The Bush administration has withdrawn the nomination of Sam Fox to be ambassador of Belgium, according to the AP. Sam Fox, if you remember, is a Missouri businessman, from the St. Louis area, who has been grilled this week in senate hearings by John Kerry because of his $50,000 donation to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. Some Democrats wanted him to renounce the group and his support of them, but Fox courageously refused--and some Democrats were preparing to vote against him because of this. Well, now Bush has preemptively withdrawn the nomination, so there won't be any vote, even though Fox did have the support of Mo. Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill.
This follows a pattern of incredible timidness and incompetence radiating from the White House. They absolutely refuse to fight on behalf of their nominees (including their court nominees) and they don't defend their policies vigorously enough. When Tony Snow was asked if Gonzales was going to survive the current U.S. attorneys controversy, he responded "we hope so." What is that?! How about "of course, there was no wrongdoing and the administration has operated under the same rules for hiring and firing as previous administrations." But no...instead, the White House shows it's weak and lets the Democrats lie, whine, complain, without going on the offense. It's disturbing and frusterating. If the White House is not going to play hardball and fight back, then maybe they deserve what is being thrown at them.
Trying to be soft and conciliatory in politics is nothing more than a slow-bleed strategy that attracts sharks pursuing the smell of blood in the water.
We know our great governor Kathleen has been hard at work appointing political cronies to the state supreme court and various other commissions, but now a new scandal emerges. River Ridge developers, under a lease-purchase agreement with the state to build a new state park, bought property for $275,000 just 3 years ago and now, according to a recent state audit, the property is now appraised at over $700,000. And the developers and their companies donated more than $40,000 to Sebelius' campaign, including the current chairman of the KS Real Estate Commission (who donated to Sebelius) as well as two lawyers (who represented the governor) will be making a nice profit on their land. And don't forget this is taxpayer dollars that this development company will be awarded. And setting aside the obvious ethical improprieties, isn't it a conflict of interest to serve as chair of the KS Real Estate Commission
(a governor-appointed board) and be awarded a state contract? Am I missing something here?
Wichita Eagle Story
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/16879277.htm
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3 comments:
Brandon,
Is anybody watching the Sebelius scandals on a regular basis. This is very interesting (and disgusting at the same time).
SLW
federalist,
I know that the owner of the "KS Meadowlark" blog reports on Sebelius' scandals and ethical lapses. The mainstream media is only beginning to pick up on it with this story (although, only the Wichita Eagle and Lawrence Journal-World have covered the developer story; the KC Star has bypassed it for now).
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old
friend, Mr. Common Sense. Mr. Sense had
been with us for many years. No one knows
for sure how old he was since his birth records
were long ago lost in bureaucratic red
tape.
He will be remembered as having cultivated
such value lessons as knowing when to come
in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the
worm and that life isn't always fair.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial
policies (don't spend more than you earn) and
reliable Parenting strategies (adults, not kids,
are in charge).
His health began to rapidly deteriorate when
well intentioned but overbearing regulations
were set in place.
Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with
sexual harassment for kissing a classmate;
Teens suspended from school for using
mouthwash after lunch; And a teacher fired
for reprimanding an unruly student, only
worsened his condition.
Mr. Sense declined even further when schools
were required to get parental consent to
administer aspirin to a student; But, could not
inform the parents when a student became
pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Finally, Common Sense lost the will to live as
the Ten Commandments became contraband;
churches became businesses; and criminals
received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense finally gave up the ghost after
a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup
of coffee was hot, she spilled a bit in her lap,
and was awarded a huge financial settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his
parents, Truth and Trust, his wife, Discretion;
his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.
He is survived by two stepbrothers; My Rights
and Ima Whiner. Not many attended his funeral
because so few realized he was gone.
If you still remember him, pass this on; if not,
join the majority and do nothing.
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