Marc Ambinder on Career Officials and the Justice Department

Marc, my colleague up at the Atlantic, who is one of the best, clearest, and most unbiased reporters in the business, notices that a bunch of career Justice Department officials have been given important leadership positions. And he writes:

The distinction between political appointees and career staff is one that the general public often misses. The political appointees come and go, and the career staff -- the dreaded bureaucrats -- keep the department running and serve as institutional memories and consciences. At the highest level of government, the Bush national security team didn't trust the DoJ career staff. The Obama Justice Department's decision to retain at least three long-time Justice Department national security officials -- and to name them as part of their leadership team -- suggests that, when it comes to national security law -- still a largely uncharted legal territory -- the Obama administration values the experience of people who have been there -- even if they were there when many controversial things were happening -- even though the retention of these employees will subject them to the allegation that the Bush folks are still in charge.

Couldn't have put it better myself.