Think Progress

Breaking: Bush withdraws Sam Fox’s nomination.

The AP reports, “President Bush has withdrawn the ambassadorial nomination of a businessman who donated money to a group that undermined Sen. John Kerry’s presidential campaign.” The Senate Foreign Relations Committee was scheduled to vote today on whether or not to approve the nomination of Sam Fox as America’s Ambassador to Belgium. Sens. John Kerry and Chris Dodd led the opposition to the appointment. Fox contributed $50,000 to the “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth,” a group that slanderously attacked Kerry’s service during the Vietnam War.




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84 Responses to “Breaking: Bush withdraws Sam Fox’s nomination.”

  1. ∞Ω Says:

    Good!


  2. RUCerious Says:

    Awwww, poor foxy. No waffles or chocolate for him.


  3. Wayne Says:

    Bush must have gotten word that the nomination went over like a lead balloon.
    Expect another partisin hack to be nominated soon


  4. Dogjudge Says:

    Can we say CONFIRMED by the Senate?

    George is beginning to look more like a lame duck every day.


  5. Barfly Says:

    Swiftboater Sunk!

    They knew he'd be grilled like a halibut, if ever he came before a Senate committee.


  6. S.D. Says:

    GW, Flip Flop his support??


  7. Barfly Says:

    Isn't this the guy the wingnuts were salivating over a couple weels ago? I'll bet Jake is near inconsolable.


  8. dlet Says:

    No demand for an up or down vote? Wha...Wha...What? Man, Belgium would have been a cush job too.


  9. whiteyfresh Says:

    the pres just 'CUT AND RUN' from his nomination!


  10. Peter Says:

    What???
    Didn't Georgie-boy pick the best qualified candidate to "serve at his pleasure"???

    What a surprise!

    sarc - off


  11. Barfly Says:

    Belgium would have been a cush job too.

    Comment by dlet — March 28, 2007 @ 11:37 am

    And not too far from Amsterdam . . .


  12. chimpeach Says:

    Score one for the Good Guys!

    Suck on that for a while, Jake!


  13. Anonymous By Choice Says:

    I can see Bush crying like a child who's candy or other forms of sweets were taken away from him.

    Fox being the candy in this case.

    You know Bush didn't withdraw the nomination for his own reason. He was forced to do it.

    Bush should sit down, and have a pretezl and think long and hard about who he needs to nominate next.


  14. Sharon Says:

    LOL....And the new's start's to catch up with the bad guy's...The troll's arrive right after morning coffee, donut's and print out's from heir rove..Blessings


  15. RUCerious Says:

    I wonder if a certain J. Gannon would be confirmed by the Senate?


  16. LibStl Says:

    It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me...and I'm FEELIN' GOOD!

    No more rubber stamps!


  17. And You Thought REAGAN Was Stupid Says:

    I wonder if Bush knows anyone who's qualified for any sort of work? He seems to regularly nominate unqualifed cronies. I guess when you run two oil companies into bankruptcy, your Rolodex doesn't include a lot of winners.


  18. s Says:

    Bush's corner ( that he is backed into) is getting tighter.

    Also, number one: where are the trolls?
    Number two: Remember to ignore them when they crawl out from under their slimey little rocks. TP is making progress.
    Good on ya. I think each post needs someone to say this!


  19. shane Says:

    Don't tell me Bushwad's God Complex has had a reality check. I didn't think he had the ability to give up one of his lame brain ideas.


  20. gummitch Says:

    Dear Mr President, sir. I would be happy to serve my country in Belgium and I am scandal-free. Of course, I've never donated a bazillion dollars to one of your campaigns, but I've got $20 here that says you're the Greatest President Ever--once you've booked my flight to Brussels.

    Signed,
    Gummitch


  21. WaltTheMan Says:

    Kerry already field-dressed, filleted and fricasseed the guy a while back during hearings. For that reason, W seems to have developed doubts about his approval. It did not appear to be a done deal.


  22. Sharon Says:

    RUCerious,..Shame on you, you made me loose my coffee all over the monator...LOL....Blessings


  23. VerbalKint Says:

    Damn, Jake, looks like your guys aren't getting their way anymore.


  24. whack Says:

    A Swift Boater sinks.


  25. GSD Says:

    Bush is a Lame Dick.

    -GSD


  26. VerbalKint Says:

    Also, number one: where are the trolls?

