Well, at least she hasn’t “disappeared” her siblings…as far as we know anyway. 🙂
Although, the use of mortars by the King of North Korea to destroy his military enemy’s notwithstanding, perhaps she had a hand in the Patraeus’s “destruction”. Gotta love the football stuff though. Perfect ‘merican ethos. Now let’s see her run a touchdown in testimony to Congress. I hope she wears the helmet.
These pictures remind me of one of the funniest comments I’ve heard in the corridors of Foggy Bottom in a while.
These words were uttered by one of the annointed at the buliding who was in the process of lecturing the minions. The Petraeus Affairs was being discussed, and the particular quote was “I’m glad we don’t build cults of personality at State.”
My reaction on hearing this whopper was to grab my jaw and clench it tight to keep the howls of laughter from escaping. I then managed to make it to one of the primitive restrooms, which are essentially soundproof, where I let loose with huge guffaws. (Good they’re soundproof, as some of the activities on the first floor restrooms of mainstate between some fso’s and others getting “acquainted” after long absences don’t make it to the hallway).
Of course, this particular SecState has a huge cult of personality. Now usually, modern SecStates bring in their loyal minions so they can wall themselves off from the devastating effects of interacting with the institutional foreign service. However, as with Hillary, some of the more sychophantic of the career bunch will worm their way into the imported infrastructure, receiving access to the “plane,” for trips with the secstate are the holy grail for the obsequieous minded.
Withn the career service itself, there are many cults of personality. Pat Kennedy actually has one. A visit by PK to a post is almost as significant to the career foreign service as an Elvis sighting.
The biggest cult of personality I ever saw belonged to Mary Ryan. They named a major State Department award after her while she was still a serving Assistant Secretary, and actually threw a surprise birthday party for her with about 500 CA employees in attendance. And speaking of this particular cult, why isn’t some investigative journalist tearing Foggy Bottom to pieces over this particular trtansgression. They have a major award, given to someone who supposedly serves American citizens, named after a person who was fired for her misdeeds prior to 9/11, which included lying to the Congress about the nature of the Visa Express program.
I know power motivates this Hollywood for ugly people, but I still can’t figure the place out.
Michael Kinsey hasa good article on Hillary’s travels. He writes in the innuendo laden style that those of us who have to deal with the Foreign Service are ohh so familar. But the conclusion, though not directly stated, is inescapable: she didn’t accomplish jack shit in 4 years.
If I may wax sentimental for just a moment, it’s always a pleasure and an inspiration reading the comments from all of you – a motley collection of insiders, former insiders, and lifelong outsiders. You educate me, make me laugh and, on some level, give me hope. Thanks for that. While few in number, you are also Amerika’s best hope.
Most Americans now think the Iraq war was a mistake and was not worth fighting, according to a new HuffPost/YouGov poll. According to the survey, 52 percent of Americans think it was a mistake for the U.S. to send troops to Iraq in 2003, while 31 percent say it was not. In addition, 55 percent of respondents said the war was not worth fighting, and only 27 percent said it was. Of course, the majority of Americans and their elected officials thought the Iraq War was not a mistake in 2003 when it mattered.
Don’t know about the Nixon Silent Majority thing, but as a card carrying Assholes-R-Us member in good standing, and one of the founders of MEAN.(Master Elite Asshole Ninja), welcome to WeMeantWell, where we celebrate DOS’s manifest stupidity, lie through your teeth with a straight face mendacity and it’s innate ability to swallow trillions of dollars whole in one gulp while dancing gangnam style in football gear to demonstrate to the entire world our unique and perfect ethos of Do As We Say, Not As We Do or We’ll Kill Ya. By the looks of it..I’m sure you will fit in perfectly.
“When I see the Clinton family together I immediately think of other heart warming American families who stand as role models for our country of America. I think of Fred and Wilma Flintstone with their charming daughter Pebbles. Or the loving Kennedy clan. Like the Kennedy men, Bill Clinton was able to combine strong, loving, gentle and humorous fathering with a lust for life and a zest for living that was irrepressible…
…He allowed Hillary Rodham Jefferson Roosevelt Mandela Clinton to become her own person and not just stay home like the mother in Leave it to Beaver. He encouraged his daughter to become one of the most successful news reporters in the country–getting to the top of her profession sheerly on her good looks and amazing talent and without using any of her parents’ contacts or never once trading on her famous name. In his relationships with the other women in his life he was always respectful and gentlemanly–being a genial father figure to the many young ladies in his circle.”
Rich Bauer said...
1Oh my, whose head has the queen offed now?
01/9/13 3:30 PM | Comment Link
Andrey said...
2The way I see it, the difference between Kim and Hillary is simple – Kim’s got style.
01/9/13 4:22 PM | Comment Link
pitchfork said...
3Well, at least she hasn’t “disappeared” her siblings…as far as we know anyway. 🙂
Although, the use of mortars by the King of North Korea to destroy his military enemy’s notwithstanding, perhaps she had a hand in the Patraeus’s “destruction”. Gotta love the football stuff though. Perfect ‘merican ethos. Now let’s see her run a touchdown in testimony to Congress. I hope she wears the helmet.
01/9/13 4:39 PM | Comment Link
JVC said...
4Umm… Both sides use, “Precious Leader” as title?
01/9/13 9:34 PM | Comment Link
Lisa said...
5Pret-ty good catch, Peter.
01/10/13 4:31 AM | Comment Link
meloveconsullongtime said...
6At least Communist tyrants applaud back at their audiences.
01/10/13 8:47 AM | Comment Link
Lafcadio said...
