What Bush could learn from Rice

Boston Globe ^ | 11/16/2001 | Scot Lehigh

[rface]

THERE'S A bracing bluntness and moral clarity to Condoleezza Rice's view of the world.

Even as President Bush was courting Arab approval by his symbolic use of the word ''Palestine'' for a possible new Middle Eastern state, even as Secretary of State Colin Powell was professing his own eagerness to talk with Yasser Arafat, the national security adviser was disinclined to mince words about why Bush wouldn't meet with the Palestinian leader while they were both at the UN last weekend.

[rface]

Just a wild thought here....Could Condoleezza Rice be the VP for Bush's next run for the White House?

Ashland, Missouri

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

I had to double check and make sure this was the Globe and not the Herald!

[Reo]

"Just a wild thought here....Could Condoleezza Rice be the VP for Bush's next run for the White House?"

Been having the same thoughts, rface. If Powell resigns after next year's elections and Rice is promoted to State, the grooming process would be nearly complete.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

"...dishonest moral equivalency..."

Code for the Clintons ?

[veronica]

A bump for Condie, who would be a great FIRST WOMAN President. (And the real first black President too.)

[Mr. Bird]

A few of us brought that up on a thread when Cheney's heart problems were the talk of the day. Choosing Rice would cripple the liberal wing of the Democrats and bump the black percentage for the GOP to at least 30%, IMHO. If it didn't actually turn out the vote in favor of Bush, it would certainly dampen Dem turnout. With a black female on the ticket, GW could reasonably expect a landslide reelection.

[spokeshave]

Just a wild thought here....Could Condoleezza Rice be the VP for Bush's next run for the White House? >

Perhaps Chaney will "retire" later in the administration allowing Coni to step up as VP..

YES....Condi would absolutely bury those rats once and for all time....imagine a shrillary - condi debate....

[Leto]

I think Rice is a brilliant Natl Security advisor, however if she were nominated as VP or Pres. she would be crucified as an 'Aunt Tom' by the poverty pimp establishment, no 30% of the Black vote (better chance for conservatives with Hispanics). Conservatives would also object due to her Pro Abortion position. She would split Republicans more than democrats.

[section9]

I think Rice is a brilliant Natl Security advisor, however if she were nominated as VP or Pres. she would be crucified as an 'Aunt Tom' by the poverty pimp establishment, no 30% of the Black vote (better chance for conservatives with Hispanics). Conservatives would also object due to her Pro Abortion position. She would split Republicans more than democrats.

Wrong. You coulnd't be more wrong if you tried.

Let's take this one by one:

The black liberal establishment would risk a lot by personally attacking an individual as competent and telegenic as Rice. Besides, she is ferocious in political combat: this is not generally known. Her mental quickness would astound the Stepinfetchits who occupy the upper ranks of the NAACP. Besides, the possibility. They would attack her, but their attacks would fail. A woman as beautiful and as independent as Rice would attract a wide following in the black community.

I'm rather convinced that she could get support for Bush up to about 25%, but that would be more than enough. Remember the presence of Rice works wonders with a higher priority target: white female voters, especially soccer moms.

Conservatives would object to her pro-choice stance, but would respect her uncompromising stands on national defense, individual liberty, and the right to keep and bear arms. Besides, her "pro-choice" position is said to be of the "pragmatic" school: in other words, you can't eliminate it completely, so keep it "legal" to prevent the whole coathanger industry from starting up again. Abortion must be eliminated by moral suasion, rather than provoke the wrath of hypocritical American women who want to maintain the "right" to choose.

I don't like it, but that's the political reality. It's part of the dadgum culture, and it's political suicide to try to force our convictions on a female population that is mostly pro-choice. Otherwise, they vote Democratic in great numbers and we get the Hildebeast. Rice's position only reflects the political reality of this age (and, I suspect, her own libertarianism-I suspect she's a closet Randist).

Finally, most conservatives actually like Rice. You fail to recall the reception she got at the Republican National Convention last year. She brought down the house.

She'll be the VP because Cheney can't hack eight years. There are those on this board who are doctors who will tell you that Big Time needs to step down. Rice will be his replacement, not Powell. Powell stood by Bush only when Recount Hell was finally decided by the SCOTUS. Condi never wavered in her support. She was by Bush's side early on after the election.

Bush remembers who to trust. So should we all.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

To find all articles tagged or indexed using Dr._Condoleezza_Rice

Go here: OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC) LIST

and then click the Dr._Condoleezza_Rice topic to initiate the search! !

