Posted on 07/16/2002 4:04:57 PM PDT by PatriotReporter
Bush names Tony Garza ambassador to Mexico
WASHINGTON -- President Bush selected longtime loyalist Tony Garza to be ambassador to Mexico today, saying the native Texan has an "in-depth understanding" of the U.S.-Mexico relationship.
Garza, 43, a second-generation American whose four grandparents were from Mexico, is currently one of three elected members of the Railroad Commission of Texas, which regulates the state's oil and natural gas production.
"The U.S. and Mexico share not only a border, but a rich history of common economic and cultural interests. Tony Garza has an in-depth understanding of the relationship between the United States and Mexico and its impact on the people of both nations," Bush said in a statement accompanying the announcement of Garza's nomination.
"He has served the people of Texas with honor and distinction and will be an outstanding representative of the United States," the president continued.
If confirmed by the Senate, Garza would replace Ambassador Jeffrey Davidow, the career diplomat posted to Mexico City by President Clinton in 1998.
Garza issued a statement calling the nomination "a great honor" and saying he looked forward to working with senators on the confirmation process.
"I cannot think of a more qualified person," Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, said after meeting Bush on a different topic. "Tony Garza is going to be someone who will represent our country and represent the views of our country very well, but from the perspective of experience and knowledge on both sides of the border that I have never seen before in a nominee."
The first cabinet member that Bush appointed after being elected Texas governor, Garza served as secretary of state from January 1995 to November 1997. Under Bush, the position became that of lead liaison on border and Mexican affairs.
Garza grew up across the border from Matamoros, Mexico, and speaks fluent Spanish.
Garza's election to the railroad commission in 1998 made him the first Hispanic Republican elected to statewide office in Texas. In 2000, he was an assistant secretary to the Republican National Convention.
Bush has worked hard to court Hispanic voters for his 2004 re-election bid.
Garza also served as a county judge from 1988 to 1995, a position that involved a number of border-related issues.
He was a candidate to be Bush's housing secretary, but lost out to Mel Martinez. Garza reportedly was at one time a favorite of Texas Gov. Rick Perry to replace Republican Sen. Phil Gramm, who is stepping down at the end of his third term in January 2003.
He's working hard to alienate the base also..
There are a couple of hand grenades he will have to negotiate on the way to 2004.
Immigration is one, the assault weapons ban is another.
Both are biggies with Conservative voters.
So? This is the way it should be. Ambassadors should not be appointed because of political donations or connections. I want the US ambassador to the Vatican to be a catholic, the ambassador to Russia to speak Russian, the ambassador to Israel to be Jewish or at approve of the Zionist movement and so on.
Also the politics of an ambassador don't really make a difference. Tancredo could be appointed as Ambassador to Mexico, but that woudn't close the border or put a stop to run away immigration into the US. The ambassador just has to have parties, keep the embassy staff running smoothly, and articulate US political positions that are made by people other than him.
America is being destroyed because of immigration.
Maybe that doesn't matter to you, but it does to me.
you will see!!
Do you need any more exaple than 9-11.
What bothers me the most is the Americans are giving up their liberty and freedoms becaue of immiration.
if Bill clinton did home land defense you world be Screaming
It's changing our Christian country to a Vulcanization of America.
Can these multi cultis ever say something without using the stupid cliché *rich*?
Tony Garza has an in-depth understanding of the relationship between the United States and Mexico and its impact on the people of both nations,"
TRANSLATION: He will be working hard for Mexico. Illegal immigration will not be an issue.
Bush said in a statement accompanying the announcement of Garza's nomination.
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