"How the hell has Condi got away with it for so long?"

[PDittie]

Cragg Hines, Washington bureau chief for the Houston Chronicle dishes:

A cheeky Brit pol is ragging on the bearer of the Vestalian aura within the Bush crowd, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

What's more, the guy is a leading light in the Conservative Party, once such great chums with Bush's Republicans. ...

And the incipient backbiting I'd hope this guy's screed generates could make the dust-up between Rice, incensed professional woman, and Sen. Barbara Boxer, the California flamer-mother, look like the sitcom episode it was.

Actually, Johnson's extended paragraph could have been dictated by any number of Rice's erstwhile allies in the American conservative movement. Johnson knows some of the same folks I do who have been dishing Condi's intellectual capacity and judgment from the get-go.

Here's the extended paragraph he's referring to (I added the bold emphasis so it is slighly more readable), from the blog of MP Boris Johnson:

It is one of the great mysteries of modern geopolitics. How the hell has Condoleezza Rice got away with it for so long? There she is, Secretary of State of the United States and one of the most powerful people on the planet. It is Condi Rice who leads on behalf of you, me, the entire Western world, in waging this deepening Cold War with Iran. She is the girl who threatens Ahmedinejad with Armageddon, or whatever our policy is. And yet if you read State of Denial by Bob Woodward (as you must) it is clear that she was the most stupefyingly incompetent National Security Adviser in the history of that office. She was warned, in some detail, about 9/11. The CIA made a special trip to see her on 10 July 2001 to say that al-Qa'eda was planning something huge and imminent, and that a 'strategic' response was necessary. Uh-huh, said Condi, and did zip; and at every stage in the catastrophic 'War on Terror' her behaviour is characterised by this same weird zen-like passivity. Soon after the invasion the question emerges: should the US send many more troops? Condi somehow fails to offer an opinion. The Americans' first hapless proconsul, Jay Garner, asks her before setting out what the game plan is. Where is power to reside? he asks. Who do we want to run the country? You might have thought this was a fairly crucial question, but 'Rice said nothing.' When Garner's successor, Jerry Bremer, makes the appalling mistake of de-Baathifying Iraq, she doesn't seem to grasp the significance of what is going on. And yet she was so important in the decision-making process that she was one of only two people consulted by Bush before he made his decision to go to war. The whole thing is terrifying. I absolutely refuse to take seriously any American urgings to get tough on Iran as long as she is still part of the show. Rumsfeld was demonised until Bush finally whacked him. Colin Powell was whacked. How come Condi is still flying around telling us what to do? One of the many reasons for regretting the death of Robin Cook, Labour's conscience over Iraq, is that he never had the chance to interrogate her. I was all set to write the headline, 'Cook Turns Up Heat On Rice.' It's about time someone did.

:spank: :rofl:

[Ian David]

1. My guess is that Bush's relationship with Condi is similar to the one he has with Victor Ashe. n/t

[NewJeffCT]

4. can you fill us in on Ashe

for those of us who don't know who he is...

Thanks

[Warpy]

13. Ashe was the mayor of Knoxville

who got his butt brushed out of the country really fast when rumors started to circulate and some of us started to ask very pointed questions about his very obvious relationship with Stupid.

Google him for a laugh.

[NewJeffCT]

15. How could I have forgotten?

I guess with such a lengthy background, we need a program to keep track of Bush's tawdry personal life.

[mitchum]

23. He's bush's pear shaped lover...I guess Ashe reminds him of his harridan...

bitch of a mother

[Hawkowl]

39. Bush had sex with Ashe?

nt

[AndyA]

2. Condi has to be sleeping with the boss, don't you think?

She has committed one blunder after another, and she is apparently still held in high esteem by Bush, not that in and of itself this is such a big deal. Condi can't really answer any of the tough questions, if fact, she NEVER has any of the answers, she always has to "get back to you" with an answer. And never does.

