Rice Is Top Candidate to Replace Powell -Sources (Reuters)

[LearnedHand]

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=IAOITNEGB3ZKCCRBAE0CFEY?type=topNews&storyID=6816698

(short article)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - National security adviser Condoleezza Rice emerged as the likely candidate on Monday to replace resigning Secretary of State Colin Powell, Republican sources said.

Rice has been President Bush's national security adviser since Bush took office in January 2001 and has been one of his closest confidantes. She was previously the provost of Stanford University.

Knowledgeable Republican sources described Rice as the likely successor to Powell, whose resignation was announced on Monday. A successor to Powell was not expected to be announced on Monday.

================

<sigh> WhatEVER!

[Liberal Veteran]

1. Replace one known liar with another....

Yay! Color me unimpressed.

[Ctrl_Alt_Del]

15. Color me unsurprised

What else could anyone possibly expect from this group of thugs?

I'm sure Rice already has the WMD-to-Syria slideshow ready to roll.

Goddamn, I hate these people. :mad:

[Rambis]

40. I am speechless, much like George Bush

Holy crap! This is why this election meant so much to this country. The CIA purge now this, YIKES!

[Dulcinea]

60. She's loyal to the Bush clan.

That's all that matters as far as they're concerned.

[barb162]

61. she's terrible but you know what? I heard a name being passed around

was Paul Wolfowicz. I think he would be far far worse, just gunning for more wars all over the world.

[mulethree]

71. do you think he could get confirmed?

It might be fun to watch. Surely a third of the republicans in congress hate him more than they love bush? Or do I give them too much credit to assume that means they would oppose his nomination?

[barb162]

74. I think the pugs in Congress act like the Borg than anything so I

think he could get confirmed. Condi looks like the person to be at State except for one big thing...* likes having her around to read newspapers and tell him the news in the morning. I don't know if he could get by with her in a different building several blocks away.

[Ima]

76. Rice=yes girl

[AspenRose]

2. Out of the frying pan, into the fire

eom

[aquart]

3. LOL!

Yeah, that'll work. A failed, discredited whatever-the-hell she was now becomes secretary of state.

World War III here we come. Oh, wait. We can't fight World War III. We haven't got an army and our equipment has to wait for parts from overseas.

[Sparkle]

4. Wow! A National Security Advisor allows this country's worse tragedy

to happen on their watch and what do they get....a promotion. Unbelievable.

[Ganja Ninja]

39. Right! Take the most incompetent person in an incompetent ...

cabinet and promote her to the top spot. Know wonder Bush is such a consistent failure. :shrug:

[Beam Me Up]

48. "Incompetent" my ass.

Wake up, people. These people have taken us PRECISELY where they wanted. They are not there to protect US, they are there to further THEIR AGENDA--and that is precisely what they have done--over the bodies of thousands upon thousands of people. And they've only just BEGUN. Next stop: Nuclear war in the middle east justified by a nuclear attack either against a US city, against a European city, or against our forces in the ME.

If I'm wrong, good on me. If I'm right, there will be no turning back from full-on war in the Middle East--fed by OUR dollars and OUR children. Oh, yes, and they are going to bring that war home--right here to the sweet ol' USA. That's you and me.

[mulethree]

72. Doesn't have to be a nuclear provocation

We have a policy that lets us go nuclear in response to chem or bio attacks.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

77. I agree

You're dead right on about it all, and we're all dead.

I really believe that Shrub is heading us all towards his demented version of The Rapture. Dr. Strangelove, and a weird mass suicidal vision, that's what I think he's caught up in, as are all the people around him.

This one, I must admit, goes beyond even my worst-case scenario.

[Julius Civitatus]

46. Indeed! Talk about falling upwards

She was caught asleep at the wheel during the worst security/intelligence failure in US history. Instead of having her ass canned, she's promoted. This is definitely the "soft bigotry of low expectations," which seems to apply not just to Junior, but to his entire gang. There's no limit to how much you can screw up your duties, as long as you are loyal to Dubya, you keep your job... and even get promoted!

We are fucked.

