Negroponte's ascension???

[Perky]

One looks at this and would assume that it is a demotion to Deputy. But it has me wondering.

Is Condoleeza being shown the door? I doubt seriously that she is resigning to run for president but stranget things have happened.

Any thoughts?

[salin]

1. Condi to replace a suddenly ailing Cheney?

[helderheid]

3. That wouldn't surprise me inthe LEAST.

[thereismore]

2. They are putting adult male supervision on Condi. She has been

quite ineffective, thank God. Now I'm worried. Negroponte is a killer.

[salin]

6. bigger question mark - who takes his place?

Bolton? Poindexter? What fanatical creep will coordinate and be in charge of all national intelligence?

[radfringe]

9. likely successor is retired Adm. Mike McConnell

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003508683_negroponte04.html

NBC News, which first reported Negroponte's resignation, said his likely successor is retired Adm. Mike McConnell, who was director of the National Security Agency from 1992 to 1996

[salin]

11. that sounds better than my (sarcast, albeit) prognications.

[Norquist Nemesis]

10. Top candidate is Sr VP at Booz Allen Hamilton

"A top candidate for the intelligence chief opening is retired Adm. Mike McConnell, the director of the National Security Agency from 1992 to 1996. McConnell is now a senior vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton, a government contractor and consulting firm."

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20070104-0005-negroponte.html

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. he's a loyal soldier, does heavy lifting, knows DC. Knows State

plus he is smart, cagey and wily. A dangerous man. Putting him under a lightweight like Condi, well, that will make for interesting meetings.
I agree, something is in the works. Possibly cheney leaving.

[BlooInBloo]

5. I don't get it because Negro. has to be confirmed by the Senate for this job...

... Which now carries the prospect of awkward confirmation hearings for him. I don't understand why gw and cheney would actively SEEK for their people to be questioned in this manner.

[Perky]

7. Wait a cotton pickin moment. I am now confused.

The Deptuty SOS Does not have to confirmed by the Senate?

That seem implausible to me.

Not that Negroponte would not be confirmed. Just that there ought to a confirmation hearing right?

[Norquist Nemesis]

8. It's not getting much play

and I wonder about that. It was breaking news last evening, and we're all very familiar with the Bushetals timing for such things. You might very well be on to something about him getting prepped to sit in Condi's seat. She's looking more war-weary every day.

I'd like to know more details about the guy Bush is nominating as Chief Spook, frankly. Is he going to be one of those 'you give me my guy and I'll drop Social Security reform' agreements for the Democrats?

[Buzz Clik]

15. NPR covered it this morning.

It doesn't look like a promotion. Negroponte was left out of the most recent intel brainstorming meeting.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6722184

[salin]

16. *that* is interesting. Guess he didn't do enough "stovepiping"

and cherry picking to suit the "give us intel that supports us and ignore all of the rest" gang.

[RaleighNCDUer]

19. Naw. He did his job.

The death squads in iraq are running at full steam. it's time to move on.

[Norquist Nemesis]

21. Had read that he and Hayden were having "tension"

When the Chief Spook is having "tension" with the guy who controls the tools to spy, that can make for some heightened paranoia.

[salin]

22. interesting... hard to speculate about who would have been

on the more troubling side of whatever disagreement/tension they were having.

[solara]

12. Could you post a link or something?

I don't have cable and have not heard anything about Negroponte

Thanks

[helderheid]

13. here ya go

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/04/negroponte.ap/index.html

[solara]

14. Thank you n/t

[RaleighNCDUer]

17. I think it is setting her up to be appt. VP.

Then the Death Squad Director will become SOS.

[malaise]

18. They're all criminals Perky

Get scared. Negroponte is among the worst of them.

[JohnnyLib2]

20. Can't figure it out; hope we soon do.

One possibility is that he WANTED the move, which would imply knowledge or sense of a power vacuum. How close have the ties to Cheney/Rumsfeld been?