Yeah So Susan Rice, Huh?

Obvious observation that the media somehow fails to notice: People who make mistakes do not get promoted.

People who do exactly what you told them to do -- especially if it was a noxious thing -- get promoted.

The media apparently doesn't understand the basic principles of social interaction or the boss-employee relationship. At least when it suits them to not understand it.

Noah Rothman compares the media's treatment of the loyalty-based promotion of Dr. Rice to the loyalty-based promotion of Dr. Rice.

Reports have long suggested that Dr. Rice is highly regarded by the president and has enjoyed his confidence and support even before he occupied the Oval Office. In spite of her direct involvement in an debacle overseas, the president’s decision to promote her to a high-level position in the White House signals his disregard for the concerns of his critics. Rice’s promotion is as much a reward for her loyalty as it is an acknowledgement of her ability – probably more so, in fact. No, we’re not talking about Dr. Susan Rice who was tapped on Wednesday to become President Barack Obama’s next National Security Advisor. These are the themes that the press harped on when President George W. Bush promoted another Dr. Rice in his second term: Condoleezza Rice.

“Rice appears to have been picked to run the State Department as much for her fierce personal loyalty to Bush as for her own foreign-policy views,” opined Inter Press Service Washington Bureau Chief Jim Lobe in November, 2004. “Many State Department officials expressed serious concerns about Rice’s appointment.”

This is what I call one of them-there You Thought I Was Talking About This Thing But I Was Really Talking About This Thing things that people in the media like to do. I think this is a good use of it, though. The media are quite smitten with this new Dr. Rice.

posted by Ace at 03:09 PM

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