Bush slyly appoints Fox, riles Dems

Maybe I'd feel that this was wrong if it weren't for all the high-fiving and chest bumping that went on over at "Swiftboater Sunk" previously. The far left's gloating now makes this awesome. Take that, Senator Kerry. Let them be as angry as they want, there's nothing they can do about it.

I didn't realize Sam Fox was such a qualified diplomat that can speak both languages (French & Dutch) used in Belgium.

Wait, what am I thinking? Since we are a country where people scorn the idea of speaking a 2nd language, we're going to set that example to other countries. Those Belgium's, what are they thinking living in a bilingual country? We'll send a man whose qualifications is a Bush donor & leads a smear smear campaign agianst a war veteran.

Bush will show them. On top of that, remind the Belium's that English is the official language.

Just another example of our petulant president giving Congress & the American & Belgian people the finger.

Someday, maybe we'll have grown-ups back in charge in the White House.

What did Belgium do to deserve this from us? Are they now part of the "Axis of Evil"?

"Dodd called the maneuver underhanded and an abuse of an executive authirity."
WRONG,a true abuse of an executive authority was when B.J.Clinton pardoned 14 F.A.L.N terrorists on his last day in office(hoping no-one would notice)so Hillary could get the Puerto Rican vote in N.Y.
As far as Fox goes,anyone that helped keep John flip-flop Kerry out of the White House is a hero to me.
Good luck as ambassador to Belgium,Mr.Fox!

Paulo

You have to admire the president's loyalty to his friends. To repay a loyal campaign contributor, Bush is willing to start yet another fight with Congress. Maybe this is just a ploy to distract people from his upcoming Iraq war funding veto or the US Attorney scandal or all the other problems we've seen with the incompetent cronies Bush has appointed in the past. Ploy or not, I wish the president was as loyal to the US Constitution and to the American people he is supposed to serve.

Bush is a petulant little dirtbag and a coward to boot. This incident is merely redundant proof of that.

Given the magnitude, breadth and multiplicity of his other misdeeds, though, this is like accusing Jeffrey Dahmer of having once jaywalked.

If this were a Clinton move, impeachment would be imperative, but for Bush it's just another day in Crawford.

More Lightman promotion of what his mojo-man, Chris "0% in the polls" Dodd, and other Democrats are saying.

Is the Tribune outsourcing its Washington Bureau to the Hartford Courant?

It's time for the Dems to quit ****ing around and go for the jugular.Don't worry about poll numbers,the voting public truly dis-likes Bush,so go after him now and don't stop until you impeach this goofy little ****tard.

Isn't it also the case that recess appointments, according to that quaint (to Bu$hCo) little document, the Constitution, are supposed to be used to fill vacancies that OCCUR when Congress is not in session. These back-door appointments show just what a weasel the Decider really is. The Bushies know no shame when it comes to subverting democracy.

Also, Mr Lightman failed to tell us about the other recess appointments that are every bit as egregious as this one, if not more so.

From the LA Times: "President Bush on Wednesday appointed as his top regulatory official a conservative academic who has written that markets do a better job of regulating than the government does and that it is more cost-effective for people who are sensitive to pollution to stay indoors on smoggy days than for government to order polluters to clean up their emissions.

As director of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the White House Office of Management and Budget, Susan E. Dudley will have an opportunity to change or block all regulations proposed by government agencies."

Check the whole story out at http://preview.tinyurl.com/2roshz

They've really jumped the shark with this one and I can only hope that they will choke on their hubris.

Regardless of how he was appointed, what are his qualifications to be named ambassador? Are there set rules or standards regarding who can be an ambassador or is it just a way to reward those who are close to the pres.?
This is my attempt to not sling mud but ask the real question: is he qualified? What about this man would make him better/worse than another candidate?

I dont know the answers, enlighten me Swampsters!

Good one Georgy Boy ! Sweet ...I hope they call for congressional
hearings, subpoenas, get Karl Rove up there too. John Kerry was in Cambodia right ?

