Flanigan Out: Jack Abramoff whacks another crony

As usual, they waited until Friday afternoon to announce it, but Bush's pick for the number two spot at the Justice Department, Tim Flanigan, has withdrawn his name for the Deputy Attorney General's office. Why? This is probably getting to sound like a broken record by now, particularly for appointments in the Justice Department, but apparently Mr. Flanigan was in cahoots with Tom DeLay's good buddy, the now incarcerated lobbyist Jack Abramoff. He was also facing harsh questioning from Senate Democrats because he played an active roll in the Gonzales torture policies which the Bush administration has put in place. (The Senate voted 91-9 to cut back on torture this week, so that was likely no longer a selling point for Flanigan.)

Given the nation's unemployment figures and the weak economy, we should probably feel rather sorry for Flanigan, finding himself out in the street at such a time. But if he shops his resume around and does well in interviews, he should .... excuse me? What's that? You say he's already got a job?

Flanigan is a senior vice president and general counsel to Tyco International. Company spokeswoman Sheri Woodruff said he will remain at the company in those positions.

Yes indeed. A highly placed (and one might assume very highly compensated) official for none other than Tyco. This is the same chicken whacking corporation which has been in the news for each of G.W. Bush's campaigns. They have a peculiar propensity for donating millions of dollars to GOP interests during elections, and then asking for more lax regulations in the food preparation industry, running afoul of consumer protection groups and labor unions. Strangely, they've been very successful at that under this administration.

Now that Flanigan is out of the picture, it remains to be seen who Bush and his friends will put up in his place. I understand that the kid who actually cuts all the brush down at Bush's ranch is looking for a move up.... and why not? I mean, he watches CSI every week, ferchrissakes.