Target Centermass

Category: Politics

  • Bush Chooses Rice to Replace Powell

    In a series of expected moves, Secretary of State Colin Powell announced that he would step aside, and President Bush has apparently chosen Condoleezza Rice as Powell’s successor.

    Powell, a retired four-star general who often clashed on Iraq and other foreign policy issues with more hawkish members of Bush’s administration, said he was returning to private life once his successor was in place.

    The Cabinet exodus promised a starkly different look to Bush’s second-term team. Rice is considered more of a foreign policy hard-liner than the moderate Powell.

    The White House announced Powell’s exit along with the resignations of Education Secretary Rod Paige, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman and Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham. Veneman had said last week she wanted to stay.

    Bush’s nomination of Rice is expected Tuesday afternoon, a senior administration official said.

    Stephen Hadley, now the deputy national security adviser, is expected to replace Rice at the White House, the official said.

    Combined with the resignations earlier this month of Commerce Secretary Don Evans and Attorney General John Ashcroft, six of Bush’s 15 Cabinet members will not be part of the president’s second term, which begins with his inauguration Jan. 20. An administration that experienced few changes over the last four years suddenly hit a high-water mark for overhaul.

    It’s well known that Powell was often not in full lockstep with the Bush administration, though this was quite often overblown into actual opposition. Powell will always be a fine military figure and a respected statesman; nevertheless, I feel that Condi has more of the steel and understanding needed in the challenges presented by Islamist ambitions.

    Now is not the time to worry overly much about the feelings, desires and ambitions of Old Europe. That time will come when they actually wake up to their own danger. No, now is instead the time for a titanium spine, an iron gauntlet and a vision of optimistic change in dealing with the Moslem world, as is also the case with North Korea and communist China. It’s now Condi’s turn.

  • Man Kills Self at Ground Zero

    Fox News is reporting that a man has offed himself at the site of the WTC, possibly because of George Bush’s re-election.

    A 25-year-old university worker from Georgia shot and killed himself at ground zero Saturday morning, authorities said.

    The man, Andrew Veal, of Athens, Ga., was found atop the structure housing the 1 and 9 subway lines after a hotel worker spotted what he believed was somebody sleeping inside the site around 8 a.m., said Steve Coleman, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. A shotgun was found near the body, Coleman said. No suicide note was found, he said.

    Veal apparently was distraught over President Bush’s re-election, Newsday reported Saturday on its Web site edition, citing an unnamed police source. The newspaper also said the man was a registered Democrat who opposed the war in Iraq.

    Coleman said he could not confirm Newsday’s account.

    Police were investigating how Veal entered the former World Trade Center site, which is protected by high fences and owned by the Port Authority.

    Veal worked in a computer lab at the University of Georgia and was planning to marry, friends said Saturday.

    Not meaning to make light of this but, if Veal did indeed take his own life over Tuesday’s decisive election, it seems a wee bit of an over-reaction. At least he didn’t pack on an explosive belt and go for a more serious statement.

  • The Post-election Leftists

    They’re not taking this loss sitting down. No, they’re standing up. With very stupid signs. And firecrackers. Enjoy the lunacy.

  • World Leaders React to Four More Years

    Under the headline “Europe Allies Extend Olive Branch to Bush,” the AP has put forth a piece addressing the reactions of several international leaders. The responses seemed to range from “Crap! I guess we have to find a way to deal with you” to “We’re already dealing with you, but try to find a way to deal with the crap from these other countries.”

    French President Jacques Chirac:

    “We will be unable to find satisfying responses to the numerous challenges that confront us today without a close trans-Atlantic partnership,” wrote Chirac. He addressed the letter to “Dear George.”

    Shut up and get back to us when you show a greater willingness to address the radical Islamist movement outside your borders. And when you show a greater desire to have your decisions driven by anything other than setting France up as an alternative to U.S. leadership. Oh yeah, how about you try paying attention to which pieces of crap you deal your weaponry?

    German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder:

    “The world stands before great challenges at the beginning of your second term: international terrorism, the danger of weapons of mass destruction, regional crises — but also poverty, climate change and epidemics threaten our security and stability,” Schroeder wrote. “These challenges can only be mastered together.”

