Does Rice really know her role?

msnbc ^ | Howard Fineman

[anniegetyourgun]

How national security adviser's testimony hurt Bush

WASHINGTON - Republicans who'd been hoping that Condi Rice would calm the political waters with her testimony to the 9/11 commission have to be disappointed. Stylistically and tactically, she was serviceable. Her voice seemed to quaver at times, but overall she was a confident master of detail, choosing, for the most part, to praise rather than confront the accusatory Richard Clarke. But the larger picture she painted of herself, her president and the administration certainly won't help George W. Bush's re-election chances.

A self-proclaimed expert at understanding "structural" change in large institutions, Rice wasn't aware — may still not be aware — that the nature of her job had changed by the time she took over as national security adviser in January 2001. Reared in the Cold War era, she saw herself following in the footsteps of Henry Kissinger. "National security" was largely a matter of global state-to-state diplomacy.

In fact, as her predecessor in effect warned her when he was turning over the keys, the model was no longer so much Kissinger as it was, say, Elliott Ness or J. Edgar Hoover. If, as she said, we had been at war with terrorism for 20 years; if, as she said, the terrorists are determined to attack America, then the NSC chief has to be a ruthless hunter for clues around the world — and on American soil.

Asked at the hearing why she hadn't pressed the FBI more closely about what it knew, or didn't know, about domestic terrorist threats, she acted as though the question was an odd one: It wasn't her job. Well, in retrospect, it was and now certainly is.

[Jim Noble]

Stylistically and tactically, she was serviceable. What the hell does that mean?

It means Br'er Fineman and his masters don't like uppity ni**ers, that's what it means.

She doesn't know her place. He says it in black and white.

[GOP_1900AD]

Barf alert?

[jackbill]

Does Howie still live with his mother?

[GOPrincess]

Once in a while Howard is fair. This was NOT one of those times. He should be ashamed at such blatantly partisan spin.

[Jim Noble]

What is the reason? Are they worried that black women will start to switch parties because they admire her? Or is it their inherent racism coming out again -- remember the effort to destroy Clarence Thomas.

The Democrats must have 92+% of the black vote. Gotta have it. Can't win without it.

If the RAT goes down to even 85% of the black vote, he cannot win any statewide or national election. Impossible.

So, if the sistas and bruthas see white liberals trashing Miz Condi, more than a few of them might have their reality distortion field adjusted.

THAT the Rats cannot allow.

[GOP_1900AD]

Any so called "commission" who would read out of a check out aisle trash novel disguised as an ex official's "documentary" as a means of generating questions is a disgrace. What a farce.

[CatOwner]

"So, if the sistas and bruthas see white liberals trashing Miz Condi, more than a few of them might have their reality distortion field adjusted."

Well, if the RATs come to this realization, they'll just send the Congressional Black Caucus after Dr. Rice. I mean, what's the harm of having one black American trashing another?

[anniegetyourgun]

Phrases like "know her role" and "she was serviceable" are actually reflections of Fineman's racist and sexist tendencies. Yes, I question his motives and intimations about this woman of color - in addition to questioning his patriotism.

[BrucefromMtVernon]

Yes. Dr. Rice performs like a real dynamo when under any kind of pressure. The 'rats attempted to treat the testimony as some kind of radio talk show, engaging in the usual hit-and-run "liberal" tactics as well as interrupting Dr. Rice at regular intervals.

[MHGinTN]

His buttboy status for the dnc has been out of the closet for sometime now. This hitpiece is no surprise from the smarmer.

[MNJohnnie]

Phrases like "know her role" and "she was serviceable" are actually reflections of Fineman's racist and sexist tendencies. Yes, I question his motives and intimations about this woman of color - in addition to questioning his patriotism.


Perhaps both he and Mr Clarke suffer from the same problem? Middle Age White male forces to deal with a Black women who is 10 times smarter and tougher then they are?

[anniegetyourgun]

I am more than suspect.

Not that there aren't disgusting black racists as well as the more subtle types like Fineman.

[LdSentinal]

CNN was actually complaining that Dr. Rice's answers to the questions were too long!

Gee, when I was in school, answering questions to its fullest was appreciated by my teachers.

Liberals do NOT control the White House, the Senate, nor the House.

THEY ARE CRAZY WITH HATRED!

[mombonn]

All I had to do was see that the author was "fineman", and I had to read no further.

Howard is hardly a "fine man".

[Ramius]

Phrases like "know her role" and "she was serviceable" are actually reflections of Fineman's racist and sexist tendencies.

What Fineman really is saying is that Miss Rice "doesn't know her PLACE". To him she's just another "uppitity black chick".

That he continues on to completely display his shallow and naive view of global threats is just par for the course. Of course state sponsorship is a critical element in the effectiveness of terror organs. To pretend otherwise is to be blind *and* stupid.

[speekinout]

The Demo'rats seem to have decided to go after Condi, and destroy her. What is the reason?

The 'rats want hillary to run for Pres. in '08. A hillary vs. Condi contest would be disasster for the 'rats.

[hocndoc]

""Phrases like "know her role" and "she was serviceable" are actually reflections of Fineman's racist and sexist tendencies.""

That's my impression, too.


And, will someone tell me what the next to last paragraph means? What difference would it make where the President was on that day (short of being in the World Trade Center, which I think would have made this man happy)?

And what difference does his hypothetical "what ifs" make?

He's a Twit!

[anniegetyourgun]

Not that you should want to, but you might take a look at link on #52. Here is a quote from this "kind, compassionate, caring liberal": "....and I would rejoice if they burn Condi at the stake like the wicked witch that she is."

[hocndoc]

Another "Not my kind," comment. Literally!

[twgiles]

I was a little surprised at some of the things Condi didn't know when one of the panelists ran off a litany of questions. I know she cannot have all the facts at her disposal but I think it's clear that in the future she and all NSAs will be sure to have more facts about domestic threats at hand. I do think she acquitted herself and the administration relatively well.