President Bush is rewarding Republican donors and loyalists with plum ambassadorships at an unprecedented pace. One has been confirmed. Bush is following tradition, of course.
Every president doles out ambassadorships in gratitude for favors.
But Bush has put a priority on embassies in France, Spain, the Bahamas and other desirable spots, and filled them with big donors and party loyalists. For sensitive posts like Russia and Egypt, he has turned to career diplomats. For foreign nations, it is often an asset to have an ambassador who has a close relationship with the president himself. Critics see money buying power. George Bush was going to bring a different tone to Washington.