Condi Rice still without a Deputy

I find this so hard to believe.

Secretary of State Rice continues to struggle to find anyone to replace Robert Zoellick as her deputy, leaving many to wonder why an otherwise plum job offers so little attraction. Zoellick, who is now at Goldman Sachs, left the department in July, and Rice has since approached at least four candidates to take the post; all have turned her down, according to several knowledgeable sources....

There is now talk that Rice is reaching out to Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte, with some suggesting that the offer has been sweetened with a promise to give Negroponte the top job should Rice leave the State Department before the end of the administration.

Under normal circumstances, Seputy Secretary of State is a plum job. Serve a couple of years, build your Rolodex and contacts, then parlay them into the job of your choice at a think tank, international law firm, investment bank, globalizing corporation, etc.

What does it say about her position and relative strength in the White House that she can't find someone who wants to do that?

(And, why is Hadley now doing her job in Iraq?)