[shanti]

49. so what's new?

n/t

[havocmom]

64. NSA off defending the junta instead of defending National Security

gets promotion for being scrappy out on the campaign trail instead of parking her hind end at her desk and keeping an eye on the many things which affect National Security. There's some interesting values for Americans to ponder!

Enthusiasm and willingness to lie in support of criminals more important than working for the nation's best interests. Ah, yes, the Corportist Junta = PR and propaganda for the masses while the nation, its treasury and laws are savaged.

[calimary]

65. Not only that, but it was SHE who was given the job of overseeing and

"coordinating" post-war Iraq.

A WORLD-CLASS fuck-up. No wonder she gets along with bushie-boy so well. No wonder they're virtually joined at the hip. They're two peas in a pod.

Gee, just think how thoroughly she could fuck up the State Department. Next, why not put her in charge of the CIA?

Besides, she's a Cold War expert, a "sovietologist." She's an expert on the Soviet Union - a superpower adversary that no longer exists. In international conditions that no longer exist. Perhaps this would position them to rehabilitate, or resurrect, the Cold War.

If you want something to be FUBAR, make sure you put Contradicta on it.

[Webster Green]

5. Peter validated....

The Peter Principle was first introduced by L. Peter in a humoristic book (of the same title) describing the pitfalls of bureaucratic organization. The original principle states that in a hierarchically structured administration, people tend to be promoted up to their "level of incompetence". The principle is based on the observation that in such an organization new employees typically start in the lower ranks, but when they prove to be competent in the task to which they are assigned, they get promoted to a higher rank. This process of climbing up the hierarchical ladder can go on indefinitely, until the employee reaches a position where he or she is no longer competent.

[skypilot]

24. The only problem with that is...

...that Rice will be getting promoted without having demonstrated competency in her current position as National Security Advisor. So, she is, in fact, doubly unqualified for the position of Secretary of State.

[Zero Gravitas]

26. In this Amdinsitration the State Department

is the enemy. Her job, apparently, is not to ensure the country's security but to distort evidence (or just plain make things up) to justify the PNAC agenda. She'll be at State to make sure that Reality-Based career diplomats stay in line.

[ashling]

25. that would tend to invalidate the principle

any promotion would be ABOVE her level of incompetence.:puke:

[arikara]

45. But this organization is a little different than most...

... in a chimp administration the demonstrated ability to lie, cheat, steal and spout a corrupt party line are the more important criteria for promotion. Competence is not an issue with this organization, in fact it seems to be a hindrance. The better the liar, the more slick the thief, the more quickly they will get promoted beyond their level of competence.


This is my 1000th post!
:toast:

[OldLeftieLawyer]

79. ::::: applause :::::::::::::

[Buzz Clik]

6. Holy crapoli!

Powell had moral underpinnings and a decent heart. Condi is just another cog in the wheel, hand-chosen for Dubya by Daddy Bush. This is not good.

[Old and In the Way]

11. Moral underpinnings and decent heart?

Like lying at the UN to push the Big Oil invasion? Or helping to squash the Mai Lai massacre?

Perhaps we differ on definitions. Colin certainly does look and sound like a reasonable man, though. Perfect front man to market our ME designs on the world.

[truthseeker1]

32. What was Powell's involvement in Mai Lai?

Do you mean he tried to prevent it from becoming publicly known? What was his position at the time (rank/role)?

[Old and In the Way]

47. You can google ColinPowell and Mai Lai,

But here's a lonk to check:

http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/My%20Lai%20massacre

[uppityperson]

54. He was better than the rest of the bushites

and he endorsed condom use. Small thing, but better than nothing.

[Old and In the Way]

70. But he did spearhead the entire Iraqi War, even though he knew

the evidence was bullshit. He could have made a difference in the public perception if he had resigned in protest over this criminal action. Instead, he is as guilty as the rest of them.

[katmondoo]

12. Now he can do whatever he wants

One more incompetent person makes no difference. It doesn't matter who is secretary of state Bush won't work with any country that disagrees with him.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

78. What "decent heart'?

What? You see him as a whore with a heart of gold?

I think a man with a shred of decency would have resigned in protest at what they were planning to do in Iraq and made public everything that was in the works.

