she's the one

A few thoughts on the Cabinet turnovers.

Last week Roger Simon wrote a heartfelt tribute to a man who, just a few years ago, he regarded as an ideological opposite: John Ashcroft. I admire the outgoing AG as well, even while strongly disagreeing with certain of his priorities.

No one in the Bush Administration—with the sole exception of the President himself—has faced as sustained a barrage of malice and slander. Ashcroft is, of course, an easy mark: a fundamentalist and a Pentecostal, blessed with the public persona of a dial tone. But he has performed his duties with honor. It is nonetheless time for him to go, for the sake of his own health, and in hopes that Justice's new management will put things like prosecuting file-swappers way, way at the bottom of the to-do list.

The big news Monday was Colin Powell's resignation at State. Rumor has it that his departure was not entirely unforced (though consider the source). It is too bad that he won't be around to wrap up continuing initiatives, though I can understand the President's desire to get his second term off to a running start, minimizing the downtime for midcourse personnel changes.

Since 9/11 I have believed that the decision to invade Iraq was pretty much a no-brainer—which meant that by late 2002 I was deeply concerned about where, exactly, Powell's sympathies lay. But since then I've come round once again to appreciating his contributions not only to this Administration, but also throughout an astonishing career of public service extending over four decades.

Godspeed and long life to both the general-turned-diplomat and to the outgoing Attorney General.

But now, make way for Condi: Bush Chooses Rice to Replace Powell.

Looks like the NFL commissioner gig will have to wait. But professional football's loss is the country's gain, and this announcement is the best news I've had this week.

(Yes, it's still the beginning of the week. But I had a perfectly crappy Monday.)

I think she'll be good at cleaning house at State, but not sure how she'll fare at diplomacy. But then, Albright was no charmer.

No, Albright was much more the charmee: consider the champagne with Kim Jong-il, or the breathless pursuit of Arafat after one of his drama-queen exits.

I think Condi will do just fine on the diplomatic front—but then again, I'm an unabashed fan. (Just as the case with you and Camille :)