Torpedoed: Pork politics and the undoing of an Obama nominee

Torpedoed: Pork politics and the undoing of an Obama nominee

The sudden withdrawal of would-be Obama Administration member Jon Cannon, a UVA law professor and Albemarle Planning Commissioner, has left colleagues stunned and left the Environmental Protection Agency without the services of a "straight arrow" in its #2 spot. How did it happen that mere weeks after President Obama had heralded him as a "distinguished American," Cannon withdrew, citing "scrutiny" from the EPA Inspector General.

It turns out the scrutiny wasn't on Cannon per se, but on a foundation on whose board he had served as a volunteer and which, coincidentally, was chaired by another prominent Central Virginian.

Cannon's sudden exit has reignited a debate about whether the best and brightest public servants get unfairly sabotaged by the misdeeds of others–- and what it means for the rest of us, the public they aim to serve.

4Better Or Worse

• 4BETTER OR WORSE- The week in review

Essays

• ESSAY- A plea: Don't ask this UVA grad about his job

Question of the Week

• QUESTION OF THE WEEK- Who would you like to see Obama name to a cabinet post?

Real Estate - On the Block

• REAL ESTATE- ON THE BLOCK- Fat and happy: Character, donuts available in Belmont

Movie Reviews

• MOVIE REVIEW- Albe-quirky: Second <i>Sunshine's </i>sweet

The Brazen Careerist

• THE BRAZEN CAREERIST- Six things: My list of what I hate

Strange But True

• STRANGE BUT TRUE- Wag language: Your dog speaks with its tail

Letters

• LETTER- Jumbo crosswalks increase danger

Full Stories List for April 16th, 2009 issue #0815

• DR. HOOK- Real pros: Laboratory techs play crucial role

• Girl gone green: Ballerina turns builder in Fifeville

• Green scene's fin: Seminar series ends on Earth Day

• GREEN- Steep but safe: Alternating treads save history... and space

• LEEDing: First Albemarle 'gold' house certified

• REALESTATE- UPDATE- OFF THE BLOCK- SALE WITHDRAWN

• Really green: Log home master teaches his craft

• Saved by zero: What if a house used no energy?

• Shultz story: Grass is always greener when it's au naturelle

• Small advocates: 'A large green house is an oxymoron'

• Still smiling: Belvedere's first family welcoming neighbors

• THE SPORTS DOCTOR- Punchy: Yes, Virginia, there's boxing here

4Better Or Worse

• 4BETTER OR WORSE- The week in review

News

• Free Angela Davis... from questions about the past

• Sole salvation: McLeod retreads the paper trail

• Gannett Fleming settles in Big Dig fatality

• Gravity gone: Landlord ousts tenant, vows club's return

• Snap o' the Day: Unstrangled tree

• They've been workin' on the railroad

• WaPo highlights Minor's horse racing dreams

• Local Dems: Deeds gets most but not all

• Bloomberg to air anti-gun ad with VT victims' families

• LeRoi Moore plays his last on newest DMB album

• Who'll renew the Dew?

• Snap o' the Day: House of hope

• New hotline for reporting water pollution

Cover Stories

• Torpedoed: Pork politics and the undoing of an Obama nominee

Cartoons

• CARTOONS

Green Home

• Culs sacked: But has the dead end died?

• Women can do this stuff

Essays

• ESSAY- A plea: Don't ask this UVA grad about his job

Letters

• LETTER- Jumbo crosswalks increase danger

Movie Reviews

• MOVIE REVIEW- Albe-quirky: Second <i>Sunshine's </i>sweet

Question of the Week

• QUESTION OF THE WEEK- Who would you like to see Obama name to a cabinet post?

Real Estate - On the Block

• REAL ESTATE- ON THE BLOCK- Fat and happy: Character, donuts available in Belmont

Strange But True

• STRANGE BUT TRUE- Wag language: Your dog speaks with its tail

The Brazen Careerist

• THE BRAZEN CAREERIST- Six things: My list of what I hate