The vetting process is a non starter, no one with a political future

[CK_John]

will abide by that form. It will never stay secret and never go away, even if they don't get any position. It will follow anyone around for their whole political life, no matter what promises the transition team makes.

The form itself is too damn nosy and I don't believe any smart politician will consent just to protect Obama, who will be gone in 4 or 8 yrs. Age and citizenship are all that is required by the constitution and in the case of Senate confirmation, that is their job to find any dirt.

That is what is holding up the process of picking a Cabinet. If the info is not in the public record, then it's nobody business.

[babylonsister]

1. Huh?

I do believe most everyone Obama 'might' be considering won't have a problem with being vetted.
He's said he won't announce his Cabinet until after Thanksgiving. I don't recall PE Obama ever spilling the beans or going back on his word.

[CK_John]

3. I'm not sure but the transition team records may now be covered by the official records act and will

never go away. They can say anything they want (and believe it) but in DC everyone bugs everyone else. Everything that goes in or out of their offices goes to a third party (NSA).

[babylonsister]

5. I'd like to see a link to that. nt

[CK_John]

6. Link to what? They have screening every phone and internet transmission for at least 8 yrs. n/t

[babylonsister]

8. Please. There are ways to overcome that, I suspect. If not, why

aren't the diplomats howling in their respective houses? There are ways.

[BrotherBuzz]

9. Let's see if the have their ears on.

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Dad, I'm in jail and I like it here.

[gingersnaps1]

2. I am with you on that.

That application is crazy. I am surprised there isn't a spot on their for your blood type.

[DeepBlueC]

4. there's a chip for that

[vixengrl]

7. If you're talking about all the questions about "Have you sent any

e-mails or had correspondence that might embarrass the administration?" http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/13/obama-white-house-questionnaire

sort of stuff, I'm with you there. Let somebody put on their geek-hat and track down all my handles before I surrender up my Web 2.0 equivalent of drunk-dialing.

Nobody's perfect. And a lot of people who are talented sure aren't perfect, but it takes nothing away from their talent.

As I understand it, those kinds of questions on the application pertain not just to direct Cabinet members but also to jobs that are a bit more under-the-radar, which is where my generation is affected. I think there's something odd about the blog/forum/e-mail part which is a scary thing for, well, people like us here to think about. A lot of people who become politically motivated going forward are probably going to have at least some experience on a forum like this. E-mail & flame wars with people are part of that. I know I can honestly say I have spent the last ten years saying things on the Internet that could come back to me, but which shouldn't have an impact on any employment I sought.

Gen-X-er's and millenials particularly are going to have Facebook and My Space issues. I think "disqualification by Google" is a disturbing proposition as it is in the private sector, but in public service it's especially daunting as it may scare off some of the more creative and committed people. Arguably, a flame war someone had over political nonsense back in 1996 may be "public record" in that it exists in some BBS archive, but I can't see the utility in anyone being advised that:

"We have here a printout of an electronic correspondence you held under the name of 'libluvr_92' with an individual identified as 'dole_roxxorz' where you maintained Hillary Clinton could beat Bob Dole arm-wrestling against his good arm. That's just tasteless, and not the kind of politics we represent today."