ChuckB writes “At The Command Post:
FOX TV is reporting that Ashcroft will resign his post, possibly in January. CNN is reporting two weeks.
There’s also talk of Colin Powell leaving the Bush team.
Bush will be holding a press conference momentarily.
Developing.
“
Off the top of my head…
This is from memory and from listening to news broadcasts today. I would have found links but frankly my mind is all over the place (garbage at home).
It is traditional for ALL cabinet officials (not just Attorney General Ashcroft and Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge) to tender resignations near the end of a term. Unlike the powers enjoyed by Prime Minister Blair in being able to structure his Cabinet, President Bush actually has plenty of restrictions and cannot get away with just firing people to re-make his cabinet. Tendering their resignations allows the President to express his pleasure as to whether or not any particular official shall continue in office.
If President Bush wants the official to continue, he will let them know. If not, he will thank them for their service and send up to the Senate nominees to fill the slots vacated while the deputies take over ad interim in the vacant positions until confirmations are done.
Of course, my father keeps reminding me that somewhere President Bush did say that the only person guaranteed a job in the new term was going to be Vice President Cheney…
Why? It’s tradition!?!
I have heard the same about the Cabinet resignations, but the story is being reported as reflecting Ashcroft’s intention or desire to leave the administration. I can’t see why they would single out Powell and Ashcroft out in a general pro forma string of resignations.
I will point out that Powell seems to have committed diplomatic heresy with regard to the status of Taiwan, at least from the perspective of this administration. That could be a sign that he (knows he is|wants to be) on the way out and doesn’t care.
Re:Why? It’s tradition!?!
“I can’t see why they would single out Powell and Ashcroft out in a general pro forma string of resignations”
Probably has to do with the fact that one was a media darling and the other was their whipping post. Everyone else pretty much came under the category of ‘Who?’
Powell’s remarks bad / Ashcroft irrelevent
1) I’m very saddened to read Powell’s remarks and hope they don’t represent a major change in US policy. If policy should change from “One China” at all, it should be to favor Taiwan’s independence. As a professed defender of freedom and democracy, we should be prepared to join Taiwan in defending itself from the mainland. Hong Kong’s experience puts the lie to “One Country, Two Systems.” If the Taiwanese people decide on their own to submit, fine. But we should NOT be pushing them into dictatorship.
2) I’m glad that there haven’t been huge cheers about the Atty General’s impending departure. As long as this administration is obsessed with surveillence and ever increasing federal power in the name of security, it won’t matter who the AG is. In fact, naming an AG with a better PR touch could lull us into a false sense of (civil liberties) security.
Re:Why? It’s tradition!?!
There is also Rumsfeld. He doesn’t come under the category of “Who?”.
Re:Why? It’s tradition!?!
True, but I haven’t really heard much from him in a while. Considering he’s the oldest member of the cabinet I would be surprised if he didn’t step down. I’ll miss him though.