August 10, 2004

• my understanding is that cabinet members generally do not speak at conventions--are any others scheduled?
• Colin Powell will skip a second Bush administration, in the unlikely event that there is one.
• my understanding is that cabinet members generally do not speak at conventions--are any others scheduled? From Kos:

  Paige Given Prime Slot At the GOP Convention It is a time slot often reserved for firebrand speakers and party favorites, and during the Republican National Convention next month, a portion of it will belong to Secretary of Education Rod Paige.

• "my understanding is that cabinet members generally do not speak at conventions" For of all, as Space Coyote points out, Paige is speaking. Second of all, Powell isn't even attending, which is the whole point of the linked article. So would someone please inform the mothership that we need a new talking point, perhaps something like "The father of the FCC Chairman never attends the convention."
• I, too, am skipping the Republican Convention, though I am a little disappointed by the lack of attention being paid to my decision.
• He favors abortion rights, "multilateralism", and affirmative action. Is he even a Republican? I mean, really...
• I guess the reason I thought it merited discussion is simply the fact that right now Bush needs every member of his party who still garners the least amount of respect from the populace at large to come down hard on his side. McCain did it, for reasons known only to him (some say it's b/c he doesn't want to burn bridges for his own future presidential run A.B., but I think you can tell he's conflicted). Powell not even showing up seems to speak volumes to me, and apparently to the author of the article. Of course it's not news that Powell doesn't see eye to eye with the administration. Some say he's been stifled by them. And he was everywhere before the war, putting a respectable face on things, but since he's been scarce, at least in The Mainstream Media. There was a time when even Democrats would not question the man's integrity and trustworthiness. There was a time when he deserved that respect. Personally, he got some of it back from me with this snub (and come on, it IS a snub--if he didn't mean it to be, he'd show up). My question--is this a blow to Bush, or does it really not matter? That's all I'm askin'.
• I wonder if it's going to amount to much of a blip to independents and moderates at all. That's of course the only way it could be much of a hit to Bush's campaign. Frankly, I'll be surprised if there's much attention paid to it at all -- most people don't watch the conventions, much less keep score of who is and is not attending. Witness the minor media ripples a few months back when State appeared to be leaking that Powell wouldn't serve a second term under Bush, which to me means more than his convention attendance. The really interesting thing to me is the position that both McCain and Powell occupy in their party. McCain has always had a fair amount of cred with mods and libs, and Powell (as mentioned above) seems to be gaining ground there. Perhaps this is projecting, but they both strike me as strained lately. Part of me is waiting for Powell to jump ship on the party, the way a few notable African-Americans did after "The Bell Curve" and D'Souza's racist claptrap.
• Perhaps he feels, as I do, that a giant garish pep rally at taxpayer expense, shorn of even the pallid purpose of selecting the party's candidate and deciding on the party platform, is a total waste not only of money but also of his time and patience. On the other hand, maybe he has Black Eyed Peas tickets for that night.
• I'd agree with that assessment of conventions, Fes, but I've never known of a politician who would say so. I really wish conventions still did mean something.
• Actually, he's gonna hang out at my place and play Battleship during the convention.
• surlyboi, I'm damn jealous. He's gonna kick your ass though. Just FYI.
• Yeah, but only 'cause he's using real battleships.
• Maybe he's trying to avoid the protestors. (If you want to quickly get around the Salon ads, just use this link.
• Mackerel: FWIW, I didn't read "talking point" into mookieproof's query; it sounded like an honest question.
• the way a few notable African-Americans did after "The Bell Curve" and D'Souza's racist claptrap. Andrew Sullivan lists the "Bell Curve" as one of his finest moments at the New Republic. Sad.
• Powell's political career was over the moment he made the case for war in Iraq at the U.N. and his his evidence torn to pieces aterwards. Someone said to me that other countries didn't want to signup because "who wants to follow Custer." Powell did and he got nothing out of he deal. So much for that famous Bush loyalty.
• It's tradition that at least one senior cabinet member not attend the party convention, in case there's some kind of disaster that wipes out the rest of the leadership. (Is disaster the right word?)