W. is just rewarding one of his lowlife GOP followers.

W. is rewarding a guy who took a Vietnam Veteran(Kerry) and turned him into a coward and then took a Vietnam draftdodging coward (Bush) and turned him into a war hero.

....and W. wonders why no one takes a word he says seriously anymore.

Learn the truth about this liar America !

WWW.THEREALMCCAIN.COM

Erick, here are the qualifications to be an ambassador for both republicans and democrats: $$$$$$$$$$. The operative question is usually "how many zeros you got with that?"

Just one more reason the the Republic party will be swept from power for a generation in '08.

For the Loony leftists whining about the Constitution, look to how Bill Clintoon avoided laws and realities with his pardons and other shady deals.

Anyway, glad Bush did this. Anything that p-sses off the Left is always a good thing!

Dems shouldn't do anything but tell the Republics: "Someday we'll get the White House back, and we'll remember this."

(In the background, of course, they should investigate every business dealing Fox has been involved it. Nobody gives that much money to the Bush Republics without expecting a payback bigger than an Ambassadorship.)

Keep it up Dubya & Co.

Just keep poking moderates with a stick.

Americans and the rest of the world already know that son-of-Bush doesn't care what anybody thinks so trying to trying to reason with the knucklehead is pointless.

The more un-curious George does this sort of male bovine feces the more he hurts the Republican Party as we head towards the '08 election.

Yes Paulo, wish Mr. Fox luck.

When the Belgiums are laughing at him, Bush, & America as to how someone so incompitant can represent the USA, maybe Fox can turn to one of the translators he'll need for an explanation.

But hey, we still need to promote "English only", so why stop here?

Isn't it bad enough Bush is such an idiot in this country? Does it need to be advertised thruout the world?

After spending time in Europe before 9/11, everyone complained at how ignorant Bush is. I still have no answer for them back there as to why he's still around.

Are there set rules or standards regarding who can be an ambassador or is it just a way to reward those who are close to the pres.?
Posted by: erick | Apr 5, 2007 11:30:58 AM

Ambassadorship appointments are doled out to loyalists and mega-fundraisers. It's been that way for a long time, and presidents from both parties have engaged in this practice.
Clinton used his right of recess appointment to name James Hormel U.S ammbassador to Luxembourg in 1999. Even though Hormel had been approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committe by a 16-2 vote in 1997, Republican Senator Trent Lott blocked a vote on the floor, fearing a backlash from his social conservative base because Hormel was openly gay. Republicans whined as loud in 1999 as the Democrats are whining this week.

Que deseamos?

Acusacion!

Cuando la deseamos?

Ahora!

Jeff, stop your gloating. It ain't over - this was an illegal move and their is something the Dems will do about it.

To fight the Fox appointment, Democrats are questioning the Bush administration's plan to have Fox serve in a voluntary capacity -- receiving no pay for his duties as ambassador. This is an important legal technicality, as federal law prohibits "payment of services" for certain recess appointments. However, if the recess appointee in question agrees that he or she will take an unpaid position and not sue the government at a later date for compensation, then the appointment can go forward, at least as the White House sees it.

So as long as Fox -- a multi-millionaire -- agreed not to sue the Bush administration later for not paying him, the White House would be comfortable with giving him an unpaid, "voluntary service" recess appointment as ambassador to Belgium.

But here's the rub that makes Democrats view Bush's recess appointment of Fox as a major-league no-no: Federal law prohibits "voluntary service" in cases where the position in question has a fixed rate of pay, as an ambassadorship does. That's how the Government Accountability Office, an arm of the Democratic-controlled Congress, interprets the law [...]

"How to reconcile this clear conflict between the pay restriction, which says that Fox cannot be paid, with the voluntary services provision, which says that the State Department cannot accept voluntary services from Fox?" queried one senior Democratic aide who asked for anonymity to speak frankly about the matter.

"That is the $64,000 question," he added.
dailykos.com

"Anyway, glad Bush did this. Anything that p-sses off the Left is always a good thing!"

