Condoleezza Rice Has Left the Building
EmailABC News’ Kirit Radia reports: The outgoing secretary of state made a ceremonial final exit from the State Department’s C. St. lobby this afternoon, and hundreds of department employees gathered to see her off.
"I’ve been so lucky to be the chief diplomat for a country that has never sought empire, and understands that power is only good when it is married with principle," Condoleezza Rice told the crowd. "And I have been so privileged and so honored to serve with each and every one of you. Because the men and women of the State Department, those working here in Washington, those working in the far corners of the Earth, are the best example of what America stands for."
After her remarks she was thanked by rounds of applause from the gathered crowd. Rice lingered for about 10 minutes, shaking hands and posing for photos before walking outside amid more applause and getting in her motorcade.
Earlier in the day, Rice appeared at the start of the daily press briefing to thank the press. She spoke at length about the need for a free press in a functioning democracy.
"Many times, throughout discussions with countries that are trying to break free of authoritarianism, or in cases where countries are still under authoritarian rule, I’ve found myself defending the free press," Rice said.
Her press corps made her prove it by shouting questions as she turned to leave. Rice, this time, obliged and took several questions before handing the podium over to spokesman Sean McCormack for his final briefing.
At the end of the briefing, McCormack offered his own reflections, his eyes welling up as he concluded.
"I view our roles as two sides of the same coin: You try to hold the government to account, and that is terribly important; we try to inform publics along the way as best we can, and that has always been our intention. And if there’s anything I’ve learned standing up here at the podium, it is that a free press is absolutely critical to the functioning of any healthy democracy. I think the secretary spoke quite eloquently about it. But it was an unexpected lesson. Standing up here, that is something I feel very deeply, and I just want to say thank you," McCormack said, before rushing off the podium as his emotions began to show.
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Condi,
It feels like it has been FOREVER….good luck and good riddance !!!!!
Posted by: Leprkin | January 16, 2009, 6:39 pm 6:39 pm
Rice states that she’s pleased to have been chief “diplomat for a country that has never sought empire.” That’s quite a revision of the historical and more recent past. I beg to differ that the barely lingering population and culture of Native Americans wasn’t the consequence of an empire building mentality. Manifest destiny used to be the reasoning behind the historical taking and occupying of lands and their resources, whether it was from other nations or the Indians. The term just sounded better than empire building. Unfortunately, old European mindsets of colonizing and taking what doesn’t belong to you have very much been a part of American history – most recently shown by the disastrous attempt to occupy Iraq. Hopefully, the antedated and old European can make way for something new. Dr. Rice’s historical revisionism and arrogance never ceases to amaze me. But before I’m accused of anti-Americanism, let me say that there has also been plenty of greatness mixed in with all the folly. Maybe it might emerge again.
Posted by: kat | January 16, 2009, 6:42 pm 6:42 pm
“….most recently shown by the disastrous attempt to occupy Iraq.”
If the victory in Iraq is a disaster then the victory of WW2 was a nightmarish, horrific failure.
Posted by: Dan | January 16, 2009, 7:20 pm 7:20 pm
Thank’s to all those in the Bush white house!
Now it’s time for the most corrupt administrations -elect to step in. Now if they can only find one person who didn’t work in the most corrupt administration (Clinton) ever,..or someone who paid taxes, isn’t under investigation, isn’t a member of the socialist party (like barry was)..lol the next 4 years is gonna be a wild ride!!
Posted by: Chico | January 16, 2009, 7:30 pm 7:30 pm
Condi was worthless as Sec of State. But she was a real disaster as Head of National Security. She demoted the Chief of the Terrorism Unit – Clark – and then neglected to call any meetings on terrorism until after 9/11. Then she denied responsibility.
Next she failed to check on the conflicting information about WMD’s, lied about “mushroom clouds” and was chief cheerleader for Iraq war.
Other than smoozing with Bush, what did she ever really do? She ended up as a joke – Remember Donald Trump saying all she did was wave from airplane steps. Thank goodness she is gone.
Posted by: ABowers13 | January 16, 2009, 7:57 pm 7:57 pm
Thank you Condi! Regardless of what the terribly ignorant here might say, they’ll be begging for you to come back after 4 years of the incoming Obama/Clinton disaster.
Why is it the democrats AND the terrorists are all excited about Obama’s inauguration? Hmmmmmm……..
