I had seriously high hopes that Powell could do some of the "uniting" that Bush had so fondly talked about. Oh how wrong I was.
The only surprise here is that he didn't wait for Rummy to do it first. I guess Rummy will resign in the next week or so as well.
Bush is out of control - witness the CIA soap opera. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he tries to put Wolfowitz or someone equally deranged over at State.
Powell was very bad at his job, but there are so many that would be much, much worse. Condi, Wolfie, Miller, .... I will miss Powell. He was inept, but predictable.
If only. You are vastly overestimating the popularity of McCain among those who are running the country.
Powell won't be playing second fiddle to anyone after this. In all seriousness, if Dick Cheney eventually leaves for health reasons, I think McCain has a chance to be selected for the spot.
Promoting Condoleezza Rice would be the most disgracefully offensive act any President has done in the history of the Republic.
Oh come on. I heard some guy once got a bj in a pantry or something. But like some poster mentioned earlier, if you are part of a catastrophic success, the least you deserve is a promotion.
I just remembered. I read something last week about Powell, if he resigned, may be made president of the World Bank.
Clinton could have gotten one during his second inaugual address, AND made a reference to "Police Academy" while doing it, and it still wouldn't be as big a disgrace.
Slate piece on why Powell had to go (duh) and why he didn't resign/wasn't fired earlier: http://slate.msn.com/id/2109772/fr/rss/ Also, on Condi as successor: The good news: Rice is among Bush's closest advisers, so foreign leaders will at least know that her words reflect the views of the president. Her appointment may also provide, at least in the short term, a morale boost among foreign service officers—a note of compensation for the departure of their cherished Powell that the State Department is now run by someone who has the president's ear and trust. The bad news: In her four years as national security adviser, Rice has displayed no imagination as a foreign-policy thinker. She was terrible—one of the worst national security advisers ever—as a coordinator of policy advice. And to the extent she found herself engaged in bureaucratic warfare, she was almost always outgunned by Vice President Dick Cheney or Rumsfeld. Last year, for instance, the White House issued a directive putting her in charge of policy on Iraqi reconstruction; the directive was ignored. If Rumsfeld and his E-Ring gang survive the Cabinet shake-up, Rice may wind up every bit as flummoxed as her predecessor.
I once got advice when doing a tech start-up. Only hire "A" players, because they hire "A" players, who hire "A" players, who actually do the work to make a company successful. If you hire a "B" player, they go and hire "C" players, who hire "D" players, who kill the company. W is a "C" player. Condi is "D" player. What else can we expect?
Should have, but he had a private sector career to look after. That means playing the "good soldier" to a President who ignores him and giving tongue baths to mainland China.
As mentioned on NPR, only two sec of state have resigned "in protest". I would suggest that this is basicly a cultural thing. In the UK you can see the battles they have in the parlament and the resignations come easily after feeling get hurt. William Jennings Bryan didn't want to enter (WWI) war and Cyrus Vance had conflicts with Jimmy Carter over the hostages in Iran. A simple look at things, but that should get you on the right track. The good soldier moniker fits well, but if I were Mr. Powell, I'd resent it. It just makes him seem so weak, mindless, etc. I have heard that a General is equilivant to a CEO. In fact, CEOs call the shots while generals still have bosses and some of them have no military experience and may have been elected into office. So, he moves into the administration, to make that policy that in terms, was his boss, to find even more bosses. He was used for two elections, burned his political capital and even declared to be a Rebulican. This job is 24/7 for sure. He deserves some "me" time. I'm not checking my spelling today!
So with each successive appointment comes less responsibilility for the Secretary of State. Is this a way of minimizing the power and influence of a person in that role and maximizing the power of the president? Sounds like an attractive standard to be set for upcoming presidents.
Condi is certainly less competent, but I expect her to have more responsibility than Powell. Powell was a political choice, a popular, uncontroversial guy Bush needed to put in a cabinet position. Rice on the other hand is hand picked by Bush. She will be anything but Ms. Irrelevant like Powell.
So what will her relevance be beyond that of Powell's? She did not seem to publicly spout off one original thought, nor plan of action as National Security Advisor. I definately can not envision her rallying support for something that requires real convincing, like bringing other Cabinet members or the President on board with a certain action ie. Powell going to the UN with the WMD case. She appears 'book smart' and not particularly statesman like, more the sort to be marginalized by opposing forces within the administration. Not the type to garner respect by the world community in the way that Powell did when he walks in a room to make a speech and the World listens, even if it is rubbish. More of a worker bee then a leader. Here are your tasks, get at em. But that's just my impression and it seems to be in line with the skepticism creeping into the news.