What's the right Doan question

So late last week, we had something of a debate within the halls of FCW -- well, I was still in Vegas, but... you get the idea -- we had a debate about what our FCW.com online poll question for the week should be.

Our first idea was just to ask the question that pretty much everybody else is asking: Should Doan resign. Actually, I think the question people are asking is when she will resign, but…

I still think it would be interesting to get a sense of the community about her situation. Of course, a poll question solicits a simple yes or no answer and my guess is there is more nuisance to this issue.

But the question became whether, by merely asking that question, we are suggesting that she could – or should. One person said, "Yes because it sounds like we have agenda--just by asking."

There is also the question as to whether the question is just too harsh.

I'm still conflicted… and I see both sides of this issue. Yet I think that, when it comes down to it, this is the question people are asking out there. So, should we shy away from that?

FCW has not yet taken an editorial stance on Doan's tenure. Federal Times came some time ago calling on Doan to resign. (Federal Times editorial was never posted online.)

FCW has not. Instead, we have focused on the issue of how GSA can work better. And I think we still have hope. Perhaps that is why we made recommendations on what she should do – recommendations she has also largely ignored. That's to be understood. Sometimes with advice, you get what you pay for… and not only was ours free, but it was unrequested.

So I think we still have some hope. She is very smart and there is so much potential… and GSA is in desperate need of strong leadership.

Back to the FCW poll issue…

There is no easy answer, of course, but for at least this week, we dodged.

We ended up asking, "Have Lurita Doan's problems become a distraction for GSA?"

We may still end up asking the more harsh question, but… not this week.