Posted by: Ken | January 16, 2009, 8:08 pm 8:08 pm
Thank you, Ms Rice, for being there, for being one of the classiest people I’ve ever seen, and for representing us truly and well. We will miss you!
Posted by: Mark | January 16, 2009, 8:42 pm 8:42 pm
we will miss you Dr. Rice. you were a very classy person.
would all the “Marxist”, “koolaid”, “Obama makes terrorosts happy” people just chill. it’s stale and old.
Posted by: Paul Wall | January 16, 2009, 9:02 pm 9:02 pm
Thank you Dr. Rice. We will miss you more than we know after a couple of months of Clinton drama and scandals. Good luck in your new career!
Posted by: robtr | January 16, 2009, 9:19 pm 9:19 pm
A Free Press? Free to lie, distort, and support the enemy. It may be free, but not accurate. The majority of the members of the free press should be behind bars for treason.
Posted by: Gutsy | January 16, 2009, 9:22 pm 9:22 pm
Gutsy—it’s a free press. the blog is about Dr./Secretary Rice leaving the White House and people wishing her well not how we perceive mainstream media. so exercise your choices. there are blogs where people can rant 24/7 about “Marxism”, “socialism”, “Clinton scandals”, don’t you think you would be happier and on topic there?
Posted by: Paul Wall | January 16, 2009, 9:54 pm 9:54 pm
Gutsy—i don’t like Limbaugh or O’Reily, so does that make them traitors. or is it when you don’t hear what you like it’s treason and when you hear what you like form Limbaugh that’s heroism.
Limbaugh, Hannity, O’Reilly, Coulter all have huge fan bases. i don’t listen or post on their blogs. but i don’t think they should be arrested or considered criminals.
don’t you think you are being rather harsh?
Posted by: Paul Wall | January 16, 2009, 10:01 pm 10:01 pm
Dr. Rice–
Americans don’t know how priviliged we were to be honored with your service and sacrifice, but they will know in due course.
Your graciousness in praising the 4th Estate was unwarranted and undeserved. This country no longer has a press corps; we have “media,” and those are very different things. The banality, mendacity, and laziness of our “media” are about to be exposed as the corruptorate takes over.
Eventually, I believe your vision and understanding will be vindicated, and your persistence even while under siege by the American “media” will come to be appreciated.
Thank you.
Posted by: Chad3337 | January 16, 2009, 11:44 pm 11:44 pm
Condoleeza Rice was the worst Secretary of State ever. She might claim that it wasn’t her fault, she was just following George W. Bush’s policies, but she should have had the courage to do the right thing and resign.
Posted by: US Citizen | January 17, 2009, 12:09 am 12:09 am
Typical Liberals lost in ignorance so all they can do is cut people down. Most of you didn’t even know the Democrats already controlled congress since 2006! It turns out you knew nothing about Obama either! We knew him better than you! Now, Condi is a class act and a brilliant talented woman. I thank her and wish her well. If you’re too young or brainwashed to remember, the Clinton administration was the most corrupt in history and they’re back along with Obama. Unfortunately, there isn’t a Republican congress to balance the budget and keep him in check this time. This will be a disaster and you’ll beg for mercy (and probably food!) before this is over. Mark my words!
Posted by: CrusaderPatriot | January 17, 2009, 1:15 am 1:15 am
Dr. Rice is a smart and classy professional and the country was honored to have her serve. She is a complete professional and runs rings around anyone on the left when it comes to intelligence – that’s why we see the ignorant remarks by our Socialist lefties.
God help us over the next four years. We have an economy spiraling downwards and ongoing terrorism issues and our President Elect – won’t let go of his Blackberry even for National Security concerns. Sort of like a kid holding on to his Teddy Bear.
Posted by: IlonaE | January 17, 2009, 1:44 am 1:44 am
IlonaE: I agree with you! Condoleeza Rice is smart and classy lady! She is also the best Secretary of State that we’ve ever had! I, too, fear for what the next four years will bring us!
Posted by: James | January 17, 2009, 5:09 am 5:09 am
steve9337: What war crimes? She hasn’t committed any and neither has President Bush!
Posted by: James | January 17, 2009, 5:12 am 5:12 am
I think Condoleeza Rice was a much better Secretary of State than Hillary Clinton will ever be!
Posted by: James | January 17, 2009, 5:15 am 5:15 am
CrusaderPatriot: You are RIGHT!
Posted by: James | January 17, 2009, 5:19 am 5:19 am
Condi has more class in her little finger than Billary has ever dreamed of.
