Posted on 07/10/2006 9:10:59 AM PDT by xzins
'Condistas' Push Rice for President in '08 By JULIE CARR SMYTH ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -
The names are varied - Team Condi, Rice for America, Condistas - yet the goal is the same: Elect Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice president in 2008.
A disparate group of Internet gurus, political junkies and foes of Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is pushing a Rice candidacy even though President Bush's top diplomat has said repeatedly that she has no desire to be president.
But the Republican also has declined invitations to rule out a bid in 2008, spoken about the likelihood of a minority winning the White House in her lifetime and taken steps to soften her image - words and deeds that have provided a glimmer of hope to her fans.
Mick Wright, a webmaster in Memphis, Tenn., is one of more than a dozen people who registered draft-Rice Web sites in the year after Bush was re-elected.
"Once that was all over, you started thinking, what's going to happen in the next election?" said Wright, a co-founder of http://www.condipundit.com . "The first one to come to mind as a viable candidate was Condoleezza Rice."
Similar Web sites have cropped up in widely diverse cities, including Seattle; West Sand Lake, N.Y.; Magna, Utah; and Cedarville, Ohio. They are promoting Rice's credentials, soliciting donations and marketing T-shirts, bobblehead dolls and "I Like Rice" buttons.
The Miami-based Americans for Dr. Rice political action committee has established chapters in critical states, including Ohio and Florida. A second PAC, Rice for America, emerged in Greensboro, N.C., last July - though neither has yet reported any income or spending to the Federal Election Commission.
These activist groups declare their independence from the Republican Party, and from Rice herself. Yet political experts suggest party leaders must have a hand in Rice's rise as a potential candidate.
"Nothing happens by chance in politics. Absolutely zero," said Bruce Newman, a DePaul University professor and expert in political marketing. "Everything is driven by marketing, by polling, by market research and by very careful analysis of voters' preferences."
Newman, author of "The Marketing of the President: Political Marketing as Campaign Strategy," said the emergence of a grass-roots movement surrounding Rice will allow voters to feel they played a role in her candidacy - though he believes she is clearly being groomed as the political successor to Bush in light of Vice President Dick Cheney's health problems and unpopularity.
"The people running the Bush administration, and pushing for the geopolitical repositioning we're seeing take place around the world, would be happy to see that kind of person keep political power down the road," he said.
Backers like Rice for her intelligence, poise, self-reliance, values and ability to carry on Bush's international agenda. Recent polls show Rice more popular than other top members of the Bush administration: Almost six in 10 hold a favorable view of her compared with ratings in the 30s for Bush, Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.
If Rice won, she would be the nation's first black president and its first female president.
While Rice's views on foreign policy are well-known, her positions on domestic issues are not. She has described her stand on abortion as "mildly pro-choice," putting her at odds with many conservative Republicans whose votes are decisive in the presidential primaries.
She recently avoided taking a stand on banning same-sex marriage, saying Americans should be sensitive about discussing issues that touch people's lives.
Greg Haas, an Ohio-based Democratic strategist, said Rice's image makeover is a telltale sign.
"The fact of the matter is when you see somebody revolutionize their style, their appearance and their speaking manner, that is not happening all by itself," said Haas, who ran Bill Clinton's successful 1992 presidential campaign in Ohio. "She has clearly begun presenting a different image, moving from a harsh persona to one of a more warm public official."
Rice has showcased her talents as a pianist at the Kennedy Center, lifted weights for a local Washington TV news show and discussed her musical favorites, from Elton John to Aretha Franklin to Mozart, for a British newspaper. The latter was a favor to rock star Bono.
Newman is skeptical, however, that Rice is ready for a presidential run so soon. He believes it is more likely Republicans are grooming her as a vice presidential candidate. He said pairing her with Arizona Sen. John McCain, for example, could strengthen the GOP ticket against a run by Clinton.
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McCain, if the nominee, would win. The hatred aroused by him here is not reflective of the Nation as a whole.
And there is no way the Treason Media is pushing a strongly Pro-Life, Pro-National Defense McCain that is the paranoia speaking.
She could establish residence in a state for the express purpose of running for the Senate from that state....
Nah, FReepers hated that when Hillary did it, so it's probably not a good idea.
She is not close to being the leading candidate. That would be Guiliani and McCain.
Those worthy of "consideration" from you likely wouldn't get 5% of the vote. Your first paragraph indicates great cluelessness and fanaticism.
