**** Elections thread *****

[OngBonga]

Or he gets fired. I'm sure it's pretty easy to fire an ambassador, given the sensetive nature of the job. I would hope it can be done purely on the whim of the Prime Minister.

[Poopadoop]

Or he gets fired. I'm sure it's pretty easy to fire an ambassador, given the sensetive nature of the job. I would hope it can be done purely on the whim of the Prime Minister.

There's all kinds of fallout from sacking an ambassador 'on a whim'. That's why it doesn't happen. Unless they guy is clearly ineffective e.g. because he's acting independently of orders, or he totally hates the country he's in and resigns, or he's a drunk, or w/e, and/or the host country foreign minister (or w/e the US equivalent is) says 'i can't work with this guy, please send someone else', he ain't getting fired. And certainly not for Farage lol.

[OngBonga]

There's all kinds of fallout from sacking an ambassador 'on a whim'. That's why it doesn't happen.

It happens. Check out the guy I mentioned. The government need only cite "national interest" as the reason, and the ambassador can do jack about it. The best he can hope for is his contract to be paid up in full. That's if he's lucky and they don't try to throw some dirt at him.

Again, someone is already there. There's no reason to think he's incompetent or in any way impeded from talking to the US about foreign affairs.

There's been an unexpected change of leadership. I would consider replacing the ambassador if I felt it furthered our interests.

Sure that's one solution. But the issue is that Trump didn't raise the possibility in private which would be showing us some respect. He made his view public and put our gov't in an embarrassing position.

Fair point.

[Poopadoop]

It happens. Check out the guy I mentioned. The government need only cite "national interest" as the reason, and the ambassador can do jack about it. The best he can hope for is his contract to be paid up in full. That's if he's lucky and they don't try to throw some dirt at him.

You mean the Kazakstan whistleblower guy? Ya, that's not sacking someone 'on a whim'. It's defensible (not saying it's right, just defensible) if the ambassador's views go against those of the people who hired him. See above on 'not following his gov'ts instructions'.

[OngBonga]

Not in 2003. 9/11 was largely still being taken at face value as a terrorist attack then.

I'm not referring to the conspiracy side of things. The footage of him at a school being told the attacks were under way demonstrated a very weak leader. His credibility was destroyed right there.

You mean the Kazakstan whistleblower guy? Ya, that's not sacking someone 'on a whim'. It's defensible (not saying it's right, just defensible) if the ambassador's views go against those of the people who hired him. See above on 'not following his gov'ts instructions'.

Uzbekistan, but yeah, him. By "on a whim", I mean at the sole discrection of the PM. It only needs to be in the national interests, as far as the PM is concerned. That could apply here, if indeed they wished to appoint Farage.

[Poopadoop]

I'm not referring to the conspiracy side of things. The footage of him at a school being told the attacks were under way demonstrated a very weak leader. His credibility was destroyed right there.

I lived in the US in 2001-2 and he did look pretty goofy in that moment. But he actually recovered pretty well iirc, he made a pretty good speech that night and gave the public what they wanted to hear. His approval ratings were still > 50% at least when the war in Iraq started.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/116500/pr...orge-bush.aspx

[Poopadoop]

Uzbekistan, but yeah, him. By "on a whim", I mean at the sole discrection of the PM. It only needs to be in the national interests, as far as the PM is concerned. That could apply here, if indeed they wished to appoint Farage.

I understand it's at the PM's discretion, but I don't think replacing someone is as simple as it sounds. They still have to think of the voter's perceptions. Chances are, pretty much no-one gives a shit who the ambassador to Uzbekistan is. Ambassador to the US is a different story.

[Poopadoop]

There's been an unexpected change of leadership. I would consider replacing the ambassador if I felt it furthered our interests.

I'm sure they could find an excuse to do that if they really wanted to. I'm not saying it's unimaginable. In fact it's a lot more likely that they sack him and replace him with someone else they like better than that they sack him and put in Farage.