November 18, 2004
EUROPE MOBILISED
Jacques Chirac has his doubts about Saddam Hussein’s removal:
French President Jacques Chirac says he is "not at all sure" the world has become safer with the removal from power of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
"To a certain extent Saddam Hussein's departure was a positive thing, " Mr Chirac says when asked if the world is safer now, as US President George W Bush has repeatedly stated.
"But it also provoked reactions, such as the mobilisation in a number of countries, of men and women of Islam, which has made the world more dangerous," Mr Chirac says.
Europe is much less ambivalent about Condoleezza Rice:
The appointment of Condoleezza Rice as secretary of state is bad news for the already fragile American-European relationship, European experts and commentators said Tuesday.
In Spain, the newspaper El Pais said, "The White House has lost its moderate face," while the Kommersant newspaper in Russia went further: "Now the hawks will attack us."
"Among the most pessimistic conjectures made when George W. Bush gained re-election was that with a mandate, he'd keep Donald Rumsfeld at the Pentagon and nominate Rice to replace Powell," the French newspaper Le Monde said. "The second of those has now come true. ... It is bad news for European leaders."
Maybe Bush should have replaced Powell with Saddam. In Australia, Greens leader Bob Brown detects a lack of compassion:
US national security adviser Condoleezza Rice did not have the compassion needed to be secretary of state, Australian Greens leader Bob Brown said today.
"Condaleeza Rice is not a warm human being," Senator Brown told reporters.
"She's George W. Bush's echo."
Go talk to a tree, Senator. Reader Richard Compton writes to point out that the caption in this BBC piece originally read: "Her master's voice: Condoleezza Rice." It was presumably replaced after someone considered the obvious racist implications; others are slower to react.
Posted by Tim Blair at November 18, 2004 11:23 AMCondaleeza Rice is not a warm human being," Senator Brown told reporters.
Brown's insight into the famle mind is quite remarkable.. he must have a wealth of experience in the field of "female warmth"!
His own "warmth" and Charismatic personality is of course beyond question.
(SUM of intellects of Australian Greens)
As regards Kalvoda and the Czechoslovak Legion:
Was late September of 1914 chaotic in Eastern Europe?
When did the Russian Empire fall?
If later than Sept 28, 1914, then the Legion must have been born in the chaotic times preceding the fall of the Russian Empire.
Is there something I'm missing?
SBS News last night said Bush had appointed a woman in "his own image. An evangelical Christian who prays every day."
Posted by: C.L. at November 18, 2004 at 11:43 AMActually, Dr. Rice is a member of friend Susan's church, in Menlo Park, CA.
Susan has met her many times and says she is a very warm person.
The church, I might add, it not a very conservative one at all; its multi-denominational.
So there you go, Mr. Journalist.
Posted by: adam at November 18, 2004 at 11:48 AMMadelaine Albright was infinitely more cuddly, wouldn't you say?
Posted by: Dean Esmay at November 18, 2004 at 11:48 AMHey, she danced with North Korean children! OSOCUDDLEE. Gag.
Posted by: Andrea Harris at November 18, 2004 at 11:50 AMcondi only prays once a day? she's gotta smarten up! some people pray at least five times a day.
Posted by: rosceo at November 18, 2004 at 11:51 AMSo will you, rosceo, when they take over, so will you ...
Your wife, of course, will have to go around in a burqa'a, and your daughters won't get an education, but as the MSM commentators tell you, there's no real difference between the major religions.
Bob Brown's got the dessicated personality of an old growth log and about as much human warmth as a brick wall.
Posted by: mr magoo at November 18, 2004 at 11:59 AMI'd say Chiraq missed an excellent opportunity to shut up.
Posted by: gaz at November 18, 2004 at 12:01 PMOf the various unsubstantiated quotes being dragged out about Ms Rice, (which are supposed by journalists to reflect badly on her), the best so far is her comment on how to treat America's allies: "Punish France, ignore Germany, forgive Russia". It's good enough to be true. And she says her dream job would be managing the US National Football League. Go, Condi, go!
