First Obama appointee to fall to the wayside

Under investigation for "pay-to-play" allegations, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has withdrawn his name as a nominee for secretary of the commerce. That didn't take long. Change we can believe in is looking a lot like the last Democratic administration with their myriad ethical lapses.

It's a darn shame he had to withdraw from the confirmation process. It would have been good theater considering Sen. Byrd's declaration that Richardson would never get confirmed for another government job based on how he screwed up as Energy Secretary.

Oh well, if we can't have Richardson giving up a governor seat maybe Obama can find another senator to appoint to the commerce job. At the current rate the Dems will have close to 30 seats to defend in 2010. More seats they have to defend the easier it will be to pick off the low hanging fruit (like Harry Reid).