Political Posturing: Terribly Disappointing
• Conditapped to replaceColin. Administration wants to "control the government, not just the White House." Official: Letting Rumsfeld go "would have been tantamount to an acknowledgment of failure in Iraq and our policies there.Powellis the expendable one."Hadleywould become national security advisor. [ WP , NYT , WSJ , USAT , BG , WT ]
•Loss ofPowellis victory for conservatives; the hard-liners run free; he supported the wars, but "they were somebody else's priorities." [ WP , NYT , LAT , USAT , BG ]
• Ricehas uphill battles in earning trust, respect at State Department and resolving problems including the Middle East and North Korea. 9/11 Report will provide fodder for confirmation hearings. Official: "State Department officials dislike her intensely because they lovePowelland believe her staff demeaned the State Department." [ WP , NYT , LAT ]
•Two top C.I.A. officials resign in protest over mismanagement.Hagel: "If we find ourselves without a senior group of C.I.A. hands, that would certainly not enhance American security and might undermine our security." [ NYT , LAT , WSJ , USAT , WT ]
•Foreign leaders praisePowellas "man of dialogue," "voice of reason"; await changes from new Secretary. [ WP ]
•It's quitting time, with more expected, but White House is expertly managing the appearance of chaos: "They have come out of the gate with incredible abandon. What is highly unusual is the breakneck speed with which they are disposing of these folks." [ WP , USAT ]
• Abrahamexits Energy Department. [ WP , NYT ]
• Venemanout at Department of Agriculture. Environmentalist: "She offended the big government wing of the Republican Party in the subsidized crop states. They never trusted her after that." [ WP , NYT ]
• Mehlmanto replaceGillespie; intends to read out to women, minorities, Jews. [ WP , WSJ , NYT , USAT , LAT ]
• Schumernixes gubernatorial bid, will head Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and remain in Senate. [ WP ]
•Republicans move to limit disclosure of personal financial information by top federal officials with provision in 9/11 bill. Advocate: "They're burying it in a large bill that is very controversial on other issues, so no one is going to pay any attention to this." [ LAT ]
• Specterlikely to lead Judiciary Committee; viewed as bad for business; abortion issue distracts from his position on tort reform. [ WSJ , WT ]
• McCaincalls administration's passive response to climate change "terribly disappointing." [ NYT ]
• Kerryreturns to Senate today with health care, traditional foreign policy as priorities.Cameron: "There is a process of transformation that you undergo when so many people invest their hopes and aspirations in you and your campaign. You become enlarged by the weight of all that." [ USAT ]
•WithReid, Democrats pick legislative technician over powerful public presence.Schumer: "Beneath that soft-spoken exterior is a very tough guy. He's still got some of the boxer in him." [ WP ]
•States allowed to amend NCLB rules to make requirements easier to achieve: "It's not about ducking accountability. It's about managing morale. These labels are morale busters." Next Education Secretary to face increased pressure, resistance. [ WSJ , NYT ]