How many thousands of people would still be alive if Powell had a decent heart?

He's as murderous a thug as the rest of them.

[mike_c]

7. Mr. President, can I lick your boots today...?

Who's your daddy, Condi? Bark for me! Who's your daddy?

[Demeter]

8. Why Do Thoughts of Dolores Umbridge Float Though My Mind?

Can't imagine anyone more incompetent than Condi, for ANY govt. job, including janitor and parking attendant.

[calimary]

68. Dolores Umbridge struck some of us as more ashcroftian.

EVEN SO, I can't help but seeing parallels all over the place.

I keep quoting Mad-Eye Moody - "CONSTANT VIGILANCE!!!!!" You could NOT have more relevant advice for our stricken condition here in America.

[sonicx]

9. yeah, she really earned this one...

[exJW]

10. Good lord.... can you imagine.... *big sigh* n/t

[Stinky The Clown]

13. You know who's REALLY angry about this?

Olive Oyl ..... she wants her hair back

[Rose Siding]

14. They'll have to hurry to destroy Tenet before his book is released

The former spy chief "trashes" the national security adviser in his book proposal, one publishing insider tells us.

"He claims she was incompetent, that she didn't do her job" when it came to protecting the country from terrorists, the source says.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/col/story/252783p-216383c.html

[Pirate Smile]

16. Well, they continue with the policy of incompetence gets rewarded and

encouraged. That is the "mandate" of the election as Bush understands it.

[yellowcanine]

17. Rice knows even less about diplomacy than she does national security.

This would be a disaster.

[Seabiscuit]

57. Can you imagine the leader of any foreign government giving her

the time of day? I can't.

After her wretched performance lying to the 9-11 Commission and to the country about Iraq and Saddam's WMDs, she has ZERO credibility with the rest of the world.

They'll just brush her off like lint.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

80. Same as they did Powell

Powell knew bupkes about how to be Secretary of State, and he was treated like a guest abroad, not as a colleague or anyone with any kind of gravitas.

He was in over his head, too.

But, boy, the Bushes sure know how to play the race card, and look good doing it, don't they? Ask Clarence Thomas.

[Seabiscuit]

91. Re: "how to play the race card"...

Thomas, Powell and Rice are all they can come up with - unprincipled sell-out pushovers for the right-wing mafioso/Bush family cartel.

The black community in America isn't buying it. 90% of voters in Washington, D.C. (a predominantly black city) voted against Bush.

Maybe it's time to form a new Black Panther Party.

[tandot]

18. She was totally incompetent as National Security Adviser.

I guess that would make her a perfect candidate for Secretary of State. Bush loves incompetence. It would be bad for his self-esteem if his cabinet members are more competent than he is.

[Generator]

59. I deserve to be slapped for laughing at that but I take my laughs wherever

I can get them these days.

[bluedeminredstate]

She's incompetent!!!

What does she have to do to get booted from the administration entirely?
This leaves me speechless - I can't think of anyone less diplomatic and able.

[ElectroPrincess]

19. No way this will happen! ... I'd bet money on it :-).

Who do you think baby sits Dubya during the day? Hint: It sure as hell isn't Pickles or Dick. She has functioned primarily as *'s Personal Assistant and Executive Branch Ornament.

Nope, it's just a media "tease" to laud the old broad (hey, I'm six years older than her so can say the foregoing) who just enjoyed a super PRIVATE and plush Executive Branch 40th Birthday Party.

on edit: Correction - Condi celebrated her 50th Bday. Damn, she still's corrupt but the ole' broad does age gracefully. <blush>

[holboz]

20. Are we being Punked here??

Surely not. PLLEEEAAAASSEEE not. After reading Richard Clarke's book I'm not sure if she's the right person for this job. Come on...we can do so much better than Condi for this very important position.

IMO she failed in her post as NSA. I lost my confidence in her the moment she revealed the title of that Aug. 6th brief during the 9/11 hearings (Bin Laden determined to attack in the U.S.) and then said this document only contained historical data. Um, the title alone should have got everyone off their butts and ended vacations in Crawford to deal with an escalating situation.