(Hearing Bob Brown talk about human warmth is like hearing Richard Butler talk about humility. Has anyone checked Brown for a pulse lately?)
Posted by: cuckoo at November 18, 2004 at 12:08 PM"Among the most pessimistic conjectures made when George W. Bush gained re-election was that with a mandate, he'd keep Donald Rumsfeld at the Pentagon and nominate Rice to replace Powell," the French newspaper Le Monde said. "The second of those has now come true. ... It is bad news for European leaders."
If that is Europe at it's most pessimistic, they ain't seen nothing yet.
I am only too happy to hear their worst predictions have come true. Time to recalibrate your nighmares, Euroweenies.
I guess the "GWB is a DOOFUS!" cartoons are all getting whisked off the bulletin boards at Foggy Bottom Central. The news will look ugly while all the lefty malcontents at State are leaking whatever damaging info they know as Condi hands out the pink slips.
I have to admit that, eventhough firing someone is generally an unplesant ordeal, there are some sumbitches who's terminations have been some of the most pleasurable experiences of my life.
Posted by: arlo at November 18, 2004 at 12:25 PMShouldn't Bob Brown stay out of US politics?
or doesn't that apply to him?
Posted by: Harry Tuttle at November 18, 2004 at 12:27 PMI don't want warm and fuzzy people in government. I want clear eyed realists who work for Americans.
Posted by: Fred Boness at November 18, 2004 at 12:31 PMMagoo - you're dead right about Brown, but I beg to differ on brick walls. A nice old north facing brick wall makes a lovely heat bank, especially in a garden. Roses love to climb up 'em. You couldn't say that about Brown.
Posted by: cuckoo at November 18, 2004 at 12:32 PM"Karl-Heinz Kamp,...., said he thought it was too early to know whether Bush would continue to alienate Europe in his second term."
Europe had its chance numerous times but chose to alienate the USA. The minions usually kiss up to the Superpower. Our Democrats have the same misconception. What do they want Bush to do? come over and give them a hug. Toughen up euroweenies you still have each other to cuddle.
Karl-Heinz Kamp...is this a bad joke or could this be Teresas German relatives.
"Punish France, ignore Germany, forgive Russia"
Cuckoo: did she really say that? if so, I like her even more....that is exactly how I feel about this trio.
Tim: I think your need to change the headlines to:
"Europe Whines"
"Mobilizes" gives the feeling they are preparing to get together and do something. I can't recall ever having to mobilizing to talk.
Posted by: tej at November 18, 2004 at 12:42 PMKeep in mind the the good old Democratic party faithful have referred to her as a "House Ni**er". They are such tolerant, diversity loving people.
Posted by: swassociates at November 18, 2004 at 12:57 PMWasn't Chirac one of the folks getting bribed by Saddam?
Posted by: Patrick Chester at November 18, 2004 at 01:12 PMWhat a lovely little spasm of left wing racism and misogyny.
She's a conservative, she's not really black!
She's a conservative, she's not really a woman!
How come its always the so called 'progressive' left that portrays any woman who isn't a cookie baking earth mother as a self hating eunuch. Compare Hillary Clinton's slavish devotion to her to her Bill to Margaret Thatcher's happy, functional partnership with her Denis.
Posted by: Chris Valentine at November 18, 2004 at 01:15 PMMaybe the French should have considered this before they sprung their Martin Luther King day ambush on Powell. Did they expect a moderate reaction?
Posted by: Amphipolis at November 18, 2004 at 01:30 PMEver since Bob Brown had his out-of-body experience on the Franklin River, he's been in need of a personality makeover. I'm afraid it's too late for a lobotomy,doctor, the situation is terminal. Perhaps a transplant? There's a donor available - Pauline Hansen. Why, yes she'd be perfect:not only would he be prettier, but he could dance as well. Nurse, pass me the scalpel...
Posted by: mr magoo at November 18, 2004 at 01:41 PM--while the Kommersant newspaper in Russia went further: "Now the hawks will attack us."....
