If it’s Monday, it must be time for another Condi rumor
posted at 7:40 am on April 7, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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If we had a nickel for every time the rumor that Condoleezza Rice was going to run for the VP slot in some Republican election arose in the media, we’d have enough cash to outraise Barack Obama. Yesterday, Dan Senor floated it on ABC’s This Week, only this time with a fairly recent twist — that Rice herself actively seeks the nomination:
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is actively courting the vice presidential nomination, Republican strategist Dan Senor said.
“Condi Rice has been actively, actually in recent weeks, campaigning for this,” Senor said this morning on “This Week with George Stephanopoulos.”
According to Senor, Rice has been cozying up to the Republican elite.
This twist has Rice talking to Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform weekly gathering of conservative activists as a means to increase her influence and standing for the position. That sounds interesting but a little ineffective as a strategy. Conservative activists don’t have the inside track yet in the McCain campaign, although ATR and Norquist have to like McCain’s spending policies. It can’t hurt, but it doesn’t seem like it would help a great deal, either.
Also, Rice hasn’t exactly endeared herself with conservatives at State, although that’s not really her fault. Conservatives had high expectations of a general housecleaning when she replaced Colin Powell, ridding the department of entrenched bureaucrats that they saw as restraining conservative policies in foreign affairs. Most of them have grumbled about lost opportunities and the direction of policy specific to the Palestinian issue. However, clearly Rice has implemented the policy of George Bush in this area, working on a two-state solution despite the rocket attacks from Hamas and a refusal of Mahmoud Abbas to do more to stop terrorist activities on the West Bank.
McCain probably doesn’t want to tie himself too closely to the Bush administration, but Rice might not be a bad choice for VP in one sense. She would provide continuity in foreign policy for the US and could be ready on Day One to support a McCain administration. Her years as Secretary of State give her the executive experience that both Obama and Hillary Clinton lack, although her lack of electoral experience could prove a significant handicap. However, McCain isn’t weak in foreign policy; he has a professed weakness in economics, which is why Mitt Romney looks like a better potential choice for balance.
Nothing has ever come from the Rice rumors over the past five years, starting when speculation had Bush dumping Cheney for the 2004 run. Nothing will probably come of this latest version, either. Ms. Rice will almost certainly return to academia in 2009, and follow up with a blockbuster memoir. Accepting a VP slot would demonstrate an ambition for electoral office that she has never displayed in the past.
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For the sake of “continuity,” Affirmative Action and incompetence, please McCain pick Condi as your VP.
Let it all melt.
Indy Conservative on April 7, 2008 at 7:48 AM
If you can read this sign, you are too close.
Shy Guy on April 7, 2008 at 7:54 AM
Stamp this package “return to sender”. Rice was definitely the biggest disappointment of all of Bush’s appointments.
Shut up.
amkun on April 7, 2008 at 7:55 AM
It is Affirmative Action mixed with Cronyism.
Indy Conservative on April 7, 2008 at 8:00 AM
“She would provide continuity in foreign policy for the US and could be ready on Day One to support a McCain administration.”“However, clearly Rice has implemented the policy of George Bush in this area, working on a two-state solution despite the rocket attacks from Hamas and a refusal of Mahmoud Abbas to do more to stop terrorist activities on the West Bank.
Which is why, now that she’s the SoS, I dpn’t want her on the next ticket, to keep the GWOT going.
If we could get *old* Condi as Veep, that’d be cool, but the *new* Condi? Nah, no thanks. And I say that with great sadness.
Tony737 on April 7, 2008 at 8:01 AM
Cranky old Rino teamed with the female version of Madeleine Albright is just sooooo Republican. Yip. Cheers. Chaos.
Aristotle on April 7, 2008 at 8:01 AM
I love Condi but her backbone does not match her intellect. If she wants to continue in elected office I’d like to see her run for governor somewhere, preferably a state that’s a mess like california, go through a tough election battle, win and then show she can run something and make tough decisions.
peacenprosperity on April 7, 2008 at 8:01 AM
Alrighty, I was wondering when this topic was going to pop
up.I think Condi Rice would make a great Vice President,I
think she added to the Bush Administration and is affective.
At this stage of the game,I could care less what the Left thinks of Condi,Obama is treated with respect from the
Democratic Party,and we know what the Democratic Party thinks of Condi!
I hope the RNC,isn’t thinking that well we have to field
a African American on the ticket,because yes it would be
great,but I think the Liberal media would make this all about race,and be right back to their racist Republican
tactics again,on CNN 24/7!
