Bush decides to nominate friend Schieffer as ambassador to Japan Kyodo Press / Nov 25--U.S. President George W. Bush has decided to nominate his longtime Texas friend Thomas Schieffer as new ambassador to Japan to replace Howard Baker...
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IHT/Asahi: November 20,2004...the former Bush business partner would be the ''closest'' ever U.S. ambassador to a sitting president sent to Japan, sources said.
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PETER ENNIS, Editor-in-Chief, Oriental Economist --There is no doubt Bush and Schieffer are close friends. Still, Japanese officials are not very happy. Schieffer doesn't know the Hill, much less the Pentagon and State bureaucracy, in the way that Baker did. Over the past few years, Japanese diplomats depended on Baker a lot to communicate with DC. Just because Schieffer can call the president, doesn't mean he can coordinate in the way that Baker could.
Let's see. But, you'll notice, another Bush appointment based on close personal connections.
