immigration laws. This is another appointment that is long on cronyism and short on qualifications.