7These pictures remind me of one of the funniest comments I’ve heard in the corridors of Foggy Bottom in a while.
These words were uttered by one of the annointed at the buliding who was in the process of lecturing the minions. The Petraeus Affairs was being discussed, and the particular quote was “I’m glad we don’t build cults of personality at State.”
My reaction on hearing this whopper was to grab my jaw and clench it tight to keep the howls of laughter from escaping. I then managed to make it to one of the primitive restrooms, which are essentially soundproof, where I let loose with huge guffaws. (Good they’re soundproof, as some of the activities on the first floor restrooms of mainstate between some fso’s and others getting “acquainted” after long absences don’t make it to the hallway).
Of course, this particular SecState has a huge cult of personality. Now usually, modern SecStates bring in their loyal minions so they can wall themselves off from the devastating effects of interacting with the institutional foreign service. However, as with Hillary, some of the more sychophantic of the career bunch will worm their way into the imported infrastructure, receiving access to the “plane,” for trips with the secstate are the holy grail for the obsequieous minded.
Withn the career service itself, there are many cults of personality. Pat Kennedy actually has one. A visit by PK to a post is almost as significant to the career foreign service as an Elvis sighting.
The biggest cult of personality I ever saw belonged to Mary Ryan. They named a major State Department award after her while she was still a serving Assistant Secretary, and actually threw a surprise birthday party for her with about 500 CA employees in attendance. And speaking of this particular cult, why isn’t some investigative journalist tearing Foggy Bottom to pieces over this particular trtansgression. They have a major award, given to someone who supposedly serves American citizens, named after a person who was fired for her misdeeds prior to 9/11, which included lying to the Congress about the nature of the Visa Express program.
I know power motivates this Hollywood for ugly people, but I still can’t figure the place out.
01/10/13 10:05 AM | Comment Link
Lafcadio said...
8One more thing:
Michael Kinsey hasa good article on Hillary’s travels. He writes in the innuendo laden style that those of us who have to deal with the Foreign Service are ohh so familar. But the conclusion, though not directly stated, is inescapable: she didn’t accomplish jack shit in 4 years.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/ten-miles-square/2013/01/hillary_clintons_ego_trips042261.php
01/10/13 11:11 AM | Comment Link
Expat said...
9If I may wax sentimental for just a moment, it’s always a pleasure and an inspiration reading the comments from all of you – a motley collection of insiders, former insiders, and lifelong outsiders. You educate me, make me laugh and, on some level, give me hope. Thanks for that. While few in number, you are also Amerika’s best hope.
01/10/13 11:18 AM | Comment Link
meloveconsullongtime said...
10@ Expat,
You and Jesus love us, but everyone else thinks we’re assholes.
01/10/13 12:16 PM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
11We are not so different them and US:
Most Americans now think the Iraq war was a mistake and was not worth fighting, according to a new HuffPost/YouGov poll. According to the survey, 52 percent of Americans think it was a mistake for the U.S. to send troops to Iraq in 2003, while 31 percent say it was not. In addition, 55 percent of respondents said the war was not worth fighting, and only 27 percent said it was. Of course, the majority of Americans and their elected officials thought the Iraq War was not a mistake in 2003 when it mattered.
And they say North Korea is delusional.
Just sayin’ …
01/10/13 4:36 PM | Comment Link
Lisa said...
12@Expat,
I’m glad you like Peter and us, but we are not so few in number. I fancy we’re Nixon’s Silent Majority … we’re just the vocal part.
01/10/13 7:40 PM | Comment Link
pitchfork said...
13@expat
Don’t know about the Nixon Silent Majority thing, but as a card carrying Assholes-R-Us member in good standing, and one of the founders of MEAN.(Master Elite Asshole Ninja), welcome to WeMeantWell, where we celebrate DOS’s manifest stupidity, lie through your teeth with a straight face mendacity and it’s innate ability to swallow trillions of dollars whole in one gulp while dancing gangnam style in football gear to demonstrate to the entire world our unique and perfect ethos of Do As We Say, Not As We Do or We’ll Kill Ya. By the looks of it..I’m sure you will fit in perfectly.
01/11/13 3:09 AM | Comment Link
meloveconsullongtime said...
14“When I see the Clinton family together I immediately think of other heart warming American families who stand as role models for our country of America. I think of Fred and Wilma Flintstone with their charming daughter Pebbles. Or the loving Kennedy clan. Like the Kennedy men, Bill Clinton was able to combine strong, loving, gentle and humorous fathering with a lust for life and a zest for living that was irrepressible…
…He allowed Hillary Rodham Jefferson Roosevelt Mandela Clinton to become her own person and not just stay home like the mother in Leave it to Beaver. He encouraged his daughter to become one of the most successful news reporters in the country–getting to the top of her profession sheerly on her good looks and amazing talent and without using any of her parents’ contacts or never once trading on her famous name. In his relationships with the other women in his life he was always respectful and gentlemanly–being a genial father figure to the many young ladies in his circle.”
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/standingonmyhead/2013/01/todd-unctuous-on-bill-clinton.html
01/11/13 1:59 PM | Comment Link
Lisa said...
15melovecounsul,
Thank you so much for sharing that blistering, witty bit of wickedness with us; this is the correct forum for all things stripped down and uncovered.
pitchfork,
Thank you for using the word “mendacity”;
Peter, I offer the following as a meet subtitle:
What’s that smell in this room? Didn’t you notice it, Brick? Didn’t you notice a powerful and obnoxious odor of mendacity in this room?
–Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
01/11/13 4:55 PM | Comment Link