More Trump insanity: All U.S. Ambassadors told to resign

[Cyrano]

Our incoming emperor has put out word that every United States Ambassador is to resign by Jan. 20th, Inauguration Day. That's two weeks from today.

There are about 260 some odd ambassadors who represent the U.S. in countries around the world. Existing ambassadors are given a grace period under a new administration because newly appointed ambassadors have to be confirmed by the senate and that takes time.

Soo … we are about to enter a period during which communications between the United States, and the leaders of virtually every country on this planet, will require a direct line to an orange maniac who might be in the White House, Trump Tower, or Mar-a-Lago, and who may or may not be in the mood to take calls.

Most sane people understand that Trump is nuts. But I don’t think we have fully grasped how totally ignorant, uncaring and out of touch he is.

The inherent dangers here are incalculable. The only thing we know for sure is that the “dark side” is very strong in our incoming ruler. And we may all pay an immense price for this much sooner than we anticipated.

[Cracklin Charlie]

1. Pull the plug!

Not funny anymore!

[RKP5637]

2. Clearly a madman. n/t

[avebury]

3. If I were working in an embassy in a decent foreign country

I would consider looking for a job overseas, resigning my position, and staying overseas. Who on earth would want to come back to the US if they has other options?

[oberliner]

5. Why would an American working overseas not want to come back to the US?

That makes no sense.

[avebury]

24. You must have never traveled

outside the US. There are some incredible places to live. If I could afford it I would move in a heartbeat. The reality is the fact that this country is in a freefall and is no longer the great country it once was.

[SoCalNative]

25. Speaking as an American who currently works overseas

I can tell you that I can't wait to get back home to CA. Travel is lovely, but living far away from home is a far different thing.

[avebury]

28. Home is what you make it.

I could easily adjust to living overseas. The culture and history of other countries is very appealing. I would love to live somewhere that would make it easy to travel around other countries. Trump and the GOP trainwreck makes this country extremely unappealing. They will destroy this country. If I could afford to I would leave and not look back. Life is just way to short.

[SoCalNative]

30. If I were in a more cosmopolitan place like London

I might agree. But being in the very provincial Netherlands doesn't suit me. And yes, being able to travel around easily is a perk, but that's about to come to an end here.

[pangaia]

52. I've been to The Netherlands several times, have several friends.. Amsterdam, Sassenheim Rotterdam

I can understand what you mean..

perhaps get thee to Amsterdam... &quot )))

[SoCalNative]

59. I am in Amsterdam

still too provincial.

[pangaia]

60. Oh. My !! Then you are in trouble.

OK. Just mentioning a few of the places I have been that might appeal-- Paris, Berlin, Munich, Lisbon, Oslo? maybe not..., St Petersburg, Tokyo, ( I prefer Kyoto, but maybe not for you), Shanghai, and my most recent fav---- Seoul !!!!


Wadda ya tink?

[oberliner]

32. I've traveled

I like it here.

[DLevine]

15. I would too. nt

[Cyrano]

16. (Side bar post.) Many people don't know that an

American flag, flown upside down, is a signal of distress. Some used this avatar during the Bush/Cheney years.

Maybe it's time that all of us here on DU changed our own avatars to that of an inverted American flag.

[DLevine]

17. Yup. The next 4 years are going to be scary as hell. nt

[Cyrano]

21. One of us should do an original post on this idea

You're using it as an avatar, DLevine, so I'll defer for now. But I'll post it in the next day or two if you don't.

(It's impossible to catch all posts here so please send me a DU email if you post it. Thanks in advance. Cyrano.)

[DLevine]

27. I would like for you to do the post, if you're ok with that.

I think it's a great idea. We're facing a serious threat to our democracy. I'm an old-timer, and I'm more afraid for my country than I've ever been.

