Defining Her Own Sphere of Influence: Rice's Popularity Crosses Borders and Party Lines

Washington Post ^ | July 4, 2006 | Glenn Kessler

[West Coast Conservative]

When Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced that the administration was willing to join negotiations on Iran's nuclear program, she did not go to the drab State Department briefing room. Instead, in full view of the television cameras, she strolled about 50 feet to the microphones set up in the middle of the vast and ornate Benjamin Franklin Room, evoking a visual of the president walking through the White House to the East Room for a prime-time news conference.

The setting of the Iran announcement at the end of May was no accident, but intended to demonstrate the seriousness of the administration's policy shift. Careful attention to stage-managed images has helped define Rice's tenure at the State Department, including the way she meets foreign guests in front of the cameras and how her staff has arranged for celebrities from other countries to meet her at airports overseas.

This picture of the hard-working secretary of state on the move appears to be integral to her growing clout and her status as the most popular Cabinet member in a beleaguered administration.

Rice's job-approval rating in a Harris survey last month was 20 percentage points higher than that of President Bush. A Washington Post poll of 1,000 adults conducted last month suggests that public appeal is based on both a reputation for professionalism and an ability to avoid being identified with the administration's most unpopular decisions. Although she was Bush's national security adviser during the Iraq invasion, a large percentage of those surveyed -- including opponents of the war -- say she had little or nothing to do with the problems in Iraq.

[KarlInOhio]

Defining Her Own Sphere of Influence: Rice's Popularity Crosses Borders and Party Lines

[crunch, crunch, crunch]

What's that sound? Oh, it's Hillary gnashing her fangs.

[taxcontrol]

I'd like to hear more about Condi's domestic and economic policies but I would support her for President. If nothing more than she understand that we are at war.

[CBart95]

Thanks for all of that. Many of us love her incredible intellect and easy grasp of complex issues as well as her undenialble "Executive " talent. Her boss recognizes those qualities as well and uses them whenever he feels it appropriate.

Fact is, many in widely different circles are "seeing" her as a very logical Presidential candidate in 2012. But make no mistake,she is acting under direction of the President of the United States and only on his direction.

Be extremely wary of those who would intimate that she may be a "loose cannon on the decks". It's simply not true.

[CBart95]

ADD: Be reminded that this story emanates from the old an unreliable WAPO, no friend of the Whitehouse.

[CBart95]

Just what exactly are you attempting to make happen by such a careless utterance? That she's some kind of idiot?
Whose camp are you representing with crafty deleterious comments like that one?

[Huevos Rancheros]

What about her fued with Cheney over the appointment of the Radio Free Europe director? Cheney pushed for Wimbush and lost.

[CBart95]

Where's your sense of the practical give and take that must certainly arise among these super stars? It happens. It's often cordial inspite of the clear disagreements that must arise.

This ain't kindergarten, these are the best and the brightest. A certain ammount of collegial disagreement is bound to happen.

It's the liberal Bush hating media that relish in exagerating these occasional disagreements. And sometimes the Whitehouse that airs these things by design.

Wake up Bandito! These are the big boys at play.

[burroak]

Score: Condi-3 Hillary-0
1)Conservative
2)Minority
3)Female

[nothingnew]

No woman President. That's my stand.

FMCDH(BITS)

[Old_Mil]

The same suspects that wanted to see Candidate Powell want to see Candidate Rice, and for many of the same reasons.

Just say no to another RINO.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Condi may have her strengths and weaknesses, but she understands the two most important things a President must understand (and too few have):

Domestically, she understands the purpose of the second amendment, based on her recollection of her father and pals being armed to defend their street against night riders (who may have included local law enforcement).

Internationally, she truly understands Communism, which means she understands where populist social governments can and do devolve.

Since the key purpose of government is to protect our liberties from domestic threats and those abroad, those two points are about all one needs to understand.

[taxcontrol]

What in my comments came even remotely close to indicating that I thought Condi was an (your terms) "...some kind of idiot"?

How on Earth do you torture a desire to hear more about her domestic and economic policies into some kind of insult? Further, the comment that she understand that we are at war was a swipe at the other potential candidates because they do not understand that simple fact where Condi does.

I think you need to relax a little and go back and re-read my post.

[misterrob]

You forgot heterosexual and possessing superior intellect

[taxcontrol]

Please support your assertion that Condi is a RINO with facts. If true, more need to be educated. If it is just your opinion, then others are free to ignore your comment.

[taxcontrol]

Why no woman President?

[nothingnew]

Why no woman President?

If you have to ask, any answer I could give would be pointless.

I don't know if you are a man or a woman, but answer this question honestly:

Do you want a woman running the United States of America, the most powerful country on earth?

Please think about the question seriously before you reply.

Happy 4th of July!

FMCDH(BITS)

[RedRover]

Do you want a woman running the United States of America, the most powerful country on earth?

Kind of depends on the woman, now doesn't it? I'd rather have a Margaret Thatcher (or a Jeanne Kirkpatrick or a Condi Rice) than a Jimmy Carter or a John Kerry in the White House any day of the week.

[nothingnew]

Your post exemplifies, exactly, why she needs to be in a high government post, but not President. It has been my long experience, albeit not in a government position, that men take good advice from strong and knowedgable women much better than the other way around. It is as it should be. Women have an extremely important place in our world, one that men can't really fulfill. That place is not the President of the United States. It is a place of honor at a mans side offering support, advice, respect and knowledge.

I hold most women in the highest regard and any smart man will also.

It's what I believe to my very core.

Happy 4th of July!

FMCDH(BITS)

[nothingnew]

Good for you. I believe the only reason a Jimmy Carter or a John Kerry could be elected is because of womens votes. I only ask that you think about it.

See post #19.

Happy 4th of July!

FMCDH(BITS)