Four of them -- Powell, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Labor
Secretary Linda Chavez and
Interior Secretary Gale Norton -- were in the Reagan White House.
Four men -- Powell, Rumsfeld,
Dick Cheney and Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill -- worked for
President Ford.
Rumsfeld's presidential pedigree even goes back to President
Nixon. The only one missing from this
list of ancient Republicans is Henry Kissinger!
We've seen this movie before. It's called ``Back to the Future.''
How ironic. Bush campaigned as a Washington outsider, then fills
his cabinet with Washington insiders.
Clearly, Bush had to pick a couple of grown-ups to make up for
his own lack of experience.
But there's a danger in choosing so many political graybeards.
First, it's not what people want. As confusing as the 2000 presidential
campaign was, one thing was clear:
Americans were voting for the first presidency of the new millennium,
not for a rerun of failed attempts of the old.
If we wanted a repeat of the old Bush administration, we would
have elected George H., not George W.
Plus, it's not that they all did such a great job the first time
around. Colin Powell originally opposed Desert Storm,
then ended it by leaving Saddam Hussein in power. Gale Norton
worked as deputy to James Watt, perhaps
the most inept Interior Secretary in history. Why do either of
them deserve another time at bat?
But the most important reason for not looking backward in making
so many appointments is: The world has
changed since these folks last put on their government knickers.
Big time, as Dick Cheney would say.
This is especially so in the case of Don Rumsfeld. True, he served
as secretary of Defense under Ford.
Did a good job, too. But that was 26 years ago: back when there
was still a Soviet Union, America was
still fighting the Cold War and George Bush was still in his
reckless 20s. Before we had to deal with
government-sponsored terrorism, threats of chemical warfare and
regional conflicts in Somalia, Bosnia,
Kosovo, East Timor and Rwanda. Today's changed times demand a
new way of looking at defense
strategy, spending and capability. Yesterday's ideas and leaders
no longer fit.
Bush's reliance on the past is particularly surprising, given
the number of young leaders in the Republican party.
Bill Paxon, Susan Molinari, Rick Lazio, Vin Weber and John Kasich
are talented and respected former
members of Congress who would be a credit to any administration.
J.C. Watts, Steve Largent, John Sununu,
Lindsay Graham, Chris Cox and Vito Fossella are current members
who might have been persuaded to
leave Congress for a Cabinet post.
In short, there is no lack of new leaders and new ideas in the
Republican party.
But new leaders and new ideas are sadly lacking in the Bush administration.
The only saving grace about Bush's collection of old-timers is:
At least he will always have adult supervision.
Indeed, the very thought of George W. alone in the Oval Office
is scary. But now we don't have to worry.
Whether it's Dick Cheney or Colin Powell or Don Rumsfeld, one
of the grown-ups will always be there,
to make sure he doesn't push the wrong button.
Bill Press is co-host of CNN's ``Crossfire.''