[randome]

18. And simply leave your post without cleaning up, without leaving any helpful notes lying around.

They want turmoil, let it be turmoil.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Don't underestimate the long-term effects of a good night's sleep.[/center][/font][hr]

[HoneyBadger]

34. Compensation and benefits vary

If you get a relocation required job like a post overseas, you typcally get a housing allowance, per diem, school allowance for your kids, etc that can triple your compensation. If you just quit and apply for a job there, you get none of that.

The other big difference is benefits. Apply for that job, you can no longer working a US job. A European job might include 6 weeks of vacation, 4 months of maternity, etc. Vs an American job that has a quarter of that. For the same work in the same office.

[Arkansas Granny]

4. What's even more insane is that his supporters accept this behavior without question.

[Initech]

7. And that's the scary thing!

Nothing Trump has done during the campaign up to the inauguration has made sense. He has not had a clear position on literally anything. He has absolutely nothing to show that he's leadership material. All he does is Tweet while he's on the shitter. And all the deplorables do is gloat about how they "love the taste of liberal tears".

[lpbk2713]

6. New Ambassadorships will go to the highest bidder.

Or to those who provided entertainment at his inaugural, as per their prior agreement.

[Wounded Bear]

10. Meh, most ambassadorships are like that...

There are only a few to key countries that actually go to skilled/experienced diplomats. This has been true for a while, probably since the beginning. These are the under the radar pay-for-play jobs in every administration. I have no doubt it'll be worse under Trump, but it's not new.

[HeartachesNhangovers]

57. It's true - the US is the only developed country

that awards plum ambassadorships to big contributors. It's embarrassing and every modern administration has done it. Fortunately, American ambassadors are figureheads who do photo ops with heads of state and go to lots of cocktail parties - their staffs do all the work.

[Wounded Bear]

8. Ummm, who the fuck are you Trump?

He can't fire anybody until Jan 20th. I call bullshit.

[Cyrano]

12. He's told them to resign BY Jan 20th

Nonetheless, this is just one more indication, (as if we needed one), as to how incredibly ignorant and dangerous Trump, and those around him, are.

I'd imagine that leaders of civilized countries around the world are speaking with each other and forming a unified plan of how to deal with the U.S. And take that to it's larger implication. That includes all of us. It seems that planet Earth is about to become a much more dangerous place.

I'm having trouble sleeping almost every single night. And I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one.

[heaven05]

9. Dangerous idiot

millions voted for this clown in a rigged election that made his "victory" seem plausible. Now WE ALL will reap what has been sown by those ameriKKKans and russia intrusion into our electoral process. THIS is not America anymore....which has become a satellite of russia in this obvious bromance between the smart one and our idiot.....I'm awake.....and we are fucked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sheshe2]

50. I am afraid you are right.

[kwassa]

11. Trump is a fool. That's all.

[world wide wally]

13. I just hope the CIA goes full throttle and arrests this prick for treason

He likes going to court.
Let him have his day.

[Cyrano]

14. Sorry, but the CIA can't arrest a president

Nonetheless, "We The People" never really get to learn what the CIA has done or not done. (Unless a criminal like Dick Cheney betrays a top operative.)

But here's the rub. Day one, the Orange Creature will appoint his own choice to head up the CIA. Not to mention the heads of every other government agency and dept.

Even so, Trump doesn't understand the size and complexity of the United States government. Making "quick" changes is like trying to turn around a battleship in a lake in Central Park.

[world wide wally]

19. Then they better arrest him before he's sworn in

[dumbcat]

20. The CIA can't arrest anyone

They are not a law enforcement agency.

Jesus, is Civics really a dead subject in US schools?

[world wide wally]

35. You know exactly what I mean so take your nitpicking elsewhere and use your advanced brainpower to

interpret

[dumbcat]

37. Yeah, and what you meant

was WRONG. Not much room for interpretation in what little you wrote. Most middle school students would know that.

You own it.

