Posted by
Nick Stuart on Sunday, September 21, 2008 8:25:46 AM
John McCain has said if he were president today he'd fire Chris Cox (as reported in the Washington Post, 9/18/08
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/18/AR2008091801750.html
And why not? The fine details of whether Cox can actually be fired (the president surely could ask for his resignation) or whether he's a "fall guy" are somewhat beside the point.
While the general sentiment seems to be that Cox is not guilty of malfeasance (doing bad), and maybe not of misfeasance (screwing up), the case for nonfeasance (not doing his job) is pretty good by the logic of "It blew up on your watch, ergo you are responsible." Not fair maybe, but happens all the time in the "real world."
If rules were actually being violated, like for naked short-selling, it would mean wasn't doing his job and should be replaced.
Knowing that they don't have cushy sinecures for years, if not for life, might focus the attention of the heads of these "semi-autonomous feudal states" (props to Monty Python for the phrase).