Even better, in their own language and fluently.
While playing Rachmanov or Stravinsky(?).
Posted by: Sandy P at November 18, 2004 at 01:54 PM"But it also provoked reactions, such as the mobilisation in a number of countries, of men and women of Islam, which has made the world more dangerous," Mr Chirac says.
This is the tried and true French method - ignore a problem because standing up to it will make it worse. It's what Guderian counted on when he rolled through French lines like a hot knife through butter in 1940. Sadly, the Frogs don't even pay attention to their own history.
We are all ok with Chirac being what he obviously is but I think there are many of us embarrassed that the press or anyone talks to that idiot Bob Brown.
Can I suggest a "sorry" site where we all post our apologies to the world that he lives in Australia?
Posted by: Allan at November 18, 2004 at 02:03 PMSo Condoleeza is not warm.
I guess Hillary Clinton is the right temperature.
Folks are picky aren't they?
When they have nothing useful to say.
Posted by: ilibcc at November 18, 2004 at 02:04 PMAllan
Only if we can say sorry about Mark Latham as well - for being an oafish thug and bore.
Posted by: mr magoo at November 18, 2004 at 02:06 PMFor chrissakes, do we have to listen to this kind of whingeing for four more years? I mean, Condi not a warm human being? Somebody get this guy Linus' blanket. Waaaaaaaa!
Posted by: Tommy Shanks at November 18, 2004 at 02:07 PMGlad to hear the reactions about Condi's appointment. Boo hoo, Euroweenies!!
I have a cousin who works in the State Department, some sort of administrative slots. Her husband works for State as well. Both of them are genuine lefties. Not quite full blown leftoids, but close.
I have to wonder.....when do they get their pink slips from Condi?
Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 18, 2004 at 02:24 PMDean Esmay: Madelaine Albright was infinitely more cuddly, wouldn't you say?
I hate to correct people, but the proper spelling is u-g-l-y.
Posted by: Zhang Fei at November 18, 2004 at 02:34 PM"Condaleeza Rice is not a warm human being," Senator Brown told reporters.
Yeah, and Kissinger and Baker were such fonts of compassion...
Posted by: mojo at November 18, 2004 at 02:59 PMWow, that Beeb piece is off the wall...
"the influence of the State Department which tends to take a longer term view of world affairs... [than the president]"
Cause Islamicism and tyranny always just fix themselves if we're nice to them... the "long-term" view. In fact Theo van Gogh was just saying the other day... oh, wait. No. No, he wasn't saying anything.
"The State Department has lost power over the past 30 years as influence has moved to the White House."
Errrrrummmmmm.... yah. Last I checked it was and extension of the Whitehouse, not a separate branch of government...
Gosh, Condaleeza Rice (didn't someone in another thread say something about the British upper classes having funny names also?) is 50... FIFTY?... & here I was panting & drooling thinking she was a hot looking 33 year old.... Certainly holds her age well. Anyone who likens her image to Bush...er.. well, they should visit an optician!
AMEN to what you say Gaz, but I recommend that Chirac follow the lead of Colin Powell...
So Condi gets bad rap from Chirac AND Bob Brown? Wow! I really like this lady!!!
Posted by: HippyHunter at November 18, 2004 at 03:23 PMLook Brown should no better. I thought all homosexuals were supposed to be all cutesy and "You go, girlfriend!" to powerful women...
Has Queer Eye for the Straight Guy misled me? Say it aint so...
Posted by: Quentin George at November 18, 2004 at 03:30 PMIf Chirac says he is "not at all sure" why does he continue to oppose Iraq so totally?
Which is the bit that he is sure of?
Posted by: rog at November 18, 2004 at 03:41 PMIf I wanted someone hugged, old soldier Colin Powell would be my guy. If I wanted to have someone kicked in the ass with a boot planted up to the knee, Condi Rice would get the call. I just love the idea of Old Europe (or Weenieland or whatever it is) looking across the table and seeing Donald Rumsfeld and Condi Rice, with no pity in their eyes.
