Althouse: Can a woman lead the Secret Service?

March 26, 2013

Can a woman lead the Secret Service?

"Julia is eminently qualified..."

60 comments:

bleh said...: Huh? Why not? Is there actually a controversy or are you imagining sexist opposition?; 3/26/13, 6:47 PM
sakredkow said...: "As the chief of staff, Ms. Pierson is the agency’s highest-ranking female special agent and has worked for the agency for three decades. She has worked as a field agent and in a variety of management positions involving human resources, cybercrime and antidrug operations, and she has overseen the presidential and vice-presidential protective divisions."

She's seen the agency from different perspectives, which is what I find valuable.; 3/26/13, 6:47 PM
Anonymous said...: I thought Julia was on cradle to the grave welfare and a web designer or something.; 3/26/13, 6:48 PM
Palladian said...: Oh no! Julia has gone from lonely, lifelong ward of the State to head of a federal agency!; 3/26/13, 6:48 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: Only if she is lesbian and in a committed relationship with her wife.; 3/26/13, 6:51 PM
rhhardin said...: Qualified women means affirmative action hires.

They wind up volunteering for the women's workplace issues committee, once they're in.; 3/26/13, 6:53 PM
ndspinelli said...: DBQ, LOL!; 3/26/13, 6:54 PM
Anonymous said...: From what we read, there is nothing to assume that she isn't qualified. It seems like a non-story. Now, if she had come in from outside, with no detailed operational knowledge or expertise in the sort of things the Secret Service does, then there'd be a big concern.

However, if she (like the NASA administrator) says that part of her job mission is Muslim outreach, then we've got a big problem.; 3/26/13, 6:58 PM
Amartel said...: Why always "eminently" qualified. Is "highly" qualified too obvious? Not enough syllables? It's always "eminently." Which starts to sound blocked-and-copied, fill in the blanks.

____________ [name of newly anointed bureaucrat] is eminently qualified [list credentials), has led an exemplary career in _____________ [describe public service], and exemplifies the spirit of the ______________ [official name of bureaucracy here, no initials] which ___________________________ [describe ostensible bureaucratic mission].; 3/26/13, 6:59 PM
Astro said...: Well, at least with a woman heading the agency we can all rest assured that there won't be any scandals,
right?; 3/26/13, 7:00 PM
edutcher said...: She's part of the system, she's part of the problem.

And, if she's Choomie's choice, there's something majorly wrong with her.; 3/26/13, 7:05 PM
chuck said...: Mary Cheney would be a good choice.; 3/26/13, 7:19 PM
Big Mike said...: WTP? She's either good enough to head the agency, or she's not. It's certainly not in the best interest of Obama or his family to appoint someone unqualified, so it seems reasonably likely that she's every bit good enough.

The best? Not necessarily, but not normally necessary, either.; 3/26/13, 7:19 PM
Seeing Red said...: Where is this woman supposed to be leading the Secret Service to?; 3/26/13, 7:20 PM
Anonymous said...: Next scandal: some female agents will be caught getting it on with a lesbian ho in South America.

Peter; 3/26/13, 7:21 PM
edutcher said...: Full-flavored, of course.; 3/26/13, 7:24 PM
Icepick said...: Well, if she's no good then we should all get used to the idea of President Biden and fake currency.; 3/26/13, 7:28 PM
Titus said...: In the past weeks 4 women in my office, who I rarely have spoken to, have mentioned their "wives" and "children". Disgusting. I didn't know they were dykes but now I do and would prefer they keep that shit to themselves.

They are all really thin and pretty too. What a waste.

I am beginning to wonder if there are any real women in my office who love the cock.; 3/26/13, 7:33 PM
jacksonjay said...: She can chaperone Sasha and Malia on their "private" vacays to exotic locales!; 3/26/13, 7:36 PM
Titus said...: These dykes are all really nice and smart and have amazing bods and hair and well respected at the office.

They bike to work in spandex and have incred asses that you could bounce quarter off of.

I would caution my fellow accepters of this lifestyle though. Just imagine the lesbian sex....gross.; 3/26/13, 7:37 PM
daubiere said...: "I am beginning to wonder if there are any real women in my office who love the cock."

Theres always you!; 3/26/13, 7:37 PM
n.n said...: How utterly stupid. There are certain physiological differences which distinguish between men and women, which inherently limit capability. She needs to meet the qualifications of the position, including: mental, emotional, and physical requirements.