I think she must be taking care of Shrub (in recognition of Molly), since Laura no longer is interested in him. And face it, sleeping with a drunk, arrogant, drug abuser can't be much fun.

[MonkeyFunk]

40. Isn't it possible

that both she and her boss are incompetent? Why does she have to be screwing the boss?

The idea is pretty sexist.

[Cosmocat]

3. I have been saying this for years now ...

and it just is STUNNING that there is a real faction of the freaks on the right, and the sheeple in between, who mention her name and presidential candidate in the same breathe ...

She was the director of national intelligence when 9-11 happened, and somehow got PROMOTED to secretary of state, where she has been a part of massive international blunders, been the SECRETARY OF STATE when they have occured ... And, SOMEHOW, people actually think she should be a presidential candidate ...

Jesus ...

[NewJeffCT]

7. And don't forget

Condi was put in charge of Iraq a few years back (before becoming Sec. of State). Bush said at the time that it was a sticky situation over there in Iraq, and that Condi was his "unsticker." (The mental image of the word "unsticker" still makes me cringe)

[poverlay]

10. OMG no doubt! Have you heard the song? My wife and I sing it all the time before we let loose with

gales of laughter!

It's actually a video and everyone HAS TO see it! I thought it was common knowledge, but if not I'm doing a post to GD right now.
You'll laugh yourself sick!

[PDittie]

19. I want to see the video if you have found it! eom

[poverlay]

20. Oh, it's my pleasure...

Enjoy:
(Actually, I think it's more of an annoying slideshow.)

http://www1.videoaddon.com/playvideo.asp?vid=782&vas=

[Flying Dream Blues]

52. Me, too. You're right it is stunning to think she could be President. nt

[Blackhatjack]

5. Unofficial Bio Title "Confessions of a Serial Shoe Shopper" .,....

At every critical time in her tenure at the WH, she has been off doing something else rather than carrying out the duties of her office.

She confuses GWB with being her 'husb..' even though she has never been married.

Her lack of knowledge about history of the Middle East shows through every attempt at analysis she spits out.

In the end, 'shoe shopping' is the only thing she does well, and that is because she got so much on the job training.

[tabasco]

6. Condi picks up embarrasssing America where Junior leaves off.

Sad days for America.

Our national leadership is composed of war profiteering criminals.

I don't know if the Dems will be able to clean this up!

[elehhhhna]

18. I loved when she went to Russia and proved she's NOT fluent in Russian,

whatsoever.

[leftofthedial]

8. one could ask the same question about king george himself

although in his case the answer is evident

[Captain Hilts]

9. Princess Feragamo needs to explain why she "forgot" about that July 10th meeting...

that scared Ashcroft so much,he stopped flying commercial aircraft.

[Supersedeas]

22. why the Aug PDB is historical and why a summary counts as benchmarks

[gratuitous]

11. This is affirmative action, Republican style

And it's not just confined to Dr. Rice; Associate Justice Thomas is another wonderful example of what Republicans think of when they talk affirmative action. They don't see past discrimination and injustice as being a de facto filter that screens out many perfectly qualified candidates on the sole basis of race. They see affirmative action as forcing unqualified people into jobs that are too big for them, and considering the careers of Rice and Thomas, they're not wrong. Considering the far more distinguished careers of millions of black people who got a chance denied many who came before them doesn't enter into their equation.

[Zodiak]

27. Good post, gratuitous

I agree with you completely.

The only African-American that the Repukes have put out there as competent is Colin Powell, and they dropped him like a hot potato (because he was more individually competent than all of BushCo, which doesn't fit the script). The only person of color the Bushies can tolerate is a completely ineffective lapdog (look at Gonzales, who doesn't even know the Constitution of U.S.). Condi and Thomas come to mind immediately, but let us not forget Blackwell, either.

I think this paradigm of the Republicans is racist...only alowing incompetents to be brought front and center as representatives of people of color. You can find them in any ethnic group, but the Pukes seem to be under the impression that is all that is within the group.

