Bertster7
Confused Pothead
+1,101|7010|SE London

DBBrinson1 wrote:

Yea Cougar.  Why the fuck shouldn't Bush bypass them?
Ethics, perhaps?
san4
The Mas
+311|7117|NYC, a place to live
A donation to the Swift Boat Veterans group shows poor judgment. That group was formed to distort Kerry's war record. Their criticism of Kerry's medals and war wounds was intended to get voters to ignore the ultimate fact that, like Pat Tillman, Kerry voluntarily put his life at risk to fight for the United States. That act deserved respect, not smears.
GorillaTicTacs
Member
+231|6802|Kyiv, Ukraine
I think it was more because during his confirmation hearing he came off as an arrogant asshat, not to mention as chairman of one of the bigger lobbying conglomerates in D.C. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbour_Group) he would now have access to the arms dealership capital of the world.  Basically this is a purely bought crony gig so Fox can go line his own pockets.  Not that the ambassadorship to Belgium has ever been anything else...

Still, like Bush's other buddy Bolton (who's disappeared into the woodwork like a termite lately), this was a deliberate insult to his Democratic congress (or Bush is an idiot, pick one).  Skirting the rules by making it a "no-pay" volunteer position is just par for the course for the Bushies, where the rules simply don't apply. 

The thing is, Bush has been pushing little things lately to provoke a constitutional crisis so I'm trying to figure out what the big game plan is.  It seems like the same political playoffs that many other dictators in history used to usurp power...provoke a crisis over something stupid, parliamant/senate loses, then they become a non-entity and the unitary decider reigns supreme.  Its a gamble, but it if pays off it pays off big.
Jet Blast
Banned
+15|6662
Bunch of mainly bloated white men going on "vacation" to get more kick backs and find more pork to add to legislation. 

Why even bother caring?
Mason4Assassin444
retired
+552|7091|USA

T.Pike wrote:

Mason4Assassin444 wrote:

SO we all agree though not illegal, this a cush job for a buddy?
Isn't that what ALL Ambassadorships are?
So was Head of FEMA.
Mitch
16 more years
+877|6954|South Florida

Cougar wrote:

Associated Press wrote:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush named Republican fundraiser Sam Fox as U.S. ambassador to Belgium on Wednesday, using a maneuver that allowed him to bypass Congress where Democrats had derailed Fox's nomination.

Democrats had denounced Fox for his 2004 donation to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. The group's TV ads, which claimed that Sen. John Kerry exaggerated his military record in Vietnam, were viewed as a major factor in the Massachusetts Democrat's losing the election.

Recognizing Fox did not have the votes to obtain Senate confirmation, Bush withdrew the nomination last month. On Wednesday, with Congress out of town for a spring break, the president used his power to make recess appointments to put Fox in the job without Senate confirmation.

This means Fox can remain ambassador until the end of the next session of Congress, effectively through the end of the Bush presidency.
Ohh thats nice, real classy Mr. Bush.  They don't even try to hide their blatant disregard for checks and balances anymore, they just fucking bypass them. 

"Hurt my enemies and I'll give you a nice, fat kickback." --American Politics 2007
See now this is why libertarian is the way to go. I respect Mr. Bush but its the whole government that needs changing, not just a party. Although a strong republican could change the government properly, we need another president like Mr. Reagan. Now that was a good administration.
15 more years! 15 more years!
unnamednewbie13
Moderator
+2,072|7200|PNW

Bertster7 wrote:

DBBrinson1 wrote:

Yea Cougar.  Why the fuck shouldn't Bush bypass them?
Ethics, perhaps?
Ethics? US politics? You and this entire thread must be joking.
De Grote Boze Wolf
Member
+2|6751|Belgium

Bucephale wrote:

Being named ambassador in Belgium?????
What that guy Fox did wrong?????????????
I resent that!

Ambassador in Belgium seems like the best job for an American. (OK, maybe next best to being the president)

Visit our land sometimes, just as large as a big city, 200 of rain days a year, income tax is +/- 50%, national debt is about as large as the GNP, more governments and politicians than any other country.
I personally think only Kazachstan is a more glorious nation!

