Hmm.. I think Condi does have the foreign policy creds to be SecState. (And 5th in line for succession, in case of the death of the Pres, VP, Senate President pro tem and Speaker of the House)

As for SecDef, I don't know.

Also, the Powell is bailing stories are out now, because it is election season. Look for Powell to deny this in a day or so.

Neither of these fine Americans look like quitters to me. Both had sufficient credits for a life well lived before the president asked them to help him get the country back on tract.

If Bush says he wants and needs them, I believe they'll both be standing right behind him at the next inauguration

GQ - Impeccable clothes, yes. Impeccable reporting - doubtful.

I'm still crossing my fingers that Bush boots Cheney in favor of Rice for VP (besides the fact that I'd much rather have her than Cheney second in line for pres, I would hope it would strengthen the ticket by bringing black and women voters from the Democratic party).

I'm crossing my fingers, but I'm not holding my breath, so barring that, I definitely favor her for State. I don't think she lacks the international credentials at all. Anecdotally, I brought up Rice in a conversation once with a non American friend who is very liberal (he once advised me to read Chomsky for Christ's sake) and his response was "She's a very smart lady." I think that's about as strong an endorsement as any Bush administration member would ever get from the liberal international community.

I started to comment, but it got too complicated.

So I posted it here.

Bush haters are of course, trying to invent wedges between administration officials, but Powell being exhausted is no surprise. He's getting up there in age and has never been very interested in the kind of raw political dogfighting (domestic and international) that has abounded since 9/11.

On the contrary, I can't think of many people who would be better than Rice for SecState (if she's not VP). She speaks fluent Russian, is culturally schooled with an amazing range of knowledge, and has been involved at the most intimate levels of executive policy making. Bush would be hard pressed to find anyone better.

My ideal Bush II reshuffling would be as such:

Prez: Bush
VP: Rice
State: Guliani
Def: Cheney

The National Security Advisor is not in the constitutional line of succession.

I don't see Rumsfeld going anywhere - he just looks like he enjoys his job too much, whether or not he's tired.

Good riddance to Powell. Don't get me wrong - a decent man, but far too willing to waste time and energy on the likes of Kofi Annan for me.

I like the idea of Giuliani as SecState too. I'm ready for a no-shit kinda guy in that job, and I think a lack of intrenational diplomatic experience here isn't a hindrance, it's... grace.

With all due respect to everyone, I do not now nor have I ever understood everyone's devotion as regards Dr. Rice.

Don't get me wrong, she's a good enough sort, and she's smart as a whip, but she is basically a younger, darker and less political clone of Madeline Albright. Remember that Condi is a protege of Joseph Korbel aka Maddy's daddy. I don't think I need to waste any space pointing out just how awful Madame Albright was as a foreign policymaker.

If the fascination has to more to do, as I suspect, that she's BLACK and a WOMAN, then you're all engaging in the same tokenism and racial (and gender) bean-counting that we all profess to dislike so much about the left.

That said, I'd like to see Rummy move over to State and shake up that organization like he has Defense. As to Defense...Wolfie would be best ideologically but I don't think he has the force of will to overcome the internal politics of the Pentagon. I'm willing to hear someone make their case for SecDef.

Rudy would make a great VP this year and an even better Att'y General (for one thing, he wouldn't be wasting resources going after the porn industry) but I think his best option, both near- and longterm is to go after Hillary in '06.

I'm out.

I just read that whole interview, and I think the writer was a bit too BUSH LIED! PEOPLE DIED! for me....His off the cuff comment about "the Baath Party was linked to Al Qaeda being lies" etc.etc. just got a little ignorant after a while.

I'm all for an in depth article examining the friction between Powell and the admin, of which I'm sure there's plenty of material to write about, but this just seemed to partisan, even Powell admitted at the end "You didn't get as much substance as you might have wanted." which sounds to me like "nice try you partisan jackass"...

I think that Rice would be a great VP, and she certainly has the education backing up her credentials. I would be concerned about her political experience in terms of Congress and the Courts, but how can anyone say that having a black woman elected to the second highest office in the land would be a bad thing?

My first thought for Sec. of State was Giuliani as well. He is a 9/11 icon, and the world needs to be reminded of that day sometimes.

I'm also in the camp that does not see Rice as VP/Presidential material. She may be smart, competent, and an asset to the team, but she's never run for any elective office. I doubt that the electorate will ever warm up to her.

On the other hand, Bush should shake things up, both for the sake of the effectiveness of his second term and to position the party for 2008. If Powell and Rumsfeld go, my prefered lineup is:
Prez: Bush
VP: Guliani
State: Rice
Def: Cheney

VP: Rice.
Sec State: Cheney
Sec Def: Rumsfeld. Failing that, Wolfowitz or Perle. Either of whom could also fill the Nat'l Sec. Advisor spot.

I like Giuliani, but think he would be more useful to the country as a candidate for the NY Senate seat in 2006.

