Posted on 12/01/2016 10:31:40 AM PST by SeekAndFind
For all the ink spilled about this week's buzzy dinner between Donald Trump and Mitt Romney, another little get-together is almost as intriguing. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sat down with Vice President-elect Mike Pence Wednesday evening, with word of the meeting breaking on Twitter yesterday afternoon. Keep in mind that Sean Spicer is one of the honchos at the RNC, and is very close with soon-to-be White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus. Someone wanted this information injected into the media bloodstream:
Vice President-Elect Mike Pence will meet with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington, D.C. today, @seanspicer says— Arlette Saenz (@ArletteSaenz) November 30, 2016
Allahpundit mulls over a few 'maybes' at Hot Air. Maybe it was purely a courtesy visit, in which Pence simply wanted to seek advice on the transition and/or foreign policy from a smart woman with deep experience. Maybe it was a temperature check to see if Rice has any appetite whatsoever to leave her comfortable perch out west and re-enter public service. She's reportedly been burned out on politics for some time, but that didn't stop her from attending the 2012 Republican National Convention and delivering a stirring address that brought the house down. Might she be open to filling an important role within the administration? She's a patriot, and her resume is exceptionally impressive. Perhaps that was on the agenda. Or maybe this was the latest, savvy round of Team Trump making a public, good-faith show of working to heal wounds from a bloody campaign that witnessed unusually intense fissures within the party (even as the vast, vast majority of Republicans "came home" to Trump in the end). Nevertheless, remember this?
Enough! Donald Trump should not be President. He should withdraw. As a Republican, I hope to support someone who has the dignity and stature to run for the highest office in the greatest democracy on earth.
That was Rice's Facebook post in the wake of the infamous Access Hollywood audio tape being released, an October surprise that rocked the campaign. That was the last straw for her. But now he's going to be the president. Radio host Buck Sexton said yesterday that in order for the entire GOP to coalesce during the Trump years, two 'Rs' will be essential: Reconciliation and results. Making it clear that people like Rice and Romney are still respected figures within the party, who will have the administration's ear, is at the very least a positive reconciliatory gesture. It sends a signal not only to the individual leaders being beckoned in from the cold, but also to the substantial number of right-leaning voters who'd side with Rice and Romney over Trump every day of the week: President Trump, despite his reputation and all the theatrics, will lead the entire party, not just its Trumpian wing. Even if nothing else comes of Pence's conversation with Condi, just having that discussion -- in person, and with the public's awareness -- strikes me as another positive step. I'll leave you with some excerpts from this CNN piece detailing how intimately involved and influential Mike Pence has been in the formation of the incoming administration. If you're a movement conservative, you're very pleased by many of these details:
Trump's choices so far have reflected Pence's politics -- potentially proving helpful on Capitol Hill, where the Indiana governor and former House Republican leader has long been expected to help Trump most. Pence's devotion to conservative principles -- and his relationships with powerful groups, including the Heritage Foundation -- have allowed him to help Trump navigate a Washington terrain that is unfamiliar to the billionaire business mogul who just ran his first campaign for any office...Trump advisers have consistently said that Pence and Trump consult regularly and that mutual respect was put on display when Trump elevated Pence in his world -- giving him the reins of the transition operation from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. In an immediate display of power, Pence ejected the lobbyists who had made up the team assembled by Christie -- turning the transition effort on its head and further strengthening Pence's role in forming the President-elect's team...As Pence did a victory lap in the Capitol two weeks ago, he sat for an extensive meeting with House Speaker Paul Ryan in the speaker's office -- just a few yards outside the House chamber. In the middle of the meeting, Rep. Mike Pompeo joined them -- sitting with the two for 20 minutes. Pompeo refused to say what they talked about in the meeting. But aides have noted Pompeo helped Pence on national security-related issues in his debate preparations. And less than 24 hours after the meeting, Trump announced Pompeo was his selection for CIA chief.
It's still the Trump Show, but Pence's role appears to be invaluable so far -- the latest dividends from Trump's good decision to put him on the ticket.
Double date?
No Rice! No Romney!
For goodness’ sakes!!!??
these people have shown ZERO understanding of the threat to this nation
none!
(and there are several really promising good candidates for foreign policy of sec of state jobs, too.... there is no need at all to consider Romney or Rice....none)
You derived all that from this article?
I could see her as UN Ambassador, but not SOS.
Can’t have an Establishment SOS.
Condi is a NWO shill.....always was a little Kissinger clone.
Can’t EVER trust someone like her.
Point spreads???
So, one by one all his enemies kiss the ring.
I like Rice, by the way, but she isn’t particularly conservative, and she didn’t support Trump. Its funny that he is looking up all his old enemies and getting them to make the trek.
Could be some or all of the above, but one thing is becoming clear: When Trump says something, he means it. Including being the President for All Americans, and “getting along with everyone”.
We’ve got every reason to feel optimistic about the next 4 years, but we also all know how frustrating and downright damaging it is when elements of your own party snipe from the sidelines and turn up on TV second-guessing every decision. If these meetings and visits bring some of them into the fold, it will be time very well spent. And if there are jobs that are a good fit, there’s nothing wrong with repuposing some talented people from previous administrations. Dr. Rice would seem well suited for an important Ambassadorship, for example.
Trump is operating a meritocracy just like he said he would. Maybe that’s bad news for the partisans who carry grudges forever, but it’s good news for the country.
Last I remember, she didn’t want to be involved in politics any longer.
Interesting to see these “goody two-shoes” pols coming around after the win. They heard Trump say a dirty word and they dismissed him, ignoring his $10 billion business empire. One doesn’t build an international empire like that without political skills. What were they thinking?
“...Making it clear that people like Rice and Romney are still respected figures within the party, who will have the administration’s ear, is at the very least a positive reconciliatory gesture..”
Or (and I hate to even think it) did Trump just let himself be the stalking horse so he could set up an administration that would be no where near as Conservative as he made himself out to be?
Condi Rice served this country well as a member of the National Security Council. She is an expert on the USSR/Russia. She will do this nation quite well in any post in the government.
Absolutely. And a Bushie.
Bring in condi so romney will look awesome in comparison.
That racist RINO shouldn't be appointed as dog catcher. Maybe she could 'man' a consulate in Mogadishu
“Exactly. Can't wait until November 9th!”
http://ijr.com/2016/10/718101-condoleezza-rice-has-most-relatable-response-to-trump-saying-he-wished-she-was-a-bch-in-2006/
And she also tweeted this after the p-word tape emerged:
Enough! Donald Trump should not be President. He should withdraw. As a Republican, I hope to support someone who has the dignity and stature to run for the highest office in the greatest democracy on earth.
Even apart from this, was not Condi Rice one of the architects of Dubya's moronic foreign policies?
She’s a specialist in Russian matters. May have just been a consult.
CC
Don’t forget she speaks fluent Russian ?! Oh brother that’s no reason to pick her
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