Last edited by De Grote Boze Wolf (2007-04-05 09:38:23)

KnowMeByTrailOfDead
Jackass of all Trades
+62|7110|Dayton, Ohio

GorillaTicTacs wrote:

I think it was more because during his confirmation hearing he came off as an arrogant asshat, not to mention as chairman of one of the bigger lobbying conglomerates in D.C. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbour_Group) he would now have access to the arms dealership capital of the world.  Basically this is a purely bought crony gig so Fox can go line his own pockets.  Not that the ambassadorship to Belgium has ever been anything else...

Still, like Bush's other buddy Bolton (who's disappeared into the woodwork like a termite lately), this was a deliberate insult to his Democratic congress (or Bush is an idiot, pick one).  Skirting the rules by making it a "no-pay" volunteer position is just par for the course for the Bushies, where the rules simply don't apply. 

The thing is, Bush has been pushing little things lately to provoke a constitutional crisis so I'm trying to figure out what the big game plan is.  It seems like the same political playoffs that many other dictators in history used to usurp power...provoke a crisis over something stupid, parliamant/senate loses, then they become a non-entity and the unitary decider reigns supreme.  Its a gamble, but it if pays off it pays off big.
I bet his is trying to get congress to revoke most of the special privlages the President has so that when a Dem is elected next time, there are not as many loop holes for them to abuse.  See, he isn't as dumb as he looks.
PluggedValve
Member
+17|6768

iamangry wrote:

Cougar wrote:

iamangry wrote:

well, maybe the congress shouldn't go on a spring break!
what the hell do they think they are, college students????
Yeah, maybe you should never take another vacation, what do you think you are a high school kid out for the summer?
no... I'm a college student.  But I'm fairly sure that with the exception of students and teachers and the like most other professionals get the occasional national holiday off along with whatever paid vacation plan they have with their company.  But I've never heard of a company just saying "You know what? Its nice outside this week!  Shit, lets leave all this work for next week, and go down to Cancun and drink margaritas this week!"

All I'm saying is that I wont care if ppl bypass congress until congress actually tries to do its job.
C'mon, everyone deserves a vacation sometimes.  Bush should not be allowed to ram things through at that time.  In fact, he should have to take his vacation at the same time so they are more efficient when thay are actually working.

Check into how much vacation time Bush took in his first year in office.
UGADawgs
Member
+13|6749|South Carolina, US

GorillaTicTacs wrote:

I think it was more because during his confirmation hearing he came off as an arrogant asshat, not to mention as chairman of one of the bigger lobbying conglomerates in D.C. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbour_Group) he would now have access to the arms dealership capital of the world.  Basically this is a purely bought crony gig so Fox can go line his own pockets.  Not that the ambassadorship to Belgium has ever been anything else...

Still, like Bush's other buddy Bolton (who's disappeared into the woodwork like a termite lately), this was a deliberate insult to his Democratic congress (or Bush is an idiot, pick one).  Skirting the rules by making it a "no-pay" volunteer position is just par for the course for the Bushies, where the rules simply don't apply. 

The thing is, Bush has been pushing little things lately to provoke a constitutional crisis so I'm trying to figure out what the big game plan is.  It seems like the same political playoffs that many other dictators in history used to usurp power...provoke a crisis over something stupid, parliamant/senate loses, then they become a non-entity and the unitary decider reigns supreme.  Its a gamble, but it if pays off it pays off big.
The President shall have power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.
I wasn't sure if you knew that this was actually in the Constitution, so I decided to go ahead and post it.
Cougar
Banned
+1,962|7193|Dallas

GorillaTicTacs wrote:

I think it was more because during his confirmation hearing he came off as an arrogant asshat, not to mention as chairman of one of the bigger lobbying conglomerates in D.C. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbour_Group) he would now have access to the arms dealership capital of the world.  Basically this is a purely bought crony gig so Fox can go line his own pockets.  Not that the ambassadorship to Belgium has ever been anything else...

