2007.04.05: April 5, 2007: Headlines: Figures: COS - Tunisia: Journalism: Humor: Washington Post: Tunisia RPCV Al Kamen writes: Recess Appointments Granted to 'Swift Boat' Donor
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2007.04.05: April 5, 2007: Headlines: Figures: COS - Tunisia: Journalism: Humor: Washington Post: Tunisia RPCV Al Kamen writes: Recess Appointments Granted to 'Swift Boat' Donor
Tunisia RPCV Al Kamen writes: Recess Appointments Granted to 'Swift Boat' Donor
Despite the Democrats' fierce objections to Fox and two other appointees, conservatives lauded Bush's exercise of his constitutional prerogative. Weekly Standard Editor William Kristol, who had urged Bush to recess-appoint Fox, said yesterday: "It's good; it shows he's fighting back. He had a 'kick me' sign on his back, and it shows he's taken the sign off." Washington Post reporter Al Kamen served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tunisia.
Tunisia RPCV Al Kamen writes: Recess Appointments Granted to 'Swift Boat' Donor
Recess Appointments Granted to 'Swift Boat' Donor, 2 Other Nominees
By Al Kamen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, April 5, 2007; Page A06
President Bush, defying Senate Democrats, gave recess appointments yesterday to three controversial nominees, including, as ambassador to Belgium, Republican donor Sam Fox, who had contributed to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, the group whose ads helped doom Sen. John F. Kerry's 2004 presidential bid.
Kerry (D-Mass.), who grilled Fox about his $50,000 contribution to the group during testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in February, had complained that Fox never disavowed his actions and that he should not be confirmed. "It's sad but not surprising that this White House would abuse the power of the presidency to reward a donor over the objections of the Senate," Kerry said in a statement yesterday.
The committee was about to vote on Fox's nomination last week -- and was almost certain to reject it -- when Bush pulled it back. Since the nomination was not before the Senate, the White House said Fox, who is a wealthy developer in St. Louis, will serve without pay in his post, although some Democrats had suggested that may not be permissible.
Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.) said yesterday that he will ask the Government Accountability Office for a ruling on the legality of the unusual appointment, which he called "an abuse of executive authority."
Despite the Democrats' fierce objections to Fox and two other appointees, conservatives lauded Bush's exercise of his constitutional prerogative. Weekly Standard Editor William Kristol, who had urged Bush to recess-appoint Fox, said yesterday: "It's good; it shows he's fighting back. He had a 'kick me' sign on his back, and it shows he's taken the sign off."
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Headlines: April, 2007; Figures; Peace Corps Tunisia; Directory of Tunisia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Tunisia RPCVs; Journalism; Humor
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