Stiff 'Em

From Joe Klein at Time: Swampland (fast becoming my favorite political opinion writer), discussing Republicans in Congress and the newly passed stimulus package:

Politics 101 dictates the following: They should pay the price for their latter-day Hooverism. As little money as humanly, legally possible should go to their districts... 

I've just spent a few weeks outside the country and, when you take a step away from the media maelstrom, the overwhelming impression is the sheer volume and severity of the problems that the country and the world--and our new President--are facing right now. This is a global crisis. A great many people are being hurt badly...

...we should also take careful note of those who have opposed these programs--especially those who have done so for cynical, political reasons Their braying, and playing of Aerosmith songs, seems inappropriate, tone-deaf and puerile, at a moment of real pain and fear.

(Via TIME: Swampland)

It seems to me, and I think to many many Americans, that the lockstep GOP members are running an orchestrated strategy to be as difficult as possible with Obama. Yet they know darn well that they'll take whatever money from the stimulus package that comes the way of their state and congressional districts. There is a real urgency in getting things going, whether it be getting TARP completed, the provisions in the stimulus package, and the bad mortgage buyouts.

This is bad, and can really get worse. Action is needed to restore public confidence and it has to be done fast. Yet all the republicans (now with a small r) can do is to continue to parrot their tired, worn out, and failed "only tax cuts will work" mantra, and try to drag things out so that failure can (in their deluded minds) be pinned on the Dems. Do they (ever) have any new ideas, any innovative solutions?

Not lately. And at this rate not any time soon. Our best hope at restoring public confidence and trust now sits in the White House.

<strike>still</strike> no longer left hanging...

It's hardly worth mentioning...I've gotten unofficial word that the national director will not name a director at the center I was applying to, and will instead let the current search lapse (and a quick look at USAJobs indicates this is what happened). What this mean is that it will have to be reopened for competition. Whether I would reapply or not is dependent on feedback. From the bits and pieces I've heard, it's very political there right now. Very frustrating. While I respect the folks at the center very much, I do wish more of an attempt had been made to let the finalists know just what the heck was going on.

In the meantime, I'm still waiting to hear whether I'll get an interview for the faculty position in Marine Genomics there. I was told last Thursday that the larger selection committee was going to decide on who to interview in the last batch of candidates. I assume the outcome of this will depend much on the recommendation of the chair of the search committee, who's the one who heard my seminar and encouraged me to apply.

I'm getting tired of the waiting and uncertainty. It's wearing, and mentally pulls me in different directions. The constant thinking about it usually results in increasing the level of frustration I have with my current situation. Yet, I sometimes even feel guilty about that since I do have a very well-paid and secure job, nothing to complain about any time and especially now!

addendum 2/18/09
It's official now, in the sense I've talked to the chair of the search committee and got his off the record comments. The way it was handled by higher ups was terrible in his mind (and mine). And I know the names of those who mishandled things (confirmed by the retired director).

The chair of the search told me I might be lucky...and that I may not be as suited for this particular administrative position as I would be for the faculty position I was recruited to apply for. Still waiting on word about that, whether I'll get an interview or not. More still yet to come.

Nine and a half weeks

OK, so I got a terse email from the chair of the selection committee that a decision should be forthcoming this week. I certainly hope so. It's been way too long a wait for something as important as this. Supposedly I'll also hear something about the second recruitment, although I suspect that since the principal on the second is also on the hiring board of the first, there may be some sort of timing issue.

I'm getting things done and lab work is progressing normally, but it is hard to have your head in two (or three) places at once, compounded with the uncertainty. But, as I've been told, "hang in there."