Lots of bookworms in my family.
I, too, have been increasingly disillusioned by Condee Rice, the more I see of her. She certainly has some good qualities, but they seem to appear at rarer and rarer intervals these days.
I have to give Condie credit for staying with the Administration for the full two terms. I can't it imagine it's been a picnic for any of them, but she didn't turn tail and run, and has remained loyal to the President all this time. I'm thinking she's tired of the Washington scene, tired of the putz's in the State Department, and is doing only what is necessary just to get by. I felt the same way about my employer and the job in the months before I retired. Why bust your ass when everything you do will more than likely be thrown out when a new Administration comes in. At this point, I'm thinking she's going to keep a low profile until her time is done.