***I work for a university and we don't use "Dr." for anybody but the veterinarians in our publications. Not even the president (notice the lower case "p"). In fact, most people, including most of the Ph.D.s, think that the people who insist on the title are generally insufferable snobs.***
OH? Try leaving the title of professor off a professor's name and you'll be looking for a new job. It's taken for granted that most people who have a position of any importance in a univesity have a doctorate. Dr. Rice is NOT employed at a university, and therefor her title becomes important to indicate her education.
I have actually seem the MSM refer to Fidel Castro as Dr. Castro.
"OH? Try leaving the title of professor off a professor's name and you'll be looking for a new job."
Oh, really? I'm a writer and editor for a university publications department and I've been leaving the "Dr." off for years now. Haven't been fired yet. That's the university style and I have yet to have the first professor complain. When I talk to a professor I've met I always use "Dr." verbally first, but most quickly ask me to use their first name.
"Dr. Rice is NOT employed at a university, and therefor her title becomes important to indicate her education."
The people who count are quite aware of her education. Besides, it's not the degree that matters. It's what you say and do. I know quite a number of idiots here who have a Ph.D.