    They rarely show up this early. Idiots like Flaco and Firehead sleep in every morning because they are unemployed and Mom doesn't bother going down to the basement to wake them up anymore. Jake's hours seem to be noon to 9, roughly, though he may be tied up in morning briefings getting the day's talking points straight.


  27. CaroCogitatus Says:

    Yeah, where is Jake, our favorite troll?


  28. Karim Says:

    This is good news.


  29. And You Thought REAGAN Was Stupid Says:

    #26: Plus, the trolls are unable to put forth their meaningless arguments before they've received the Rush/Hannity/O'Reilly/etc. talking points.


  30. helenahandbasket Says:

    On this one, bush seems to have become a "Belgium Waffler."


  31. Maria Says:

    Guess he couldn't bear the possibility of a Senate smackdown. Although I think that was far from certain. All in all, good news: Bush comes off as a coward and we don't have to worry about the committee confirming Fox.


  32. dlet Says:

    Yeah, where is Jake, our favorite troll?
    Comment by CaroCogitatus

    Yesterday he said he wouldn't be here today. I know....I know. I am sure he'll be back soon. We can all get through this together.


  33. Marie Says:

    I doubt Bush will take any lessons from this. If Fox had not withdrawn, he surely would not have been confirmed.
    But Bushie, the boy-king, will likely remain adamant, stomping his feet, and demanding that his minions provide him what he wants.
    I doubt he even knows a person - one who isn't a major campaigner to him - who can fill the position. And this looks like it would have been a cushy job -- would have made a nice reward for his loyal servant, Fox.
    Does Bush have any real friends? Does he know anyone who really likes him for who he is, and not for what he can give them? I only hear about his so-called friends who are major contributors to him. Does he have to purchase his friends? If that is true, then the boy-king will grow increasingly isolated.


  34. Sharon Says:

    Well it's Wed..That's hump day for all the worker's and indeed while I am off topic here I will mention the stock market is doing another dive because of the housing mortgage problem's and the gas prices are going up fast...

    What other bad new's will come out of the black house.?..Iraq?, Iran?, More screaming bull shit will veto anything that is not exacly as he want's..We are watching a mad man going into overdrive while the wheel's are off his bus and he is up on block's..Blessings


  35. VerbalKint Says:

    Yesterday he said he wouldn’t be here today. I know….I know. I am sure he’ll be back soon. We can all get through this together.
    Comment by dlet — March 28, 2007 @ 11:56 am

    You're right, he did say that. Damn, I'm all fired up this morning and ready to take on that morally bankrupt jerk.


  36. AkaDad Says:

    Perhaps Bush realized that Fox is a serial liar and by rescinding his nomination he's just doing the right thing?

    [/Jake]


  37. GonePostal Says:

    Jake has a date with Haggard.


  38. David O. Says:

    # 15- Jeff guckert/gannon has already been confirmed by certain WH denizens and his pockets ahve been lined like he lined their lower intestines!


  39. War4Sale Says:

    "The Decider" has become a toothless buffoon. Every day brings him a new humiliation. He should really just resign already before we force his impeachment.


  40. Barfly Says:

    Jake has a date with Haggard.

    Comment by GonePostal

    What is this thread, a circle-jake... er, jerk?


  41. Zimzone Says:

    Lame Duck to Lame Dick,
    'What did you have for breakfast?'

    Belgium Wafflers.


  42. NotJakeButStillDemented Says:

    Oh dear. Does this mean teh terrorists have won?


  43. hellinabucket Says:

    What is the rationale for the withdrawal? The WH link above just states he's been withdrawn. Why put someone up and then just pull him out? If they thought highly enough of swiftboat Sam to nominate him they surely can give us a reason why they flipped on this.


  44. Anonymous by choice Says:

    Over a dozen posts about the troll, even when he doesn't post?!


  45. Ben Dover Says:

    Did the chimp snatch victory from the hands of defeat with this move? Or, less likely, has he finally learned how to read handwriting on walls?


  46. Cynicon Implant Says:

    Bush should have given him a medal for helping to shine the light on Kerry's lies. And then given him the position.

    Bush is wimping out under the constant beating from the Dems. Hopefully this will make the Dems smell the blood in the water and they will focus on destroying Bush instead of destroying the country with their destructive policies.


  47. VerbalKint Says:

    Over a dozen posts about the troll, even when he doesn’t post?!
    Comment by Anonymous by choice — March 28, 2007 @ 12:18 pm

    Well, since Jake is the closest thing to Karl Rove we have at this site, most everyone wants a piece of him. I know I do.

