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Obama fires all Bush-appointed ambassadors

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bigtree Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-08 10:17 PM
Original message
Obama fires all Bush-appointed ambassadors
The incoming Obama administration has notified all politically-appointed ambassadors that they must vacate their posts as of Jan. 20, the day President-elect Barack Obama takes the oath of office, a State Department official said.

The clean slate will open up prime opportunities for the president-elect to reward political supporters with posts in London, Paris, Tokyo and the like. The notice to diplomatic posts was issued this week.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/12/03/obama_gives_political_ambassad.html
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jemsan Donating Member (245 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-08 10:18 PM
Response to Original message
1. Is this unusual?
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bigtree Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-08 10:19 PM
Response to Reply #1
3. dunno
there's only been this one blurb today __ need an expert here
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RB TexLa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-08 10:20 PM
Response to Reply #1
4. No, it's the norm. If it were me I might give them a chance to contribute to my reelection campaign
Edited on Wed Dec-03-08 10:22 PM by RGBolen
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sabbat hunter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-08 10:25 PM
Response to Reply #1
6. Not at all
the role of ambassador is greatly ceremonial at times. Most of the "grunt" every day work is done by career diplomats. aka civil servants
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Hippo_Tron Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-08 10:43 PM
Response to Reply #6
13. It mostly depends on what country
Countries that don't play a large role in foreign affairs or are already very close allies, the Ambassador is largely ceremonial. For countries like China and Saudi Arabia, it's a much bigger deal.
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BeFree Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-08 10:49 PM
Response to Reply #6
15. Those servants...
...are directed by the SoS.

Each president appoints those who he wants to represent the US abroad. I think the senate must confirm. Each appointee serves at the pleasure of the president, so can be fired at any time.
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malaise Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-08 10:31 PM
Response to Reply #1
8. Normal business
Those with sense have already resigned.
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NightWatcher Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-08 10:19 PM
Response to Original message
2. ooo ooo, I want Holland, or at least an appointment to the Amsterdam Bulldog
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BlooInBloo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-08 10:21 PM
Response to Reply #2
5. Hong Kong here please...
I'm a city boy.

Do they even have their own ambassador?
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RB TexLa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-08 10:29 PM
Response to Original message
7. Only person I know who tried to get an ambassadorship didn't get it
and he was out a lot of money trying.

He was told it would take 100,000 to each of our US senators to their campaigns and the Louisiana party for use on their campaigns, same for the President.

He came off the $300k but someone else who wanted it raised over $1M for the Clinton campaign and they got it.

And you don't get your money back if they don't appoint you.
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bigtree Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-08 10:35 PM
Response to Reply #7
11. I guess how much you're willing to put out depends
. . . on where you'd want to to be sent. I can't imagine someone putting that much out to have their job picked out of a hat.
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bertman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-08 10:32 PM
Response to Original message
9. That's my kind of bi-partisanship. Reach across the aisle and slap 'um up side the head.
Cool pic, bigtree.
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Stinky The Clown Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-08 10:34 PM
Response to Original message
10. Standard practice
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XOKCowboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-08 10:41 PM
Response to Original message
12. will open up prime opportunities for the president-elect to reward political supporters
Isn't it nice that WAPO figures it's so PE Obama can do like Bush et al did. I look at it more as an opportunity to put people in those ambassadorships who have actual diplomatic experience and will help further US interests, not just as thanks for the donations!
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hendo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-08 11:56 PM
Response to Reply #12
19. if only it worked like that
too bad it doesnt. s/he who pays the most is the one who gets the position.
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StreetKnowledge Donating Member (921 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-08 10:45 PM
Response to Original message
14. I call dibs on Australia!
I'll be soaking up the sun on the Eastern Beaches, then. :D
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bigtree Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-08 11:00 PM
Response to Reply #14
16. that'll be $400,000
. . . and a tally of how much you've raised for the party or the campaign . . . and get in line.
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NV Whino Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-08 11:24 PM
Response to Original message
17. Might be nice
if he rehired those few who resigned in protest of Bush's policies.
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aquart Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Dec-03-08 11:27 PM
Response to Original message
18. Standard. These are patronage jobs.
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