A glimpse into the Senate confirmation hearing from hell

AJC ^ | 11/10/04

[Pfesser]

More than one name with Georgia connections has floated above the Potomac since the election, but whether any of them land remains to be seen. Former Atlantan and current Westchester Countian Larry Thompson was frequently mentioned in the speculation over the attorney general's job, until the White House tapped Alberto Gonzales for the post Wednesday.

Mercer Reynolds, an Ohioan by address but a Georgian by resort, has been the subject of similar speculation for the Commerce secretary's job.

But our favorite Potomac float comes from Michael Ledeen, the contributing editor for National Review Online, who argues in a recent column that Iraq is but one battle in a larger war and therefore Bush needs to clean house and appoint a war cabinet, filled with "people who will not shirk from the unpleasant tasks before us, and who are capable of leading their agencies to maximum performance."

Secretary of State Colin Powell is at the top of Ledeen's list of those who have to go, for "forgetting that the foreign service isn't supposed to make our foreign policy; it's supposed to carry out the president's policies."

Powell's replacement, Ledeen suggests without further explanation, should be Zell Miller — Washington's king of the nuanced phrase.

Now, that would blow a cold breeze through Foggy Bottom.

[Pfesser]

Yes, appoint Zell as Powell's replacement! Then he can give the world hell.

[johnny7]

No... Zell should be our UN Ambassador!

Give the State Department to Condi... she'll get their balls 'offa their chins and back between their legs!

[Carry_Okie]

Zell's gonna need some pow'rful weaponry to deal with the cockroaches in DOS.

He'll need a container, full, at least.

[King David]

My favorite is Zell's copperead snake story:


Miller Co-Sponsors Iraq Resolution
Uses Snake-Killing Story As Analogy for Why
Saddam Hussein Must Go


WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Zell Miller (D-GA) today announced that he is an original co-sponsor of the resolution to give the president the authority to use military force against Iraq. Here is the statement Miller delivered on the Senate floor:

"Mr. President, I have signed on as an original co-sponsor of the Iraq resolution, and I'd like to tell you story about why I think it is the right path to take:

"A few weeks ago, we were doing some work on my back porch back home, tearing out a section of old stacked rocks, when all of a sudden I uncovered a nest of Copperhead snakes.

"Now, I'm not one to get alarmed at snakes. I know they perform some valuable functions, like eating rats.

(more...)

http://miller.senate.gov/press/2002/100302-Iraq-resolution-snakes.html

[George W. Bush]

Now, that would blow a cold breeze through Foggy Bottom.

Something of an understatement.

[OldEagle]

You go, Zell!!!

[Convert from ECUSA]

Shoot, Zell would be great! I could see him now as Secretary of State, he'd give Chirac (and other euro-weenies) absolute hell! I hope Bush will ask Zell to be in the cabinet in some capacity.