Yesterday, I wrote:
If Hillary wins, Bill should be secretary of state. A formal role on the world stage is far preferable to an informal role on the inside fucking everything up.
Carpenter wishes this were possible:
[Hillary] probably would [appoint Bill], were it not for the Federal Anti-Nepotism statute of 1967, which bans such eminently sensible acts as a chief executive appointing whomever he or she deems best suited for the executive’s trust and convenience.
From the text of the law in question:
A public official may not appoint, employ, promote, advance, or advocate for appointment, employment, promotion, or advancement, in or to a civilian position in the agency in which he is serving or over which he exercises jurisdiction or control any individual who is a relative of the public official.
So we have a uniquely nepotistic and dynastic democracy in fact, but a law forbidding its being made explicit, and thereby formally accountable. Yep: sounds like America.
The Dish 