Let the Liberal Party deal with their own mess,get the VP
straightened out,get the message to the voters and get McCain moving while the Libs are fighting their Political
Party civil War!
canopfor on April 7, 2008 at 8:01 AM
Sheesh! I messed *that* up! Lack of sleep.
Tony737 on April 7, 2008 at 8:05 AM
Any news George Stephanopoulos promotes about the GOP deserves its proportional grain of salt. “Republican strategist Dan Senor”–I don’t watch that show, so I’ll have to look up Senor; but more often than not, puppet “Republican” spokesmen on progressive news panels hardly practice what they purport to represent, and all of their insider-knowledge comes from the left.
C.Rice has fronted whatever directions given her. If indeed she believes in the dismantling destruction she’s demanded of Israel on behalf of the Palestinian to-be state, what a death wish the GOP would promote upon us all to grant her MORE power than she’s already abused.
Having McCain lead the ticket is bad enough. Compounding his lack of domestic border security with her give-away territorial bonus gifts to terrorists bodes ill for American citizens.
maverick muse on April 7, 2008 at 8:14 AM
Sheesh!
Tony737 on April 7,2008 at 8:05AM.
Tony737: Tony made sense to me,oh and your correct on Condi,
Old Condi had that Margert Thatcher quality about
her,and then the Left and the media had fun doing
unflattering stories on her!
canopfor on April 7, 2008 at 8:17 AM
I like Michael Steele; former Maryland Lt. Governor and senate candidate. He has executive experience previous to being Lt. Governor but is light on foreign affairs. Mr. McCain has enough experience for both of them in that regard. Mr. Steele certainly is conservative enough and is a great public speaker, especially when speaking off-the cuff. I used to listen to him on a local talk radio show taking call-in questions. I found him impressive when I first heard him not knowing who was on the radio having tuned in after the introductions and listened to him when I could for info on the state’s problems. He does well too as a FNC contributor.
Unlike Mr. Obama, Mr. Steele did not have a sheltered and somewhat privileged youth. Steele’s mother was a widowed laundress who he worked for minimum wage rather than accept public assistance, so one can see where his values orginated.
In this day of canned talking points, it was nice to hear a layed back, frank politician speak. I think he would have went nuts sitting in the senate and listening to the continuous bloviating. He and Governor Bobby Jindal are rising stars in the Republican Party.
amr on April 7, 2008 at 8:18 AM
Bush ruined Condi’s career putting her into a position of no win or draw, only lose. She had no chance in the State dept as long as Bush was president, the damage was done.
Wade on April 7, 2008 at 8:24 AM
Just because she hasn’t exactly filled the expectations people had of her doesn’t mean she is an affirmative action case. Rice is not Obama; she has clearly worked her way up to where she is.
Care to explain the difference between old Condi and new Condi?
amkun on April 7, 2008 at 8:28 AM
Senor:
NY family, mother from Slovakia, EDUCATED IN ONTARIO!–
Paid beginner dues to R-MI to get into political action.
Under Bremmer, Senor was based at Centcom Headquarters in Qatar, where he was Director of the Coalition Information Center ALTHOUGH HE SPOKE NO ARABIC.
He is now employed by the Heinz family while asserting his own brand of expertise as a self-employed crisis manager.
maverick muse on April 7, 2008 at 8:31 AM
Condi as Veep would be just the icing on the cake on the lesser of all evils candidacy of McCain.
.
She has sought advice from Carter and Powell and her foreign policy is a total disaster. Her dealings with Israel are a total betrayal of the war on terror and she costs Israeli lives every time she visits.
.
I would consider voting for McCain as a bulwark against Obama or Billary but with Condi in the mix I would say a pox on all their houses.
FactsofLife on April 7, 2008 at 8:34 AM
So our SoS shows up unannounced to a gossip club to hear the buzz first hand, out of which Senor the crisis management expert pronounces her bid for VP.
maverick muse on April 7, 2008 at 8:35 AM
And how it started?
With Cronyism which is almost no different than Affirmative Action when it comes to Black people. It’s just a matter of linguistics.
Affirmative Action -in itself- is racism and is a degradation of Black people.
But aside from all that, she proved to be an absolutely incompetent empty-skirt.
