Prometheus 6

Didn't watch the job interview. Didn't figure there was anything to learn there. But this headline gt me thinking:

Rice Stays Close to Bush Policies In Hearing

By Glenn Kessler
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 19, 2005; Page A01

Secretary of state-designate Condoleezza Rice signaled yesterday that the Bush administration will seek to rebuild alliances and work with multilateral institutions as it tries to move beyond the military campaigns of President Bush's first term, declaring twice that "the time for diplomacy is now."

Rice struck the distinctly internationalist tone in her opening statement at her Senate confirmation hearing and then, in nearly 10 hours of cordial but occasionally pointed questioning, stuck largely to well-known White House positions on Iraq, Middle East democracy, North Korea and a range of other issues. Rice will return for more questions this morning, after which the Senate Foreign Relations Committee plans to quickly approve her nomination. Legislative leaders plan to bring the nomination to the full Senate tomorrow.

Republicans, when asked their opinions, tend to respond with "The President says..." Leaves a lot of deniability on all sides. I think I'd like to see that pressed...I'd like Mr. Russert to say, "Well, we know the President's position, we're trying to find out yours." I'm willing to bet a lot of folks ran locally on positions that would be embarrassing on a national scale.

Not that I think it would be a political problem to them in the long run. I'd just like to see it.