John Negroponte to the state department, firstly...wasn't Karen Hughes...

[bridgit]

some undersecretary at state? And what has been her impact, if any, for the princess-ly salary she's been pulling for that title, and letter-head?

And secondly, though more importantly, isn't Negroponte being sent to state to keep an eye on what-all Dr. Rice has been doing wrong all along?

Wherever goes Negroponte, so goes a deck of marked, bent cornered cards imo

[wakeme2008]

1. Something smells as the new post as head of Intel Negroponte had

tons of power and to be moved to State is for the most part a step down OR is it????

[bridgit]

2. that's what I'm thinking, it's more like a further infiltration...

not good in the long, or short term

[kstewart33]

3. Speaks volumes about the state of our national security

and intelligence gathering.

[bridgit]

4. i think we have no state dept proper...

it is just an empty shell game x(

[bdamomma]

5. Negroponte to keep his eye on that useless Condi perhaps?

[bridgit]

6. ding! i do think that's it...

:thumbsup:

[ellenfl]

7. perhaps negroponte will be replacing condi who will be

replacing a retiring cheney? one can only hope. if that happens, maybe we CAN go forward with the 'i' word. cheney must realize that his run is over. he no longer appears to have any influence with dimson and can't do anything now but be vilified for the next two years. besides, he has a good job waiting for him at halliburton.

of course, he could get some more face-shooting time in. :evilgrin:

ellen fl

[bridgit]

8. oh lord, now there's a nightmarish ever-expanding mandala of woe...

:( except for the part about cheney's reign of terror, grift, graft & war gibberish being over, i like that part :bounce:

[DoYouEverWonder]

13. Condi will never get approved

by a DEM Senate.

[BearSquirrel2]

19. No VP confirmation ...

The Senate does not have to confirm a VP selection. They can leave Nancy Pelosi as #2. This is desirable considering the potential of impeaching the President.

Don't worry, I'm sure there is more than enough graft in Iraq contracts to impeach Cheney.

[salin]

9. There are a number of 'under secretaries' different roles.

Hughes is over public relations - fancier name - but in essence her job is to manage the image of the US abroad (and her brand of propoganda hasn't worked very well - hence we don't here much of her anymore.)

Negroponte is being demoted - and that in and of itself is relatively interesting. Is it that the job to oversee all US intel hasn't worked (as in - each organization doesn't share info - and resists and external overseer)? Or is it that he isn't quite ideologicalinaire enough for buscho? Or is it as you say... a watch dog over the ineffectual Condi? Should be very interessting to watch. Just as will watching who is named to take his place. Poindexter? Bolton?

[bridgit]

10. all of your questions seem in play but for the second one perhaps...

could be that even as having been 'in bed' with 41 so completely throughout El Salvador, he now recognizes what true dementia on the world stage sounds, looks, walks, and talks like, and is distancing himself from that distasteful image (though why image is now a concern of his i do not know)...that may be one way he might be seen as less than a BushCo man...but i do agree, strange days have found us

[salin]

11. Were that the case, I would imagine he would walk back into

the private sector and makea boatload more money than he does working for the fed govt.

[bridgit]

12. true, but aren't all those winks & nods transferable as stock options...

futures and commodities split several times over by the time he would sit down in his rocking chair...i heard bush's poppy gave a speech just after leaving the WH, he received what many thought a paltry fee, $160,000 i think it was; but received stocks that he sold on an inside 'hunch' within 6 months and made a cool boat-load many times over

these guys don't do anything for free, and it's clearly a matter for open debate whether they are doing anything for Americans of any worth...

but i do hear you :)

[salin]

16. indeed. Disgusting times - that such arrangements no longer raise

collective eyebrows with the majority of the public.

[BearSquirrel2]

20. The revolving door ...

Going through the revolving door of government money requires that you ocassionally step inside the building.

[leftofthedial]

14. does this mean we'll now be running death squads

out of our embassies?

[bridgit]

18. that seems the only thing missing is the chaotic, rubber stamped madness...

:thumbsdown:

[Capn Amerika]

15. The U.S. State Department is a country club.

The Defense Department now handles all diplomacy and foreign policy. Thomas Jefferson is rolling over in his grave.

[bridgit]

17. poor Thomas...poor us...

we need a smiley that woefully shakes his head for moments such as this one :(