Posted by: JorgXMcKie at November 18, 2004 at 03:41 PMtim, the title of this post should be "EUROPE IMMOBILZED"
Posted by: The Real JeffS at November 18, 2004 at 03:45 PMErrrrrummmmmm.... yah. Last I checked it was and extension of the Whitehouse, not a separate branch of government...
[Yes, Minister Quote]
Jim: Apparently the White House thinks that the Foreign Office is full of pinkos and traitors.
Bernard: Not it's not, well not full.
French President Jacques Chirac says he is "not at all sure" the world has become safer with the removal...
The lessons of Talleyrand well understood by the master of machiavellian politics, leaving space for a hasty exit.
Monsieur le president also states in the interview
"To a certain extent", SH's elimination from office was a positive thing". Another escape door here.
No monsieur! one asks the Iraqis themselves, if they think it is a positive development.
This chirac talk is obviously a prelude to a rapprochement with the US and the hope of salvaging the secret french oil contracts of TOTAL ELEF FINA with respect to Iraqi oil fields.
All the leftoids who bleat about the war in Iraq being about oil are right!
It's about FRENCH OIL.
And now the revelations of the BLANCHISSAGE by the Banque National de Paris re the UNIted nations Oil for food corruption of some 20 billion dollars.
Goodness , what will France do to keep the lid down?
Yes it is time to resume playing footy with the tiresome and naive americans to bury the evidence under a pile of good intentions and a nouvelle entente!
I don't want warm and compassionate as SecState. I want a Queen Bitch of the Universe, prepared to seriously kick ass and take names to advance America's goals. Of course, this includes doing a Stalinesque purge of the leftoids at State. Maybe she can "reform" the UN by driving it into the sea while she's at it - bonus points if Kofi and his buds end up with a Cuban vacation at Gitmo.
And after four productive and most excellent years of doing this, I'll gladly vote for her for President.
Posted by: Foobarista at November 18, 2004 at 04:52 PMShe's bright she seems to have the (virtual) balls necessary to do the a## kicking in State that's needed and she also seems to have upset the right people. Good start.
Don't know if people realize that Dr. Rice was heavily influenced by Madeleine Albright's father, Josef Korbel?
An old bio, but a very good one, (from 1999) can be seen here :
I wonder if she'll be the US' first female president?
Posted by: Chris Josephson at November 18, 2004 at 05:31 PMCondi is a condiment anywhere she goes-very very clever,talented,accomplished, charming a great ambassador for any country, and which other country is it that has not only a woman but a black woman as Secretary of State.
Booby Brown eat your heart out you will never be a great leader of anything other than the drovers dog and even he won't follow you to the nearest lamp post.
The Diplomad recently posted thoughts on Powell's legacy and suggestions for the new secretary of state. That last item may be of interest to people hoping for a flurry of pink slips.
I'd like to see a Rice/Powell ticket in 2008.
Theres been suggestions that Powell go against Hilary next election; might kill 2 birds with 1 stone.
Posted by: rog at November 18, 2004 at 07:51 PMYou've got to feel for Jacques, he's lost his mate Saddam and now Yasser. Looks like he'll have to rely on his super to see him through his twilight years.
Posted by: Anthony at November 18, 2004 at 08:02 PMThe Euro-whiners should count their lucky stars; I wanted Rumsfeld to be the new Sec'y of State.
Posted by: Jeepster at November 18, 2004 at 08:19 PMI say bring back sadaam,there was much less trouble then.The americans have shown themselves to be incompetant at enforcing security in Iraq.
Let the market rule,bring back the Iraq security expert,sadaam.
"To a certain extent Saddam Hussein's departure was a positive thing, " Mr Chirac says
A CERTAIN extent?!?!?
-----
A Rice/Powell ticket - excellent idea. I'd vote for them (if I could).
-----
Posted by: The Candidate at November 18, 2004 at 09:01 PMI say we boot commentator marklatham off this blog for being a boring and asinine twit, and for posting under the name of a thuggish loser.
To the ash heap of history with ye!