I have a corollary hypothesis that perhaps a person of color has to be an incompetent idiot to not see that the Republicans don't care about them (remember, we are talking small minorities of minorities). Therefore the only people of color you see in the Republican party are incompetents. Sort of self-selection of people with no sense of self-preservation or shame.

Too bad (for them) that their strategy is countered by the awesome presence of so many Democrats of color. Obama comes to mind...that man can speak circles around the entire Senatorial field...both sides of the aisle. Condi couldn't talk her way out of a paper bag and probabaly gets railroaded by other heads of state.

[SheilaT]

12. She ALWAYS

looks and sounds as if she's lying. It's really rather weird. And "stupifyingly incompetent" just begins to cover it. Start with the fact that her area of expertise was in a country that had disappeared (the Soviet Union) a decade before Bush took office. She was among those who didn't see that collapse coming.

And I'm offended by the constant suggestions she sleeps with W or other such crude ideas. Not that I assume anyone's a saint. But I don't simply assume the scatological worst, and there are times when posters here really do go a little too far. We ought to keep the comments at a higher level. In short, we claim to be better than they are, and we ought to act like it.

[WinkyDink]

36. Because she IS always lying? That would be my guess.

[SheilaT]

51. It's my guess, also.

I don't really understand why no one else has ever commented on it, so far as I can tell.

[porphyrian]

14. 80% of incompetents believe they are good at what they do. - n/t

[elehhhhna]

16. Rec #4

[donsu]

17. she's only doing and saying what the neo cons tell her to

she's a good gang member - does what she is told

thus earning lovely perks

[AspenRose]

21. Because if you criticize her based on actual merit (or lack thereof),

you'll be considered racist and/or sexist by the GOP.

And since no one wants to be called racist or sexist, people shut up and won't call her out on her incompetence.

That's how she's gotten away with it.

It's playing the race/gender card, GOP-style.

It's how Alberto Gonzales has gotten away with it too.

[AnneD]

26. and Colin Powell too

imho. But at least he did learn something from his time in Nam-respect for the fighting man-and how to avoid quicksand.

[Zodiak]

28. He has also played enough Axis and Allies

to know that overwhelming force is the best way to win a war. But ANY wargamer could tell you that....it is probably military strategy 101 - day one. I wouldn't know for sure because I have never been in the military...but I know wargaming.

[AnneD]

29. Remember,

Powell was one of the Doves in the Cabinet. He didn't want to fight, but when Bush threw a tantrum-Powell was a 'good soldier' and then he hung around just enough to seem decent then left the administration. He lost face in this one. Bush and Co. used Powell's imprimatur of respectability and integrity. And they humiliated him in a most public manner. He set himself up for that trap-Bush is the last person you trust.

[The Count]

24. She is the token "black woman" lightning rod - hence very useful

Attack her and you are a racist woman hating. She is delberately sent out with the most outrageous statements of the BFEE for this reason.

[Cocoa]

25. "Cook turns up heat on Rice"

I would have liked to see that headline. :rofl:

[Gelliebeans]

30. She doesn't know jack about

national security but she knows how to pick the most gorgeous pair of Ferragamo pumps, just ask her :eyes:

[MonkeyFunk]

31. wow

this thread has it all!

The assertion that Bush is gay (because we know all evil republicans must be gay), Condi only rising to her position because she's fucking (the presumably gay) Bush, AND that she's better suited (being a woman, naturally) to shoe-shopping.

Rumsfeld sucked, but nobody suggested Bush was fucking him. Why can't we just say she's bad at her job without insinuating that she's fucking the boss or is more temperamentally-suited to more "feminine" activities like shoe-shopping?

[suegeo]

32. She actually does buy expensive shoes

When Hurrican Katrina ripped through, and people were drowning, dying of thrist, or insert suffering moment here, the southern Ms. Rice was in New York, relaxing. Taking in some shows. Buying $500 pairs of shoes.

All while citizens were thirsty and getting shot at by assholes working for Blackwater.

