The GOP’s MIAs [Bush's national security might not make it to a second term?]

MSNBC ^ | September 3, 2004 | Michael Moran

[ejdrapes]

The GOP’s MIAs

George Bush’s national security team was absent in NYC,and might not make it to a second term either

NEW YORK - Walking the streets of this city this week, what strikes a journalist as strange is not so much who is here, but rather who is not.

One large group gone missing might be referred to as genus Manhattanis. New York’s central borough seems emptied of New Yorkers, along with its sub-group, genus Suburbius commutis. The former decamp at this time of year anyway for exotic locales like Quahog and Remsenburg out on Long Island, while the latter crowds the "Irish Riviera" along the Jersey Shore. Still, the streets of midtown are eerily reminiscent of that 1950s classic "The Day the Earth Stood Still." You could actually hear the wind-blown rubbish rustle by.

But the most conspicuously absent group is not native to these parts. It might be called "genus Securitatis," and it counts among its members such luminaries as Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell, none of whom graced the convention podium.

Is this a harbinger of things to come?

[ejdrapes]

What's so funny about this is both Powell and Rumsfeld have publically said that Bush requested they not become part of the campaign, and that they not attend the convention. Also, although Condi didn't speak, she was at the convention last night to hear the President's speech.

[coconutt2000]

Condoleezza Rice was in the audience with the delegates. The cameras on CSPAN focused on her several times during his speech.

[coconutt2000]

But don't tell the biased reporters that... It cuts down on what they can write.

[Jeff Chandler]

>>although Condi didn't speak, she was at the convention last night to hear the President's speech.
<<

I know. When W said, "You can thank that white-haired lady sitting right up there." the camera panned to Condi. Funny moment.

[Belisaurius]

hmmm, smells just like: "I hear that Dick Cheney was going to be dropped from the ticket for McCain."

This is another piece of propaganda just like that was.

The whole point is to damp down our enthusiasm.

[texasflower]

You are exactly right. They have said many times that the President has asked for them to be nonpolitical.

I suspect this guy knows that.

Also, he says that none of them have publicly said they are staying for a second term. From what I have always understood, the cabinet members all submit a resignation to allow the president to choose a new cabinet if he chooses to so.

I suspect he knows that also.

[LPierson]

I agree, their presence isn't necessary, we have a war to fight. If I were holding down one of their positions I wouldn't be an active particpant either. It is just good form to be about ones' business and let the President REALLY jumpstart re-election as the man in charge.

[Southack]

Oh yeah, sure, right...as if the *winning* campaign team is about to shake up *its* own staff!

< /mocking >

5 Legislative Days Left Until The AWB Expires

[WoofDog123]

It will be interesting to see who DOESN'T join a second bush cabinet/admin. Tenet finally left, allegedly of his own desire, after multiple major intelligence failures. Does anyone pay the price for failing to correctly estimate iraqi NBC capabilities? The hard-sell NBC threat job he did on iraq has hurt his prospects for re-election, has possibly ended the careers of his major supporters internationally (something that will not help in future alliances), and it was an avoidable problem (they could have just picked another set of talking points/theme song for the year-long drum-roll and invaded anyway)....it also means american intelligence credibility is greatly damaged internationally, with countries opposed to US policy developing Nukes and thumbing their nose at us (DPRK, Iran).

[CWOJackson]

This is a little more exciting then the "who the Republican nominee's will be in 2008" threads that never took off the other evening.

It was amazing, people were already starting to fight over the nominees.

[Mr. Keys]

"what strikes a journalist as strange" is anything having to do with reality or opposed to their verbal flatulance.