Obama Pick for Brazil Job Held Up by Florida Senator, Aides Say

[struggle4progress]

By Joshua Goodman

Nov. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Senator George LeMieux of Florida is using Senate rules to block a vote on President Barack Obama’s nominee for ambassador to Brazil, U.S. Senate Republican and Democratic aides said.

The Republican aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said LeMieux, a Republican, was delaying a vote to confirm Thomas Shannon, currently the State Department’s top diplomat for Latin America, over the administration’s decision to initiate talks with Cuba on migration and direct mail service.

The Democratic aide confirmed the so-called hold had been placed by LeMieux, although the aide was unfamiliar with the reasons for the delay. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly expressed disappointment that Shannon’s nomination was being blocked without saying who was behind the action ...

The hold was placed immediately after Senator Jim DeMint, a South Carolina Republican, lifted his own three-month objection on Shannon and Arturo Valenzuela to replace him as assistant secretary of state for the Western Hemisphere ...

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=awbdiJvraOe4

[Downwinder]

1. After seeing Shannon's performance in Honduras, i might

agree with LeMieux.

[struggle4progress]

2. I'd bet he's playing deMint's game

[Judi Lynn]

3. Never heard about the guy Gov. Crist appointed to hold the job of Bush family friend, Cuban "exile"

Mel Martinez, who singlehandedly popped for a festive day at Disney World for little shipwrecked Cuban child, Elian Gonzales, and his scenery-chewing, highly dramatic, publicity loving, hysterical cousin Marisleysis Gonzales.

According to his Wikipedia, LeMieux has ALSO fallen under the magical spell of Jeb Bush for years.

http://images.politico.com.nyud.net:8090/global/news/090828_lemieux_crist_ap_297.jpg

LeMieux,delivering highly important government
information to his Governor, Charles Christ.