Posted on 12/02/2004 10:22:02 AM PST by NorCoGOP
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. -- The most senior American official to be named after an internal organ will officially step down in the coming month. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who had shown so much potential as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, let himself become a miserable little pawn to the neoconservative movement. For the past four years, every time he's had to speak publicly, he's looked like an actor from an Imodium AD commercial.
And yet, consistently he's been used by the Bush administration as a rational voice for irrational action. "Following orders," I believe they call it in the military. Now, he's leaving. Thank God. Not a day too soon.
I recall an experience I had more than a year ago during a stint in food service. I was discussing the still-brewing situation in Iraq with a frequent customer while pouring him a cup of coffee. The man, at least 40 years my senior, was in favor of invasion.
"I don't think that going to war in such a volatile region is the right course of action right now," I said.
"Yes, but we know he has the weapons," the customer said. "We've seen the pictures. We have to do something. The inspections aren't working. We have to do something."
Maybe it was a lack of convictions, or maybe I just hadn't had enough free espresso, but at that moment I couldn't argue. I conceded, "Maybe you're right." Even we liberal college kids had a hard time disputing the "intelligence" after it received the Powell stamp of approval.
When President George W. Bush came out with evidence of Iraqi "nucular" weapons programs, I didn't buy it. When cutie-pie Vice-President Dick Cheney spoke of ties between Iraq and al Qaeda, I knew it had to be crap. But I found myself on the verge of a flip-flop when Powell went in front of the United Nations and said, "My colleagues, every statement I make today is backed up by sources, solid sources. These are not assertions. What we're giving you are facts and conclusions based on solid intelligence."
You never think Alex Trebek is lying about an answer -- or technically, a question. Something about his demeanor and authority makes you trust him. Well, Powell managed to pull off the same thing, minus the game show-host sex appeal. Even though we all knew he was Bush's dummy, something about him presenting intelligence made it seem ... intelligent. Maybe it was because of his begrudging attitude. Maybe it was all the badges and medals he used to wear in the army. Unlike anyone else at the Bush camp, Powell at least seemed thoughtful.
Either way, those of us who do not support the international policies of the Bush administration should be more than happy to see him go. Powell's powers of persuasion can never again be turned on America and the world. Finally, the flow of moronic foreign policy will be coming from the mouth of the beast.
As far as I'm concerned, Condoleezza Rice has about as much credibility as a pair of sweatpants. In a discussion of potential Iraqi nuclear weapons, Rice famously scared the hell out of the American people by saying "we don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud." Well, now we all know former Iraq President Saddam Hussein was about as close to producing mushroom clouds as he was to making mushrooms that, when stomped on, could double your size and allow you break bricks with your head. What we thought to be horrible exaggerations turned out to be a flat-out lies.
Rice is just another Bush crony, another ass-kisser in a White House full of puckered lips. After campaigning for Bush when she was supposed to be busy being national security adviser, after supporting all the whacky crap this president has shoveled when she's supposed to be an "edumacated" Stanford intellectual, after saying the things she's said on behalf of the administration without looking in pain like Powell, how can the international community take her seriously? She's just another singer in the Bush chorus. She'll find no audience as a soloist.
Bush referred to her as "America's face to the world." I guess that makes sense. America needs a lot of makeup. Now we're starting to hear little hints coming out about Iran, one of the three "Axis of Evil" countries. Considering it has the ability to actually leave mushroom-cloud smoking guns, I'm ready to wet myself. Oops. OK, just did.
But, at least Bush no longer has his Colin to drum up support. Yes, if these guys have in mind what I think they have in mind -- military action against Iran -- good luck, Condi Rice, on passing the kind of "global test" we'd need to pull that sort of thing off. Even with the "Bush Doctrine" in full effect, our military is too weak in its current state to reasonably further America's aggressive strategy. Rice could play the piano and figure skate for the international community, but no one's going to go for any more pre-emption.
If this administration continues the course it's setting now by being skeptical of diplomacy and eager for war, we're facing a major mess. This time around, we can't just let it happen. Not with these stakes. By losing Powell, Bush is losing a key element in the potential prewar, pre-emptive public opinion media blitz. Let us welcome Condoleezza Rice with open arms.
FTCF Ping
I've really come to expect nothing less that liberal drivol from the commie state of NJ.
More like the Daily Tantrum.
It's amazing how much bile these morons can produce without choking on it.
More sour grapes. Somebody has to tell this guy
"Hey, you moron, WE WON!!
HAHAHAHAHAHA WE WON WE WON WEEEE WOOOOOON
AND YOU'RE ALL A BUNCH OF LOOOOOSERS
LOOOSERS LOOOOSERS LOOOOOSERS
DECONSTRUCT THAT, YOU PINHEAD !!
BWAHAHAHAHAHA"
There are none so blind as those who intentionally keep their eyes closed. Try going here, for starters.
What is it about university "education" which produces so many closed minds?
First off, I am always uneasy with adults (I presume) who call themselves "Mikey".
Second, someone who cannot get more than one sentence into a screed without invoking rhetoric like "miserable little pawn" exposes themselves as the shallow, bankrupt ideologue that they are. (Of course, I didn't get more than one sentence without calling him something too, so...he did it first...:)
Bottom line, it makes you realize why college campuses are hotbeds of liberalism and dissent. They are too inexperienced to know what they are talking about, and too arrogant to realize it.
Rutgers is putting out some real treasure, these days. I also really liked the falsely self effacing line of "we liberal college kids..."
Wow, a year out of a food service job and capable of critiquing the former Provost of Stanford University. Most impressive.
I am a faculty member at Rutgers University and I suspect that I am in a very small count of conservative instructors at this school. One could read the school newspapers before the recent elections to realize that almost entire paper issues, very regrettably, were focused on electing Kerry and defeating Bush. Unfortunately, journalistic endeavors were very remote from being unbiased, however, to my surprise this fact did not seem to puzzle many individuals at the university.
LOL! (But I think he still has a career in food service ahead of him...)
OK, so if these whack-jobs from the Rutgers'daily paper are so smart, how come their candidates keep losing? No one in the blue column seems anxious to pose or answer that question.
Their best shot this past election was John Kerry? John Kerry couldn't find his butt with both hands.
Howard Dean? The guy's nuts.
Al Sharpton? A thug, a liar and former inmate with positively no style.
Wes Clark? A man with plenty to be humble about.
Dennis Kucinich? A mental midget.
Joe Lieberman? Nice guy, but a loser.
Carol Moseley-Braun? When you look up pinhead in the dictionary, there's her picture!
John Edwards? Jimmy Carter Lite.
Geez, did I forget anyone?
Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. This time, and with very, very good reason, the Dems lost - and they are sick about it.
No soup for them!
Next!
New Jersey...strike two!!
"Mikey"................yer out!!!
Out of 21 counties in NJ, 10 voted for Bush in 2004. In 2000, the New Jersey voted by 16 percentage points higher for democrat Al Gore, i.e 40% Bush - 56% Al Gore while in 2004, the margin narrowed to 7% to 46% for Bush and 53% for Kerry. So I am hopeful that New Jersey is on the RIGHT way... :-)
Doesn't matter, from where I stand, when I look towards DC New Jersey is on my left. =p
The only good thing about Jersey is: Atlantic City and private liqour and beer stores.
Based on my experience, science (which I am a part of) and economics departments are more likely to have conservative faculty members at Rutgers University.
We welcome visitors to New Jersey whether they decide to spend their money on gambling or liquor... :-)
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