    I have a visual image of Jake, and it ain't some 75 year old dude living in the heartland. I envision a 20-something RNC staffer, president of his college Republican organization, hangs with Red State types, worships Karl Rove. Jake would deny every one of these things, of course, but to me it doesn't matter whether he really is that, or a 75 year old guy impersonating that.


  48. Savas11 Says:

    Another example where Lieberman puts Israel ahead of the USA and his former party! Fox heads the Jewish Republican coalition and just because he is a staunch supporter of Israel he gets scumbag Lieberman's unswerving loyalty. Why doesn't Lieberman just quit the Senate and run for prime minister of Israel?


  49. Barfly Says:

    Or, less likely, has he finally learned how to read handwriting on walls?

    Comment by Ben Dover —

    He learned that years ago, reading the restroom wit at Stuckey's.


  50. Barfly Says:

    they will focus on destroying Bush instead of destroying the country with their destructive policies.

    Comment by Cynicon Implant

    Tell me again; how much money has dissapeared in Iraq? How many lives lost? Reputation squandered? Third world dictators are now using Bush's lies to discredit American assertions. And what can you say in response? That yes, Bush lied then, but the world should really believe what he says now? Ever hear the tale of the Boy who Cried Wolf? Apparently not.


  51. michael Says:

    "Expect another partisin hack to be nominated soon

    Comment by Wayne — March 28, 2007 @ 11:34 am"

    Who should he appoint? A Democrat?


  52. RUCerious Says:

    How bout U Mikey?
    Would you like to be ambassador to Belgium?
    You've paid your dues, what with you slavish devotion well documented on this site.
    But only if you promise not to pollute this site with your horsey-shite from Brussels. And eat your sprouts.


  53. hellinabucket Says:

    I see that Cynicon is just as curious as to why Bush flipped on this nomination. I mean this is a 180, a total flip and flop. Cynicon, you deserve an explaination for why bush got so spineless. Even the Decider should have to be the Explainer when the direction flips so quickly.

    Bush isn't doing the right any help now is he.


  54. hellinabucket Says:

    And do I read you correctly Cynicon? Are you giving up on Bush for the sake of the country? Could you clarify.


  55. Bluedog49 Says:

    One of the cultists now thinks it would be great if Dems focus on destroying Bush so they won't implement their "destructive policies."

    That's rich. Repub policies have made the world a more dangerous place, destroyed our balance of trade, wiped out the value of the dollar, ruined the military, ruined the housing market, increased poverty, made college tougher for working class families to afford, eviscerated environmental protections and greatly increased the difference between rich and poor, further squeezing the middle class in the process.

    I've got news for you, dummy, the Dems can destroy Bush AND impliment their policies at the same time.


  56. Cynicon Implant Says:

    Are you giving up on Bush for the sake of the country? Could you clarify.

    Comment by hellinabucket

    I gave up on Bush a long time ago re. domestic policy. Still support him on the war.

    My comment was meant to elicit some feddback from you guys -- who are supposed to be about "making progress" -- as to why so much obsession on bringing Bush down and not so much on pushing your agenda now that the Dems are in power...


  57. gooderservice Says:

    It's a bright sun-shiny day, even though the building did shake a bit when bush was stamping his feet and throwing a tantrum.... right before he withdrew the nomination.

    But what's with Senator McCaskill supporting him?


  58. dlet Says:

    I gave up on Bush a long time ago re. domestic policy. Still support him on the war.
    Comment by Cynicon Implant

    If you don't see that those two items cannot be separated then you need an upgrade.


  59. Cynicon Implant Says:

    Repub policies have made the world a more dangerous place, destroyed our balance of trade, wiped out the value of the dollar, ruined the military, ruined the housing market, increased poverty, made college tougher for working class families to afford, eviscerated environmental protections and greatly increased the difference between rich and poor, further squeezing the middle class in the process.
    Comment by Bluedog49

    First of all Blue, I wish the Repubs were that powerful. Then we might see real progress. But let me address your claims:

    1. Made the world more dangerous -- actually we made the U.S. safer
    2. Balance of trade -- are you advocating closing our borders on trade?
    3. Dollar is a little weaker vs. foreign currencies -- this is cyclical
    4. Ruined the housing market -- exactly how did Repubs do this?
    5. Increased poverty? Nope. Just the opposite.
    6. Made college harder for people to afford -- actually, increases in tuition did that -- which in turn was caused by subsidization of the product

    Well, that's enough for now. Happy fantasies, Blue.


  60. Payback complete at Citizen Jake Says:

    [...] (via Think Progress) [...]


