Obama breaks promise to end cronyism

[NickCole]

We've already seen Obama break his promise to keep lobbyists out of his administration and end lobbyist influence in Washington.

Now ... well read for yourself:

Obama picks financial backer for UK ambassador post

Chicago friend Louis Susman chosen for plum posting despite president's promise to end cronyism in Washington

A little bit of Chicago's ruthless and combative political machine is soon to descend on the decorous calm of the Court of St James. Despite promising to end cronyism in Washington, Barack Obama is about to appoint one of his home town friends and financial backers to the plum posting of US ambassador to London.

The next ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary will be Louis Susman, a lawyer and financier with little experience of foreign affairs.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/20/obama-uk-ambassador-louis-susman

Change?

Nope. More of the same.

 

[kallipolis]

We've already seen Obama break his promise to keep lobbyists out of his administration and end lobbyist influence in Washington.

Now ... well read for yourself:






Change?

Nope. More of the same.

The United States representative to the Court of St. James is traditionally not a professional diplomat, rather one who is gregarious and open to the social and party scene that surrounds diplomatic circles in London.

But of course the United States Foreign Service does represent the United States, in the United Kingdom with professional, full time service diplomats.

The president's choice of ambassador to the United Kingdom merely maintains tradition, observed by all presidents, Republican or Democrat.

 

[HenryReardon]

The United States representative to the Court of St. James is traditionally not a professional diplomat, rather one who is gregarious and open to the social and party scene that surrounds diplomatic circles in London.

.

Wasn't the original Kennedy bootlegger appointed the US representative to the Court of St. James?

 

[NickCole]

The president's choice of ambassador to the United Kingdom merely maintains tradition, observed by all presidents, Republican or Democrat.

So, no on that change thingy.

What I said. More of the same.

 

[kallipolis]

So, no on that change thingy.

What I said. More of the same.

If in this instance there was a crying need for change, then so be it, your criticism would be valid. But in this particular case the president has simply followed long standing precedent in order to maintain and even deepen, the close relationship with America's closest friend and ally.

The real diplomatic/consular work is effected by career diplomats.

Since the time of FDR and Winston Churchill the telephone has enabled the American president, and the UK prime minister to facilitate their needs.

 

[kallipolis]

Wasn't the original Kennedy bootlegger appointed the US representative to the Court of St. James?

Joseph Kennedy the rum smuggler.

I understand the Kennedys made their fortune during the prohibition era, out of running bootleg booze from the British West Indies.

Joseph Kennedy's tenure as US Ambassador ended rather suddenly in November, 1940 when he publicly declared that the United Kingdom had been beaten by Germany. Fortunately an American journalist, Ed Morrow who chose to walk the streets of London, (rather than hide in the embassy shelter) had a more accurate insight into the resistance, of the British people to the nightly Luftwaffe air raids, and told the world the truth. The rest of the story, is history.

 

[HenryReardon]

Joseph Kennedy the rum smuggler.

I understand the Kennedys made their fortune during the prohibition era, out of running bootleg booze from the British West Indies.

Joseph Kennedy's tenure as US Ambassador ended rather suddenly in November, 1940 when he publicly declared that the United Kingdom had been beaten by Germany. Fortunately an American journalist, Ed Morrow who chose to walk the streets of London, (rather than hide in the embassy shelter) had a more accurate insight into the resistance, of the British people to the nightly Luftwaffe air raids, and told the world the truth. The rest of the story, is history.

Edward R. Murrow, who, in his later years, ended his broadcasts with "listen to Murrow tomorrow," was famous for reporting the blitz from the rooftops of London.

 

[kallipolis]

A professional, through, and through. An icon for the best in quality journalism. Wish there were more of his stature working in the industry today.

 

[HenryReardon]

A professional, through, and through. An icon for the best in quality journalism. Wish there were more of his stature working in the industry today.

"More" of his stature. Geez, you could make a pretty good case for the thesis that there aren't any journalists of his stature working in the industry today.

 

[kallipolis]

"More" of his stature. Geez, you could make a pretty good case for the thesis that there aren't any journalists of his stature working in the industry today.

It could also be said that such qualities are not as visible, as they once were, as a result of 24 hour news channels, focussing more on volume, than on quality.

Ted Turner might well be held to account. At a higher court.

 

[Glafna]

Overall, this seems like yet another non-issue. From how I understand it, to be an effective diplomat to a country, you need to be charismatic, a good speaker, effective in large and small gatherings of VIP's, have a general understanding of the country is questions laws, and how effective they are.

If she knows what she's doing, where exactly is the problem??

Oh lemme guess Nick, doesn't matter?

 

[HenryReardon]

We've already seen Obama break his promise to keep lobbyists out of his administration and end lobbyist influence in Washington.

Lobbyists are a way of life to politicians of both parties. As it happens I am reading John Sanford's latest 'Prey' novel. It is known that lobbyists bring suitcases of cash to the political conventions to spread it around to operatives. The bad guys know it, too, and rob some of the aforementioned of millions.

Here's the rub:

It has been revealed that most of these guys attend both the Democrat and Republican conventions to cover their bases.

One of them says to the lead investigator something like

"Want me to get you an autographed photo of the next president?"

"You know who it's gonna be?"

"Doesn't matter - we're covered both ways."

I think that sums the situation up quite nicely.

Is there a solution?

 

[NickCole]

Lobbyists are a way of life to politicians of both parties. As it happens I am reading John Sanford's latest 'Prey' novel. It is known that lobbyists bring suitcases of cash to the political conventions to spread it around to operatives. The bad guys know it, too, and rob some of the aforementioned of millions.

Here's the rub:

It has been revealed that most of these guys attend both the Democrat and Republican conventions to cover their bases.

One of them says to the lead investigator something like

"Want me to get you an autographed photo of the next president?"

"You know who it's gonna be?"

"Doesn't matter - we're covered both ways."

I think that sums the situation up quite nicely.

Is there a solution?

Don't know if there's a solution.

I do know, however, that Barack Obama was very misleading about what he'd do if elected President and even just four months in there's rapidly growing evidence of that.

Lobbyists was one of those issues that supposedly set him apart and above Hillary Clinton, who explained that yes she would work with lobbyists because this is the way things are in Washington and it's virtually impossible to change. Obama said he'd change it. His supporters said Hillary won't change it, Obama will change it, vote for change not for the same old same old. And now Obama is doing what his supporters cheered him for saying he wouldn't do ... and they're defending him.

It's about honesty. It's about integrity. It's about human beings being very consistent in their character. And Barack Obama is a liar, and many of his supporters defend him as his lies are exposed. There will come a time when his lies --like Bush's lies-- will result in significant damage. You don't have to be psychic to know that, you only have to understand human nature and history.