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Comments

• [1] Robert from NYC December 13, 2007 - 10:07AM

  How boring these book pushings are becoming. I've already heard Ms Bumiller on three other shows and can probably do a few for her. No disrespect to her, but the boring trend of the media these past few years of boring us with the same line. Besides who cares about Rice, the incompetent do-nothing, shoe-buying "diplomat(?)". She's leading nothing, you are fooled by her deceptions.

  
  
• [2] Kathy from New York December 13, 2007 - 10:08AM

  Condi told us last Summer We were witnessing the birth pangs of a new Mid - East - that was while the Israelis were bombing ambulances in Lebanon, and not calling for a cease fire

  
  
• [3] George Showman from Red Hook, Brooklyn December 13, 2007 - 10:12AM

  What's wrong with wanting to "leave a legacy"? It seems to me that if all public figures were focused on how they would be perceived by a well-informed future, we would have a much better world. What are the other things they focus on instead? Short-term gains such as re-election, money, moments of fame. We could learn something from the ancient Greeks here.

  I don't seen why "leaving a legacy" immediately brings on such cynicism in commentators.

  
  
• [4] Steve from Manhattan December 13, 2007 - 10:16AM

  Ask Elizabeth to name one positive thing Condi has accomplished as Sec'y of State. Annapolis doesn't count because nothing was accomplished.

  
  
• [5] Robert from NYC December 13, 2007 - 10:17AM

  Bulloney, he reads the Onion. LOL for a long time.

  
  
• [6] Dorian from New York - Manhattan December 13, 2007 - 10:22AM

  Ms. Rice was a teaching assistant at Stanford for an Arms Control and Disarmament Course I had in the early '80s. Even then, when she was in her twenties, she was treated as a star, a gem. (I remember the professors, who were of some note themselves, having held high positions in government, being at Hoover institution, etc. bringing her out to lecture us with some fanfare.) Question: how is it that she, even from such a young age, was able to impress powerful men with her intellect and presence? Honestly, as a lecturer, she didn't impress me enough for me to remember anything but a nervous-seeming woman in front of an auditorium.

  
  
• [7] Leslie from Mamaroneck December 13, 2007 - 10:27AM

  If, as Ms. Bumiller suggests, Condi Rice was a "Soviet expert" and therefore poorly informed on the Middle East, what explains the Bush administrations complete mishandling of Russia and Putin? Russians, in fact, are terrified of democracy, which has little historical appearance in that country. Russians are more comfortable with an authoritarian government, whether tsarist or one-party.

  
  
• [8] mgdu from hell's kitchen December 13, 2007 - 10:29AM

  Is Condi beginning to realize that the only way for democracy to succeed in the Middle East is for Israel to be forced back to its legitimate 1947 boundaries, just as the only way for democracy to succeed in Eastern Europe was for Russia to be forced back to its pre-Iron Curtain, pre-1947 boundaries?

  
  
• [9] Eric from B'klyn December 13, 2007 - 10:35AM

  Where does CR stand on global warming?

  
  
• [10] Thomas Raspanti December 13, 2007 - 10:36AM

  Brian:

  Can you explore the basis for Bush, Cheney, Rice, Wolfowitz & Co. to be charged as war criminals once the murderous administration leaves office.

  
  
• [11] Hillary Brizell-DeLise from NYC December 13, 2007 - 10:38AM

  THis administration is benefiting from desperate times in N Korea. Their situation is so bad, they had to reach out and figured Bush was ripe for a deal.

  Also, on defense of legacy from another comment writer, this administration and Condi Rice have presided over one of the worst tenures in history. The fact that they are now hustling to leave on a high note is sickening. Better late than never may be operative here but the damage that's been done by their coming so late to these parties is unconscionable!

  Hillary Brizell-DeLise

  
  
• [12] Leo from Queens December 13, 2007 - 11:31AM

  The comment by Ms Bumiller that Dr. Rice was 'SURPRISED' that Hamas won the parliamentary elections really shows the level of incompetenence of this administration and that the media (including Brian and Ms Bumiller) refuse to hold them to a minimal standard. I am not a ME expert, but by a casual glance of the papers and analysis on radio and TV it was KNOWN that Hamas was posed to win because:

  When Prime Minister Abbas was blessed by the Bush and Sharon Administrations after Arafat's death, the Sharon administration proceeded to undermine him and cut off his legs. Fatah had a bad reputation for corruption while Hamas had a reputation for honesty and helping the overwhelming majority of people with the basics (food, health care, medicine) which Israel denies the Palestinians.

  It was irrational for the Bush administration to push for elections to elect Hamas when Mr. Abbas was not given anything by Israel to show Palestinians that he could deliver. THis shows a twisted plan by Israel and the Bush administration to further delay any negotiations by undermining moderates and helping Hamas to get elected. This of course has been used as yet ANOTHER excuse for not addressing the real problems of Palestinians. The first excuse being that Arafat was corrupt, though both the Sharon and Olmert administrations have been extremelly corrupt .

  
  
• [13] Johann from New jersey December 13, 2007 - 12:03PM

  "Dangerously incompetent" is what comes to my mind when I hear Condi Rice mentioned. I'd like to hear arguments to the contrary...such as what Ms. Rice's accomplishments might be. We all sure know her failures.

  
  
• [14] Aaron from Brooklyn December 13, 2007 - 12:24PM

  didn't the Bush saiy poblicly that he dos not read newspapers???