Why doesn't Obama fire Kenny Boy Salazar?

Short answer: He needs a scapegoat.

Coming from an oil-and-gas state, and knowing MMS problems with former Interior Secretary Gale Norton, like him, being from Colorado, it's clear that Salazar knew a housecleaning was needed.

But now, we have a report by MMS's acting inspector general, that she deliberately sped up and made public:

The report began as a routine investigation, the acting inspector general, Mary Kendall, said in a cover letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, whose department includes the agency.

"Unfortunately, given the events of April 20 of this year, this report had become anything but routine, and I feel compelled to release it now," she wrote.

Meanwhile, Kenny Boy pretends to be amazed:

Salazar called the latest report "deeply disturbing" and said it highlights the need for changes he has proposed, including a plan to abolish the minerals agency and replace it with three new entities.
The report "is further evidence of the cozy relationship between some elements of MMS and the oil and gas industry," Salazar said Tuesday. "I appreciate and fully support the inspector general's strong work to root out the bad apples in MMS.

Now, did he have a heads-up? Is Kendall speeding release to CYA for him? Anything and everything is possible.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice is investigating BP, in what may become a criminal investigation.

How will Kenny Boy handle this? If MMS people are deposed, and it's clear that MMS had the same-old, same-old attitude after Jan. 20, 2009, and after his swearing in?