Condi is THAT bad. Her activites do include shoe shopping while Rome burns.

[MonkeyFunk]

33. Yes

she bought expensive shoes.

Bush buys expensive suits.

I think the idea that she should "go shopping" instead of being SoS is sexist.

[PDittie]

34. So what would you call the idea

of shoe-shopping, taking in a Broadway play, and working on her tennis backhand while New Orleans drowned?

Just curious.

[MonkeyFunk]

35. I'd call it entirely irrelevant

this thread is dripping with sexism and homophobia.

The idea that she only has her job because she's fucking the boss is sexist.

Bush wears expensive suits. Rumsfeld wore nice suits. why doesn't anybody talk about them shopping?

[PDittie]

37. I think she's incompetent

period. Perhaps you missed that part of my OP.

[MonkeyFunk]

38. I'm not objecting to the OP

I'm objecting to the posters here who insinuate that Bush is gay, and that Rice got her job because she's fucking the boss.

[Hawkowl]

41. Actually

I'm insinuating she KEEPS her job because she's fucking her boss. She has slipped and referred to shrub as her HUSBAND in the past. The women I know do NOT refer to their bosses in this manner. You need to realize that an attack on an incompetent woman is not an attack on an entire gender. By defending Kindasleazy you lose some credibility. As far as shoe shopping, man or woman, is a NO NO, when you are supposed to be 100% engaged in shuttle diplomacy during war time in the fucking middle east and you take time out to be photographed shopping and laughing.

[MonkeyFunk]

44. the 'husband' thing

has never had any evidence to back it up. It was supposedly "overheard" at a dinner party.

I don't think I lose credibility by pointing out sexism, and I firmly believe it IS sexism to imply that Rice's position was gained (or retained) only by virtue of her having sex with the boss.

You may not be aware of it, but for many many years, any woman who attained any position of power was accused by her detractors of not having actually EARNED the job, but of having slept with somebody to get it. It's an old slur, and one that we should get away from.

[PDittie]

42. I'm clear on your objection

I think you might be hyper-ventilating (through your fingers on the keyboard) about it at this point, however.

This forum is chock full of that kind of ad hominem. When it gets to be too much for me personally, I hide a thread (or go elsewhere).

[MonkeyFunk]

43. well

the fact is, that the rules here prohibit such sexism and homophobia.

I'm not hyperventilating - I'm pointing out to people that maybe they should consider expressing their opposition to Bush and Rice without making scurrilous accusations about their sexuality.

[Susang]

45. You're not alone in noticing it

The sexism shows up on any thread related to Condoleeza Rice, Laura Bush, Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, etc., etc., and it's so tired.

The gay = evil thing really bugs the shit out of me. We're supposed to be progressive and we end up looking hypocritical.

[HEyHEY]

47. Ad hominem? Is that a new spin on homophobic sexism?

[PDittie]

49. Since ad hominem is Latin

I doubt it could ever be considered "new". :P

[HEyHEY]

50. *snort*

[HEyHEY]

46. Because their wives do the shopping for them.... DUH

[Cleita]

48. My opinion is that Condi as well as the other nabobs in Bush's

administration are doing their job, and when they stop doing it or object, they get wacked. However, what her real job is, we the proletariat don't know. It certainly isn't to fill the shoes of Secretary of State as we understand it. IMHO she is occupying the job so no one else can come in and do what is expected of the SOS and muck up the long range planning of the so-called Pax Americana, kind of like a place holder at the Academy Awards who sits in the seat until the movie star arrives.

These neo-con globalists were counting on being in power a long time considering how they have gone about trying to dismantle the Constitution and our democracy piece by piece. I think the last election really surprised them. They were confident their plan to win elections would win again giving them a couple of more years to operate in and invade Iran and Syria according to plan.

Condi et al are still trying to implement the pre-concieved game plan regardless because they don't have a back up plan. The sooner we get rid of the whole lot of them, the better chance we have to save our country.