Our buddy AlexC at pstupidonymous links to a Redstate.org post and both suggest that Senator Joe Lieberman be considered to replace Secretary Powell.
I would not argue based on the Senator. He is a principled man with a keen understanding of the importance of the Global War on Terror (WWIV to me).
And I would love to hear the howls from MidEastern despots if the USA were to send "A JEW!" Truly priceless.
I am gonna throw cold water, though. Even if Governor Rell appoints a good Republican (not a guarantee in New England), Senator Joe might be more valuable as a moderate D, with whom the President can craft bi-partisan legislation.
I wouldn't argue with the appointment, but I have to go with Condi. She'd be awesome and she'd position herself with a high-visibility launching pad for her run in '08.
Yeah, you were right. But we gotta do something with him. He's a good guy. If we can rescue people from a sinking ship, I'm gonna throw Joe a life-preserver.
Though there is something to be said about sending "a JEW!". I'm sure when Madeline Albright was showing up at events the other side was saying, "A WOMAN!?"
I am with you guys 100% on Sen. Liieberman, he is a good guy; an intelligent, thoughtful legislator, gotta keep those when we find them. Looks like State is not to be but many Republicans have said that reaching across the aisle for an appointment would be a good idea and he would be a great candidate. I have backed off my criticism of Dr. Rice, so we will see how she does. My "deer in the headlights" comment was too harsh, but there is something there, lack of stature? I don't know, have to give her a chance to step up.
It's the other appointment that bugs me from the "uniter not a divider" president, that of Alberto Gonzalez for AG. Again I don't know him or his policies that well, just that as someone who seemed at least knee deep in the flak over treatment of prisoners and interrogation techniques he doesn't leap out as a uniting candidate. Whatever your views on John Ashcroft you would have to be deaf and blind not to know that he was controversial, and to replace him with someone who walks in the front door with controversy so recently on his resume doesn't seem like the best move.
Posted by: Silence Dogood at November 16, 2004 08:33 AMI am dubious about the "reach across the aisle appointment." That got us Underperformin' Norman Mineta at the DOT. Who thought Transportation was important pre 9/11?
I revert back to my claims about the CEO Presidency of George W. Bush. I think it is a good model and I think he has executed it well. But the one thing it requires is loyalty. Having a key member of your staff who would like to see you lose your job is a little, er, problematic.
I think he will throw a bipartisan olive branch to Agriculture or Education or something.
I'll admit that Dr. Rice will be "playing up" as SecState. I think that the pinstripe boys over at State need a lot of shaking up and I think she's the right one to try it. State works for the President, not against him -- and she will be a good reminder.
Gonzales is by all accounts quite a moderate. The folks at National Review are happy he's going to AG because social conservatives fear his appointment to SCOTUS. The word "controversial" loses its meaning these days. Anybody who does his/her job is going to be controversial in a Republican administration. The prisoner memos are notable as a tie-in to Abu Graib (the NYTimes's favoritest story ever) but are pretty tame on their own.