This was clipped from an editorial written by retired Park Service employee, Catherine Spude, for the Santa Fe New Mexican (apologies, can’t find the original link) in 2005:

"According to a recent Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility press release, all new mid-level managers of the National Park Service will have to swear a fealty oath to the administration currently in power. In other words, in order to get promoted beyond a "worker bee," employees will be approved by a political appointee, promising to be a "yes person."

I’m a couple of years late on this, but given the recent resurgence of jobs-for-loyalty scandals, it seems timely to remind ourselves how this administration has elevated the concept of ‘sycophant’ to unprecedented heights. From FEMA to US attorneys to Forest Rangers, if you want to be promoted in the federal government, you’d do well to go out and buy yourself a nice set of knee-pads – you’re gonna need ‘em.