"44" (Condi Rumor)

Shape of Days ^ | 2/14/2005 | Section9

[section9]

File this under rumor, the kind of which has the ring of truth to it. From the Shape of Days blog:

February 09, 2005

One for the rumor mill: ‘44’

I wish I could remember where I heard this. I've been meaning to post it for a couple of weeks, and in the intervening time I've completely forgotten who told me about it. So file this one under rumors-comma-amusing.

Everybody knows that the President refers to his father affectionately as "41," right? After the fact that George H.W. Bush was the 41st President of the United States. Bill Clinton was #42, and George W. Bush is #43.

The rumor goes that ever since the election, the President has been jokingly referring to Secretary of State Condi Rice as "44."

Part of me really wants Condi to get the nomination in '08 because I think she'd be a fantastic President … but part of me wants her to get the nomination just so we can finally put that "the GOP is a white-men-only club" nonsense to bed once and for all.

I ran across this in the blogosphere last night, and it seemed to have the ring of truth to it, as Bush is the kind of guy who not only jokes that way, but probably thinks that way, as well. Would not at all be surprised if it's true.

Just thought I'd pass it along.

[Gumption]

Larabee was the Chiefs secretary wasn't he?

[DainBramage]

lol I don't guess I remember.

[Bennett46]

She would mop the floor with Hitlery in the general election.


Yes, after she scrubbed the floor with Hitlery in the debates.

The elegant, eloquent Condi vs the foul mouthed beast.

Do you think the beast would even agree to debate Condi?

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

Sadly, I have to agree. Jindal had no business losing that election, but there are still some areas where people will either stay home, or vote for a candidate because they're white. Kathleen Blanco ran a vicious race-baiting campaign in 2003, and it helped her narrowly pull it out, despite the fact she lost her own hometown. Skin-color does still matter in some parts of the country.

Fortunately, Jindal was elected to the House from the 1st District last year, and I think we're lucky to have him representing our state. Maybe he'll give it another go at the governorship once Blanco proves how incompetent she really is.

[Cycle watcher]

Dick Morris has stated that Condi would cut into Hillary's two major constituencies, blacks and women. Morris has often been wrong on predicting election outcomes, but there is obviously some truth in that observation.

On an academic and intellectual basis Condi wins hands down. My wife pointed out how Condi actually "taught" the Europeans where they were wrong, on her recent trip. She seems to have an iron glove.

I would absolutely love to watch the Condi-Hitlery debates. I'd record every minute of them.

[ConservativeDude]

To play my own trivia game:

1) Who was the last person who served as S of STate to run for President?

Haig. Ran briefly in 1988.


2) Who was the last person who served as S of State to be a nominee of a party for President?

I think this was James G. Blaine, at the end of the 19th century. William Jennings Bryan was nominated again and again by the D's, and eventually served briefly as S of State under Wilson, but that was long after he had been the nominee. (Did Edmund Muskie serve as S of STate? Didn't he run for Pres at some point perhaps in 1976? I'm not sure).

3) Who was the last person who served as S of State serve as President? James Buchanan.

I "think" those are right, though I would welcome any corrections.

[ConservativeDude]

I remember now that Charles Evan Hughes was the Republican nominee at one point. But I don't remember if that was before or after he served as S of State.

[section9]

To be honest, we don't know where she stands at this point in time on this issue. There is no need for her to speak to this issue at this time. If she decides to run, she'll have to square herself with both her faith and her party.

She has become far more connected with her faith in the past five years; that much is true. That must of needs be lead her to certain logical conclusions.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Capriole]

So many people protest against Condi because she is "reluctantly" pro-choice. But positions evolve. Years ago I saw nothing wrong with abortion, God forgive me. I have matured and changed my mind and am now passionately pro-life. The same thing could happen as thoughtful Christian people work with Dr. Rice to open her mind and heart.

[newgeezer]

You didn't even mention that, as the Presidential nominee -- not to mention VP -- some red states in the South might turn blue (especially if the Dem is a white male). Sad, but true.

If Dubya's calling her "44," it's because of the rumors of her running, not because she plans to run.