Seriously, though...how can you go from the very distinguished Colin Powell (whom I have LOADS of respect for and would vote for if he ran for President) to Condi Rice?

[Anarcho-Socialist]

22. Rational analysis like yours isn't something to find in the Bush* regime

That's why the rumour to me sounds very believable.

[ElectroPrincess]

23. Read about Colin Powell's role in the cover up of war crimes

during the Vietnam Conflict. Damn, some people are easily fooled by enablers like Powell and Tenet. They have ZERO integrity because when it comes down to the wire, they choose their career over their Country and Co-workers every time.

[Kolesar]

53. Condi's hearings ought to turn into a real donnybrook

She won't have the power to demand scant minutes to testify and then fillibuster and run the clock out like she did to Mr. Benvenisti on the 9/11 panel.

I hope the Democrats on the committee have some huevos this time.

[Generator]

58. The last four years certainly seem that way, don't they? The more you know

You are not the only one to come up with that feeling. Things are so rotten in Denmark it seems like- a play! a movie! a bad TV show! but NO it's reality circa 2004 America.

Welcome to hell.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

81. You would vote for Powell for President

The man who stood by and did nothing as this White House planned an insane attack on Iraq? The man who then went whining to Bob Woodward about how he had been dissed by the Bush thugs?

The man who's responsible - as are they all - for the deaths in Iraq?

That's a man you'd support?

Naw, you're too smart for that.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

21. I see what they're doing - replacing an unconvincing liar

with a more convincing liar.

Powell, you threw your lot in with these neo-cons and it's ruined your reputation and any notion of honesty in you.

[chookie]

35. Condi is an EXCELLENT liar! But there's another reason they need her.

Her lying is almost flawless. It is breathtaking in its scope, creativity and execution. Colin could be an effective liar when instructed to do so, but his heart was never in it -- he just went through the motions. But that Condi! There is real passion and verve and fierce inner drive in her to be the best liar out there.

Other reason Condi will be chosen: race and gender. It will be Condi's job to ram the new Amerikan nazism down the throats of a reluctant world that now regards the most powerful nation in the world the most DANGEROUS nation in the world. Therefore, when they reject Condi, the "spin" Mr Rove will instruct the flying monkeys and the media to put on it is that the ONLY reason they will not accept Condi is because she is black, and that she is a woman, and therefore Mr Chirac, Mr Schroeder, are racist and sexist -- whereas George W is the true progressive champion of women and minorities.

When Mr Wolfowitz is made Secretary of Defence -- because Rumfeld is believed not be be quite crazy enough to fulfil all the duties W requires -- when he forces the new Amerikan nazism on the world, who will reject it, the "spin" Mr Rove will instruct the flying monkeys and the media to put on it is that the ONLY reason they will not accept Paul because he is a Jew, and that we are living in an age of rising anti-Semitism, which George W is bravely fighting, because he works day and night to never allow another holocaust to occur.

Gotta love the irony.

[Cocoa]

50. Powell was ashamed of his lies, at least somewhat

Rice doesn't have the capacity for shame.

This would be a stroke of brilliance on Bush's part, I don't think he could pick a worse Secretary of State. :toast:

[Maat]

51. You called it perfectly, Chookie.

They really like to set up that 'they're sexist/they're racist' thing. Like shoving it in progressives' faces. I know that you are right because their right-wing websites reflect that .. see newsmax, townhall.com, etc.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

83. She's an untouchable liar

They can always claim racism and/or sexism.

And, you know they would.

Just when I think I can't possibly hate them any more, THEY PULL ME BACK IN!

[chookie]

85. Thanks for the laugh

>>Just when I think I can't possibly hate them any more, THEY PULL ME BACK IN!<<

Gosh I'd love to steal that for my sig line!! It's great.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

87. Tell you what ...........

Let's both use it.

Deal?

[nolabels]

27. Well duh

No body with any integrity that was holding a rational mind would want to accept that job. Besides who likes to be used as a doormat?

[OldLeftieLawyer]

84. Condi does

House N****R comes to mind.

[brook]

90. I hate that...

but it's exactly what went through my mind.

