Tuesday, June 13, 2006

random thoughts

Posted by steve butt at 10:00 PM
the first opinion that is formed of a ruler's intelligence is based on the quality of the men he has around him.
-machiavelli

stop, jane's addiction

10 comments:

Sickboy said...

I feel that Pres. Bush's cabinet went from good to worse with time. I think it started out pretty good but then went into the can as time went on.

10:42 PM CDT
Martin said...

The current administrations cabinet has held together pretty well, all things considered. Some positions with tradioanally high turnover have been occupied by the same person. I believe the pres. is only on his 2nd press secretary. talk about a stressful job. going out and getting beat up by the press several times a week. his cabinet either doesn't have many prospects in the real world or they are terribly loyal.

1:04 AM CDT
Scott said...

I actually feel that management of cabinet staff is one of a very few things I like about President Bush, and his policies. I like the fact that he does not just off and fire some one for an infraction, as is so common in America today. I think Martin is right with his observation of loyalty in the Bush White House... and man he needs it!

9:08 AM CDT
Scott said...

I also thought "The Prince" by Machiavelli was a very entertaining read. FYI for those who have yet.

9:50 AM CDT
Mark M said...

I'm with Tippy. Bush started with a few good policy people on his cabinet: Colin Powell (State), Paul O'Neill (Treasury), and Christine Todd Whitman (EPA). None of them are part of his administration anymore, and they were all, in my opinion, better than their replacements. Yeah, the cabinet is loyal, but a good advisor shouldn't be afraid to tell the boss "no" from time to time.

Powell was not part of Bush's inner circle of neocons. He resisted the push for war in Iraq, but eventually gave in & gave his infamous UN presentation. It's amazing he stayed on as long as he did.

O'Neill was appalled at the politically-motivated tax cuts in the face of increasing deficits. After he toured Africa and allowed himself to be photographed in native garb, and then came back advocating increased foreign aid to Africa, he was persona non grata in the White House and removed shortly thereafter.

Bush screwed Whitman (not literally, thank goodness) in one of his first acts in office. Bush's public statements on the Kyoto process were initially vague, so Whitman was going around telling world leaders that there was no change to U.S. policy. Then, without even telling her, Bush announced that he was withdrawing from Kyoto. Surprise! (By the way, Whitman's brother is married to Pres. Bush's first cousin. Must be awkward at family gatherings.)

10:32 AM CDT
Martin said...

Mark, I don't disagree with a single thing you say. I just wanted to point out that as far as presidential appointees go, the turnover seems to have been relatively small given the fact that the administration has been so embattled. IMO, if Colin Powell were to run for Pres. this country would have it's first black president. I'd vote for that man in a second.

2:13 PM CDT
dad-e~O said...

I heard and thought it was interesting that "W" has more minorities in postitions of power then any earlier pres.
boy's is that true?

3:13 PM CDT
Martin said...

I've heard comments made to the affect that he has the largest number of minorities working for(with) him. Part of me wonders how much of that is pandering to the minority voting bloc, though. "I'm a Republican President, and look how many of the brown people I have in my cabinet. I'm, what do you call it,.....pregressive."
word misspelled for comedic effect

3:52 PM CDT
Sickboy said...

I think the same thing too Mike. I think his cabinet is pretty shitty now but the brown people make him look better.

Its all a crock of shit...

8:10 PM CDT
steve butt said...

well he has come a long way since his grandfather was an out spoken nazi supporter

8:18 PM CDT

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