RE: Russ Feingold defending Mark Green?

Welcome to the world according to U.S. Senators Fred. Where your confirmation is held up not for what you have done, but for what your predecessor's done.

A Connecticut senator blocked approval Wednesday of former Rep. Mark Green as the new ambassador to Tanzania because of concerns about the outgoing ambassador in the East African nation.

U.S. ambassador Michael Retzer revoked Peace Corps country director Christine Djondo's authority to remain in Tanzania.

Sen. Christopher Dodd, a former Peace Corps volunteer and a big booster of the agency, placed a hold on Green's nomination as the Senate Foreign Relations Committee prepared to approve Green's nomination along with about two-dozen other nominations.

Dodd, a committee member and Democratic presidential candidate, did not attend Wednesday's meeting.

I'm gonna guess Dodd won't be asked about this for sometime. The MSM out here has a tendency to never ask him the really tough questions.

If there's one thing I can tell you about DC, besides the fact no one talks on the Metro...ever, is that it's the phoniness of the place that gets to you first.

That or it's so prevalent, you just get used to it after a while.

UPDATE: Dodd's been given his ego-stroking by the State Department, the hold is over. Admittedly, I don't know if the apology is the same as a waitress sandwich with Teddy Kennedy while your dates are in the bathroom.

Of course, with everyone on the Hill looking more forward to the 4th of July recess than their jobs, I doubt you'll see movement on Green's nomination until the week after next.