Perhaps when Howie can answer where US troops are stationed around the world, someone will take his questions seriously.
His, "I don't know; isn't it refreshing that I told the truth," may work for Bush. Yep, he's grooming for the Oval Office...
<Restrained my dick references>
(Am actually awaiting some answers.)
Sophia - actually, Dean's shtick seems to be working for him right now. The same way that Rove-Bush go after their core constituency first, so Dean is pursuing his. And I notice the "liar" label beginning to stck some now - not only on Bush, but Rummy, Rice, Cheney - most of the gang. And I still can't figure out what happened to Powell.
I'm glad you restrained your dick clicks. They were getting tired.
And are you waiting for answers from Dean? Why don't you try writing to his website? I have occasionally gotten some responses, and this would be straight from the source.
No, mamaj.
The answers I'm waiting for are the same ones you are waiting for.
A girl does have to have a little fun, sometimes re: the penis dialogue.
Why are we holding Dean to a standard we've never held Bush to during his campaign or indeed during his presidency?
Why did anyone ever think Powell was going to be better than the rest? What in his professional life made anyone think he was a person of greater integrity? These aren't rhetorical questions. Everytime Powell is mentioned, it's with a certain regret not felt with, say, Rumsfeld. I just don't remember what was supposed to be better about Powell...
Tartarin
re Powell....reflecting on my own perceptions, correct of not of course, I have always found Powell's demeanor to be quite unlike that of Rumsfeld or Cheney or Bush, or a lot of other political animals - respectful of others, careful in reply, not prone to the grandiose or to self-promotion. Partly, I've granted him leeway for these attributes and because I really hoped he might become the first African American president. It also seems to be the case that foreign officials with whom he deals hold him in a uniquely high regard, though certainly the Iraq debacle has diminished that standing to some degree. Still, though I think him over-loyal to the point of fault, I do trust his judgement and his humanity much moreso than the rest of this administration.
I keep making this little slip in conversations with friends, and I've been making it for quite some time, before the invasion of Iraq. I keep referring to Rumsfeld as McNamara. Funny. This situation must have been reminding me of another time. And Rumsfeld in particular.........
But Rove, yes, he makes my skin crawl too. I go more with the puppet story. Or at least mostly puppet. GW, I think actually believes he's the president. But it seems obvious he's being used whether he recognizes it or not. Poor little man, he's in for quite a fall. And I'm waiting here, with my little burlap bag for my souvenir.
blatham, I can agree with your assessment only so far; if he's willing to sacrifice his own ethics for that of GWBush, it makes many of us wonder how much more sacrifice he's willing to make? c.i.
This cartoon quietly say's it all.
au,
Where do you get all your cartoons? I noticed you find a lot of them. Is it from just surfing the news sites?
Craven
Most of them come from the Christian Science Monitor. I read it , on the web, religiously.
au, Couldn't help but notice your use of the word "regligiously" with reading the Christian Science Monitor. I found it a tickler.
c.i.
C>I>
No relationship between the two. In fact aside from the name there is nothing of a religious nature in the publication.
Craven
You appear to be a man on the run with your ever changing Avatar's
I certainly agree that Powell is the most interesting, civilized member of the administration. And there've been little peeps from him now and then to indicate that, even when he steps over it, he knows what a line in the sand is. But I wouldn't like to think that any of us is guilty of the possibility of reverse racism, in which he's given more of a break because... I like and respect him enough to hope very much that hasn't been the case.
I don't think that reverse racism has anything to do with it. I'm one of those who speaks Powell's name regretfully these days, and I've been asking "why" for a while now, but I think that Blatham's mention of Powell's demeanor sums it up. He *seems* very genuine, and the thought of a truely genuine person in Washington appeals to people of all thought-patterns. He's the only person who, until now, no one had a problem with because (I think) he's been able to present himself as a common-sense, middle of the road kind of guy. But, on the subject of race, I do wonder if a darker-skinned black man would have had the same appeal...
Anyway, now it's easy to see how partisan the man is when you consider that he refused his desire to participate in a presidential administration during the Clinton years, but suddenly changed his mind with Bush -- and he's been willing to compromise his image for the sake of the White House. He won't stand up against the president, he continues to make excuses. But part of me wants to believe that it's not him, it's because the evil Bushies are forcing him into it. I think that it's all about the fantasy that someone who truely isn't owned by someone else can come into office and do what's right instead of what's going to benefit them the most. And it really sucks to have your fantasies blown away by the truth.
That's my theory on why so many of us are sad about Powell's true side -- he presented himself as one thing but turned out to be completely (or mostly) different. Kinda like Kennedy?
LibertyD wrote:he refused his desire to participate in a presidential administration during the Clinton years...
Are you sure of that? I know that in the last campaigns he said he would work for either side; ie, Dem or Rep - I have the feeling he was hoping (I know I was) that Gore would ask him to be his VP.
I fully agree with yours' and Blathams' assessments, I think he can't change because of his military bearing. "Once a decision is made, have to stick with it", type attitude. It sucks!
Bill
Is it possible that Powells actions are within character?
Yes - military, "as long as you follow command, you will not fail". I understand there are some Viet Nam era items in Powell's past that are examples of this character defect that put Clinton's people off on the man.
He seems like such a nice guy, and clear-headed, and not marginally nuts like the rest of them. It may be that he's in an untenable position -- more so than we suspect. I have to admit I'm influenced by the character of his son ("far from the tree"?) who seems to be a big sleezeball, wondering how much of Powell is facade, how much genuine...