Still, like Bush's other buddy Bolton (who's disappeared into the woodwork like a termite lately), this was a deliberate insult to his Democratic congress (or Bush is an idiot, pick one).  Skirting the rules by making it a "no-pay" volunteer position is just par for the course for the Bushies, where the rules simply don't apply. 

The thing is, Bush has been pushing little things lately to provoke a constitutional crisis so I'm trying to figure out what the big game plan is.  It seems like the same political playoffs that many other dictators in history used to usurp power...provoke a crisis over something stupid, parliamant/senate loses, then they become a non-entity and the unitary decider reigns supreme.  Its a gamble, but it if pays off it pays off big.
You.....

Bertster7 wrote:

DBBrinson1 wrote:

Yea Cougar.  Why the fuck shouldn't Bush bypass them?
Ethics, perhaps?
.........and you, just saved me a lot of typing.  Good game old chums.
UGADawgs
Member
+13|6749|South Carolina, US

Cougar wrote:

GorillaTicTacs wrote:

I think it was more because during his confirmation hearing he came off as an arrogant asshat, not to mention as chairman of one of the bigger lobbying conglomerates in D.C. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbour_Group) he would now have access to the arms dealership capital of the world.  Basically this is a purely bought crony gig so Fox can go line his own pockets.  Not that the ambassadorship to Belgium has ever been anything else...

Still, like Bush's other buddy Bolton (who's disappeared into the woodwork like a termite lately), this was a deliberate insult to his Democratic congress (or Bush is an idiot, pick one).  Skirting the rules by making it a "no-pay" volunteer position is just par for the course for the Bushies, where the rules simply don't apply. 

The thing is, Bush has been pushing little things lately to provoke a constitutional crisis so I'm trying to figure out what the big game plan is.  It seems like the same political playoffs that many other dictators in history used to usurp power...provoke a crisis over something stupid, parliamant/senate loses, then they become a non-entity and the unitary decider reigns supreme.  Its a gamble, but it if pays off it pays off big.
You.....

Bertster7 wrote:

DBBrinson1 wrote:

Yea Cougar.  Why the fuck shouldn't Bush bypass them?
Ethics, perhaps?
.........and you, just saved me a lot of typing.  Good game old chums.
I still don't get what's so bad about Bush filling in some positions in a completely legal and legitimate matter. Ambassadorships for small countries and other political appointments like this have usually been for the President's friends. It's not like Bush just started this trend.
Superglueman
Member
+21|6788|The Great South Land

superfly_cox wrote:

Democrats had no real reason to not confirm fox.  Using his $50,000 donation to swift boat ad against his nomination is just as unethical as what bush did in bypassing them altogether.  Those ads were legal and it was his money so why is nobody pointing out that Democrats are voting in the senate based on personal/political vendettas?

This stuff is bush league (no pun intended)
Its a worry that if someone has the money to do "something", they are intitled to...

The ideal that money can/should buy "any" freedom is pushed by the rich, so it looks innocent when they use it to influence peoples lives/decisions...

Where would it end?... What if a foreign country had the money to purchase a state of america?

If they had the cash, it would be legal...

Im not being hypocritical, here in Australia, our goverment does the exact same thing(rich business interests paying/donating to influence decisions)..we got a mafia run casino thanks to corrupt millionaire donations to the ruling party..
Major_Spittle
Banned
+276|7083|United States of America
lol, Bush FTW!!!!

Dems suck ass, the suckiest suck ass ever sucked.

WTF are you so concerned about, as U.S. ambassador to Belgium is Fox going to somehow affect how much your hemp costs you shitty liberal.  You think Belgium will postpone exports of Waffles to the US in protest?
ATG
Banned
+5,233|6958|Global Command
Politicians suck ass. All of the bastards.
nukchebi0
Пушкин, наше всё
+387|6752|New Haven, CT

Major_Spittle wrote:

lol, Bush FTW!!!!

Dems suck ass, the suckiest suck ass ever sucked.

WTF are you so concerned about, as U.S. ambassador to Belgium is Fox going to somehow affect how much your hemp costs you shitty liberal.  You think Belgium will postpone exports of Waffles to the US in protest?
That is an really stupid post.

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