Louis Susman, US Ambassador To Britain? Obama Donor Said To Be Considered For Post

Times Online:

President Obama, having campaigned on a promise to end the culture of cronyism, seems poised to appoint one of his biggest campaign fundraisers as the next American ambassador in London.

Although the nomination of Louis Susman has not yet been signed off by the White House and the US State Department, the 71-year-old investment banker's name has been strongly linked with the post in recent days.

Read the whole story: Times Online

Comments

[MsLiz]

At least he speaks the language.

Folks, campaigns are expensive. Winning campaigns are very expensive. Political purity is impossible.

[scorpioleidy]

OMG - he was tipped to be Ambassador to Britain? How much?!


(yeah, I know, s/b tapped, not tipped)

[Independent voter]

I thought that the 'Change I can believe in' referred to doing things differently. Not the jingle sound in Obama's pocket.

More cronies. Just like the old boss

[Beca]

That is what Ambassador posts are for! They are plumb jobs created to reward special people, they hold no real political or policy role at all. Give it a rest!

[kid5rivers2]

plum...NOT plumb.

[jsfox]

This article has a major flaw. No attribution. It is pure conjecture. It quotes no source unnamed or otherwise. A failure of journalism 101 - "who, what and where."

[kid5rivers2]

Are you surprised?

[strangerinthenight]

Pay back time, simply called pay for play.

[kid5rivers2]

It seems like it's nighttime everytime with you.

[freedomitchy]

Obama is just a politician, his campaign promises about the end of cronyism and the appointment of the best qualified are meaningless. New boss same as the old boss.

[truegreen]

I agree. But are you surprised?

[kid5rivers2]

Evidently, despite your protestations, Obama's boss of neither of you.

Nor will he ever be.

[Andman0121]

This is wrong. Cronyism. Stop arguing about it. You know it, I know it, we all know it.

[pupbayer]

Ambassadorships are historically rewards for political and financial suppport during campaigns. Why would you expect any different with this politican?

[independentjukebox]

Because its was CHANGE.

and "historically" speaking, many Reps in congress add ear marks - we don't want such historical standards to continue.

[pupbayer]

I guess the next question begging to be asked is why would you expect change? It was a campaign slogan.

Democrats never add ear marks? Wow, I've never heard that before.

[netzwerg]

From CitiBank straight to Winfield House, all it costs you is 500000$ "donation" to Obama:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winfield_House

[kid5rivers2]

Therefore, I expect that you'll soon become an ambassador too?

[netzwerg]

Its good. Obama should reward him for his achievements at CitiBank.

[kid5rivers2]

You're clueless. If ever we meet, I'd quickly become shoeless. Connect the dots!

[Airmid]

This is an obscenity, frankly. This guy was from CitiBank. How low can you stoop. I dearly, dearly want Obama to be different, but this and the retention of Bagram air base are rubbing the glitter off pretty fast. I truly don't believe this man has qualities we need, nor that there aren't a thousand other, better qualified individuals. It's an insult and a derogation of his promise to be fair, open and to appoint the best.

[Bettysdad]

EVERY President names major fundraisers to ambassadorships.

Before the wingnuts start drooling, read some history.

[Airmid]

Yes, but the point of *this* President was that he was supposed to be a break from the cronyism of the past - this time, it was going to be different.

and it's not

which is so enormously sad

[kid5rivers2]

an "n" is missing from between the "mi" and the "d" in your appellation.

[edgeways]

I dunno...? Ambassador to England? That is hardly a high stress job. I can see why some may consider it cronyism, but it's not like it's Iraqi or China. Mainly a figurehead.

It is worth noting this story is pretty much a 'rumor' story, so it is hard to get worked up about it in any which way

[kid5rivers2]

Aye! And it rumor surely it is...unles­s you're a trorl of Rushing commentor.

[mizerello]

So disappointed if this story is true. At the very least, if they are determined to give this ambassadorship to a political supporter, they should find someone who is younger and has no recent connection to the banking crisis. This man is from Citi and seems a bit like a good ol' boy. Too bad. If he was going to pick a political friend, he should have given it to Caroline Kennedy.