A metaphorical puff of white smoke* rose over the White House last evening as Condoleezza Rice was sworn in as GW's first post-9/11-appointed Secretary of State, a more-than worthy successor to Colin Powell. Powell is awesome but a bit too much of a calculating politician for our own taste. Condi speaks to our heart and soul. We are in good hands.
*Once the ballots are counted, they are burned, and the smoke indicates the results: black smoke (sfumata), created using straw with the ballots, announces that the vote was not decisive, and white smoke announces the election of a new Pope. The Dean of the College of Cardinals asks the Pope-elect to confirm his acceptance, and then announces the name he has chosen for himself . . . The senior cardinal deacon then announces from a balcony over St. Peter's Square the following proclamation: Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum! Habemus Papam! ("I announce to you a great joy! We have a Pope!")
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