SG, I know you are straight... and I think I have mentioned this before... but damn, you are pushing ALL my buttons. It must stop, else I will be forced to whisk you away to some tropical island and turn you to the dark side!
Oh, by the way, yes, it is good to be the king. Did you know that Inspectors General of federal agencies are presidential appointees? At least, all the ones I know of, are. Now that I think of it, aren't most of the agency directors appointed?
I didn't really know that much about they system until I moved to this area, back in early 2002. Now, knowing enough insiders to get it, It is just beyond belief. Alright, let's take, for instance, the EPA. Responsible for protecting our environment... a watchdog, right? It is one of the agencies required to present a "semi-annual report to the Congress", as are most of the fed agencies. With at least the last three reports (which basically are designed to tell congress what kind of investment their funding was... did they do their jobs? how well? how do we know? what did they find? what are their recommendations?) the director (remember, presidential appointee) was directed to send an advance report to the white house, before sending it to the congress. Changes were ordered, by the white house, so that the report did not make the administration look so bad.
Do you remember when it hit the news earlier this year, that the EPA's report was published, and the news was better than expected? Well, it was, but only after the white house RE-WROTE it to make it less grim. Some of the guys in various agency IG offices started to complain, but were quickly silenced. It is, indeed, good to be the king. I wish I had editorial control over my tax return, like the white house does on 'semi-annual reports to the congress."