[artplumber]

Originally posted by fastpat
To address the professor's quals; since I don't know, and most of you don't know, this professor except by a couple of published items, I don't think we can say what kind of quality he brings to the class room.

The point is no one is indispensable. There are more capable people now than in the past IMO, and the same applies to profs/prof level educated individuals.

Second, and more to the point, political appointees are at least as much politician as those elected officials that appoint them if not more so, they want the "glory" without the difficulty involved in campaigning for votes.

http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/politician?view=uk

Appointees don't need to be the smarmy baby kissers that true politicians must learn to cultivate to be elected by the people. You think that Cap Weinberger, Alexander Haig, James Carville, the frump who was the UN Ambassador could get elected?