And, as Chookie said, no matter what you say - it'll get thrown back at you as "misogynist" bigot" racist" ad nauseum- take your pick.

I hate these fuckers.

<excuse the language - I'm just really angry and frustrated tonight.>

[whistle]

28. Give me a break, Condolessa Rice as U.S. Secretary of State?

...Talk about a mismatch of qualifications and personality, this is the National Security Advisor who said she did not think an FBI/CIA report brief titled "Bin Laden to Attack U.S." worthy of priority alert status and that allowed the events of September 11, 2001 to unfold without challenge or immediate military response. Other countrie sknew before we Americans became aware that something was not right and that our leadership had their heads buried up each othe's asses:

<snip>

Updates from AIJAC

The Bin Laden Files

September 17, 2001
Number 09/01 #08

<snip>

On May 29, the U.S. State Department issued an international warning cautioning American citizens that they could become the targets of terrorist groups linked to Bin Laden. On June 22, the U.S. Fifth Fleet patrolling the Persian Gulf was ordered to put to sea in response to a threat by Bin Laden to attack U.S. interests around the world. The U.S. Embassies in Manama, Bahrain and Dakar, Senegal were closed, and U.S. military installations in the Gulf were ordered to the highest state of alert, "Threatcon Delta." On June 24, the Middle East Broadcasting Corporation reported that followers of Bin Laden were planning strikes against U.S. and Israeli targets in the weeks to come.

<link> http://www.aijac.org.au/updates/Sep-01/170901.html

Confirming Condolessa Rice as Secretary Of State would assure the Bush administration of a full green light to launch WW IV.

[Emboldened Chimp]

29. Why? She's an incompetent boob...just like her boss...

[demokatgurrl]

30. I KNEW she was getting this job...

As soon as I heard about the Powell resignation, and having heard rumors that she was going to be rewarded with a promotion, I sent my friends an email predicting this. But, I kind of hoped I was wrong.

What a reward for incompetence. Will the Dems have the BALLS to fight this appointment? Don't count on it.

[chookie]

37. What -- Democrats fight?

You mean Democrats in America? Ha ha ha ha ha! Thanks, I needed a laugh.

Actually, there WILL be those who will fight. There WILL be a few who dare to speak the truth when the controversial choices come up -- but they will cave in when the Republicans pull another Clarence Thomas ploy. When outed as an incompetent ideologue sexual harasser, Thomas was instructed to say that he was the victim of a high-tech lynching, because he is an uppity negro. It was a bold tactic, so blatantly false that the Senate should have been rocking in raucous laughter at such an absurdity, but ALL the good guys caved at that point.

Condi will be instructed to say that she is facing opposition because she is black and a woman, and clearly the Democrats are not as progressive in their thinking as George W.

Paul Wolfowitz will be instructed to say that Jews like himself are used to this kind of persecution, and that he is the victim of a high-tech pogrom.

etc etc

[FLSurfer]

31. Does she have to resign from her

job at National Security first? Then, does she have to be confirmed into the Secretary of State position?
Could she not be approved? Then, we'll be rid of her?

[Triana]

33. Gotta keep that token black...

...in place. Who else could replace him, in that case?

[54anickel]

34. NOOOoooo! Not a "Promotion outta harms way" tactic. ACKKK!

This was the same trend at my former employer...til they went belly-up.

[ElectroPrincess]

36. She will NOT be selected ... U NO WORRY.

As I mentioned before, she's the only one to keep W in check. Not even Card can calm him down like Condi when he gets angry. Condi will remain AS IS.

If she's selected, I'll admit to being a pin head. LOL <I don't believe I am wrong on this one ... crossing fingers>

[Kool Kitty]

38. Yes, she IS incompetent.

But she sure can kiss some serious ass-and that's what it's all about in this misadministration.

[Chomp]

42. Remember when...

...Condi called George "my husband" rather than "the president".

Now THAT'S scary.

[Kool Kitty]

44. That's just the sort of thing I was remembering.

Sheesh, we are in real trouble. And welcome! :hi:

[hippiechick]

41. I thought she was leaving to run a University ?

:shrug: Wasn't it announced almost a year ago that she was going to step down regardless of the election outcome after this year because some University in California offered her a Dean-ship or WTFever ?


