I am not sure why this is a surprise. He graduated with honors from McNamara University. I don't have a problem with politicians bringing in people loyal to them provided, A) They are at least reasonably capable of doing the job they are assigned, and B) They are examined for ethical and conflicts-of-interest issues beforehand and periodically thereafter. As everyone should be. Zacha is right, this is standard for most political people. If you were a movie producer and hired a director to shoot your new film, I doubt you would assume the director would avoid hiring actors and crew that he has worked with before. You would think he would hire them, because presumably you liked his previous movies.