This is a good development for the following reasons:
1) It will distract from the prison scandal -- which the public will begin to forget about
2) It will be seen as a sign that the president is holding people accountable for perceived intelligence failures.
3) Tenet likes Bush personally (far, far better than he liked Clinton) and is more likely to write a Clinton-bashing book that a Bush-bashing book.
4) Confirmation hearings are a great way for the GOP to showcase Democrat obstructionism and shrillness -- which will not play well with the public.
5) Confirmation hearings will distract from the Dem Convention anddraw public attention, reducing any "bounce" Kerry would normally get -- because coverage will be reduced.
All and all, this is VERY good news.
This is a good development for the following reasons:
1) It will distract from the prison scandal -- which the public will begin to forget about
2) It will be seen as a sign that the president is holding people accountable for perceived intelligence failures.
3) Tenet likes Bush personally (far, far better than he liked Clinton) and is more likely to write a Clinton-bashing book that a Bush-bashing book.
4) Confirmation hearings are a great way for the GOP to showcase Democrat obstructionism and shrillness -- which will not play well with the public.
5) Confirmation hearings will distract from the Dem Convention anddraw public attention, reducing any "bounce" Kerry would normally get -- because coverage will be reduced.
All and all, this is VERY good news.
P.S. It is time to start tracking-down and purging FR of Bush-hating sleeper trolls.
I agree with your assessments 100% jmstein7.
the prison scandal is already over.
Wallace was just on Foxnews and discussing ---why--- doesn't think he was forced out...but there is a rumor that SOS Powell was unhappy and pressing for an internal investigation of the CIA .
Great points!!! You put me in a far better mood!!
Great post, a logical reasoned voice in a faux storm.
If I ever need a personal spinmeister I know where to find you.
BTTT for an interesting analysis! I like it.
I videotaped Brit Hume's interview with Michael Ledeen on Fox last night and plan to transcribe it when I get time. Ledeen minced no words when it came to what the leftist Clinton-appointed hold-overs / career - (union-backed- 99.9% Democrats) - bureacrats in the State Dept. are up to in their efforts to undermine President Bush.
TWO THINGS:
[1] ### A year ago I said that President Bush needed to "drain the Foggy Bottom Swamp". I made that comment at the same time this June 2003 article [excerpted] was posted on FR.
Back-stabbing at Foggy Bottom
townhall ^ | June 23, 2003 | Joel Mowbray
“Many people at State want to embarrass the President,” explains a State Department officiala comment echoed by others at Foggy Bottom alarmed that some of their colleagues are so brazen as to openly plot against the commander-in-chief. Some of those wishing to politically harm President Bush are now in Iraq, where the President’s vision of a free Iraq is being fought by State officials on a regular basis.
Of course much of the rhetoric could be nothing more than boastful bravadoparticularly since such comments actually help in a building teeming with people who openly despise Bush and want him to lose in 2004but State’s actions have clearly undermined the President, and it is only a matter of time until it takes a political toll. In that vein, the White House would be wise to heed the advice of former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, who is renewing his calls for a “top-to-bottom transformation” of Foggy Bottom.
Although Mr. Gingrich’s latest critiquean article in Foreign Policy magazinewill no doubt be labeled a “broadside,” it is a relatively modest set of concrete proposals. Chief among them is increasing language proficiency of Foreign Service Officers (FSOs), in part by offering generous bonusesso that FSOs can better communicate with the locals in the countries where they are stationed. Two other “radical” suggestions are more comprehensive continuing education programs and one-year sabbaticals after the sixth year and two-year hiatuses after the 14th year. ...
Mr. Gingrich’s proposed structural fixes of State could have a substantial impact. But it’s hard to imagine that organizational reform alone will cure State’s corrosive culture. If anything, Mr. Gingrich’s modest proposals do not go far enough in reforming Foggy Bottom. There are many talented and dynamic FSOs, but they are outnumbered by those who adhere to State’s culture, as Mr. Ginrich puts it, “that props up dictators, coddles the corrupt, and ignores secret police forces.”
If the White House and Congress fail to act on Mr. Gingrich’s recommendations, President Bush’s policy goals could be jeopardized. If they fail to go even further by bringing in fresh blood and outside leadership, the President’s political goalsnamely re-election next yearcould be jeopardized as well. ~ end
[2] ### Here is a WSJ link that will show you why Douglas Feith is one of the main ones Foggy Bottom has always had in its sights. Note that this was also written in 2003.
Clear Ideas Versus Foggy Bottom
Opinion Journal ^ | 08/05/03 | MELANIE KIRKPATRICK
Posted on 08/05/2003 12:19:53 AM EDT by Pokey78
The State Department is jealous of all the sound thinking going on at the Pentagon.
The ripest political target in Washington these days is a man who rarely gets his picture in the paper.
Douglas Feith's sin is being Donald Rumsfeld's ideas man and one of the brains behind some of the most significant foreign policy and national security advances of the Bush administration. As Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Mr. Feith has transformed a once relatively obscure corner of the Pentagon into the world's most effective think tank. The fact that the president has adopted many of the ideas brewed there infuriates those who see Defense usurping a role that rightly belongs to the State Department.
Excerpted - click for full article ^ Source: http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110003840
Bush Real Target of Chalabi Smear
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/joelmowbray/jm20040603.shtml
Joel Mowbray - June 3, 2004