Sam Fox

==

<span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); display: inline !important; float: none;">Republican activist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fox" title="Sam Fox" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Sam Fox</a><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); display: inline !important; float: none;">'s donation of $50,000 to SBVT during the 2004 campaign<sup id="cite_ref-campaignmoneydotcom_93-0" class="reference" style=" line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swift_Vets_and_POWs_for_Truth#cite_note-campaignmoneydotcom-93" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; white-space: nowrap; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">[93]</a><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); display: inline !important; float: none;"> caused a controversy when Bush nominated him to the position of ambassador to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium" title="Belgium" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Belgium</a><span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); display: inline !important; float: none;">. Because the Democratic members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee indicated that they would not support his nomination,<span style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); float: none; display: inline !important;"> Bush withdrew the nomination; he appointed Fox to the position on April 4, 2007, while Congress was in recess.<sup id="cite_ref-AP.2FCNN03283007_94-0" class="reference" style=" line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate; font-style: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swift_Vets_and_POWs_for_Truth#cite_note-AP.2FCNN03283007-94" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; white-space: nowrap; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">[94]</a><sup id="cite_ref-appointment_95-0" class="reference" style=" line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate; font-style: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swift_Vets_and_POWs_for_Truth#cite_note-appointment-95" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; white-space: nowrap; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">[95]</a><sup id="cite_ref-SPI04052007_96-0" class="reference" style=" line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate; font-style: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swift_Vets_and_POWs_for_Truth#cite_note-SPI04052007-96" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[96]</a>

<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Sam_Fox">http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Sam_Fox</a>

Sam Fox, a <a title="Republican Party" class="mw-redirect" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Republican_Party">Republican</a> fundraiser from Missouri, was named Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenifotentiary of the United States of America to Belgium on April 4, 2007, by President <a title="George W. Bush" class="mw-redirect" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_W._Bush">George W. Bush</a> in a <a title="Recess appointment" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Recess_appointment">recess appointment</a>, "a maneuver that allowed him to bypass <a title="Congress" class="mw-redirect" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Congress">Congress</a>, where <a title="Democratic Party" class="mw-redirect" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Democratic_Party">Democrats</a> had derailed Fox's nomination." <a rel="nofollow" title="http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1151AP_Bush_Outflanking_Congress.html?source=mypi" class="external autonumber" href="http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1151AP_Bush_Outflanking_Congress.html?source=mypi">[1]</a>

On December 4, 2006, Fox was <a rel="nofollow" title="http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/12/20061204-9.html" class="external text" href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/12/20061204-9.html">nominated</a> to the post by President Bush, but on March 28, 2007, Bush <a rel="nofollow" title="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/28/AR2007032801333.html" class="external text" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/28/AR2007032801333.html">withdrew</a> Fox's nomination after Democrats complained about Fox's donation to <a title="Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Swift_Boat_Veterans_for_Truth">Swift Boat Veterans for Truth</a>, "a group that questioned Sen. <a title="John Kerry" class="mw-redirect" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=John_Kerry">John Kerry</a>'s war record during the 2004 presidential campaign."

In late 2004, Fox "gave $50,000 to no less solid citizens than the Swift Boat Liars who made it their mission to discredit a highly-decorated Vietnam Veteran in John Kerry," Bob Geiger <a rel="nofollow" title="http://bobgeiger.blogspot.com/2007/02/on-team-bush-scumbags-become.html" class="external text" href="http://bobgeiger.blogspot.com/2007/02/on-team-bush-scumbags-become.html">wrote</a> February 27, 2007.

At the time of his nomination, Fox, who founded the company, was serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the <a title="Harbour Group" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Harbour_Group">Harbour Group</a>. <a rel="nofollow" title="http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/12/20061204-9.html" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/12/20061204-9.html">[2]</a><a rel="nofollow" title="http://www.scooterlibby.com/committee/?id=18" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.scooterlibby.com/committee/?id=18">[3]</a>

According to WhiteHouseForSale.org, Fox is "a <a title="Bush's Rangers" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bush%27s_Rangers">Bush Ranger</a>, responsible for millions of dollars of donations to both the <a title="Bush-Cheney '04 Inc." href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bush-Cheney%2704_Inc.">Bush/Cheney campaigns</a> and the <a title="Republican Party" class="mw-redirect" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Republican_Party">Republican Party</a>. He's also a charter member of the <a title="I. Lewis Scooter Libby" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=I.Lewis_Scooter_Libby">Libby</a> <a rel="nofollow" title="http://www.scooterlibby.com/committee/?id=18" class="external text" href="http://www.scooterlibby.com/committee/?id=18">Defense Fund</a>. In other words, this guy is neck deep in the Bush/Cheney circles," Nicolle Bell <a rel="nofollow" title="http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/02/27/bush-nominates-swift-boat-veterans-donor-to-ambassadorship/" class="external text" href="http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/02/27/bush-nominates-swift-boat-veterans-donor-to-ambassadorship/">wrote</a> February 27, 2007, for Crooks and Liars. comstock