Posted by: Quentin George at November 18, 2004 at 09:05 PMOh, and would it help you to use correct spelling, punctuation and occasionally capitalise proper nouns?
Twit.
Posted by: Quentin George at November 18, 2004 at 09:07 PMRice is a menace.
Full marks to her for her intelligence and ambition, for a black woman to have risen so high
in my lifetime is fantastic,but.....
The irony is that those who would have punished the blacks for their uppity behaviour in the sixties are ruling the US today,and they still have their house blacks.
Why is Blair meeting Chirac anyway? I thought we were going to punish France for its treachery during the second Gulf War. I had hoped we'd sink the French fleet again or something.
Instead, we're rolling over and begging him to tickle our tummies. The room he is visiting in Windsor Castle, usually called the "Waterloo Room" was even renamed the "Music Room" for his visit. And we're helping them at the UN over the Ivory Coast, when we should be playing back their views on war being an admission of failure and so on. If we're going to be this weak, then frankly we deserve to be stabbed in the back by the French every few years.
Posted by: PJ at November 18, 2004 at 09:21 PMOkay, "marklatham," I was going to just ignore you but for that cutesy "Republicans are really racist" comment you are banned. You can come back when you've grown up.
Posted by: Andrea Harris at November 18, 2004 at 10:30 PM"The irony is that those who would have punished the blacks for their uppity behaviour in the sixties are ruling the US today, and they still have their house blacks."
Oh MarkyL, I didnt realise the Democrats ruled the US today. Of course you do know that it was the eeevil republicans who voted overwhelming in favour of Civil Rights legislation from the 1930s onwards and the noble Democrats who voted overwhelmingly against, yes?
The only major change to their voting patterns occurred during the 1960s particularly with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Republicans voted 138 to 34 in favour, Democrats 152-96 in favor. Not exactly a ringing endorsement by the Dems was it. Still give em some credit they did support it.
Also I'd like to take issue with your final comment, perhaps you meant it as a criticism of Republicans in general but it really says far more about you than them. As has been noted before in these forums it isnt Republican or conservative commentators or supporters publicly calling Colin Powell, Clarence Thomas or even Condi Rice, House Blacks - or worse.
I've only ever heard that sort of racist slur repeated by people on the left side of politics, people like you.
Ah crap, Andrea banned him while I was typing this. Oh well waste not, want not.
DaveK - I'd go a step further and point out that the only ones who even MENTION her ethnicity are lefties. I heard on...sh*t I can't remember which station...a reporter asking how it is that a black woman ended up with the Republican party. I think your post answers that best. Accusations usually say more about the accuser than the accusee (is that a word?)
Posted by: robw25 at November 19, 2004 at 12:49 AMRice/Powell?
Are you crazy?
Rice/Guiliani or Giuliani/Rice maybe.
I'm not thinking Hillary's all that much of a problem anymore...
Posted by: jack at November 19, 2004 at 01:51 AMHer master's voice: Condoleezza Rice.
It doesn't strike me as racist. She's a concert pianist and that makes it call on the RCA Victor association well before it seeks out racism http://www.emiclassics.com/centenary/nipper.html to account for ``master,'' unless you're a really strong connecter-of-few-dots.
I don't know personally if she's a concert level pianist. A lot of people get pretty good and practice consistently for enjoyment, and you might just say that they're concert level, meaning better than people you know. But it's part of her public persona.
Rice/Powell in '08? Why do we need Powell?
Rice/Giuliani? That would compromise the pro-life vote.
Rice/Cornyn? Hmmm...
DaveK, marklatham should have known that. After all, in Australia it was the ALP who was the instigator and main supporter of the "White Australia Policy" that discriminated against non-European immigrants.
And it was Labor leader who said "Two wongs don't make a white".
Charming.
Posted by: Quentin George at November 19, 2004 at 06:21 AMThe only major change to their voting patterns occurred during the 1960s particularly with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Republicans voted 138 to 34 in favour, Democrats 152-96 in favor. Not exactly a ringing endorsement by the Dems was it. Still give em some credit they did support it.