I like Condi. She's talented, intelligent, but she's an academic hack. I don't know of her actually /serving/ in /any/ real capacity diplomatically. Not someone I want running herd on a bunch of ingrate academics.

Powell rose to be head of the joint chiefs, if political infighting was to wear him out, he never would have gotten his second star. He's lost creditability here at home, but I think he simply needs to focus on getting his dept in line.

Rummy won't quit. He will do what he's told, but he won't give in because he's 'tired'. As old as he is, he beats up on younger men in squash. I'd love to see him straighten out State too, but can't imagine anyone with the vision to compel Def. as well as Rumsfeld.

Guiliani sounds neat, leave him to try for the senate. Better to knock off Hillary than anything else. Besides, gives him better national creditability.

Powell might go, so might Rice, but perhaps switch places? ( Not my preference, but a possibility. )

I don't see Cheney going anywhere, he's been working for this too long. He's a magnet for jokes and attacks, but replacing him won't reduce the volume of idiocy leveled at the administration. Maybe switch him and Rummy?

Didn't bush win last time around because he was surounded by "the right people". You know, cause he was too stupid to win on his own.
i chose ren and stimpy- you know add a little flavor.

Powell was on Larry King last night, and while I generally despise King, he seemed to know last night was a good time to shut up and let the man talk. The GQ interview seemed to inject too much of the writer's opinion into the article.

You can find the transcript here.

It didn't sound to me like he was going to quit.

Powell tired of politics? That's a laugh. The man is a political animal.

I am not a fan of Powell at all, ever since I was a young captain and he was the Chaiman of the JCS. It was his idea that all the branches of the military be combined and made joint.

If Powell resigns, it will be for only one reason, to position himself to be Bush's successor.

VP: Dr. Condoleezza Rice
State: Rudy Giuliani
Defense: General Norman "NORM!" Schwartzkopf, USA (ret)

Got to agree with El Jefe, not only would it about guarantee Bush the reelection with a black woman as VP, Guilliani would also draw a good number of voters. And Schwartzkopf, though old, knows a thing or two about kicking ass in Middle Eastern deserts.

Can't agree about Rice as VP. Yes, she's got the demographics, she's smart, great resume. But she hasn't received the political vetting that candidates have to go through. We have no idea what negatives she may bring to the table, and don't believe for a second she would get a pass for being a black woman.

Just to shake things up a little, how about Giuliani for UN Ambassador or Homeland Security? Arlen Specter for State (because I think it's good to have at least one squishy in the Cabinet - the same theory as divided government), and for Defense, well, I just can't imagine anyone but Rummy there. What about Wolfowitz? Too many negatives?

Writing from inside the Beltway, so apologies for the skewed vision:

SecDef: Joe Lieberman - conservative Democrat, excellent relations on both sides of the aisle on the Hill, staunch supporter of Iraq. And if Bush reaches across the aisle a la Clinton, may serve to diffuse some partisan rancor.

SecState: in an ideal world? Richard Lugar - right experience, right tone, right modification to the center - but wrong fit for this administration. Likely Rice gets the nod, with Blackwill stepping into NSA.

Darth Vader?
Paulie Shore?

Having observed the rise of Giuliani since I moved to New York in '85, I think it's unlikely that he'd make another run at the Senate seat.

He was pretty recalcitrant about it last time, visibly ambivalent before pulling out for health reasons (he beat cancer).

Rudy (and I don't in any way mean this as a negative) wants to be in charge - he simply *loved* being Mayor. NY Governor, maybe, but he'd only be 1 of 100 in the Senate, and junior to judge-blocking Schumer, at that.

I could see Rudy getting into being Sec. of State; he'd relish not only being America's #1 diplomat, but the opportunity to clean house at State just like he did (for better or worse, depending on your POV) on Wall Street while at the U.S. Attorney's Office and in City Hall in NYC.

I'm a big Rice fan, but I do get nagged by the no-prior-electoral-experience doubts. No matter what her virtues or demographic appeal, it's hard to see her as really having a chance to win in 2008 (of course, the Dems would have to nominate somebody people'd actually vote for), although Cheney concededly doesn't help either; nobody thinks he's going to be the top of the next GOP ticket.

I like the Lieberman idea, but not for SecDef. Rumsfeld has been involved in one of the biggest positive changes in Defense and I think he knows that it won't be done right unless he sees it through.

I could see Joe in a UN capacity though. Or even a different cabinet position (either him or Zell would make good cross-the-aisle appointments).

Guilliani at either State or UN would aslo be good, though a turn at either Homeland Sec or Justice wouldn't hurt things either. No matter where he goes, he would have the drive and the support needed to make some neccessary changes.

Rice would be interesting at VP, but I don't think it would be a good use for her unless she was a) being used as a quasi back-up Sec State and spending lots of time with foreign policy and b) getting lots of cred for a 2008 run.

