Bush: Victim of Election Year Executive Flight or Evader of Senate Confirmation?

The New York Times today published a report noting that interim heads, intended to temporarily fill a position in the executive branch until the Senate confirms a new presidential nominee, currently fill a large portion of positions. Under the Vacancies Reform Act, passed in 1998, a president has 210 days to nominate another candidate for review by the Senate. Judging from the article, it seems as though Bush is solely the victim of flight from the executive branch in the runup to an election year; the fragility of the job security of conservatives is apparent given the growing possibility of a Democratic victory next November. Alternatively, the Times also suggests that the Bush adminstration may be attempting to circumvent the Senate's right to confirm executive appointments. Whatever the case, it seems as though the public has come to suffer from a lack of experienced and efficient heads at the helm of our executive agencies.