The week before Christmas is often a time when government's try to bury a controversial decision, safe in the knowledge that most people aren't all that focused on politics. This week, President George W. Bush [3] appointed Warren Bell [4] to the board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting [5]. The CPB, which is funded by Congress, makes grants to public radio and television stations in the U.S. such as PBS [6]. Bell, a former television sitcom producer and contributing writer to the National Review [7], describes himself [8] as a "a not-so-secret conservative." Bell was originally nominated to the position in June 2006 but was opposed by Democrat members of the Senate Commerce Committee [9]. Bush's recess appointment [10] means that Bell's term will run until a permanent nominee is approved.