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To Stop Hillary, Draft Condi
The Hill ^ | February 9, 2005 | Dick Morris

Posted on 02/09/2005 5:28:52 AM PST by GaryL

As she tours the continent after her Senate confirmation, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is like a rock star — her every movement, her every meeting covered by an adoring media.

America’s first black female secretary of state is doing in public what she has always done in private — speaking frankly about America’s priorities and the realities of the post-Cold War world. As she jokes with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, loosening up his dogmatic anti-American policies, lectures Russia about freedom and warns Israel of tough decisions ahead, one thing is obvious: A star is being born.

Traveling without the entourage customary for secretaries of state, on time, mapping out in advance her first six months of travel, Rice is a new force in American politics.

As the Republican Party casts about for a viable presidential candidate in 2008 to keep Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) out of the White House, attention will inevitably focus on Rice, the woman who may stand between Clinton and the presidency.

Since Bush’s success in Iraq has laid the basis for negotiation in the Middle East, there is every prospect that Rice may preside over a diplomatic triumph in catalyzing the discussions between Sharon and Abbas. The firm American stand in Iraq will also make more likely success in Korea and Iran, all of which would add to the prestige of Rice.

The political fact is that a Rice candidacy would destroy the electoral chances of the Democratic Party by undermining its demographic base. John Kerry got 54 percent of his vote from three groups that, together, account for about a third of the American electorate: African-Americans, Hispanics and single white women. Rice would cut deeply into any Democrat’s margin among these three groups and would, most especially, deny Clinton the strong support she would otherwise receive from each of them.

Rice’s credentials for a candidacy are extensive and will grow throughout her tenure at the State Department. As former chancellor of Stanford University, she would have much in common with the pre-political careers of Woodrow Wilson and Dwight Eisenhower, presidents of Princeton and Columbia universities. Her service as national security adviser during a war and her current efforts as secretary of state demonstrate her ability to handle crises and to conduct herself with dignity and impact on the world stage.

As a social conservative and deeply religious person, she would face no bar in winning the votes of the Christian right, so crucial to winning the Republican nomination. Unlike former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani (R) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) — both of whom could probably win in November — she would be very attractive to the pro-life, anti-gun-control, anti-affirmative-action base of the GOP.

America longs to put the period on the disgraceful chapter in our nation’s history that began when the first slave arrived at Jamestown, Va., more than 400 years ago. We also want to send a message to every girl, and every African-American or Hispanic baby, that there is no ceiling and that you can rise as far as your ability will carry you. The day Condi Rice is sworn in as president, regardless of the fate of her administration, that message and the punctuation of our history of racism will be obvious.

Of course, she isn’t running — nor is there any indication that she is harboring thoughts of a candidacy. But as her visibility increases, so will her viability. It may just be possible to draft Condi into the race. A real presidential draft movement hasn’t happened since 1952, when Republicans urged Eisenhower to get into the race. A draft-Condi movement seems almost antiquated in this era of ambitious and self-promoting candidates, but it may well fill a deep need in the electorate to vote for someone who is running in response to a genuine call of the people.

Condi Rice is a work in progress. Her rise has been impelled by her merits and achievements rather than any efforts on her part to curry favor in the media. She is still working and still progressing. But keep your eye on this political star. It is rising and may one day be ascendant.

Morris is the author of Rewriting History, a rebuttal of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s (D-N.Y.) memoir, Living History.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: dickmorris; draftcondi; electionpresident; elections; hillary; rice; saveamerica; stophillary
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Dick Morris is on top of his game this morning!
1 posted on 02/09/2005 5:28:52 AM PST by GaryL
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To: GaryL

Morris's analysis is right on. Hill must be grinding her teeth.


2 posted on 02/09/2005 5:31:38 AM PST by hershey
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To: hershey

bump


3 posted on 02/09/2005 5:32:46 AM PST by Dark Skies ("The sleeper must awaken!")
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To: GaryL

She'd be good as president, but is she really pro-life? I thought she was pro-choice for some reason.


4 posted on 02/09/2005 5:33:22 AM PST by Unam Sanctam
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To: GaryL
I don't think that Hill is ready for the national scene yet. Do you think that Condi would be willing to run in NY for Senate?
What about Tom Gallisano against Hillary in 2006?
5 posted on 02/09/2005 5:33:27 AM PST by mdmc
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To: GaryL

Gary,

She'll have my vote.