I wonder what other distractions Obama and friends will concoct in order to encourage people to forget their illegal, exploitative, and discriminatory activities.

He is like a celebrity who hides their transgressions through symbolic gestures of charity. The JournoLists love these human interest stories.; 3/26/13, 7:38 PM
Phunctor said...: You cruel bastard, Titus; 3/26/13, 7:39 PM
BaltoHvar said...: Thanks Titus - I was trying to come up with a deep post regarding SSM and you have to ruin it by bringing that up. I'll be back in a minute...; 3/26/13, 7:45 PM
Titus said...: The cherry on the cake is Anderson Fudgepacker will be interviewing financial guru Suzie Pussymuncher to discuss SSM.

Can they just stop being all out?

Enough already.; 3/26/13, 7:48 PM
SGT Ted said...: That job isn't hard. Unless you make it hard. You just have to know what you are doing.; 3/26/13, 7:51 PM
Titus said...: One of the dykes biked all the way from JP (lesbian capitol) in a sheer tight top which highlighted her sweaty pouting tits-the nipples sweat was penetrating the white top and you could see the entire width of the large purple erect sweating tit. I saw the corona of the nipple-stitches and all.

Could you imagine anything worse?; 3/26/13, 7:52 PM
Ann Althouse said...: "Why always "eminently" qualified"

It's like scantily and clad.; 3/26/13, 7:59 PM
MadisonMan said...: This merits a paragraph at most -- because there's a new head. That she is a woman is a non-story.; 3/26/13, 8:11 PM
Palladian said...: This merits a paragraph at most -- because there's a new head. That she is a woman is a non-story.

I don't know, if the leader of the Secret Service now has a new head, and it's a woman's head... that merits a bit more than a paragraph, don't you think?; 3/26/13, 8:17 PM
Methadras said...: I think before this woman gets put up for this job, she should empty out her closet. Get the skeletons out and let's see if she's worthy.; 3/26/13, 8:47 PM
edutcher said...: Well, at least it's one job filled.

According to the CBO, there will never be full employment while I-am-not-a-Dictator Zero is POTUS.; 3/26/13, 8:50 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Being qualified is not important anymore when the president himself is an affirmative action hire and barely experienced enough to supervise a city playground.; 3/26/13, 8:52 PM
MadisonMan said...: Person with Head Transplant get New Position.

I'm sure there's a better (cough) headline than that for it.; 3/26/13, 8:54 PM
Synova said...: That is a totally weird question to even ask.; 3/26/13, 8:55 PM
Astro said...: Ann Althouse said... "Why always "eminently" qualified"
It's like scantily and clad.

Is "tired old cliche" one? -- Steven Wright; 3/26/13, 8:58 PM
SomeoneHasToSayIt said...: Any agency head who would expect agency members to take bullets, but would not do so themselves, is not fit to lead.

Any society that would expect a woman to take a bullet for a man, is a society not worth preserving.

So, should we have a woman head up the Secret Service?; 3/26/13, 9:03 PM
bagoh20 said...: Until I see her skills at running wing man in South American bars, I reserve judgement.; 3/26/13, 9:05 PM
The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...: If it involves a women, a gay or a minority then it's a story. Frankly, and I mean this in a purely non-partisan way, I'm sick of the hoo-hah about these " historic firsts". All they usually do is prove that women and minorities are as catastrophically incompetent, corrupt, and self-interested as any white man.; 3/26/13, 9:06 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Women Secret Service...

Monica Lewinsky need not apply.; 3/26/13, 9:08 PM
The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 3/26/13, 9:08 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: "Can a woman lead the Secret Service?"

Don't friend Linda Tripp.; 3/26/13, 9:10 PM
edutcher said...: Broomhandle said...

If it involves a women, a gay or a minority then it's a story. Frankly, and I mean this in a purely non-partisan way, I'm sick of the hoo-hah about these " historic firsts". All they usually do is prove that women and minorities are as catastrophically incompetent, corrupt, and self-interested as any white man.

All they usually do is prove that women and minorities are seen by Lefists as catastrophically incompetent, corrupt, and in need of special help because, otherwise, they couldn't get a job as dogcatcher.

FIFY; 3/26/13, 9:14 PM
David-2 said...: Well, at least we might get one transparent agency in this administration.; 3/26/13, 9:41 PM
somefeller said...: Being qualified is not important anymore when the president himself is an affirmative action hire and barely experienced enough to supervise a city playground.

