It's true it's a thorough vetting, nosy and intrusive. And no one has to fill it out. It's not like being dragged before Joe McCarthy's committee under subpoena as the comment implies.

Face it, we've come through a period of incompetent government largely due to treating the upper reaches of the Federal government as welfare for political supporters. Remember "Brownie", of "Heckuva job, Brownie!"? It would be nice to screen out pure hacks or at least have their sordid records known.

Clinton had real problems with inadequate vetting of serveral early appointments, and McCain could have avoided Palin with enough checking.

Really, what's the issue with that form? Your reference seems to have forgetten it is completely voluntary.

Arf