Posted on 07/06/2009 5:16:45 PM PDT by pissant
CHICAGO -- President Barack Obama has raised some eyebrows with his decision to send as ambassador to the U.K. a little-known retired investment banker -- and top fund-raiser -- from his hometown who has little diplomatic experience.
The post at the Court of St. James's in London is one of the most prestigious in U.S. diplomatic circles. Though largely ceremonial and rarely controversial, it is a prominent position given the close relations between the U.S. and the U.K. In recent years, it has usually gone to political boosters of the president.
Still, the nomination of Louis B. Susman, whose confirmation hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, has rankled some watchdog groups and political commentators who say he was chosen chiefly because he raised money for Mr. Obama's campaign. "Clearly his appointment has nothing to do with anything but money," said Craig Holman, a government-affairs lobbyist at watchdog group Public Citizen.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
I hope they laugh behind his back.
Why not? FDR did it when he sent Joe Kennedy. And we all know how much Obama longs to be a latter day FDR.
It may not be the cushy assignment they think, given what is going on in the country.
Any freepers surprised?
Didn’t think so.
I thought he longed to be a latter day Abraham Lincoln.
I hope 50 States secede this time -- and he can keep the other seven....
Absolutely nothing that this boy-clown does raises my eyebrows.
A lot of conservatives were rightly irked by the cronyism evident in the Bush administration.
Any liberals with an ounce of integrity ready to decry this?
Eric Allie is the best political cartoonist alive today, in my opinion. I have been following him for a few years now, and he is heads and shoulders above the rest, and is the most consistent.
The fact that he is generally conservative only helps...:)
If he appointed anyone other than a big donor, it would have been a surprising outburst of maturity.
I hope he gives the new ambassador some DVD’s to use as gifts. It helps to grease some palms, buy some friends, you know.
These people elected “The Chicago Way”, whether they knew it or not. They deserve any “buyer’s remorse” they suffer.
As others have pointed out, ambassadorships to minor countries and even some more important ones have been historically a convenient way for presidents to reward financially generous supporters. The “Chicago Way” is simply less subtle about such things. Moreover, England has become a minor European state; not as minor as Spain, perhaps, but both of these are FORMER empires, and the current occupant of the White House clearly discounts Britain’s support for his predecessor’s war policy. So, there is no surprise here for those who pay attention to the political terrain.
Based on what some of his insiders have said regarding GB, they probably think this guy is too good for the Brits.
Hussein owes some serious debt to some of those 90 million “$10” campaign donors /sarc. There are some real heavyweights out there that have a vice like grip on his family jewels. he hasn’t begun to realize what a houseboy he actually is.
BINGO! Obama hates the British for their colonial rule of his tribal ancestors, and has not missed one opportunity to insult the British. Here's a short list of his intentional slights:
(1) PM Gordon Brown's visit. Though the PM is not the UK's head of state (the Monarch is), a visit by the PM is always treated as befits a head of state. The failure to post a Union Jack at the joint press conference was no oversight -- the White House has a permanent protocol office to see to such routine customs. Somebody ordered that the UK flag would not be posted.
(2) Cheap/tacky gifts to the PM. Again, there is a permanent staff whose job is to handle such things properly. Somebody decided to intentionally insult the Browns with such cheap, tacky and useless trinkets.
(3) Public downplaying of any "special relationship" between the US and our most loyal ally -- and mother country. This insult was such a "reach" that it had to have been contrived.
(4) Conspicuous and contemptuous familiarity toward the Queen. The professionals in the White House protocol office taught the First Family exactly how to conduct themselves during their state visit to London -- as they do for every ceremonial occasion. In contrast to his offhand condescension to functionaries like the PM, Zero displayed his contempt for the Crown through inappropriate familiarity. And while Queen Elizabeth was too gracious to pull away, the bushman's son showed his dominance over the British monarch by putting his (and his wife's) hands and arms on the Queen.
(5) Conspicuous fealty to the Saudi king. By way of comparison to his contempt for the British monarch, Obama bowed deeply to the Saudi king -- a Muslim despot whom he respects.
(6) And now, Obama sends a Chicago machine fundraiser to the Court of St. James. This is not just a tacky display of ignorance; it is simply the latest intentional insult to the United Kingdom.
Petty people behave contemptuously when they... hold contempt! Obama will never forgive the British for their conquest of his tribal homeland, and will not cease to show his hatred of Great Britain.
. . .think Obama, Inc. simply 'does not care'; and takes pleasure in letting the Empire know it. These Libs suffer from what F.A. Hayak calls 'the fatal conceit'. . ,
And yet; Obama loves the 'Colonial airs' that were imported to Africa. Without them. . .
Meantime; IS Obama taking care of his brother yet? Is Bill Ayers ghost writing his story too? Or will Obama's brother's story be authentic. . .
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.