Rice Replaces Powell As Top U.S. Diplomat(most NO votes since H Clay 1825)

[papau]

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=446628

Rice Replaces Powell As Top U.S. DiplomatCondoleezza Rice Replaces Colin Powell As America's 66th Secretary of State

insert here AP Photo/Gerald Herbert - of Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice laughs (at those that would hold a GOPer accountable for anything) during the second day of her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2005.

By BARRY SCHWEID
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON Jan 27, 2005 — Condoleezza Rice takes over Thursday as America's 66th secretary of state to confront an agenda laden with difficult and explosive foreign policy problems.

At the very top is a grinding war in Iraq that has taken the lives of more than 1,400 U.S. troops.

During Senate confirmation hearings last week in which she was peppered with 390 oral and written questions, Rice was strongly challenged on Iraq and the war. She gave no indication that she would recommend any change in U.S. strategy designed to overcome insurgents and steer Iraq toward democracy.

However, she did acknowledge problems, citing desertions and poor leadership among the Iraqi security forces that are supposed to take charge of pacifying the country.<snip>

[RobertSeattle]

1. All I can say is "Prove Us Wrong Condi"

Show us that you'll be the SOS of the UNITED STATES and not the Bush Administration. Show some independence.

[papau]

2. now that would be unexpected! :-)

:-)

[NewYorkerfromMass]

8. as well as completely oblivious of her past performance. eom

[calimary]

3. I love how, in all this coverage, NO ONE bothers to bring up

the little bit of history about Contradicta winning the tug-of-war with rummy over who would "coordinate post-war Iraq." Which is, by now, the messiest mess in MESS-o-potamia. Uh, that was YOUR job, girlfriend. YOU were the one who got that one. Who WANTED that one, and PREVAILED with that one. That's got YOUR name on it, too, girlfriend, just like the "Bin Laden Determined To Strike Inside the U.S." PDB that you "didn't think that was something we had to do anything about."

So let me guess: your new job entails - what? Making nice speeches (for which I'm sure you accept nice, fat honorariums)? Sitting for photo shoots? Writing scholarly treatises? Plenty of world travel? Lots of public appearances and statements to the press? Nice dinners and receptions and embassy parties?

Any actual WORK in there?

On second thought, maybe it's better to keep her on the ceremonial circuit. Any actual WORK she's handed, she fucks up.

Look at Iraq.

Look at Lower Manhattan.

[Cambist]

5. Bush called her the "Un-Sticker".

What a joke!

[TahitiNut]

4. It's "Blame the Iraqis" again.

The cabal's repeated casting of blame on the "Iraqi security forces" for all manner of ills resulting from this illegal invasion and immoral occupation is clearly the new 'strategery.' We heard it from General Ham, Scotty McClellan, Rumsferatu, and now Rice.

These bastards collect the wealth and shift both the costs and the blame onto their victims. They're detestable!

[renaissanceguy]

17. Of course it's blame the Iraqis

because they can't blame Clinton for this one.

http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues/479718

[indepat]

6. I'm glad Madame Secretary clarified poor leadership among Iraqi security

forces was the root of the problem.

[Cambist]

7. I thought

"We" were the leaders if the Iraqui Security Forces.?.?

[indepat]

9. Well, it's not our fault they don't take to the training

[Just Me]

10. Geez, the greatest opposition to a SOS in over 175 years!!!

That's a "sign"!!!!

[Retrograde]

11. let's spin this correctly...

back in Clay's day there were a lot fewer senators, so he actually got a much, much larger percentage of the senate voting against him: 14 opposed him, which was ~33% of the senate. Only 13% voted against Condi. So by comparison Our Gal (she's from my town) is well-loved. And she got more votes than Kissinger. So there. All a matter of perspective </sarcasm>

The ecomony's still pretty depressed here - do you think I might have a future in DC as a spinmeister? :-)

[Richardo]

12. Love how he got the word 'laden' into the first sentence.

Remember that guy?

[renaissanceguy]

18. "I'm not all that worried about him." n/t

http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues/479714

[truthpusher]

13. NYT: Rice Begins New Post at State Dept. Promising a 'Bold Agenda'

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/27/international/27cnd-rice.html

Rice Begins New Post at State Dept. Promising a 'Bold Agenda'

By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG

Published: January 27, 2005

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 - An ebullient Condoleezza Rice began her first day as secretary of state this morning with a pledge to help America's diplomats promote President Bush's "bold agenda" for advancing liberty throughout the world.

America "will stand for freedom and for liberty," she declared.

(snip)

"I want to thank you for this really, really warm welcome," Ms. Rice said. "I first want to start by just saying how much I admire and appreciate the leadership of Secretary Colin L. Powell over the last four years. I've just spoken with him to tell him that."

After promising to keep an open door so that she could benefit from the "intellectual capital" of State Department employees, Ms. Rice said: "The president has laid out a bold agenda, and he expects a lot of us. I want you to know, too, that I'm committed to you, the men and women of the Foreign Service, the Civil Service and our Foreign Service nationals abroad."

(snip)

In her remarks today, she recalled that this is not the first time she has worked at the State Department: in 1977, during the Carter administration, she was an intern in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. "There's a lesson in that," she told her new staff. "Be good to your interns.

more:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/27/international/27cnd-rice.html

[Spinzonner]

14. Oh God, not another one

Haven't we got all the Bold Agenda we can handle - or afford ?

[NNN0LHI]

15. She forgot "robust". Should be "bold and robust agenda"

Can't leave them Rethug talking points out.

Don

[doodadem]

16. I haven't seen anyone bring this up yet..............

BUT, how is a woman, especially a minority woman (sorry folks, gotta say it), going to play in the Middle East? Did Bush even think about that, or is this one more example of In Your Face? I just don't see how she's going to be well received there, where women have NO respect.
I'm trying to remember how much time Madeline Allbright spent over there.......Anyone with a better memory than me, and how she fared?

Trying to picture Condi in a veil, and covered head to toe.........

[Gabi Hayes]

19. I don't care what you say,

I love Condi anyway

[Gabi Hayes]

20. we'll get you and

your little dog, too