The twist is that instead of lying low during a federal probe of Jackson, the enriched friends are publicly making no apologies for their HUD connections. Indeed, the African-American contractors interviewed by Swarns said that they were doing their part to help minority-owned businesses and rebuild black communities.

And South Carolina’s James Clyburn, the third-ranking Democrat in the House, defends Jackson’s work as aggressive affirmative action. It’s an interesting defense, one that resonates in a town where “favors” are done all the time, and where some favors may still be more equal than others.  Investigators are largely focused on payments made to Jackson during his term at HUD for work done that was done before his tenure.  Read Swarns here.  MB

Strategic Message Solutions’ bid to help add color to Air Force air shows was twice as high as its next closest competitor. This is not the first time camaraderie has trumped fair contracting at the Air Force. A contracting officer went to jail a year ago for doing favors to mega-contractor Boeing.  Read White here.  MB

Should presidents have the power to make recess appointments?  In all cases?  Defendants are guaranteed speedy trials by the constitution.  Maybe presidential nominees should enjoy the same protection.  If the Senate failed to provide speedy hearings, then and only then the president would be able to make a recess appointment.  Or maybe once the Senate delays for X weeks or months, the nominee is automatically put to a vote of the entire body.  The Senate would still have the right to filibuster with a 60-vote margin. 

In the wake of the disaster of Michael Brown as director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, another nominee to high-level government position is justifiably drawing fire as a potential “crony” appointment.

She is Ellen Sauerbrey, nominated to be undersecretary of state for population, refugees and migration, which manages a $700 million budget.

She was a two-time losing GOP candidate for governor of Maryland and ran the president's campaign there in 2000. But she has no experience managing humanitarian crises or the plight of refugees, which is what the job requires. The post usually goes to an expert rather than a political appointee.

In addition, as the Bush appointee as U.S. envoy to the United Nations on women's issues, she has been hostile to woman's rights, family planning and child and material health, according to 12 organizations that oppose her selection.

Surely, the president can do better.