Indy Conservative on April 7, 2008 at 8:36 AM
I don’t know to me and my opinion
The ideal candidate is one who really doesn’t want it – won’t pursue it
Until asked to serve
Some who did not ask to serve
Nixon
Truman
Quail
Cheney
Perhaps, just perhaps the best may not the most ambitious, the most political astute. However, the call to serve this country in its time of need has been answered by millions – don’t expect Ms Rice to abandon her country.
EricPWJohnson on April 7, 2008 at 8:39 AM
I’ve said she’s a front for the power that put GWB into office. Now having McCain lead the ticket is bad enough. Compounding the Bush/McCain lack of domestic border security with the Bush/Rice give-away territorial bonus gifts to terrorists bodes ill for American citizens.
maverick muse on April 7, 2008 at 8:42 AM
I think it’d be a good ticket. It could help put McCain over the top in November, I believe. I’d vote for them.
2008 will be my last vote for the gop, however, unless by some miracle they finally get their act together. I’m tired of waiting for them. Middle American wants to move in a more rightward, nationalistic direction and the gop refuses. Time to form a new party. Only way the representation void will be filled. If McCain would pull off a victory in Nov, that’d buy “us” some time to form up our New Republican Party (NRP). (Us who?) DD
Darvin Dowdy on April 7, 2008 at 8:49 AM
Correct.
Plus restraining Israel from defending itself in Lebanon.
Indy Conservative on April 7, 2008 at 8:49 AM
How about Eddie Murphy? If he can talk to animals he can perhaps talk to other liberals.
wepeople on April 7, 2008 at 9:00 AM
She will be nothing but a constant target for mistakes made before 9/11, Iraq, etc.
There has got to be a better choice.
WisCon on April 7, 2008 at 9:04 AM
Do not want
Asher on April 7, 2008 at 9:16 AM
Condi, meh. Still doesn’t matter. We’re painting racing stripes on the titanic. Any good or harm Condi will do in foreign policy will be eclipsed by McCain’s overall suckitude. If I was McCain, I’d pick John Kerry, just to see if I can induce apoplexia in the rest of the party..and to listen to GOP die hards spin it as a great idea.
austinnelly on April 7, 2008 at 10:02 AM
she’s a woman and an African American.. ( I know, news flash :) )
but that would be the PC hat trick answer the question if McCain is a sexist and/or a racist for running against Hillery and Barack..
and she would only be a heartbeat or another stroke away from the oval office..
DaveC on April 7, 2008 at 10:30 AM
If McCain wants to win, he cannot be tied to Bush. Condi would provide a handle to lay all the faults of the Bush Administration, real and imagined, at the feet of John McCain.
Clark1 on April 7, 2008 at 10:46 AM
My admiration of this person has dissipated with her news quotes regarding her racial preferences. Somehow, I thought she was intelligent enough to be above all of that effecting her judgment, but clearly she is not.
We need Americans to manage this country and defend us. Not Irish, Germans, Blacks, Jews, Catholics, Mormons, Asian, WASPS or whatever affiliation can get in your way of good judgment. Be an American first, and save the pandering for family reunions.
Her perspective on the Middle East also is lacking.
Hening on April 7, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Great lady. I don’t want her in the campaign; she’s a State Department liberal.
Jaibones on April 7, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Condi is pro-choice. Just what McCain and the Republicans need this November: 10 (20? more?) percent of the base staying home or voting third party protest. McCain picking a pro-choice VP would be suicide.
boko fittleworth on April 7, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Ask John Bolton what he thinks of a Condi VP….. oh BTW John Bolton for VP, IMHO
MNDavenotPC on April 7, 2008 at 11:39 AM
Condi Clueless Rice was an incompetent Sec. of State and would not take away a single vote from Obama. Shame on anyone seriously considering that failed woman.
Hilts on April 7, 2008 at 12:55 PM
Condi for VEEP? What, is Brownie unavailable?
james23 on April 7, 2008 at 12:56 PM
I’ve been to the ATR Wednesday meetings before, and unless something has leaked from the meeting itself about her wanting the VP slot, I’d highly doubt that was why she was there. She could have been there talking about the free trade agreement with Columbia.
its vintage duh on April 7, 2008 at 1:29 PM
You act as if that’s a good thing.
I’d vote for Obama before I ever voted for Rice.
2Brave2Bscared on April 7, 2008 at 1:48 PM
VP rule of thumb: Look for who the Democrats are demonizing the most, and that’s the one who should be VP.
Right now, Condi is getting the Dem’s closest attention, which means that they are running scared.
pocomoco on April 7, 2008 at 2:42 PM
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