The WaPo is reporting that Colin Powell will not serve as Secretary of State in a second Bush administration:
Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and his deputy, Richard L. Armitage, have signaled to the White House that they intend to step down even if President Bush is reelected, setting the stage for a substantial reshaping of the administration’s national security team that has remained unchanged through the September 2001 terrorist attacks, two wars and numerous other crises.
To which I say, good for him. He is an American hero, and if I were him I would retire and ENJOY LIFE for a few years. Some random thoughts:
– Be the first to find a lefty claiming that this is either proof that Bush is a foreign policy failure (and Powell can’t take it anymore) or that this means the neocons are really going to take over (the article hints at it mentioning Libby and Wolfowitz as possible replacements, but I am talking about the real hysterical ranting). For the record, Clinton had Two secretaries of State, G.H.W. Bush had two, Reagan had two, Carter had two, and Nixon had two, so Powell stepping down is a sign of, well, nothing.
– Powell for Veep in ’04, or Powell for Pres in 08?
– Where will this put Rice in the power scheme?
– Has there ever been anyone this central to so may Presidents in recent history (Gergen comes to mind)?
*** UPDATE ***
Oliver Willis delivers with the first lefty hysterical ranting about Powell leaving. And, its a twofer- we have dire warnings about the future of a neocon State Dept. AND Oliver is projecting his own reasons for why Powell is leaving. Well done, O-Dub. Congratulations to Mason for the quick find!
It will be Invasions, Unlimited.
One of the sole voices of semi-reason in the Bush foreign policy has been Colin Powell. Sure, at the end of the run-up to Iraq he faltered and fell in with the company line, but it has been quite obvious that the duplicity is getting to him and anyone with half a conscience wouldn’t be able to stand it.
We would never stop fighting with State & Defense in the grasp of Wolfowitz/Rice/Rumsfeld. It would make the last three years look like nothing. Not that we needed more evidence against a Bush re-election, but, there it is.
Are these guys predictable, or what?
*** Update #2 ***
The Calpundit shows he doesn’t want Oliver to have all the fun in this post titled “Victory for the Neocons?” Kevin come up with his own twofer- the title alludes to a neocon nightmare takeover, and then he expresses his grave doubts that Powell is absolutely stepping down for personal reasons. You see, in a Republican administration, when someone leaves after four years, it is because of scandal or something- they can’t just leave like people in Democrat administrations.
*** Update #3 ***
Jeralynn at Talk Left manages to talk about the issue like a sane person, and not some conspiracy mongering hyper-partisan. Kudos to Talk Left.
Mason
democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=50226&…
Okay, so that’s cheating…
Mason
This is pretty close.. heh heh
oliverwillis.com/entries/0803/nightmare_scenario.html
Oliver
It’s been common knowledge that Powell can’t stand the hell out of Rumsfeld, so I sure as heck ain’t “projecting” that. The Bush foreign policy of “let’s attack everyone” is terrible enough, without the PNAC boys (n girls) in charge 100%.
Chris
The big question is this: Why does anyone bother to fisk Oliver Willis anymore? He’s a broken record asking for it.
Never understood why he was on the Command Post staff way back when. (Especially when his submissions started flame wars rather than provided “news” per se, if I recall correctly.)
Patton Price
Be the first to find a lefty claiming that this is either proof that Bush is a foreign policy failure
Well, I suppose “bullshit” and “failure” aren’t exactly the same.
Chris
So Oliver, we’re going full guns blazing into Tehran and Pyongyang? I’m sure that’s going on right now as I speak, after all, you’re such the foriegn policy expert here.
Right. And Bush’s Medicare plan is “conservative.” Sheesh, it’s amazing what happens when one is so desperate to lose objectivity.
John Cole
The article states Powell is leaving for personal reasons, and then you state it is a personal dislike of Rumsfeld and duplicity, and then claim you aren’t projecting.
Ok.
M. Scott Eiland
This is bound to increase Dr. Rice’s role even further, now that the usual suspects have tried to knock her down again and failed–I can hear the teeth of Democratic strategists from all over the country grinding from where I sit.
Terry
I agree with the comment above about Willis….other than an occasional lucid comment on football or women, the guy’s views on politics are straight out of the standard leftie paranoia crappola.
Kevin Whited
Personally, I’m inlined to the view that it will be nice to have a Secretary of State who does NOT disdain travel for a change — whoever the replacement is.
RW
Extra credit for the first lefty to use the analogy about rats leaving a sinking ship.
Not that they’re predictable….
David Perron
Still waiting for Drum to tell us in what way the current administration is composed of “neocons”, or even if he understands what a neocon is.
Kevin Drum
Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Wolfowitz, among other, are generally considered neocons.
And folks, writing about this without commenting on the fact that (a) Rumsfeld and Powell clashed frequently, and (b) it leaves the administration without its primary exponent of internationalism, shows nothing except a non-understanding of what’s going on in Washington. The backstory to this is important, and it’s foolish to just pretend that it doesn’t exist.
Moe Lane
“Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Wolfowitz, among other, are generally considered neocons.”
Out of curiousity, Drum, what’s your take on that Business Week article a few months back?
I’m curious because this particular article by Dunham fairly explicitly made a distinction between Cheney / Rumsfeld (calling them ‘key allies’ siding with the neocons) and the usual neocon suspects. Would you agree with Joel Mowbray that the BW article is an example of the use of neocon as a code word for Jew?