[world wide wally]

44. Apparently, in your little mind, arresting someone strictly means placing them in handcuffs and

escorting them to jail, so it would be wrong to say the CIA ever "busted" anybody.
If you want to argue semantics, go to your middle school English class. That or get a grip on what people are talking about before you show off your vastly superior knowledge of all things. Would you understand the phrase "Put a sock in it"? Or would you take that to mean you actually have to go look for a clean pair of socks?

[dumbcat]

49. Apparently, in your big brain, arresting someone means

whatever the fuck you want it to mean.

You know, we have the language, and vocabulary, and grammar, and semantics and all that shit for a purpose. So that people understand what the fuck you think you are talking about.

When you say something stupid, that the average high school freshman knows is completely wrong, don't be surprised when you are called out on it.

This is the sort of shit that the cons point to whenever we try to assert our intellectually superiority.

I would suggest you "arrest" your speech a bit, and put a little more intellect into your postings.

Goodbye.

[world wide wally]

51. I apologizing give for being so accurate in my description of you. It must have hit home

[linuxman]

23. That's not how any of that works.

[Cyrano]

26. Please ease up, linuxman

We're all on edge right now. Let's not pick on each other.

If there was ever a time that we must be unified, it's now.

My best to you. And let's all fight this horror together.

Regards,

Cyrano

[SammyWinstonJack]

40. Thank you.

[linuxman]

41. I'm cool.

People should just know the CIA isn't a law enforcement org, and it has no arrest powers.

[dumbcat]

42. Yeah, you're right

If someone on our team makes a faux pas and says something ignorant or stupid we just shrug and look the other way. But if those other guys do it, we are to mock them and call them ignorant and stupid. Because, well, we're all sort of on edge here. That's how we'll win.

[WillowTree]

46. I could be wrong, but I don't think such actions are allowed under the CIA's charter.

I think they're pretty much confined to foreign espionage/security matters/investigations and domestic activities are mostly confined to activities that are supportive of those foreign-based activities.

I'm quite sure that the CIA is not in any way chartered to be any manner of a domestic policing force.

[tritsofme]

22. I think this is more just plain mean spirited than anything.

The career diplomats that staff the embassies will carry on their work, but other than being an asshole, there is no reason to disrupt the lives of families in the middle of a school year.

[BadgerMom]

29. Barron

What you say is especially true in light of the fact that New Yorkers will be inconvenienced and taxpayers will spend big bucks to protect Melania and Barron in Trump Tower post-inauguration because Trump doesn't want his son's school year interrupted.

[tritsofme]

31. Wow, that hadn't occurred to me...What a nasty person.

[WillowTree]

47. This isn't about the career diplomats.

It's the ambassadors who are political appointees who are being told to resign.

[tritsofme]

55. That's my point. It won't really impact the diplomatic mission

it is just a mean-spirited jab at the ambassadors, who are usually granted temporary extensions on a case-by-case basis to wrap up family affairs.

[onenote]

62. actually, extensions are not "usually" granted. Very few are asked for.

Yes, the indication that such requests won't be entertained is a departure from past practice, but it impacts a very small number of posts.

Not that many of Bush's political ambassadors (which represent a relatively small proportion of all ambassadors) stayed on past Jan 20, 2009. Even though it often was as long as 7 to 9 months before their replacements took office.

[tritsofme]

66. We don't disagree.

My only point is that the announcement to not even consider requests is mean spirited, but not a threat to our diplomatic missions, as the OP and many are suggesting.

[onenote]

67. agreed

[HoneyBadger]

33. I read that it was envoys not ambassadors

[MineralMan]

36. Here's a link:

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2017/01/06/Trump-wont-give-grace-period-to-Obama-ambassadors-breaking-with-precedent/2121483722746/

Apparently, these are all ambassadors who are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. That's not all ambassadors, but it is all of those to major countries.

Career diplomatic workers aren't affected. What this will do is cut off guided face-to-face diplomatic communications between the US and foreign leaders. Those important communications are done through our ambassadors, not career diplomats.