[Sci Fi Guy]

I am so sick of these liberals who attach Bush for selecting great people to serve in his administration. Rice says something smart, and they assume she is not speaking of behalf of Bush. They even go as far as imply that Bush is does not know what her views are? Why in the world do they think he picked her?

Could Condoleezza Rice be the VP for Bush's next run for the White House?

I like and respect her, but VP? Never in a Million years.

She is not a politican. She has no proven political skills, Bush needs someone who has the skills to get bills through Congress.

She is on the wrong side of the abortion issue. If the Catholic Bishops rebelled at the idea of Ridge(a catholic) being VP. Do you think for a moment that they would give her a pass, because she's a girl?

She has never held elected office before. The American People want candidates who have proven leadership ability. That is why so many of our presidents have been govenors.

[Cool Guy]

Sci Fi Guy: I agree with you that Dr. Rice works for the President and she is playing her role in the big picture to help the administration. Her comments and actions should reflect upon the administration that she is part of, but you also need to give her the credit for playing her role in the best way possible.

I disagree with you on your doubts about her ability to be the VP or the President in the future. She may not have proven her political skills yet. Well, we have a President, whose foreign policy skills were under question when he took office. Now he is doing an excellent job, under one of the most difficult situations. I am sure when given a chance, this lady will come out with flying colors. You are totally under estimating this lady. Compared to her accomplishments, being a politician is going to be a piece of cake for her. She is very capable of getting what she sets her eyes upon. I am convinced that she still has a lot of tricks in her bag.

[dread78645]

I had to double check and make sure this was the Globe and not the Herald!

So did i. Maybe the left-wingers are off the kool-aid ?

[xm177e2]

Could Condoleezza Rice be the VP for Bush's next run for the White House?

1) She's never held elective office before

2) She's pro-choice

I think she'd make a great Veep, those are just reasons why it might be difficult for her to get there.

But if I were Bush, I'd rather keep her on as the NSA. What does a Veep do? Not much.

[NonMerci]

funny [...] that no one has yet pointed out that Ms. Rice's mentor was Madeline Albrights father. Foreign policy administered by a (D)....BAD. Foreign policy administered by a (R) GOOD no matter the roots.... ROFL

[Nick Danger]

As the United States tries to jump-start the peace process

Note to historians:

The term "peace process" was used in the late 20th century to describe a slow, simmering war. A "peace process" lies between the largely political "cold war" in which surrogates are used to attack the other side's surrogates, and the "shooting war" typified by World War II.

A "peace process" is characterized by alternating periods of individual shootings and bombings, followed by grandiose 'peace talks' staged by larger world powers. These peace talks are said to "break down," at which point another round of individual shootings and bombings commences.

In no case should the term "peace process" be interpreted as implying any sort of "peace."

[Sci Fi Guy]

Hi Thanks for the thoughtful response.

I disagree with you on your doubts about her ability to be the VP or the President in the future. She may not have proven her political skills yet...

Yes I agree that in the future she might demonstrate good political skills and excell in elected office. But shouldn't we know that before we make her VP?

Also let's not forget the prolife issue. Would she become prolife, like Bush the Elder did? Or would she try turn the Republican party into a pro-abortion party?(Which would split the party and give the WH to the rats.) That is something we need to know before we make her VP.

You are totally under estimating this lady.

For the record I do have a very high opinion of her. But the next promotion for a National Security Advisor should be Sec of State, or WH chief of staff.

I guess I am wondering why people are so eager to make her VP? A VP brings something to the ticket. When Reagan made Bush the elder VP it was to unite the party. Cheney brought the support of conservatives, and provided reassurance to those who doubted Bush's experience. What does Rice bring? She is great on National Security/Foreign Affairs, but people don't vote on those issues. What makes her a better choice than all the other conservative leaders out there.

Oh and by the way, I'm not so certain that Cheney is willing to set aside, like so many people seem to think.

[Victoria Delsoul]

And if the president, seemingly more comfortable as coalition-builder than candid critiquer of other nations, felt uneasy with that sort of blunt public talk? Well, then, he might just let Condoleezza do it.

The President might do all those things Scot Lehigh from the Boston Globe mentions in this article, but then again GW speaks softly but carries a big stick. That's his style. In the meantime the bombing hasn't stopped during Ramadan as many predicted GW would do, and the elimination of terrorists continues.

[rightofrush]

You got it right, cool guy.