Condoleeza Rice gets with the program (and makes history)

[Cyrus]

Ms Rice is the first black woman to take over the State Department. It's not all good news, however. Her appointment is one more sign of the bunker mentality that has pervaded the White House in Dubya's first term -- and looks set to continue even more strongly in his second term. The Bush administration has been on a circle-the-wagons, no-dissent-allowed mode, which is not how the office of the President is supposed to be executed management-wise. You need some dissent and you need inependent voices. Especially during times of crisis.

Here's what George H. W. Bush's Secretary of State, Lawrence Eagleburger had to say:

[ QUOTE ]
"I do not believe that you should have in the Secretary of State someone who has spent their last four years in the White House next to the President. I do believe you need tension between the State Department, the Defense Department and the National Security Council."

"If the rumors prove correct and her deputy becomes National Security Adviser, [then] everybody is going to speak the same language".


[/ QUOTE ]


I remember a thread sometime ago about GWB as a CEO, in which he didn't get much credit by posters here. Well, his second term that begins worse than the first, management-wise. Bush seems to want to be surrounded by only those who agree 100% with policy.

CNN Report

<font color="white"> . </font>

[adios]

[ QUOTE ]
Ms Rice is the first black woman to take over the State Department.

[/ QUOTE ]

Appointed by a Republican, the party many on this forum have portrayed as the embodiment of Jim Crow and the last bastion of segregation and discrimination. Hmm....

[Matty]

http://www.blackpeopleloveus.com/

[GWB]

Condi Rice is a great pick.

In 1864 after he defeated McClellan in the election, Lincoln kept on the "butcher" Grant as his general and other right thinking leaders in his administration, they and won the war. His wimpy opponents wanted him to pick weak leaders for his second administration. Good thing he did not.

Condi Rice is the right pick, and who cares what my wimpy opponents think.

W

[andyfox]

Condi is the natural pick. Her views seem to define the general consensus in the Bush administration. She's charismatic and well-spoken. Kissinger also went from national security advisor to Secretary of State, so it's not like it's an unprecedented move.

[nicky g]

She's certainly well-spoken. You really think she's charismatic? I find she comes off as haughty and defensive in most interviews.

[Taxman]

There goes what you call an "overexagerration." And selective memory of course. Want some wood? I think it's a good point that there should be some amount of dissent in the cabinet. How does having a gaggle of people with the same viewpoint create an atmosphere of seeking the best solutions to our problems?

[daveymck]

[ QUOTE ]
Condi is the natural pick. Her views seem to define the general consensus in the Bush administration. She's charismatic and well-spoken. Kissinger also went from national security advisor to Secretary of State, so it's not like it's an unprecedented move.

[/ QUOTE ]

The Sun in the UK is calling her feisty.

[ThaSaltCracka]

[ QUOTE ]
She's certainly well-spoken. You really think she's charismatic? I find she comes off as haughty and defensive in most interviews.

[/ QUOTE ]
I agree. I think she is the complete opposite of charismatic. If we are going to have a female sec of state, why the hell can't she be hot?!?! Seriously.

[andyfox]

I'm not a fan of her politics (surprise), but yes, I do think she's got "it." Part of it is the fact that she's a woman and she's black. Compare her to the two most important women in the Clinton administration, Janet Reno and Madelyn Albright.