Yes John D. Score a neo-conartist point or two. Weasel Bush can’t even face Americans & justify why Fox is qualified to be an ambassador to this great country while making a mockery of how we’re suppose to be setting the standards for the world to follow. I’m sure the Belgium press, both in Dutch & French, are having a field day with another dumb-ass American idea. Has Fox decided which of those languages he’ll use there? Maybe Belgium is one of those countries that demands foreigners to learn their language. Maybe Fox can use diplomatic immunity to keep from learning their language. Does Fox know what diplomatic immunity means? I’m sure Fox mastered English, that should be enough.

By the way, what did Belgium do to the USA that we send Fox as an ambassador?

Yes Paulo, wish Mr. Fox luck.

When the Belgiums are laughing at him, Bush, & America as to how someone so incompitant can represent the USA, maybe Fox can turn to one of the translators he'll need for an explanation.

But hey, we still need to promote "English only", so why stop here?

Isn't it bad enough Bush is such an idiot in this country? Does it need to be advertised thruout the world?

After spending time in Europe before 9/11, everyone complained at how ignorant Bush is. I still have no answer for them back there as to why he's still around.

Whew, Gus, you're really going to win a lot of court cases with rock solid evidence like that. Presidents have used recess appointments since Washington. For recent precedent just look at the James Hormel appointment.

Any challenge in court would likely take longer than the one-year term Fox will serve. But if the Dems want to spend the government's money in a lengthy court battle just to prove they're right and Bush is wrong, I'd be all for that. The more the Democrats try to "get" Bush today the worse they'll look to the voters in 2008. This is classic Bush politics.

Que deseamos?

Nacho Libre!

Cuando la deseamos?

Ahora!
----------------------------------

Please keep the posts coming. They brighten my visits to the Swamp ever so much!!

Don B,
George W. Bush is on record calling John Kerry a hero. Give up your swiftboat garbage.

Gracias Sr. Fig.

Usted es un hombre de pie del gusto fino.

Please tell me there is nobody here that thinks it takes a great deal of intelligence to be an ambassador. A team of trained monkeys could handle an ambassadorship. It's all what you did for your party...Repubs. or Dems.

"For the Loony leftists whining about the Constitution" John D

Yeah, shame on us for supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States. You'd think WE were the ones who took the oath, the way we complain when this jerk abuses his office. Hey, remember that line about bringing honor and integrity back to the White House? Can you imagine anyone believed that line of BS? What a joke that was!

What would be really scary is if this sort of maneuver is taken to the next level, either by Bush or our next President, and recess appointments are used to fill cabinet positions.

James Carville as Sec. of State, anyone?

How much does it cost to buy yourself an Ambassadorship these days? Is the cost relative to the size & importance of the country involved?

Speaking of Republican slime:

Did anyone see the video of the "reception" that Karl Rove got from a group of students after he finished speaking to the college young Republicans at Washington University and was leaving campus?

W.,Cheney and Rove are going to need around the clock protection from reality for the rest of their lives.

p.s. If DailyKos said it, it must be true!

OhTommy Boy, it is the Republicans who tend to support and defend the Constitution while you Loony Leftists trample on it every chance you get. What Bush did is fine and legal and ethical.

And John E., when it comes to slime, how is life in mummy and duddy's basement living off their hard-earned dollars? I see you woke up from your stupor this afternoon too!

Just wait, 10 years from now when the Republic party has picked itself up off the matt and begin taking major offices again, another member of the Bush family will step out of the tainted gene pool and will win the Presidency and finish the destruction of the Constitution and the Country that his ancestors started. Just watch, Americans are stupid enough to elect another Bush on some false promises based on some new scare tactics. Which is worse: The American Public or the Bush Family? Toss up in my opinion

here's the address to the Rove video:
jdyslin@rses.org

"What Bush did is fine and legal and ethical."

What Bush did was reward a monetary donation with a government post. Just because that is common practice does not make it fine or ethical for any presidents of either party. Legal maybe.

