Remember "Dyslexic Heart" that awesome Paul Westerberg song from the '90s? "Do I love you? Do I hate you? I got a dyslexic heart," the former Replacements frontman waffled. Somebody should gift Sam Brownback the song on iTunes.
The outgoing Kansas senator might find it very inspiring as he tries to explain why he derailed Francis Ricciardone Jr.'s nomination to be ambassador to Turkey even though he was totally crazy about the guy in 2002.
Politco obtained
a letter dated in June of 2002, in which he gushed about Ricciardone --
who was then ambassador to the Philippines -- and his efforts to free a
kidnapped missionary and his wife. Although the missionary died, his
wife survived. Brownback wrote, "I pushed hard for your confirmation
because I knew in my heart that you would do a great job representing
America's interests."
Brownback even scrawled a note along the bottom of the letter that read,
"Thanks so much, Frank! You have done wonderful work!"
But now the future governor has soured on the longtime envoy. Brownback blocked Ricciardone's nomination, complaining that he's not as big on human rights democracy as he should be. Brownback wrote to
Secretary of State Hilary Clinton that Turkey is sliding away from
secularism and "I am concerned that this situation will not change under
Ambassador
Ricciardone." Maybe Brownback will be in high spirits after he's elected governor (and he will be elected) and lift the hold when he returns to D.C. to finish up his term.
Here's the letter:
Comments (0)