The New Diplomats - "What's in Your Wallet?"

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Ever dream of buying a nice, fat, job as a diplomat? Well, now you can for just the low price of 250,000 clams:

Is there anything that isn't for sale in the American govenment these days? This reminds my of the 18th century English system of "patronage." Another George was busy buying and selling governmental posts, when he should have been taking those "low-born radicals" in the colonies a little more seriously. But what can compare to a "Bush Ranger?" Let's just turn over everything to the corporate fat cats. Once they are done gutting out their companines, they can do the same for the People's government:

You can read more here - if you can stand it...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8730875/site/newsweek/

 

Too bad for the pros in the State Dept., with these louts cantering through the china shop, with Condi's glittering choppers and dragon eyes glowering from above. Still, Dubya does claim to be Born Again, so perhaps a miracle will make it all come out right.

 

I thought ambassadorships were what you gave you washed out politicians when they got old tom keep them busy or what you used when someone got uncomfortable and you needed to get rid of them but couldnt just fire em. At least this is how it is around here, we dont sell em! I mean, 200k isnt that much, getting rid of some cranky old fart is worth more than that.

 

This kind of thing has been going on for decades. I know that Lyndon Johnson did it, and it was probably going on before that.

Now I will admit that usually these type of appointments are to relatively unimportant nations (sorry for the slight, but to state that Germany is an important ally is to conversely state that other nations are less important), and usually nations that are known for tourism, e.g., "you are such a staunch supporter and fund raiser for me, here is a multi-year vacation to _______" (you fill in the blank).

Now it is an interesting question to ask if the President is being stupid, or if he is purposely sending a message to Germany, and if so, what is the message? It is a bit of a slap in the face either way, but there are a lot of people in America that think Germany deserves it.

Personally, I get tired of State Dept sycophants, and think that there is a possibility that an outsider might turn out to be a good thing, or it may turn into an unmitigated disaster. Either way, Bush will deserve the full credit or have to face the full blame. We will just have to wait to see how it works out.

 

Don't lose sight of the fact that each of the gentlemen listed in the article are successful business men who have built their own companies and fortunes. These are not career politicians...who were it not for a diplomatic post...would be selling plasma . Each of these men are accepting positions that pay far less than they could probably make to stay Stateside and sharpen their entreprenureal skills.

When you look at their qualifications in that light, the fact that they are wealthy enough to make large contributions becomes incidental.

 

They did not come up through the diplmoatic corp and know almost nothing about the countries that they are supposed improve our realtions with. There are many dedicated men and women who have served their country, rather than themselves, and who would do a much better job. Sorry, but I'm not impressed with the "business diplomat" scheme. This is just a payoff. And I understand that others have done this as well. It's still disgusting.

 

I'm going to have to save my pennies and correctly guess which horse to back in the 2008 election. I'm hoping to be ambassador to Aruba.

 

But Snook...for 0$ you can be named Ambassador to an Al Queda training facility!

 

HS - Yes, it may not cost anything, but you may still have to blow yourself up.

 

Forty years ago there were jokes and snide remarks about the way and why of how our Ambassadors were chosen. Nothing new about this.

Can't think of anything polite to say so I'll shut up and go to RP Corner.

 

A few of the men who previously held similiar positions: Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Monroe, John Jay and John Marshall. My, how things have changed...