Obama fires all Bush-appointed ambassadors

[bigtree]

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

[jemsan]

1. Is this unusual?

[bigtree]

3. dunno

there's only been this one blurb today __ need an expert here

[RB TexLa]

4. No, it's the norm. If it were me I might give them a chance to contribute to my reelection campaign

[sabbat hunter]

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

[Hippo_Tron]

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.

[BeFree]

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.

[malaise]

8. Normal business

Those with sense have already resigned.

[NightWatcher]

2. ooo ooo, I want Holland, or at least an appointment to the Amsterdam Bulldog

[BlooInBloo]

5. Hong Kong here please...

I'm a city boy.

Do they even have their own ambassador?

[RB TexLa]

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.

[bigtree]

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.

[bertman]

9. That's my kind of bi-partisanship. Reach across the aisle and slap 'um up side the head.

Cool pic, bigtree.

[Stinky The Clown]

10. Standard practice

[XOKCowboy]

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!

[hendo]

19. if only it worked like that

too bad it doesnt. s/he who pays the most is the one who gets the position.

[StreetKnowledge]

14. I call dibs on Australia!

I'll be soaking up the sun on the Eastern Beaches, then. :D

[bigtree]

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.

[NV Whino]

17. Might be nice

if he rehired those few who resigned in protest of Bush's policies.

[aquart]

18. Standard. These are patronage jobs.