In the 2000 election cycle, Fox, "the top individual donor to the Republican Party, ... is the ultimate 'Republican Regent,' the elite group of donors who gave $250,000 or more to the <a title="GOP" class="mw-redirect" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=GOP">GOP</a>." <a rel="nofollow" title="http://whitehouseforsale.org/ContributorsAndPaybacks/pioneer_profile.cfm?pioneer_ID=48" class="external autonumber" href="http://whitehouseforsale.org/ContributorsAndPaybacks/pioneer_profile.cfm?pioneer_ID=48">[4]</a>

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With annual revenues of more than $1.5 billion, Harbour Group has executed more than 100 leveraged buyouts since it started in �76. He gave more than $300,000 to GOP candidates and groups in �99. He ranks among the nation�s top donors of �soft money,� having contributed $435,000 of it to the Republican Party since �97. Fox hosted a record-setting Washington fundraiser in 2000 that took in $21 million. His personal wealth has been pegged at more than $500 million. Fox flew to Austin to meet with Bush in early �99 along with three other Missouri Pioneers: <a href="http://info.tpj.org/pioneers/adele_hall.html">Adele Hall</a>, <a href="http://info.tpj.org/pioneers/stephen_brauer.html">Stephen Brauer</a> and <a href="http://info.tpj.org/pioneers/john_mahaffey.html">John Mahaffey</a>. He oversees the national Republican Jewish Coalition.

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<a href="http://www.nndb.com/people/259/000118902/">http://www.nndb.com/people/259/000118902/</a>

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<div class="node-heading">April 03, 2007 06:14 PM

<h2 class="entry-title" style=" font-size: 19.200000762939453px; color: rgb(0, 0, 153); margin: 0px;"><a href="http://crooksandliars.com/2007/04/04/sam-fox-gets-his-ambassadorship-through-a-recess-appointment" title="Sam Fox Gets His Ambassadorship Through A Recess Appointment" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 153);">Sam Fox Gets His Ambassadorship Through A Recess Appointment</a></h2>

<div class="entry-byline" style=" color: rgb(153, 41, 38); line-height: 18px;">By Nicole Belle</div>

</div>

<a href="http://bobgeiger.blogspot.com/2007/04/bush-to-recess-appoint-swift-boat.html" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); font-weight: bold;">Bob Geiger</a>:

In a move that should disgust all and surprise nobody, the White House announced today that George W. Bush will recess-appoint Sam Fox, who gave $50,000 to the Swift Boat Liars to help finance their 2004 smear of John Kerry, to be the new U.S. Ambassador to Belgium.

The nomination was withdrawn last week, when it became clear to Bush that Fox, who was instrumental in derailing Kerry's presidential bid, did not have enough votes in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to be confirmed.

A <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Recess_appointment" target="_blank" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); font-weight: bold;">recess appointment</a> allows a president to fill vacancies while the Congress is on a break, even if the nominee has already been expressly or implicitly rejected by the Senate.

The <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/04/20070404-4.html" target="_blank" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); font-weight: bold;">announcement</a> on the White House web site was buried in a flurry of other activity and said simply this:

<blockquote style=" margin-left: 30px; border-left-width: 8px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); padding-left: 5px;">The President intends to recess appoint the following individuals:</blockquote>

Sam Fox, of Missouri, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Belgium

</blockquote>

UPDATE: CT Blogger sent me <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z0wew5YOPE" style=" text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); font-weight: bold;">this link</a> to see how the OTHER Senator from Connecticut feels about Sam Fox.

"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," said Kerry, in a statement. "This nomination was withdrawn because the Administration realized it would lose in the Foreign Relations Committee. Unfortunately, when this White House can't win the game, they just change the rules, and America loses."

"Our country would be stronger if this Administration spent more time getting body armor for our soldiers in Iraq than it did helping their powerful friends."

Also reacting with outrage, is Chris Dodd (D-CT), who was the first Senator to publicly state his strong opposition to the Fox nomination.

"It is outrageous that the President has sought to stealthily appoint Sam Fox to the position of ambassador to Belgium when the President formally requested that the Fox nomination be withdrawn from the Senate because it was facing certain defeat in the Foreign Relations Committee last week," said Dodd. "I seriously question the legality of the President's use of the recess appointment authority in this instance. I intend to seek an opinion on the legality of this appointment from the General Accountability Office and invite other Senators to join with me in that request."

</blockquote>

</div>