As for supporting the Constitution, Bush is the on who said, "the constitution is just a g-d piece of paper". Technically true, but I think the comment falls a little short of the "support and defend" portion of his oath.

Did anyone see the video of the "reception" that Karl Rove got from a group of students after he finished speaking to the college young Republicans at Washington University and was leaving campus?
Posted by: John E | Apr 5, 2007 2:55:23 PM

Unfortunately, that event occurred at American University in Washington, my alma mater. Though I am a liberal, I find their behavior counter-productive, and am not proud to be an Eagle today.

Did anyone see the video of the "reception" that Karl Rove got from a group of students after he finished speaking to the college young Republicans at Washington University and was leaving campus?
Posted by: John E | Apr 5, 2007 2:55:23 PM

Unfortunately, that event occurred at American University in Washington, my alma mater. Though I am a liberal, I find their behavior counter-productive, and am not proud to be an Eagle today.

Give up your swift-boat garbage.
Posted by: jethro | Apr 5, 2007 1:53:42 PM

Let's see here, 83 guys against John (Gengis Khan) Kerry and 3 supporters from his outfit. I think I'll go with the 83 Jethro. John Kerry is a liar and a fraud, it's only chumps like you who think otherwise. You sound like one of those male democrats i referenced earlier.

Oh Podcast (John E) e-mail all you want to that address, it does not work anymore!!!! Keep hunting, weirdo!!

Don B,
How many of the Swiftboaters were actually on John Kerry's swiftboat??? I'll repeat what I said earlier. President George W. Bush called John Kerry a hero, 83 liars who never were on the same boat as John Kerry somehow knew what took place on his Swiftboat.

PS I hope you understand how angry you make decorated vets feel when you insinuate that the US Military hands out undeserved medals

Only John E would be proud of that sophmoric behavior shown by the students at American University. Bryan, even though I'll assume he is no fan of Karl Rove, is correct in being ashamed of that behavior.

Nice job by the President doing the recess appointment of ambassadorship.

As far as rewarding campaign contributors, if my memory serves me correct wasn't the late Ron Brown, Secratary of Commerce, Bill Clinton's campaign finance chairman?

Anyway, glad Bush did this. Anything that p-sses off the Left is always a good thing!

Posted by: John D | Apr 5, 2007 11:52:37 AM

Always taking the high road, eh?

Nothing like creating diplomacy and trust with other countries by sending lying millionaires as ambassadors. At least Fox fits the profile of this administration. It would have been better to just give him a night in the Lincoln bedroom.

How many of the Swiftboaters were actually on John Kerry's swiftboat??\
Posted by: jethro | Apr 6, 2007 8:28:51 AM

Jethro: You don't have to be on ones' swift boat, to understand the mettle of his character. These men were in his outfit, you can rest assured that pretty much everybody, knew everybody.

On your dumb medal point, he wrote up his own AAR., he was told by another officer it wasn't warranted for a band -aid. What one person may call "swiftboating" other people would call it" truth".

Don B,
So the United States Navy hands out medals for dubious reasons? You just spat on everyone that ever sacrificed themselves for our country showing that you think they would just hand out medals undeservedly. How can you look at anyone's Purple Heart and say, "I wonder if he/she really deserved it or if they let him/her write the report so he/she could go home?"

Chris Dodd is just politicking thinking some legal opinion would over ride the Constitution which clearly allows recess appointments. Hey Dem loons Clinton did it to some 100 times. The Dems are just around to make W's term horrible --it's all political show boating not swift boating-- Kerry eat your heart out. And Dems I'm glad you are finally mad at losing something you thought obstructing everything the GOP did would make you all winners. Try governing passing laws for the good of America not the Democrat party--help America win the War on Terror for a change. The party of NO--Hello! Jerry White, Springfield, IL

Jethro, the problem with Kerry isn't just the 88 guys who didn't like him in Vietnam. It's what he said after he got back and then how he tried to use his experience in the campaign.