6 posted on 02/09/2005 5:33:48 AM PST by Plymouth Sentinel
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To: Unam Sanctam

Ya' know, I kinda' remember hearing that, too. Does anyone know if she is really Pro-Life?


7 posted on 02/09/2005 5:38:47 AM PST by GaryL
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To: GaryL

Reality check: The most to be hoped for is Condi as VP candidate. In my opinion, she probably perceives herself to need more experience before campaigning at the top of the ticket. Also IMO, the GOP really has two choices if it wants to beat Hillary, neither of which will go down well with most conservatives here--McCain or Rudy.


8 posted on 02/09/2005 5:40:18 AM PST by zook
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To: GaryL

Condi would have my vote for Pres in '08 in a heartbeat!

I think she'd be almost unstoppable.

I am sure she would get a large part of the African American vote, she'd get a large part of the women voters, who otherwise may vote for the Shrill just for the historic novelty of a female president, because they will now have another option, a conservative female, and she'd get a large part of the conservative Bush voters and people who have great respect for her, as do I.

It would be a knock-down-drag-out presidential cat fight.

I would 100 percent support Dr. Drice for President in '08. I am wondering if that might not be our only option if Shrillary runs.

Bones


9 posted on 02/09/2005 5:41:05 AM PST by Bones75
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To: Bones75

That Dr Rice... not "Dr Drice".. duuhh (slaps forehead)

We need an "edit post" feature

Bones


10 posted on 02/09/2005 5:41:52 AM PST by Bones75
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To: zook

Another reality check. Nobody gets drafted for high office nowadays. She would have to run for it, and imagine a Presidential candidate, even one as capable of Condoleeza Rice, with zero experience in domestic issues. The Democrats would have a field day.


11 posted on 02/09/2005 5:43:11 AM PST by Non-Sequitur
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To: mdmc
Do you think that Condi would be willing to run in NY for Senate?

No way. And why should she? It would be a step down, give her no additional credibility as a presidential candidate and lower her profile. It would be a terrible career move, and I don't think she would do it in a million years.

12 posted on 02/09/2005 5:44:41 AM PST by Maceman (Too nuanced for a bumper sticker)
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To: GaryL

She would bring out into the spotlight the seething racism among the democrats that we caught a glimpse of during her confirmation, that black voters cannot ignore.


13 posted on 02/09/2005 5:44:45 AM PST by shekkian
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To: GaryL

Except she's never been married - which is unheard of for a president and she has some credibility problems...

if you thought the swift boaters were effective imagine what can be done to her with all her contradictory statements..

will not happen..

McCain backed bush in exchange for 08 support..

Juliani has tons of skeletons in his closet and called the mother of his children a pig in a nasty divorce... he's out...


14 posted on 02/09/2005 5:45:26 AM PST by ReadTheFinePrint (right is right , wrong is spin)
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To: GaryL

This would be same Dick Morris that repeatedly said that without a doubt Hillary would be on the 2004 ticket.


15 posted on 02/09/2005 5:46:56 AM PST by PFC
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To: GaryL
"As the Republican Party casts about for a viable presidential candidate in 2008 to keep Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) out of the White House, attention will inevitably focus on Rice, the woman who may stand between Clinton and the presidency. "

She is more valuable as Sec of State, she is over qualified to run against Hilary:-)

16 posted on 02/09/2005 5:48:09 AM PST by Kelly_2000
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To: GaryL

Condi is my #1 choice for President.


17 posted on 02/09/2005 5:48:13 AM PST by explodingspleen (http://mish-mash.info/)
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To: mdmc
Do you think that Condi would be willing to run in NY for Senate?

I doubt that she's that anxious to have her head handed to her, politically speaking.

18 posted on 02/09/2005 5:49:12 AM PST by Non-Sequitur
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To: GaryL

Help me out here. Who was the last SecOfState to be elected president?


19 posted on 02/09/2005 5:49:13 AM PST by Glenn (The two keys to character: 1) Learn how to keep a secret. 2) ...)
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To: mdmc
Do you think that Condi would be willing to run in NY for Senate?

I learned something on the History Channel's miniseries about the Presidents. Only two senators were ever elected to the Presidency: Warren Harding and John F Kennedy, and they both died in office.

20 posted on 02/09/2005 5:49:23 AM PST by shekkian
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