[unixfox]

Hillary says she won't run, I believe her. < /sarcasm >

[ConservativeDude]

I want to extend as much charity to Rice as possible. And I agree. We don't really know where she is, though the only reason we would speculate that she might not be "pro choice" is because we think she might run for President.

There is literally no evidence - not one jot - that she is pro life. It is just us engaging in wishful thinking.

She could of course convert. But that leads to my other point. Isn't it a bit late for someone who has held such prominent positions to just now get around to formulating a position on abortion?

Even if she were to come out pro life, we can't really be asked to believe that she will be hard core, or for that matter even soft core. Most likely she would be lip service only. A lip service only pro life President does things like appoint David Souter to the USSC. This hurts us on many fronts, not just life.

Aside from the significance of the issue itself, the life issue give us an insight into the way a politician thinks. If they are squishy on life, then they are squishy on other things.

While it is true that Rice will be awesome for protection and advancement of US interests around the world, we have no reason to believe that she would do anything to advance the fiscally or socially conservative agenda whatsoever. And if my operating premise is true, then we have every reason to think that she would move towards being a big government, socially liberal President.

[dfwright]

Wasn't it 44 that would be hiding in the mailbox and such?

Hope you don't mind me butting in, but I thought it was 13 who was usually in the trashcans and mailboxes.

[Gumption]

Hmmmmm, "Agent 13"? ... could be.

[dfwright]

Hmmmmm, "Agent 13"? ... could be.

There was an agent 44 on several episodes, but I am drawing a complete blank as to the details. I may have to get out the old tapes again. LOL!

[AFPhys]

I am extremely Pro-Life. Like most people, I am NOT a single-issue voter despite that.

I am extremely against affirmative action.

I believe the single best qualification for a President is having been governor, and it is very important for that person to have honorable service in the United States military.

Your post suggests someone like me would not even dream of voting for Condi.

Wrong.

Very wrong.

I would not only vote for her, I would work tirelessly on behalf of her candidacy. I would contribute as much to her as I did for President Bush.

I know of no Republican or Conservative who would vote against her, or work against her. That could and would change if she were to describe her abortion position as being definitively pro-Death, but she has clearly not done so - at worst, it appears she has said that this ought to be an issue for the states to decide. If she maintains that position, she could easily win the Republican nomination, and could easily with the presidency.

[AFPhys]

I believe that Condi has publicly condemned the concept of activist judges, and if that is the case, she is well on her way to deflecting the worst fears of conservatives, regardless of her stance on any individual issues. It also eliminates the fear of another Souter problem.

[Bones75]

"Do you think the beast would even agree to debate Condi?"

I'm sure she would have to.. I don't know which would look worse though, her refusing to debate Condi or what would happen if she actually did.

Hill in a debate with Condi? Sure! While in the spirit of it, maybe Hill should play Jordan in a game of one-on-one... she's got just as good a chance of winning doing that.

Bones

[Gumption]

In the show's first season, Victor French (Carter Country, Little House on the Prairie) played agent 44, who hid in mail boxes, trash cans and vending machines. Dave Ketchum took over the hiding-in-the-strangest-places duties as agent 13 before Al Molinaro (Happy Days, The Odd Couple) stepped in and revived ol' 44.

from: http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/tv/comedy/getsmart.htm

We're both right but I still feel stupid.

[Wallace T.]

In 2008, the Democrats will run either Hillary Clinton, who is trying to appear centrist, or a non-Northeastern white male, such as Evan Bayh, with the aura of centrism. Condoleeza Rice has never been elected to any public office and has no political base to speak of. Her pro-abortion views will put off evangelical Christians and conservative Catholics. Being a black woman will turn off at least some of the non-religious white male voters, especially in the lower and middle classes. White racism is a hidden vice in our time and its acknowledgment, other than in ritual denunciation of its evil, is rare, much as adultery and homosexuality were 75 years ago. However, it is foolish for political observers to think it would not have an impact on an election.

Condoleeza Rice as a Presidential candidate is not realistic. It would alienate a large portion of the GOP's base and not attract enough replacement voters to offset the losses.