Bob Dole knows exactly what the Purple Heart means and here's what he had to say about Kerry:

Dole told CNN’s “Late Edition” that he warned Kerry months ago about going “too far” and that the Democrat may have himself to blame for the current situation, in which polls show him losing support among veterans.

“One day he’s saying that we were shooting civilians, cutting off their ears, cutting off their heads, throwing away his medals or his ribbons,” Dole said. “The next day he’s standing there, ‘I want to be president because I’m a Vietnam veteran. “Maybe he should apologize to all the other 2.5 million veterans who served. He wasn’t the only one in Vietnam,” said Dole, whose World War II wounds left him without the use of his right arm.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5771731/

Do you see the problems with his statements? And do you see, maybe, why his poll numbers were LOWER after the Democratic National Convention? Something that's NEVER before happened in the history of political conventions in this country?

Please tell me there is nobody here that thinks it takes a great deal of intelligence to be an ambassador. A team of trained monkeys could handle an ambassadorship.
Posted by: Don B | Apr 5, 2007 2:32:06 PM

I believe ambassadors should be intelligent. Would it be very bright on the part of a president to install a dolt in a country like North Korea? I think not.
This is part of the problem. Knowledgeable career diplomats are ignored in favor of campaign donors that are completely unqualified.
Teams of trained monkeys should not be doing the job, but the President managed to put an organ in yet another monkeys hands, and will be sending him off to Belgium shortly.

I believe ambassadors should be intelligent.
Posted by: johnf | Apr 6, 2007 12:18:49 PM

Johnf : I too believe a ambassador should be intelligent and qualified, but the reality is that most countries that aren't hot spots like Belgium usually go to cohorts, a practice liberally applied by both partys' for a long time. Countries such as N. Korea, Iran , and other countries where we have issues, are usually given to people who are a good fit for the job.

Jeff,
I understood why that would anger Veterans and it is a legitimate reason to go after John Kerry. Maybe you should talk to this clown who thinks the Military just gives out medals for dubious reasons:

"On your dumb medal point, he wrote up his own AAR., he was told by another officer it wasn't warranted for a band -aid. What one person may call "swiftboating" other people would call it" truth"."

Posted by: Don B | Apr 6, 2007 10:16:28 AM

Just when you think W can't sink any lower - he does it again. He truly thinks he answers to no one and, god help us, he's still got time in office. The mind boggles at how much more damage he can do. Fox doesn't bother me as much as his appointees to Social Security and Finance - those are a couple scarey people.

Jethro, I'll take that up with Don B as soon as I research it. Right now I don't even know what an AAR is.

Jeff,
What is there to research? You can't just say I'm hurt I want to go home and by the way I want a Purple Heart. They are subject to a review by superior officers, unless you believe Don B.

Just give it up...Kerry went to Viet Nam with a can-corder strapped around his shoulder and most of his wounds were self-inflicted by his reckless behavior.
He wanted to be viewed as another JFK,but there are pictures of Kerry throwing his medals over a fence at an anti-war demonstration.He's a liar and a disgrace to Viet Nam vets.
And don't forget,Kerry was only in Nam for 3 months....go find another pond to fish in.
Paulo

Don B,

You do realize that we don't HAVE diplomatic relations with Iran, N. Korea, Libya, Cuba, etc., so those non-existent posts do NOT go to people qualified for the job.......

Although maybe Dubya also thinks that we do have them, so he thinks he has to appoint hacks to the other postings?

The thing is, Jethro, I don't know if Kerry actually said that he wrote up his own AAR (whatever that is) or not. We know he said he threw his medals away. This wouldn't be the first time the senator from Massachusetts (D-umba$$) screwed himself royally by not knowing when to keep his big mouth shut.

WRONG,a true abuse of an executive authority was when B.J.Clinton pardoned 14 F.A.L.N terrorists on his last day in office

Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | Apr 5, 2007 10:28:58 AM

STILL LOOKING FOR YOUR POST WITH PROOF OF THAT, PAULO. WHEN WILL IT BE AVAILABEL FOR PUBLIC VIEWING?

