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Friday, October 22, 2004
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Why do you hate Condi Rice?
In his "Ask the White House" chat session last Wednesday, Jim Wilkinson (Deputy National Security Adviser for Communications) received a question about Condoleezza Rice's entry into the campaign -- an unprecedented step for a National Security Adviser:
Jeffrey, from Washington writes:
Given that we're engaged in a war on terror, doesn't your boss, Condoleeza Rice, have better things to do than engage in what amount to Bush administration campign stops in the key battleground states, as she has repeadtedly in recent weeks?
Wilkinson was happy to assure Jeffrey from WA that Rice was without question maintaining her non-partisan status in travelling the country to discuss national security policy with citizens (... in battleground states ... in the last two weeks of the election ... to "standing ovations"):
Glad you asked. Here are the facts on Dr. Rice's travel and speaking engagements.
First, she has preserved the nonpolitical and nonpartisan nature of the National Security Council. However, I will state the obvious that part of the job today of national security adviser is to discuss our nation's national security policy. Dr. Rice has continued the nonpolitical tradition of the post, but being nonpolitical doesn't mean being non-accessible. At a period in U.S. history when national security is on the minds of the American people more than ever, she's proud to discuss the president's foreign policy agenda, and she considers it important to make herself accessible to citizens in their communities who have questions of their own.
She has received more than 4,000 requests since the beginning of the Administration. She has given 68 speeches since the beginning of Administration in 15 states and the District of Columbia, including states like California, New York, Texas, and Kansas. In 2001 she gave 16 speeches; in 2002 she gave 18 speeches; in 2003 she delivered 17 speeches; and this year she has given 17 speeches. She gives these speeches to nonpartisan groups, groups such as World Affairs Councils around the country which have foreign policy experts from all across the spectrum visit often.
Only those who think nothing worthwhile happens outside of Washington would attack the national security adviser for accepting invitations to discuss national security policy with nonpartisan audiences in America's heartland.
Yes, I can see how it's important for the NSA to make herself accessible to such important constituents as the Cleveland Browns.
2:36:44 AM 
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Is America headed for an Argentina-style financial crisis?
Signs say yes, argues a DKos diarist. For the first time in memory, foreign investors are not buying U.S. Treasury Bonds. The consequences could be dire.
1:59:55 AM
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Sign o' the times
You know our society is f'ed up when ...
Only in America could Mr. O'Reilly appear on "Live With Regis and Kelly" to plug his new moralistic children's advice book (sample dictum: "Healthy sex is a combination of sensible behavior and sincere affection") just as old and young alike were going online to search thesmokinggun.com for the lewd monologues attributed to him in Ms. Mackris's 22-page complaint. Everyone is now so busy matching Mr. O'Reilly's alleged after-hours oratory - none of which he or his lawyer immediately denied - with his past condemnations of Janet Jackson, Ludacris, wet T-shirt contests, Joycelyn Elders and the televised Madonna-Britney smooch that the findings could fill another Starr report. My own favorite example, hands down, is Mr. O'Reilly's reverie about hooking up with "hot" Italian women during a visit to the Vatican while his pregnant wife was marooned at home in Plandome, Long Island.
Apart from the sexual content, is the cognitive dissonance here any different from Bush on Iraq, Bush on the economy, Bush on health care . . .?
12:46:43 AM
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© Copyright
2004
David V. Johnson.
Last update:
11/1/04; 3:05:28 AM.
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