If the Bush team could find some way work some foreign policy cred in the direction of Colorado's gov (Owens) I think it would be of great benefit to the GOP, since he is a good choice for a future GOP presidential run. Maybe he could also do some time at the UN or something like that. A possible VP pick, but highly unlikely.

I think Pataki is out of the gov position in NY after this term, and I don't know what he has planned. He could probably be a good candidate for Senate.

JC Watts could also be pulled back into politics. He always seemed to be someone who got into the game to get stuff done. Maybe a Senate run or a position at Interior or Education (not sure on his credentials at ED though).

just some thoughts

Bush can't put Condi as VP because then the dems would HAVE to put Hillary against her. I think there's a stare down on who's going to put a woman VP on the ticket.

"Bush can't put Condi as VP because then the dems would HAVE to put Hillary against her. I think there's a stare down on who's going to put a woman VP on the ticket."

That assumes that Hillary would accept the VP candidate position under those circumstances--being on a losing ticket when its Kerry and her against Bush and Cheney is one thing--if the Republicans win, neither of those candidates will be on the ticket in 2008. But if Bush/Rice beat Kerry/HRC, then a dangerous opponent for Hillary in 2008 gets a head to head win, and four years in the number two position while the junior Senator from New York broods in her Senate chambers. Better to let some other poor schlub go down to defeat with Kerry, and she can go into the 2008 election as undefeated and loaded for bear (unless, of course, Rudy serves his country yet again and sends Lady MacBubba shrieking into political oblivion in 2006).

Rummy is politically a dead man walking. Why should Bush even think about nominating him again?

I like Rice a lot for either VP or SecState. However, the one whole in her resume is her lack of family. Having this to balance her life would improve her cred's. With this in mind, she's a natural right where she is.

"Bush can't put Condi as VP because then the dems would HAVE to put Hillary against her. I think there's a stare down on who's going to put a woman VP on the ticket."

The Dems already ran a woman as VP. Remember Mondale/Ferraro? No, I didn't think so...neither does anyone else.

Hillary won't run as VP, and Kerry won't have her. Besides, how does that hurt Bush's chances? You want to see reconciliation from conservatives on Bush's moderate domestic adgenda? Run Hillary and *all* is forgiven.

There couldn't be a better time politically to run Rice. All Democrat venom is focused on Bush, and they couldn't afford to go after her too hard (being a black woman) once everyone starts paying attention. The economy and Iraq is arguably going to play a bigger role in the election than any soundbites the candidates produce, so she could fly under the radar for most of the campaign, especially if she's brought in at the convention or later. The questions is if she would do it...and if Bush is smart enough to do it.

Cheney stays as VP
Condi for SecState
Rudy G for NSC Advisor
Ralph Peters for SecDef

Steeely Dan for White House Band

"Powell is bailing stories" - look back to stories of 2000. Powell said then he would only serve four years.

I can't believe nobody has said anything about kicking Richard Armitage up a notch.

I think that would be the equivalent of putting Rummy into the SecState position.

From Various:

State: Rudy Giuliani
That or make him the ambassador to Saudi Arabia or the Mid east in general.

Rudy G for NSC Advisor
I don't think he is really quallified for this..

Me.. I think he'd be a good replacement VP. Kerry would need some extra Boxtox injections and a few snifters of Brandy if that happed. Imagine.. NY going to the Republican Party?

And if the Government does something big to help out California's economic woes.. The Democrats might have to fight for that state too...

I don't see Powell or Rumsfeld retiring anytime soon. Nor do I think Bush would ask either of them to leave. Rumsfeld's a breath of fresh air and a really sharp guy, and giving him up now would look like Bush is knucking under to the slavering lynch job that Biden is trying to whip up. And if Powell seems too soft I think it's because he's often given the Good Cop role in dealing with difficult international issues. They both have an important place in this administration.

Cheney, well... Between his health problems and his political baggage I personally wouldn't be sad to see him go. And the health problems would be a good excuse in his case.

But first I'd like to know what he's been doing in the background all this time. He's had a much different role than most recent VPs, and despite all the "undisclosed location" and hospital jokes I'm sure that he's been a very busy man. Bush certainly knows more about this that we do, so if he decides to keep Cheney I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

All that aside, I do think Condi Rice could handle the job of VP given her background and experience. Not having held an elected office makes very little difference to me.

DOD: don't know
State: Just as useless as the UN - Should just get rid of it. If we have a problem, we have the DOD.
US Amb. to UN (between now and when we kick their butts out of here): RUDY!!! Let him use Kofi as a punching bag.

I think they'll both stay. But after yesterday's Senate hearing with Rumsfeld, I'd like McCain to be secretary of defense for a day. Just so we can hear him recite the chain of command of the entire US Army prison system from memory. No notes permitted, no consultations with staff permitted.

Oh yea,... and the entire friggin' world will be watching him do it.

Just on the original question. SecState: Zell Miller. Sec Def: Evan Bayh. Seems strange for an old Republican to recommend two Democrats, but we're talking dream here.