You do realize that we don't HAVE diplomatic relations with Iran, N. Korea, Libya, Cuba, etc., so those non-existent posts do NOT go to people qualified for the job.......

Although maybe Dubya also thinks that we do have them, so he thinks he has to appoint hacks to the other postings?

Posted by: BaltimoreTom | Apr 6, 2007 9:28:22 PM

I do realize that Balt. Tom, where in the posting did i mention we have them there, my only point was some countries warrant ambassadors who are better qualified for that country. Incidentally there has been in your words "hacks" appointed by Dems' for years and years.

Just another typical anti-American, anti-democratic move by a sleazy president who cares nothing about the common good of the country, but instead constantly looks for every way possible to enrich himself and his cronnies.
But take heart: In less than two years, the Dems will control both houses of Congress, and Hillary or Obama will be in the White House. Then a different kind of eye poking will begin. It will be one in which the rich have to settle for equal treatment, regulatory agencies are re-empowered and the less fortunate are provided at least a fair shot at a secure life. In other words, democracy will be restored and the government will actually serve the people it supposedly represents. Then, the hate mongers who laughingly lay exclusive claim to patriotism, will really blow a gasket. How entertaining and enjoyable that will be.

Skimming through the many comments about Kerry, Vietnam, swift boat jerks, etc., I gotta wonder once again exactly when so many conservatives became so hateful. When did they immediately want to visciously, personally attack anyone who disagreed with them politically?
I recently watched a late sixties, early seventies debate Kerry had with someone of the opposite opinion on Vietnam, originally broadcast on the Dick Cavett show. Great, heated debate between two intelligent people. No punches pulled, but no personal attacks. Still great TV. When did this kind of civil discourse stop and the hating begin? Was it when Fox started its cable news channel? Was it when self-promoting hate mongers like Ann Coulter and Bill O'Rielly came on the scene?
I always assume that personal attacks on someone you disagree with is a clear sign that the attacker is ill informed or has nothing of real substance with which to challenge the person they attack.

Paulo,

You couldn't carry John Kerry's combat pack. Now it's three months?
The service on a ship in the combat zone didn't count? Tell that to the survivors of the Forrestal.

You are dead to me. Are you on meth??

*************

Don B,
I have read your postings now for some time and have concluded that you, sir, if that's what you are, are a twit, and a twat; a nar-do-well, a 'swell' and a 'dandy' incapable of human behavior. I've detected more cogent thoughts from ant hills in my back yard; You, madam, are not worthy of retort or civil discourse of any kind, nature, or subject matter. Please, be off with you!! Whatever low institutions of learning you attended have all failed miserably in their mission, and you are the living, breathing proof! A fart upon you, and a curse on all your progeny!!

Good day sirs. (or madams)

Don B,
I think Crazy Joe likes me more than you.

Paulo

Man! Crazy went crazy!

Paulo,
I have to admit that every now and then you show a flash of humor.

Don B,
Don't feel too bad; a 'flowery insult' is becoming a tradition on the
Swamp.

I recently watched a late sixties, early seventies debate Kerry had with someone of the opposite opinion on Vietnam, originally broadcast on the Dick Cavett show. Great, heated debate between two intelligent people. No punches pulled, but no personal attacks.

Posted by: roger Hayden | Apr 7, 2007 11:44:23 AM

Roger, that debate was with John O'Neill who ended up being one of the the Swiftboat co-founders. He deeply resented Kerry's testimony about G.I.'s committing atrocities back then so I guess he retaliated but good in 2004.

Don B,

It would be in these words in your post:

"Countries such as N. Korea, Iran , and other countries where we have issues, are usually given to people who are a good fit for the job."

Although we definitely have issues with those countries, and we have many fine and unknown diplomats who would be a good fit for those jobs, we cannot "usually" give them out, since they do not exist. It would help your argument if you used actual factual examples, as difficult as that seems to be for many of the posters out here.

Now here's a question for you -- please find where I said anywhere that the Democrats have not also appointed hacks -- and far too many of them. The issue at hand just happens to be one of Dubya's.