Think Hillary is going to be admired and respected? God help us.
Posted by: Paul Bogdan | January 17, 2009, 8:20 am 8:20 am
Condoleeza Rice you will be missed. As for the person who is going to sit in your chair I only ask they look at Wikipedia. How anyone could compare your experience with HC I don’t understand. These are very strange times we live in when when experiece means nothing. May God help us.
Posted by: Robert | January 17, 2009, 8:45 am 8:45 am
Condi left the building at least two years ago when she started to devote most of her time to the Palestinian question.
Devoting your time and energy to people who obviously don’t want peace is clueless. It will be interesting to see whether HRC follows the same course. Presumably she will.
The solution to the Palestinian question is to cut off all but bare-bones humanitarian aid and kill enough of the Islamist leaders that the people of Palestine sue for peace.
Leftist support for the Palestinian cause is prolonging the suffering of the Palestinian people. There will be no peace for Palestinians so long as they continue to attack Israel.
Posted by: Terry Gain | January 17, 2009, 8:53 am 8:53 am
Worst secretary ever.
Posted by: sara wilson | January 17, 2009, 11:37 am 11:37 am
Dr Rice, Good luck in you next job. Lest I forget please don’t ask for any references.
Posted by: Ranger phx | January 17, 2009, 11:41 am 11:41 am
A Lady that has shown nothing but class in every aspect of her actions, and job. She will find a job in the NFL, and she will do fine!
Posted by: helmet | January 17, 2009, 12:58 pm 12:58 pm
We’re lucky she was ineffective,imagine the damage she may have done.
Posted by: Burlap Mudflap | January 17, 2009, 4:20 pm 4:20 pm
Unlike Hillary leaving in 2000, Condi didn’t seem to abscond with furniture and silverware.
First female U.S. Secretary of State ever, but that is totally lost on the Marxists and the Women Libbers because she was not one of them.
Posted by: Grand Old Party | January 17, 2009, 9:41 pm 9:41 pm
Judge not unless you be judged. How can anyone judge what is to be before it is done or even started. Look what the last 8 years have done for us, what do you see?? Not a pretty picture is it?Every one needs a chance to prove themselves at least give them the chance they can’t do any worse then what we have had in the last 8 years.
Posted by: Rose Szymanski | January 18, 2009, 12:47 am 12:47 am
This woman has no idea of how to make any kind of deal I wonder who did her wheeeling and dealing for her book
Posted by: Rose Szymanski | January 18, 2009, 1:01 am 1:01 am
Some of you might not think that Condoleeza Rice was a very good Secretary of State but the least you can do is respect her as a lady and stop the name calling!
Posted by: James | January 18, 2009, 7:26 am 7:26 am
The first thing a secretary of state must know how to do is settle disputes and if you have no wife or husband where do you learn to do this? On the streets? settle, compromise,give a little to get a little, what is the problem what went wrong etc. Friends know how to settle things more than she does or did.
Posted by: Rose Szymanski | January 18, 2009, 11:38 am 11:38 am
The biggest Oreo on record, and hopefully the last.
Posted by: bkmur | January 18, 2009, 12:06 pm 12:06 pm
I hope she is soon on trial at the Hague for Crimes Against Humanity.
Posted by: Thomas Mc | January 19, 2009, 11:48 am 11:48 am
Well you people wont have to worry about the next 4 years, according to my black son’s white history teacher, the world is coming to an end tommorrow. So hopefully I’ll see you all in Heaven.
God Bless you Dr.Rice, You tryed you’re best to turn crap into sunflowers. Its unfornuate you had to work under this stubborn adminstration. You did as you were instructed to do,and I’m sure you did things that you werent 100% sure of. But we all do that on a day to day basis. I wish you Good Blessings on whatever you’re next journey in life is. That is if the World doesnt end tommorrow.
Posted by: Robbie | January 19, 2009, 5:20 pm 5:20 pm
Thomas Mc: Exactly what crimes are you talking about? She hasn’t committed any!
Posted by: James | January 19, 2009, 8:22 pm 8:22 pm
Dr Rice,
THANKS DR RICE! They will be crying for you to come back you were such a powerful lady in your field and a thriving diplomat!
Congratulations and Good luck!
Posted by: Zach | January 19, 2009, 9:07 pm 9:07 pm
Hey Kat, American soldiers are still dying and getting hurt in Iraq–don’t compare Iraq with WW2, because Iraq didn’t attack us first. There were no WMD’s and Iraq’s problem was Saddam, but hey, Sudan, and other countries have problems with thier leaders–you want to invade more coutries Kat?