It will take some time for new ambassadors to be appointed and confirmed. Then, each of those new ambassadors will have to go to the countries and rebuild personal relationships there. Career diplomats can help them with that, but I doubt that Trump trusts them, either.

This is actually pretty shocking. For example, the U.S. Ambassador to Japan is Caroline Kennedy. She's been in that position since 2013, and has built relationships there that have been very useful. She'll be out.

[LisaM]

53. Oh, but he's got Bobby Valentine lined up for that job.

Bobby effing Valentine. Let that sink in.

[onenote]

63. Again, this is only a small deviation from past practice

You can check the dates on which Bush's political ambassadors left office--far more often than not it was Jan 20, 2009. That includes the ambassador to Japan (who had served for four years). He was out as of Jan 20, 2009 and his replacement didn't present credentials to Japan until August 2009.

The fact that the Trumpers have indicated that they won't entertain requests for extensions for family purposes is a change, but not one that will impact that many ambassadorships or have any meaningful impact on our foreign services ability to do their jobs.

[lark]

38. That we will pay a steep and horrible price for his lunacy and greed is a foregone conclusion.

The only question is how deep the madness will go and can we survive it? The survival is definitely in doubt. If you include thriving in surviving, there's no doubt at all, this country, under Herr Orange's tiny hands is going down and the middle class and poor will be lucky to survive at all.

[Cyrano]

43. I hold the same fears as you, lark

The survival of the middle class and poor is for sure in question.

Having said that, I really don't give a rat's ass about those who voted for "Herr Orange." Yes, I know that most of them did so out of ignorance. But 75 years ago, countless millions died because of the ignorance of those who allowed their country to be seized by a dangerous demagogue who turned out to be one of the worst monsters in history.

Could that happen here? I believe it not only could happen, but could soon become a horrible reality.

In short, anyone who isn't scared is brain dead.

[gratuitous]

39. SOP when the ruling party changes

The folks in the ambassador positions are appointed and serve at the president's pleasure. When the governing party changes, it's standard operating procedure to ask the ambassadors to tender a letter of resignation. As the article points out, the ambassadors remain at their posts until their successor arrives.

What's different here is that Trump is requiring them all to come back to Washington DC for the inauguration, effectively decapitating our foreign service for nobody knows how long. I sure hope no hostiles see this as an opportunity to attack US embassies around the world. Sometimes that makes Republicans mad!

[Brother Buzz]

45. Trump is requiring them all to come back to Washington DC for the inauguration?

I understand the politically appointed ambassadors can just scatter to the winds, but you've piqued my curiosity, are you saying the remaining career ambassadors are being recalled to DC?

[onenote]

64. political ambassadors do not stay at their posts until their successor arrives

Even when they are granted a short extension beyond inauguration day, they typically are gone months before their successors arrive.

To give just one example (and there are many), Tom Schieffer left his post as ambassador to Japan on January 20, 2009. His replacement did not present his credentials until August 20, 2009.

[Renew Deal]

48. Probably better to resign before he takes office than to be associated with the carnage

[radical noodle]

54. Well, there's always those couriers...

[Motown_Johnny]

56. I can't wait to see what Slime Pres. Pond Scum appoints to those positions.

Want to see him filling the swamp (with slime)? Just watch who he picks as ambassadors.


This is going to be very very bad.

[Ilsa]

58. I'm surprised no one advising him has

tried to change his mind.

[hollowdweller]

61. Putin sent him a list of the people he wants appointed

He also told him to get the setting ones out as soon as possible to avoid any anti Russia moves.

[yuiyoshida]

65. Ya know, I could see a day all American Passports

will be considered Null and Void, until the Trump Administration decides to have his own people decide who can leave and who can not. You think that wall that will be built to keep Mexicans out? It can also keep Americans in. We are in for some bad shit... I can feel it.

[Fast Walker 52]

68. He's evil and insane... so freaking obnoxious and needless