When confirmation hearings for cupcake ambassadorship become a rakfish dinner

[Indy Texas]

We all know there are two kinds of ambassadors: the career FSOs who go to places like the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa; and the political appointees who, in return for six-figure campaign donations to the president, can take on the arduous work of looking out for America's interests in the unstable, complex, dangerous likes of Antigua and Barbuda, or Luxembourg or...Norway.

George Tsunis, Obama's choice to represent the US in Oslo, is a New York attorney whose stellar accomplishments include serving on his local water district board and being CEO of a hotel chain. Oh, and then there's this...

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Tsunis's performance at his confirmation hearing - where he is blissfully ignorant of even basic facts about Norway's government - almost makes Sarah Palin look qualified by comparison.

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[Zioneer]

Some ambassadorships are supposed to be easy, quick rewards for high-level donors of both parties. Why is this news?

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Because usually, these people bother to learn enough about the country they will be ambassador to so as to not appear like total incompetents.  I mean, I don't necessarily expect the ambassador to Norway to be able to give penetrating insights into the ramifications of offshore drilling upon fisheries policy, but this was such an utter fail that if Obama for some reason doesn't withdraw the nomination, I'd expect it to go down on the Senate floor, if it makes it out of committee.

[NewYorkExpress]

President Obama couldn't find a Norwegian-born donor to take the post... or at least Scandinavian born... or maybe someone who actually cares about Norway? Is that too much to ask?

[Associate Justice PiT]

President Obama couldn't find a Norwegian-born donor to take the post... or at least Scandinavian born... or maybe someone who actually cares about Norway? Is that too much to ask?

     President Obama wanted to give Tsunis some country. Who's to say that there is any place he would be qualified to serve as Ambassador to?

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

link

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[Likely Voter]

While handing out ambassadorships to donors has always been done, the Obama admin has pushed the envelope in this area.

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Obama has shown an amazing ability to raise money and even out raise Republicans. This area seems to be one of the side effects of that.

Of course there are some who wonder if we need ambassadors at all in this age of instant communications. Most of the real work happens directly between the State Department and their counterparts in the foreign country. The Ambassadors are mostly ceremonial posts.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Topics and subject lines merged

[Zioneer]

I have no idea why this guy didn't at least open up a Wiki page about Norway before this hearing. Even Wiki would be better than his level of ignorance.

[King]

Of course there are some who wonder if we need ambassadors at all in this age of instant communications. Most of the real work happens directly between the State Department and their counterparts in the foreign country. The Ambassadors are mostly ceremonial posts.

Yeah.  Also, is 36% really that much worse than 30%?

[publicunofficial]

Newsflash: Unless it's a country America could be sending troops too within the next decade, the ambassador is probably just some rich guy.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Newsflash: Unless it's a country America could be sending troops too within the next decade, the ambassador is probably just some rich guy.

Since Norway is an oil-rich country, I suppose we could be doing that.

[Brittain33]

How did this guy get so rich without realizing that he'd have to prepare at least a little bit for the congressional hearing?

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Topics and subject lines merged

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Newsflash: Unless it's a country America could be sending troops too within the next decade, the ambassador is probably just some rich guy.

Since Norway is an oil-rich country, I suppose we could be doing that.

"Vikings of Mass Destruction" and so on.

[Landslide Lyndon]

If that jerk has any dignity, he ought to withdraw his nomination.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

A politician is corrupt and the Pope is Catholic. More news at 11.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

This guy isn't corrupt. Just stupid.

[DINGO Joe]

Newsflash: Unless it's a country America could be sending troops too within the next decade, the ambassador is probably just some rich guy.

Since Norway is an oil-rich country, I suppose we could be doing that.

The US is an oil-rich county and has weapons of mass destruction.  Think about that.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

This guy should have gotten some crib notes.

Norway
Capital: Oslo
Head of state: King Harald V
NATO member
Not in EU
touches Sweden, Finland, and Russia

Then he would have known as much as a 1st grader who had done a report on Norway.

[Joe Republic]

When a full-size gateau ambassadorship becomes a bird's nest soup:

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[Likely Voter]

Well Baucus is a different type of political appointee. Baucus had already announced he was retiring. Obama sending him to China allows the Democratic governor of MT to appoint Baucus' replacement for the Senate (likely the Lt. Gov), in hopes that it will improve the Dem chances of holding the seat.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Well Baucus is a different type of political appointee. Baucus had already announced he was retiring. Obama sending him to China allows the Democratic governor of MT to appoint Baucus' replacement for the Senate (likely the Lt. Gov), in hopes that it will improve the Dem chances of holding the seat.

But why put Baucus in such an important position if he were emptying the seat earlier to hold it? Why not Ambassador to Paraguay or to the Vatican?

[MaxQue]

Well Baucus is a different type of political appointee. Baucus had already announced he was retiring. Obama sending him to China allows the Democratic governor of MT to appoint Baucus' replacement for the Senate (likely the Lt. Gov), in hopes that it will improve the Dem chances of holding the seat.

But why put Baucus in such an important position if he were emptying the seat earlier to hold it? Why not Ambassador to Paraguay or to the Vatican?

The custom is to name Catholics to the Vatican, for obvious reasons. Baucus isn't.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Well Baucus is a different type of political appointee. Baucus had already announced he was retiring. Obama sending him to China allows the Democratic governor of MT to appoint Baucus' replacement for the Senate (likely the Lt. Gov), in hopes that it will improve the Dem chances of holding the seat.

But why put Baucus in such an important position if he were emptying the seat earlier to hold it? Why not Ambassador to Paraguay or to the Vatican?

The custom is to name Catholics to the Vatican, for obvious reasons. Baucus isn't.

Fine. Ambassador to Andorra then, if we want to be specific. That wasn’t my point though. Holding a Senate seat in Montana can be done without sending the Senator to an insanely important ambassadorship. Sending Baucus to Monaco or Andorra might be viewed as an insult in some ways, but does that justify China? Personally, I’d appoint him Ambassador to Canada. I’d imagine he would have some connections being from a border state and all, plus Canada is an important ally while not necessarily being a flashpoint.