Furthermore: This legislation was written by Republicans. It would not have become law without the efforts of Minority Leader Everett Dirksen and his Republican caucus. He pushed the bill through the Senate, would not allow it to be gutted by the Democrats in committee and delivered cloture to the fillibuster mounted by Robert Byrd (D-WVa). Byrd, of course, voted against. As did Al Gore's father. As did William Fulbright, mentor to Bill Clinton. In the end, 80% of Senate Republicans and 66% of the Democrats voted in favor of the legislation.
And anyone who thinks Dr. Rice is not a warm person should listen sometime to her talk about her childhood, especially her granddaddy - how he, seemingly a most practical man, became a Presbyterian minister, how he became a Republican. Listen to her talk about how she, a rather lapsed Presbyterian at Stanford, became the pianist for a local Baptist church for 10 years. Condi Rice is warm, brillant and talented and, if that weren't enough, she has a bigger set than most of the men inside the Beltway. We are lucky to have her.
Posted by: Kyda Sylvester at November 19, 2004 at 07:41 AMActually, Kyda, I'd rather not dwell on the "warmth" or lack thereof of our politicians and officials. This obsession with appearing "nice" and unthreatening to the public has done nothing but add to Americans' reputation of being weak pushovers who are obsessed with being liked. If icky "Greens" and other limp vegetables of the left are afraid of people like Rice being "cold" scary individuals, I think that's a fine thing. One reason I switched to the Republican party was the way everyone complained about how "cold", "cruel", and "unfeeling" Republicans were. "That's the party for me," I said to myself, and prised my self away from the hot, moist embrace of the Democrats forever.
Posted by: Andrea Harris at November 19, 2004 at 09:41 AMThe Arab (male) Street won't like this one bit! Wooooooo, I'm afraid!
Prince Bandar insisted that only male air traffic controllers direct his aircraft when he flies to the US. I can picture it now, Condi herself on the radio to Bandar One: "Turn right heading two-seven-five..."
This is too good.
Posted by: Butch at November 19, 2004 at 11:08 AMtim, the title of this post should be "EUROPE IMIMOBILZED"
I actually think it just needs punctuation. Such as, "Europe mob-ilized". Yup, that describes it pretty well.
Posted by: PW at November 19, 2004 at 02:59 PMThe Euros should cherish Dubya while they have him. I suspect he will be the most multilateral and internationalist president the USA has for the next fifty years. People who used to be staunch internationalists and Atlanticists, such as myself, are getting pretty pissed with the whining and vicious, lying attacks on the US by so many abroad. There will be a short, select list of nations we will continue to help, a long list of ones we are indiferent to, and France. Frenchies, the next time somebody threatens you, don't expect American help once again to pull your chestnuts out of the fire.
As to how far ahead one can foresee a crisis coming, in September 1929 everything looked like roses. Nine years later, in September 1938, the French were on the verge of war. Ten years later, in September 1939, they were at war. I think France would be better off if Chirac had enough foresight to realize that he cannot predict what will come in the future. Rather less arrogance would help too, particularly about the other nations of the EU, but then he is French and an ENARCH. And they blather about American arrogance!
Posted by: Michael Lonie at November 19, 2004 at 05:07 PMI have doubts about Chirac's & Fisk's sanity. A couple of delusional idiots.
Posted by: Doscentavo at November 19, 2004 at 05:22 PMI think the UK should seize the opportunity.
Invade France, turn Britanny into Britain again.
Posted by: Rob Read at November 20, 2004 at 01:44 AMMark: "Let the market rule"
Ok, maybe out of context but did everyone notice how the US Stock market reacted on election day and then after. In the morning it started shooting up expecting Bush to win and then just after the exit polls showed different they fell sharply.
Then the next day as the results were coming out and Kerry conceded they began rising and now they are up about 400 points.
I asked my liberal Mom (Bush hater who relies on stocks for her living) a few days later about it ....silence ...and then something about they would have risen eitherway. She may have had a point if not for how they reacted on election day itself. Well, we don't talk politics anymore.
