Again, as my colleagues have all stated, it's got to be a totally merit-based system. I would even refer to a statement made by the former chair, Mr. Showler, who was dealing with these issues. His prescription for IRB reform, detailed in his new book, argues that cabinet should totally remove itself from the selection process, leaving the task to a neutral body to develop a binding short list using merit as the sole criterion--merit, merit, merit.
On April 19th, 2007. See this statement in context.