What was he thinking?

By Staff
March 10, 2002
Former U.S. Rep. Mike Parker's forced departure from his job as assistant secretary for civil works at the Army Corps of Engineers is an interesting lesson in the real-life operations of the federal government. Recognizing the danger of mixing metaphors, the basic message is don't criticize the partner that brought you to the dance.
Parker served, all too briefly, at the discretion of the president. He left, abruptly, under the same standard.
What he was thinking when he so vocally criticized Bush administration policy is anyone's guess. All we know is what he said got an immediate reaction from his superiors in Washington and in the blink of an eye he was out, given a half hour to pack up and vacate the Pentagon premises.
Parker, who lost a narrow race for governor to Ronnie Musgrove in 1999, is reported to be financially secure. He can get along without the government job. He may even choose to get into the one of Washington's favorite sports lobbying.
Whatever Mike Parker does, we continue to believe he is a good and decent man and we wish him well.
It is regrettable that Parker's departure comes at a sensitive time for a Mississippian the president is seeking to promote. This should be the week we learn the fate of U.S. District Judge Charles Pickering, who has been raked over the political coals in his nomination to a seat on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Other than timing, the Parker and Pickering adventures probably have little in common. But, depending on how the Senate Judiciary Committee votes, the state could end up with two black eyes instead of one.