Although I highly respect Powell and would vote for him I don't think he would have anything to do with running for President or VP.
Rice/Rudy...definately Rice/???
Posted by: Tej at November 20, 2004 at 02:24 AMRice is a smart woman, but the "her masters voice" comment is right on track, nothing to do with racism but her sycophantic tendency to simply tell her boss what he wants to hear.
I know most of you are scared of criticism, but like the market competitoin of ideas is an inherent benefit. Bush is 100% sure of his positions(his greatest strength) and yet hes filling his administration with people 100% sure of he is correct as well. Its never a great mix and one Condi is bright enough to know better, but ambitious enough not to say anything.
Theres no denying the chasm between european and american politics & ideas, and whilst most of TimB's readers are happy to sneer down their noses at it, Powell did attempt the serious job of working towards improving it. It is still a vital relationship (far more important internationally than the Aus-US relationship). However the choice of Condi Rice doesnt bode well for this relationship. Much as you all cried about the potential of latham as PM with the US, now theres a issue about Rice's relationships with europe. If your serious about improve world affairs and not just barracking as members of ideological footbal teams you'd see a problem in this.
P.s Quinetin george, your a fool for trying to place blame for the white australia policy "main[ly]" at the ALP's door. Of course they supported it, as every party of the time did. They also included many of its biggest opponents. However the policy was instigated by Edmund Barton, a true conservative, when the ALP had only 16 seats out of the 75 in the HOR and 8 in the 36 member senate from the 1901 election. Thats like blaming the nationals for the legislation of the hawke government. Please learn some basics before peddling such trash.
Posted by: DrShrink at November 20, 2004 at 02:59 AMOh, let's "fisk" "DrShrink":
Rice is a smart woman,
How fucking patronising of you, you officious prick.
the "her masters voice" comment is right on track, nothing to do with racism but her sycophantic tendency to simply tell her boss what he wants to hear.
And you would know this how? Are you privy to their private meetings? Are you psychic? Are you one of those losers who goes around saying "I'm a great judge of character" (a sure sign of someone who has no idea of how to interact with other human beings and is generally an irritant and a bore that everyone avoids as much as they possibly can)?
I know most of you are scared of criticism
Ooh, we're sooooo scared of your scawy criticism! Hide me mommy, someone is about to disagree with me!
but like the market competitoin of ideas is an inherent benefit.
Hey, Spunky, if you want people to understand your "criticism" you need to be a little more coherent. (And if you want them to actually care what you have to say then you have to ditch the condescension, but I'm afraid that ship has already sailed.)
Bush is 100% sure of his positions(his greatest strength) and yet hes filling his administration with people 100% sure of he is correct as well. Its never a great mix and one Condi is bright enough to know better, but ambitious enough not to say anything.
Again with the suppositions based on things you could not possibly know.
Theres no denying the chasm between european and american politics & ideas, and whilst most of TimB's readers are happy to sneer down their noses at it, Powell did attempt the serious job of working towards improving it. It is still a vital relationship (far more important internationally than the Aus-US relationship).
Who the fuck are you to judge? And by "Europe" you obviously mean the intellectual elite of ScandiGermaFrance, and their little cousins Belgium and Greece. Who gives a shit about what any of those people think or want. Not me.
However the choice of Condi Rice doesnt bode well for this relationship.
Good.
Much as you all cried about the potential of latham as PM with the US, now theres a issue about Rice's relationships with europe.
Do you not know how to use the apostrophe? IS that key broken on your keyboard?
If your serious about improve world affairs and not just barracking as members of ideological footbal teams you'd see a problem in this.
More lousy grammar. And: how does "serious about improve [sic] world affairs" only mean thinking Condi Rice's appointment to Secretary of State is a bad thing? Oh, I forgot: that's the only correct view to take. You know, shrunky, some of us actually think that having Ms. Rice in her position is a way to "improve world affairs." Posted by: Andrea Harris at November 20, 2004 at 03:59 AM