Bottom line: Bush has one rule when it comes to the people who work in His Majesty's Government- loyalty is all. People are hired because of how connected they are to the BFEE, and we've seen everything from cronies like Brownie to Ledeen's 23 year old daughter and back again. So spare me any crap for labeling this post as of the category "Bush Character." Republicans have been in charge for six years, and this is all. on. them. Via Liz, a shocking LA Times piece:

t least 200 public employees have been charged with helping to move narcotics or illegal immigrants across the U.S.-Mexican border since 2004, at least double the illicit activity documented in prior years, a Times examination of public records has found. Thousands more are under investigation.

Criminal charges have been brought against Border Patrol agents, local police, a county sheriff, motor vehicle clerks, an FBI supervisor, immigration examiners, prison guards, school district officials and uniformed personnel of every branch of the U.S. military, among others. The vast majority have pleaded guilty or been convicted.

Officials in Washington and along the border worry about what lies below the surface. "It is the tip of the iceberg," said James "Chip" Burrus, assistant director of the criminal investigation division of the FBI. "There is a lot more down there. The problem is, you don't know what you don't know." Read more…