Bush Gives Congress the Finger (The Nation)

[marmar]

BLOG | Posted 04/05/2007 @ 10:57am
Bush Gives Congress the Finger

Ari Berman

It wasn't enough for George W. Bush to nominate a donor to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth as Ambassador to Belgium. When the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on which John Kerry sits, was poised to reject Sam Fax's nomination, Bush gave him a recess appointment.

The President just told Congress what Dick Cheney memorably said to Senator Patrick Leahy ?: "Go yourself."

Under the recess arrangement, Fox will bypass the Senate and serve in a voluntary capacity, receiving no salary. But since he's a multimillionaire donor to GOP causes, that hardly matters. Democrats are now questioning the legality of this arrangement. "Federal law prohibits 'voluntary service' in cases where the position in question has a fixed rate of pay, as an ambassadorship does," reports Mary Ann Akers of the Washington Post, citing the Government Accountability Office.

Bush vowed after the November elections that he would "work with the new Congress in a bipartisan way." It's now clear that he had no such thing in mind.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion?bid=15

[whistle]

1. Shrub* is defiant, arrogant, incompetent, inflexible, self-centered, insecure

...filled by a personality blind spot that shows:

intolerant timid cowardly violent aloof glum stupid simple irresponsible vulgar lethargic withdrawn hostile unhappy unhelpful cynical needy unimaginative inane brash cruel irrational distant childish boastful blasé imperceptive chaotic impatient weak embarrassed loud vacuous panicky unethical insensitive self-satisfied passive smug rash dispassionate overdramatic dull predictable callous inattentive unreliable cold foolish humourless

Have I left anything out?

[Tyler Durden]

3. Try writing to the Belgian Embassy. I did.

Belgian Embassy emails:
http://www.diplobel.us/Representatives/Diplomatic.asp

Feel free to crib my letter:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x581898

Didn't move too much when I posted it.

[Webster Green]

4. Thanks!....I was thinking of doing it..

This is an insult to their country!

[wisteria]

5. That is a great letter. I reccomend you send it. And, if you don't mind I will use some of your

great points in my letter.

[Tyler Durden]

7. Already sent it! I give blanket cut/paste rights to everyone!

I just hope lots of people send them SOMETHING. Maybe THEY listen. OUR government sure doesn't.

[AndyA]

2. George Bush is a liar, and an opportunist.

The sooner Congress accepts that and goes forward with that knowledge, the better.

Bush knows he's a lame duck, and he's going to do whatever the hell he wants to do from this point forward. He'll just rewrite history, and make his legacy reflect a stunning 8 years in office.

Congress can impeach his ass and put a permanent stain on his legacy that can't be rewritten!

DO IT! IMPEACH!! Get the bastard out of office NOW!!!

[Eurobabe]

6. He's really is asking for it, isn't he? I'd like to see his chicken ass impeached.

[The Blue Flower]

8. My letter--felt great to write it so THANKS

To: The Hon. Piet Heirbaut, The Hon. Philippe DeMuelenaere, Belgian Embassy to the United States, Washington DC
From: XXXX Private Citizen; City, State; United States of America

Subject: The recess appointment of Republican Party Fundraiser Sam Fox to be US Ambassador to Belgium

Dear Sirs:

I am certain that you are now aware of the tainted appointment of Sam Fox, a Republican Party fundraiser to be US Ambassador to your country. I would like to point out that this partisan operative was appointed as a political favor from the President to an individual of both dubious credentials and character, details of which may be seen in this bulletin from the Examiner group of news organizations: http://www.examiner.com/Topic-Belgium.html

This appointee is a businessman of the type in this country referred to as a "corporate raider;" that is, his firm acquires and disposes of businesses piecemeal for profit only, and without regard to the consequences for employees, owner/investors, or community. In addition, his prodigious funding of a group that called itself "Swiftboat Veterans for Truth," which was responsbile for heinous slanders and untrue statements made to the detriment of Senator John Kerry during the 2004 Presidential Election. It should be noted that these falsehoods were never retracted by this group, or rejected by the Republican Administration. In fact, these falsehoods and Mr. Fox's failure to renounce them are the reason the Senate decided he was not of sufficient moral fiber to represent the United States as a diplomat.

The President has made this appointment with the Senate of the United States in recess to circumvent our process of advise and consent, which assures that nominees to important political posts reflect the agreement of the people of the United States. This was done after the President retracted the nomination of Fox so as to avoid his inevitable rejection by the Senate in session. This appointment was made in contradiction of the will of the representatives of the American people.

As a private citizen of the United States, I request that your government reject the tainted credentials of Sam Fox as United States Ambassador to Belgium. It is in no one's best interest that a person with such deficiencies of character and honesty be part of any diplomatic efforts involving a country that has earned such high regard in the world as Belgium.

With deepest regrets as to the conduct of the President of the United States in this matter,

Sincerely,

XXXXXX
City, State
USA