PNAC vs. Wingnuts

Powell resigning should be a surprise to no one (Powell has been an outsider in this administration since day one.) since it was widely reported some 8 months before the election that he had decided he would step down after the election. Thus it will come as no surprise to me that many people will be surprised by this announcement.

It will be interesting to see what becomes of Rumsfeld. There was rumor of his stepping down after the election but I’m not sure I buy it. The Donster is part of the inner circle of real power (Project for a New American Century (PNAC)) behind this administration. If the Donster were to step down this could be an indication of a power struggle of even a power shift within the administration between the PNAC people (America as new Roman Empire) and the Wingnuts (religious right). The resignation of well known Wingnut, John Ashcroft, does not signal part of this struggle since Bush turned against Ashcroft for his being to publicity hungry.

So the interesting political watching out of Washington will be The PNAC camp (in which sits Rumsfeld, Cheney, Wolfowitz, and Jeb Bush) vs. the Wingnut camp (in which sits some members of the Supreme Court, some powerful members of Congress and possibly the President.) (Where does Rove fit in? I don’t know.) The Grand Inquisitor Dobson and his ilk will be putting a mighty amount of pressure on those in Washington to make things go their way since they see the election as having been delivered by them.

It is hard to know who to root for here. The arrogance of the PNAC people is grating but the level of destruction to some very precious and vital institutions that could happen with a Wingnut take over is terrifying. So let’s hope for a positive outcome in Iraq, not just for the soldier/pawns that are there, but for the PNACers who might come out favorably for it.