    Shut up and let us know when you remove your lips from Chirac’s ass. It’s unseemly. Just break up with him and conquer Paris already; this time we might just let you. Oh, and wave goodbye to our bases.

    Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero:

    [His] government wants “a relationship of efficient, constructive cooperation with the U.S. government and with President Bush, respecting the ideas of each side.”

    Zapatero, who angered Washington by withdrawing Spanish troops from Iraq, stayed up most of the night to watch as Republican red crept across the U.S. electoral map.

    How about an “efficient, constructive” shut up, you yellow-bellied, short-sighted socialist piece of crap? Is that good for you?

    Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer:

    “We’ve had a very good relationship with them for the last four years and I’m sure we’ll be able to keep building on that over the next four.”

    Much love to the Aussies.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin:

    “I would feel happy that the American people have not allowed themselves to be scared and made the decision they considered reasonable,” Putin said at a Kremlin news conference

    We absolutely have to realize, as a nation and very damn soon, that the Russians are facing the same enemy of Islamist bastards that we face.

    British Prime Minister Tony Blair:

    “A world that is fractured, divided and uncertain must be brought together to fight this global terrorism in all its forms and to recognize that it will not be defeated by military might alone but also by demonstrating the strength of our common values, by bringing freedom and democracy to Iraq as we have done to Afghanistan, by pursuing with the same energy peace in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine,” Blair said.

    Much love to Blair and the courage and fidelity of the Brits. He has been a stalwart ally since 9/11, and his people should rank him, in time, with the likes of Winston Churchill.

    Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka:

    “It is not natural to have — maybe not a cold war — but, in any case, a chilling of relations along theses lines …. I hope that European leaders and President Bush will show initiative in this area.”

    Poland needs to be rewarded for their valor and friendship. We earned it with Ronald Reagan; we need to repay it under Dubya.

    Terrorist Yassir Arafat:

    An ailing Yasser Arafat congratulated Bush and expressed hope that a second term would help give a new spark to the Middle East peace process, an aide to the Palestinian leader said.

    Arafat’s death may well be the spark needed for peace in the Middle East. That, or it could be the fuse that sets off the powderkeg he played a huge role in concocting. Either way, Bush cannot trust a living Arafat in any peace process.

  • Election Wrap-Up

    It was a banner day for the Bush-Cheney administration and the GOP. Bush is the first since his father in 1988 to capture a majority of the popular vote. It looks like a probable 286-252 electoral victory, with Iowa and New Mexico currently leaning to the administration narrowly.

    In his concession speech, John Kerry was emotional, something to be expected in a man who had aimed for this election his whole life. His speech was dignified and conciliatory, but his running mate John Edwards struck a poor note when he again spoke of two Americas during his own concession and Kerry introduction.

    In declaring his victory, the president reached out Kerry supporters and vowed to reach out to those who opposed him. Some may question his claim of a mandate, but I agree, given his popular majority and Republican gains in both houses of Congress.

    Now, let’s go take care of Fallujah.

  • Target Centermass Declares W the Winner

    CBS gives Nevada to Bush but restrains on Ohio. The nets all seem to be battling on which state to hedge.

    Up all their asses. Dubya wins.

  • Going to Bed Soon

    Election decided … seriously. We can wait some hours on Nevada, New Mexico and Iowa, but it’s essentially done.

    Now let’s get back to the business of saving our civilization.

  • Bush Can’t Lose Tonight

    Per MSNBC.

    They have currently called 269 electoral votes for Dubya, meaning worst case scenario a tie.

  • Fox Just Called Ohio

    For the POTUS. Put that with Florida, and we’re looking pretty good. As far as I can tell, Fox was the first to call it, leaving them open for the next Moore mockumentary.

    Looks like Election Day Tuesday, Litigation Day Wednesday. I expect no Kerry concession, as this is his destiny. Just ask him.

  • Election Blogging Update

    The girlfriend is verging on venturing off to sleep, frustrated that we don’t know yet who won.

    However, things are looking better and better in Ohio, with Florida already in the books (take that, 2000).