Posted by: Zayas, NJ | January 20, 2009, 8:58 am 8:58 am
“I’ve been so lucky to be the chief diplomat for a country that has never sought empire, and understands that power is only good when it is married with principle,” Condoleezza Rice told the crowd.
She has got to be kidding. The Bush admin., including Condi, has been the most self-righteous bunch of stupid bigots that attempted to force their will on the entire world. The entire world hates us for the 8 years of abuses. Fortunately, the world is willing to give Obama a chance to restore civility in the American foreign policy.
Posted by: AnillaField | January 20, 2009, 12:30 pm 12:30 pm
Democrat’s did everything in their power to ruin anything she or this adminstration ever did! They fought Bush at every turn. In addition, DEMOCRAT’s were responsible for the Housing Mess! PERIOD! The economy was growing by leaps and bounds and we had the lowest unemployment rate in history for most of the Bush years! The Main Stream Media (DNC Media) have pushed a massive propaganda campaign like never before to blame Bush for EVERYTHING that’s gone wrong, when they we’re the ones destroying it! The housing mess was like “Manna From Heaven”. Don’t think the timing wasn’t a cooincidence just like the run up on Gas Prices for the 8 months prior to the election. Then Bam! Back to $40/barrell! Tip O’Neil spent like a fool in the 80′s to make sure nobody would notice that Reagan had doubled revenue into the treasury by cutting taxes! (He shamelessly admitted it on National Telivision witout blinking an eye!)
So don’t expect Republicans to give Pres Obama one minute of less than the same thing that Bush got for 8 solid years. P.S. Don’t tell anybody, but Bush “DID” win the election in 2000! He didn’t cheat like Frankin!
Posted by: Norm | January 20, 2009, 12:37 pm 12:37 pm
good bye! Please don’t call or write
Posted by: gamoon37 | January 20, 2009, 12:44 pm 12:44 pm
Tsunami has left th building……..Thank God she managed to kill only 1 million people in Iraq and invaded a mere 2 countries!!!
Posted by: salem | January 20, 2009, 12:45 pm 12:45 pm
As Dr. Rice goes moves on with her life, maybe with time an reflections on her miss fortunes and low political deeds of the last eight years, may be she will finally realize how she assisted in hurting this country.
Posted by: Jerrry | January 20, 2009, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm
Thank you Dr. Rice. As others have said, I agree: You are one classy lady. Thanks for all you’ve done and been for our nation. May the nations realize your diplomacy more now, with respect. For the next few years America’s representation will not be a gracious where the Senator seeks to lead by change rather than diplomacy.
Was amazed to see the comment here on international view of America in the last eight years. For those with a short memory…that view has been there for generations. The last eight years was merely an attempt at placing blame by those who don’t know.
The world is better off with the leadership and diplomacy of the Bush Administration.
Thanks again, Dr. Rice. The best to you, in the future.
Posted by: Jan, LA | January 20, 2009, 4:01 pm 4:01 pm
Crimes against humanity I believe this takes in torcher water boarding and she must be a believer in torcher.
Posted by: Rose Szymanski | January 20, 2009, 6:26 pm 6:26 pm
Norm: I agree with you!
Posted by: James | January 20, 2009, 6:32 pm 6:32 pm
Condoleeza Rice is the best and classiest Secretary of State we’ve ever had!
Posted by: James | January 20, 2009, 6:37 pm 6:37 pm
Hillary will never be able to fill her shoes. BTW, how many languages does Hillary speak? Hmmmmm? Dr. Rice has shown grace and wisdom under pressure and has been an exemplary Secretary of State. And she earned the position in her own right as a single woman. How I wish she had taken the Presidential Oath today rather than B.O. But I am hopeful. . .maybe sometime down the road!
Posted by: Marilee | January 20, 2009, 6:55 pm 6:55 pm
In the words of our new president, “It’s time to put aside your childish acts of junior high……”. Some posters here need to hear that loud and clear!
Thank you Dr. Rice for your service to our country.
Posted by: Chukkalady | January 20, 2009, 7:27 pm 7:27 pm
Just thought I’d share a couple of interpretations of Obama’s speech:
Responsibility = Higher taxes
Oversight = Government bigger than ever (Even bigger than Bush Jr’s, yes, it’s coming).