  61. Cynicon Implant Says:

    If you don’t see that those two items cannot be separated then you need an upgrade.

    Comment by dlet

    dlet -- I'm good at compartmentalizing.

    OMG, I'm like Clinton! Yuck!

    Seriously though, I don't see why you can't support somebody's policy on the war and not their domestic policy. Or vice versa.


  62. hellinabucket Says:

    Well Cynicon this thread is on the withdrawal of Fox by Bush. I believe an explaination is in order. Bush is short changing everyone. He's flipping on this and won't say why. If republicans quietly stand for this they are accepting flipping.

    Dems agenda is being pushed. The latest bill passed both house and senate. Now it's up to the president to sign or veto. If he wants to keep funding from the troops that's his decision.

    This thread is about Bush's foreign policy. Did you give up on him with this also?

    What do you support about this conflict. Keep in mind it has never been declared a war.


  63. dlet Says:

    Seriously though, I don’t see why you can’t support somebody’s policy on the war and not their domestic policy. Or vice versa.
    Comment by Cynicon Implant

    You can if you want to. I am just saying they are connected to a point that they shouldn't be. I don't know what you disagree with on the domestic issues but when a war is bankrupting the "homeland" it affects everything from trade gaps, jobs, health care, funds for homeland security...not to mention the National Guardsmen, etc.


  64. ValiantVenusGrewFromUranus Says:

    First of all Blue, I wish the Repubs were that powerful. Then we might see real progress. But let me address your claims: Comment by Cynicon Implant — March 28, 2007 @ 1:21 pm

    They unfettered control for 6 years. They were that powerful dum bass.

    1. Made the world more dangerous — actually we made the U.S. safer

    Not true. The world is more dangerous, and we now have more people that want to harm the US - so this is a false claim by you.

    2. Balance of trade — are you advocating closing our borders on trade? Comment by Cynicon Implant — March 28, 2007 @ 1:21 pm

    Strawman. You're really st*pid aren't you?

    3. Dollar is a little weaker vs. foreign currencies — this is cyclical Comment by Cynicon Implant — March 28, 2007 @ 1:21 pm

    Why do the *cycles* always happen under republican presidents?

    4. Ruined the housing market — exactly how did Repubs do this? Comment by Cynicon Implant — March 28, 2007 @ 1:21 pm

    By setting an artificially low interest rate to offset bad taxation policies, then by not regulating the resulting housing mortgage speculation.

    5. Increased poverty? Nope. Just the opposite. Comment by Cynicon Implant — March 28, 2007 @ 1:21 pm

    BAHAHA, you really *are* stupid! Poverty rates have gone up by *millions* since Bush took office.

    6. Made college harder for people to afford — actually, increases in tuition did that — which in turn was caused by subsidization of the product Comment by Cynicon Implant — March 28, 2007 @ 1:21 pm

    BHAAHA, idiot. Actually cutting funding to *students* when they needed it the most did that! Halliburton didn't suffer, but students did. You GOP always find *reasons* to make bad choices. Idiot.

    Well, that’s enough for now. Happy fantasies, Blue.
    Comment by Cynicon Implant — March 28, 2007 @ 1:21 pm

    You're right it is enough, your fantasies are so stupid, it makes you sound brain damaged.


  65. hellinabucket Says:

    Cynicon, your points remind me of an old SNL skit Point Counter Point.

    Cynicon you ignorant slut.

    Thanks VVGFU for countering that. If ignorance is bliss Cynicon is in Nirvana


  66. Barfly Says:

    If ignorance is bliss Cynicon is in Nirvana

    Comment by hellinabucket — March 28, 2007 @ 1:49 pm

    Do you mean he's a depressed junkie? Perhaps we shouldn't rag on him too hard, then; we wouldn't want him to go Rachel himself.


  67. Bluedog49 Says:

    Thank you, VVGFU, there's no way I could have responded any better than you did.


  68. Bluedog49 Says:

    Oh, and Cynicon, since Bush's war policy is the only one of his that you still support, there's new information for you from General Barry McCaffery at the top of Think Progress. Maybe you should check into it.


  69. hellinabucket Says:

    No I wouldn't want that Barfly. There have been so many good zingers today on all the threads.

    Doesn't the President owe us an explaination as to why he's flipped on this. Did Fox jump ship? Has the President come to his senses? Did he lose a bet?

    Cynicon, you have to be questioning why Bush flipped. Any true neocon has got to be angry he flipped. Are you a true neocon or just play one on the internets?


