"Traveling with Mr. Cheney, who turns 63 on Friday, offers a rare glimpse into his daily life. His entourage of about 50 people includes his wife, Lynne V. Cheney, an author, and their daughter Liz Cheney, a former Middle East specialist at the State Department, now an informal adviser to the re-election campaign." I read this today from the January 27th, issue of the New York Times. Notice that they refer to Cheney's daughter as "Middle East specialist." I happen to know that she has absolutely no specialty, knowledge, education, or training in the Middle East field, although she may have had hummus or falafel in her life. Just because she was appointed to a Middle East job at the State Department (because her father runs the government) does not mean that she has become a specialist. If I get appointed to a China job at the State Department, do I become a specialist? If I get appointed to a position in a plumbing company, does that make me a plumber?