Don’t say I didn’t tell you so. Obama will make Jimmah Carta look like a Boy Scout.
Posted by: Karl Marx | January 20, 2009, 7:56 pm 7:56 pm
Rice has been one of the most interesting individuals in the White House over the past 8 years, and probably one of the smartest. I’m curious to know what she does next.
And by the way, I’m a democrat but not a mindless blame-bush-for-everything hater.
Posted by: Jeremy | January 20, 2009, 11:00 pm 11:00 pm
The White House now has a deficit with the minus of the character of Condoleezza Rice, such a was woman.
Posted by: Advocate for Conservatives | January 21, 2009, 1:44 am 1:44 am
Dr Rice failed at every job. That may have been because or her decision or because she was looked at as window dressing and ignored by the neo cons who controlled the Bush administration. Since they have destroyed millions of records we may never know which it was. But objectively the result remains. btw – Bush didn’t keep the US safe after the WTC attack. The first attack happened under Clinton who can actually claim to have kept the homeland safe after the WTC attack. Bush failed, despite being warned by Clinton, to defend the nation and then over compensated in so many ways. Let us all pray that fact based pragmatism and not faith based insanity were yesterday restored to the nation’s leadrship.
Posted by: rascalofearth | January 21, 2009, 10:20 am 10:20 am
condi: go find yourself a man
Posted by: matelot | January 21, 2009, 10:24 am 10:24 am
How could someone so smart and talented have been so dumb and achieved so little in 8 years?
Posted by: basmati | January 21, 2009, 2:52 pm 2:52 pm
rascalofearth: I don’t know how you can say that we haven’t been protected since 9/11! We haven’t had any more attacks on our homeland, have we?
Posted by: James | January 21, 2009, 4:56 pm 4:56 pm
I find it amazing that she can stand there and say these things with a straight face. While she might be able to fool the country, God is ultimatley just and she will have to answer the the All Mighty for the crimes that she has committed.
Posted by: SaddamWasOurBudddy | January 21, 2009, 8:33 pm 8:33 pm
DID YOU FORGET ABOUT MS MADELEINE ALBRIGHT? THERE IS TOO MUCH HATE IN THIS WORLD AND THE POSTINGS HERE HAVE REAFFIRMED THAT. MS RICE, WE WISH YOU THE BEST
Posted by: BAJORDAN | January 22, 2009, 10:39 am 10:39 am
It was profoundly empowering to realize that whenever a Bushee or Bush himself berated us for our apparent weakening on the resolve to fight “Turrsts,” as he was describing their brutal methods it was as if the Bushee or Bush himself was looking in a mirror and delivering a scathing self-critique.
The ever-delusional good-soldier Condi failed to use her God-given intellect for anything other than the Aggressive Pursuit of Mediocrity.
“I’ve been so lucky to be the chief diplomat for a country that has never sought empire, and understands that power is only good when it is married with principle.” It’s a shame that the only people who truly understand AND believe in that are The People of the United States of America. Our elected and appointed officials have seriously and willfully neglected their obligation to represent the People and the interests of the United States above any political, fiduciary or personal interest. You’ve failed, all of you, including 90% of the Congress and the Judicial Branch.
What you’ve done, together, is to create a festering mass of unaccountability, and dismayal and sense of betrayal among the American people, many of whom were so pissed off at your desultory performances that they grabbed those pocket manuals on The Constitution of the United States that Sen. Robert Byrd brandishes to the ignoramuses in the Senate.
Condi, you are the poster child of a generation of career-pimping intelligentsia with absolutely no moral pinnings absent to yourself, your sponsor and to the greenback.
Your parents should be ashamed.
Posted by: Nealio | January 24, 2009, 11:18 am 11:18 am
Oh my daze, a country that has never sought empire? The US took the baton from the british because they were going bankrupt.
Why does mr president walk around with a bag full of buttons to launch atomic bombs in seconds? Ohhhh please!!
Hypocrites and parasites (mainly cockroaches) springs to mind.
No wonder the false and corrupt financial system is failing so spectacularly.
Posted by: Mr P | February 21, 2009, 6:28 am 6:28 am
Why do you guys employ law makers? those guys are going make it illegal for you to eat and drink unless you tell them that you adore them 1000 times everyday.
You heard it here first.
Sounds silly I guess,look a little closer and you will see how ridiculous similar laws are and they make more everyday.
Posted by: Mr P | February 21, 2009, 6:40 am 6:40 am