  70. hellinabucket Says:

    Great point Bluedog. The conflict isn't going as planned. Well maybe that's not accurate because it was never planned so how could it not be going as something that was never thought of.


  71. Think Progress » White House Stands By Swift Boat Nominee, Blames Withdrawal On ‘Partisan Politics’ Says:

    [...] morning, the White House withdrew the nomination of Swift Boat Vets funder Sam Fox to be ambassador to Belgium. If there was any question whether [...]


  72. Cynicon Implant Says:

    Venus, Bluedog et al.

    I should have known better to get into a policy debate with you guys. It's difficult to argue with spoiled children who don't understand how our system works and that you can't have everything you want.


  73. hellinabucket Says:

    That's your answer Cynicon? You sidestep the questions and then when you're pointed to evidence showing the debacle you support you run claiming we don't understand the system.

    You're a coward.


  74. Cynicon Implant Says:

    hellinabucket,

    I'm not a coward -- I just don't have the time to argue right now


  75. hellinabucket Says:

    Thanks for the response? I won't throw insults but I would like to hear your impression on what is positive about the conflict in Iraq. And I would hope you would be receptive to the rationale on why it has been a disaster.


  76. Cynicon Implant Says:

    Thanks for the response? I won’t throw insults but I would like to hear your impression on what is positive about the conflict in Iraq. And I would hope you would be receptive to the rationale on why it has been a disaster.

    Comment by hellinabucket

    Fair enough.

    My take on the war in Iraq is that it has had problems, is moving in the right direction, and is the right thing to be doing (changing the political dynamics in the middle east). We need to give it another year at least until we know whether it will work. I know it comes with severe pain and loss but these people will not stop until their own (democratic) governments shut them down.

    Interested to hear your side.


  77. hellinabucket Says:

    Thanks for the civility Cynicon.

    First, I see that there is no mention on why there is any armed conflict going on in the middle east. We were attacked but not by Iraq.

    Second, I think it's a mistake to think politcial dynamics can be changed in the manner in which we've attempted. True change comes within. Especially democracy.

    Third, the logistics of the conflict in Iraq has been a disaster. I have always been on the side of the soldier and to see them being used as glorified policemen hurts. The republicans had been outraged that we were the worlds police and now accept it without raising an eyebrow. It was a wrong idea then and it's a wrong idea now.

    Lastly, the rationale for the conflict in Iraq has never panned out and with our backs against the wall our leaders tell us to give it time but every step of the way prior has been a misstep. Not enough troops, left massive amounts of unprotected weapondry lying around, fired the entire army, hired outside of Iraq to rebuild.

    All of this leads me to say no matter what the intentions were, this is a mistake.


  78. Cynicon Implant Says:

    I have always been on the side of the soldier and to see them being used as glorified policemen hurts.
    Comment by hellinabucket

    Completely with you on that, H.

    I guess we just disagree on your view that we can't win based on how poorly we've done things to date. Past failure does not always mean future failure in my book. Am I skeptical? Yes, but I'd like to see us avoid pulling out too early -- which only guarantees failure in my estimation.


  79. hellinabucket Says:

    It is a failure. It didn't have to be but it is now. We should have pushed much more in the services field early on. Kept the army and had them rebuild schools, hospitals and sanitation depts. We missed this opportunity. We neglected to understand the dynamics of the hatred and mistrust between the different sects. We backed Chalabi and then pull the rug from under him when he was proven to be a fake. Why wasn't that seen earlier?

    I won't go into the whole WMD's and how much of a threat Saddam was but that too was not proven to be a just reason to send our soldiers to be policemen.

    Thank you Cynicon for an insult free exchange.


  80. Raymond Funamoto Says:

    "THE SWIFT-BOAT Fox JUMPED OVER THE LAZY CHIMPya"----HMMMMMMMM, DOES THAT HAVE ALL THE LETTERS OF THE KEYBOARD IN IT?????


  81. Douglas G. Says:

    Jeesh, all this over Senator Kerry/liar?


  82. Raymond Funamoto Says:

    YEP----PAYBACK TIME!!!!!


  83. Progressive Movement » Blog Archive » Out Foxed Says:

    [...] pick for Ambassador to Belgium (the key post that it is) withdrew his nomination last week. You see, he gave a lot of money to the Swift Boat Veterans for Lies, the group that arguable kept [...]


  84. Coffee Lb For Says:

    Coffee Lb For Best

    Thinkprogress has a good review on coffee lb for best ...



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