You know, that comment might have some bite if it came from someone who is in the universe of people who make decisions on what constitutes qualification for anything noteworthy. But I think it's safe to assume that AJ Lynch isn't someone who's amounted to much, so no harm and no foul.; 3/26/13, 9:42 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: "Can a woman lead the Secret Service?"

Google says they should try something else first.; 3/26/13, 9:47 PM
David Davenport said...: When women start entering some vocational field, it means the prestige of that vocation is on the way down.

Example: Supreme Court Justices; 3/26/13, 10:26 PM
Darrell said...: She'd never put gas in a diesel. That I can tell.; 3/26/13, 10:35 PM
Alex said...: The affirmative action administration continues....; 3/26/13, 10:35 PM
Darrell said...: Didn't she have a hand at selecting the people that fucked up? That makes me feel so much better.; 3/26/13, 10:46 PM
jr565 said...: can a woman lead the secret service? absolutely.women have run countries, some of them even ran them well. so why not an agency?

Can THIS woman run the secret service? that remains to seen. because Obama appointed her I'm skeptical, though in truth I dont know much about her. maybe this is one of those instances where he got it right.; 3/27/13, 12:00 AM
jr565 said...: besides, wasn't Her Majesties secret service run by M, a hard as nails female in the last James Bond movie? don't tell me that James Bond isn't real.; 3/27/13, 12:02 AM
Darrell said...: Little Sis will compliment Big Sis nicely. Sure, given her personnel duties she is really the one that actually made the calls that led to all the embarrassments, not the top guy. And no one is disputing that change starts at the top. But that change usually doesn't reward the person responsible for the problems or the lack of oversight that would have prevented the scandals in the first place.

What was her first public statement? That you don't need guys built like linebackers to serve on protection details. Right. Just spend some time at a busy bar that hires 5'6" bouncers. And duck.; 3/27/13, 12:30 AM
bagoh20 said...: "You know, that comment might have some bite if it came from someone..."

It is either true or it's not, regardless of who says it. Was he qualified to run the biggest, most powerful organization that has ever existed in the world after never running anything before? You decide. Oh wait, you already did. Well done, brilliant, bravo!; 3/27/13, 12:43 AM
Rusty said...: "Can a woman lead the Secret Service?"

No. It's too difficult.; 3/27/13, 6:57 AM
machine said...: must...criticize...every...single...thing....; 3/27/13, 7:03 AM
Aridog said...: Amartel said...

Why always "eminently" qualified. Is "highly" qualified too obvious? Not enough syllables? It's always "eminently." Which starts to sound blocked-and-copied, fill in the blanks.

Actually, if you delve in to the procedures at the Civilian Personnel Office (CPOL) for the military, not to mention Office of Personnel Management (OPM), for screening and reviewing resumes you would find your hypothesis is quite correct....and use of such wording is necessary.

The key words aspect of the computer program that first screens a resume will look for words from the position description that describe functions. By the time the review reaches a human the "skills" have been identified and said human will argue that...even if the resume writer is 100% BS'ing, with half truths that imply a skill by including the word(s) required, but are not functions actually ever performed.

It IS one of the biggest hurdles in hiring there is in government...except for senior executive positions, where political suck-uppence is all that is required and no skills preferred.

In this SS lady's case...sounds to me like they are breaking the rules, unless she's someone who has moved around the agency because she wasn't performing in any of her positions. That IS the career track of many SES personnel.

No way for me to know that in this case...but if I were the reviewer, I'd be looking at the quantifiable accomplishments and qualitative aspects of prior decisions she has made. If her resume had 75%+ of Job Description key words, I'd be v-e-r-y leery....if federal service, if you are smart, you build your resume over time for the position description that you want down the line.

At the level Ms Pierson is at there is no need for anyone to establish she is qualified beyond saying so. Any criticism had better be substantial, not trite.

Not a perfect system, but it is what it is...; 3/27/13, 7:56 AM
Aridog said...: Titus said...

These dykes are all really nice and smart and have amazing bods and hair and well respected at the office.

Given it is in the office you are citing,[smart,nice,well respected] what more is required? If their expressions of family life are in appropriate conversations (casual), what's the beef?

PS: Sorry ... just hand to yank your cord on this one.; 3/27/13, 8:07 AM
Nomennovum said...: Can a woman lead the Secret Service?

Only if they take the "secret" part out of Secret Service.; 3/27/13, 10:46 AM
Uncle Pavian said...: "Meine Ehre Heist Treue"; 3/27/13, 10:50 AM