Bush is and will be considered by history to be a great president whether that is recognized by you or not.
"Unfortunately in this day and age, an untelegenic cannot make it to the White House easily."
Are you nuts, or just slamming on black people? She is exponentially more eloquent and also more telegenic than our current President. I love them both.
Dr. Rice has the potential to do more for the republican party and conservative causes than any other person in history. She could bridge several divides that have traditionally been problems for republicans. Those that don't recognize this have questionable motives.
National Security trumps all. That is THE only acceptable Single Issue.
She is highly telegenic.
Remember that when Guiliani wins the North Carolina primary and several others in the South.
Guiliani would easily defeat the Beast. At this point the only Republican capable of beating him is McCain. I prefer the former to the latter.
Guiliani/Allen sounds like the most probable ticket.
"Your first paragraph indicates great cluelessness and fanaticism."
I guess you'd find Fred Barnes, Mort Kondracke and Charles Krauthammer clueless and fanatic also. They pretty much agree with my assessment of the degeneration in foreign policy initiatives under Bush's second term - at least with respect to North Korea and seeking U.N. sanctions.
The people who elected Bush first and second time around WANTED a "cowboy" not a Methodist Minister, but it appears its a Methodist Minister we got.
"Those worthy of "consideration" from you likely wouldn't get 5% of the vote."
That's a pretty broad statement.
"Bush is and will be considered by history to be a great president whether that is recognized by you or not."
Its still not too late for Bush to save his legacy by closing the border, ousting illegal invaders, finishing up the siutation in Iraq - more or less - moving on to deal with Iran and Syria and pressuring the Red Chinese and Russians over North Korea.
He HAS left a great legacy in the Federal Courts.
We will just have to wait ........ and pray.
I'm not supporting frist my point was why anyone would include him in there list.
I seriously doubt that McCain will win the primaries. The base doesn't trust him. He's pro gun control, anti-free speech, weakly pro-life, and has some corruption problems in his past.
I'd hold my nose and vote for him in the general in that unlikely event, but he would lose. Much of the base would stay home or peel off.
Extremely unfair statement. ATok has been around here faithfully for years.
I agree with him, too. She isn't especially telegenic or glib....per her live appearances before cameras when testifying.
Perhaps she's much different with a canned speech. I've never heard her give one. Maybe she should put that on her "do list."
But, she says she's not running, so it's a moot point.
It looks to me as if the alternative to McCain is Guiliani who has been traveling extensively raising money for Republicans and collecting IOUs. I don't believe any other candidate polls in double figures consistently.
What is termed the "base" around FR is a small collection of ideologues who have no one capable of winning the nomination. The biggest issue for the GOP is controlling their temper tantrums when whoever they favor goes down in flames and they will.
Horsecrackers. Guiliani hasn't even said he's running.
He'a rino's rino, pro-abortion, gun controlling liberal.
I listed a number of prospects at #34. All of them already have great name recognition, and a presidential race narrows down to 2 names. They get seen so much that it becomes like Ford & Chevy.....EVERYONE knows those names by the time November rolls around.
None of those listed could beat Guiliani. Cheney is widely hated by those who don't bother to check out reality. He has no chance though I would love it. None of the rest stand a chance. Jeb is one Bush too many. Ollie is not a politician and could never get elected never having held an elected office.
Get ready to say President Guiliani if those alternatives are the best you can do.
"Extremely unfair statement. ATok has been around here faithfully for years."
What is unfair about it?
Better get used to it if you want to make comments like that. It is a fair question given her relative skill compared to successful white republican politicians. If people don't recognize her talent, then they will be questioned on why. Race will be the assumed reason.
Let me ask you a question, what politician does meet your implied requirement? ". She isn't especially telegenic or glib....per her live appearances before cameras when testifying. "
Oh yeah, she's running. Read this article by Glenn Kessel published July 4, 2006.
“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.”
Oh Yeah......
It isn't only the Keating 5 issue.
There is a lot of McCain baggage that hasn't been aired.
I like Condi a lot. And she's smart. Too smart to team herself with McCain.
The grooming of her image has been related to her becoming Secretary of State and representing us to the world.
The BIG clues that she has changed her position and will consider running after all would be
1. She gets married
2. She embraces the pro-life position, because it is the only position consistent with her Christianity.
Leave the man's food alone, darn it! If he prefers potatoes , let him eat potatoes.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
In, but not of, California...
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