Moe Lane
David Perron
Kevin, just about zero additional clarity is provided by examples in lieu of explanation. I can see that BW might label Reagan as a neoconservative because, well, he used to be a liberal. On the other hand, I can’t see how “neocon” applies to Cheney or Rumsfeld. Other than by a common abuse of meaning, that is.
RW
Well, Kevin, it appears your neo-story has been neo-debunked by the anti-neo-conservatives.
Time to find another conspiracy…or another jug of the kool-aid you guys have been drinking lately.
Dick Cheney…neocon? Good lord, you guys are just throwing anything up at the wall, huh? What next, Jesse Helms is a neoconservative?
Kevin Drum
David: you asked how the current administration is composed of neocons. I gave three examples of prominent administration members who are neocons. What exactly are you looking for?
For those wondering who’s a neocon and who’s not, PNAC is widely considered ground zero for the neocon movement. Its statement of principles is here:
newamericancentury.org/statementofprinciples.htm
Please note the signatories.
Nobody is suggesting that the neocons are a monolithic bloc, and there are certainly many different shadings of neocon thought. But Cheney and Rumsfeld are both neocons. (Or “key allies” of the neocons. I’m afraid that distinction is a little too subtle for me.)
Moe: No, I don’t agree with Mowbray. Anyone who tries to pretend that neocon is a code word for Jew is either ignorant of a long political tradition or else just a partisan hack. It’s impossible to write about neocons without mentioning the Jews who are some of their most prominent members. For some reason, Mowbray seems to want to pretend that neocons don’t really exist. I’m not sure why.
Kevin Drum
Actually, I am kind of curious. Are you guys suggesting that neocons are just a liberal myth?
It’s not a conspiracy, you know, it’s all out in the open and it’s part of normal political debate. The neocons have a point of view that I largely disagree with, but their point of view certainly exists.
Why do you consider “neocon” to be a term of derision just because liberals don’t like them? That’s not normally something that bothers you.
Moe Lane
“Anyone who tries to pretend that neocon is a code word for Jew is either ignorant of a long political tradition or else just a partisan hack.”
And yet, the article is careful to isolate out the non-Jews out of the neocon designation. Surely you can see how others might raise an eyebrow at that (and the fact that the quoted neocons are all Jewish) – or perhaps not.
After all, you do admit that the distinction is a bit too subtle for you, which suggests that you might not be as -quite- clear on the subject as you think that you are…
David Perron
Um, Kevin, I’m asking for a definition of what you think a neocon is. Hopefully, that definition will be consistent with the historical definition. If not, you’re going to have to tell me exactly what your three examples have in common that permit you to throw them together in a group. Something a bit less trivial than that they’re white, male, and stand some nonzero distance to the right of political center.
If you’re unwilling to define neocon, I submit it’s a meaningless label. If your intent is to come up with some new meaning that is effectively whatever you want it to mean, knock yourself out. But at least have the grace to tell us what you meant by that.
Other than, you know, “those bastard Republicans”.
Moe Lane
“Why do you consider “neocon” to be a term of derision just because liberals don’t like them? That’s not normally something that bothers you.”
Based on your previous comment, it’s apparently because we’re partisan hacks. Except that we’re not pretending to believe the codeword business.
Moe Lane
Emphasis marks should be around ‘pretending’ in the previous post.
Dean
Kevin,
Perhaps for the same reason that everytime anyone says “liberals” or “the Left” just about every liberal and/or Lefty immediately pipes up w/ “But that’s not what I believe!” and “You can’t use that word, because there IS no Left/liberal.”
I’d venture that it’s probably as frustrating for you as it is for us to use a term that is actually pretty widely accepted, and then hear all about how it doesn’t actually describe anyone.
Just a thought….
David Perron
Good point, Dean. Still, it’s nice to know whether all this…disapproval is in any way directed at me. I’m relatively certain my political views are somewhat right of center; I’ve got no confidence at all how much they get into “neocon” territory.
Personally, I think Bush gets the neocon label because anyone referring to him as a conservative would be subject to mirabhasa laughter.
Ricky
**Personally, I think Bush gets the neocon label because anyone referring to him as a conservative would be subject to mirabhasa laughter.**
What, you haven’t gotten the gospel from Mr. Marshall, who has let out the secret that the right agrees with Bush’s policies (as part of we’re-not-as-bad-as-them topic #252,221)? They’re neo-on neo-to neo-us, I’m neo-afraid.
**It’s not a conspiracy, you know, it’s all out in the open and it’s part of normal political debate.**
No, Kevin, the mockery from us happens because you guys are coming up with a new neocon conspiracy every other week (or more often) to hold up & use as the evidence that any smart person would vote for a Democrat against ‘those people’.
They’re your boogeyman.
No big deal, the hard right had the same thing with Clinton it’s just that it’s always peculiar how the diehard left always knows more about the ‘real’ GOP than the actual base of the GOP.
David Perron
Ricky:
Shhhhhh…no codespeak in front of the emocratsDay.
Dodd
And now the White House and the State Department are denying that Powell and Armitage are going to step down. I guess Oliver, et al will have to find someone else to project their preconceptions onto.
Ricky
Well, Drum’s really one-upped us…..he now is pitching a Hardball theory that this was (you guessed it) a story put forth (by neocons, of course) in order to defang Powell.
When one shitty conspiracy theory doesn’t work, try another!!!!
{groan}