:hippie:

[Kellanved]

43. this has the sound of mind-boggling incompetence

No surprise whatsoever.

[4MoreYearsOfHell]

52. "I don't remember...

the al Qaeda cells being something that we were told we needed
to do something about."

Condaleeza Rice - April, 2004 to 9/11 Commission

[calimary]

69. GAK! That quote still makes me shake my head in disgust.

No DUH, Contradicta. And just exactly WHERE are all these much-vaunted, greatly-ballyhoo'ed alleged brains of yours, anyway?

[yorkiemommie1]

55. typical

dumb and dumber.

[Retrograde]

56. "diplomacy" is not a word I associate with Dr. Rice

and she is definitely not reality-based - at least not in the same reality I'm living in. She always strikes me as looking angry, or at best annoyed, about something: I can't see her mending any bridges for this administration.

And why am I thinking of Henry Kissinger right now???

[cubsfan forever]

66. Lots or resemblance to Henry the K,

except that it's Ms. Rice. Her academic credentials are as false as she is. :puke:

[OldLeftieLawyer]

82. No, she has a real doctorate

Although using the honorific "Dr." when it's not an M.D. is really quite too-too, and considered bad form.

[cubsfan forever]

86. Actually, if one has a real doctorate

(M.D. or Ph.D.) the appropriate title is Dr. However, Ms Rice's website lists her "doctorate" as coming in 1981. It also states that she "took three years off." So, considering she just turned 50 (so did I), she graduated HS in 1972. With "three years off from college" at some point, she somehow completed a bachelors, masters, and doctorate in 5-6 years. Uh, no. Mine took 5, 2, and 5, which is the norm.

Of course, her family is super wealthy, and can purchase whatever she needs.

Yes it is bad form to misuse the title Dr., but only if it is honorary or otherwise not earned.

Professor 2
(and Dr. but I don't play one on TV)

[OldLeftieLawyer]

88. She's ABD?

The etiquette of a Ph.D. or an Ed.D. is really bad here in the States, and the people who use "Dr." are poseurs, a la Kissinger. It's just frowned upon, and is as heavyhanded as a lawyer using the "Esquire" term - it's just not done.

God, I sound like some Ivy League WASP thing carrying on about paper v. lace doilies, don't I?

She's from a wealthy family? I didn't know that. But, she got that nice, fat job at Stanford, so she's known precisely where to suck and for how long.

In the Bush White House, that counts.

(PS - Go Cubs - I did my grad work at UC - great city.)

[cubsfan forever]

89. Actually, I am not sure if she is ABD or just

an all out fraud. I read a study some time ago that almost 80% of advanced degrees granted to government employees consisted of a couple of weekend seminars. Ms Rice also has a super tanker named after her. Yup, the Condoleeza Rice :puke:

Yes, she sure knows how to suck up.

Hey, another Cubs fan! My wife graduated from University of Illinois at Chicago. We lived in Forest Park at the time. Thanks for the post!

Professor 2

True, Ed.D. are joke degrees often referred to as the "public school adminsitrator's certificate."

[zulchzulu]

62. Isn't there another colored person that the Repugs could nominate

Maybe a spic or a wetback or a chink...darkies are good though to git some of them darkie votes.

/sarcasm

[restorefreedom]

63. For those who believe in God...

may he help us all.

This is NOT progress.



"If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever." -- George Orwell

[Supersedeas]

67. Progress is on the desk of someone down in the bowels of the NSA

It will never reach Condi's desk unless ofcourse it is labeled as:


DEFINITELY NOT AND COULD NEVER BE CONSIDERED HISTORICAL DATA ONLY

READ IT, HEED IT OR WEEP


Sorry no Flight Nos and Departure times for you, next memo please.

[BAPhill]

73. It's like they use to say in the Army....

ya gotta f*%k up to move up.

[Placebo]

75. Ugh, what's worse...

that she is replacing Powell or that someone worse than her could now become national security advisor? :cry: