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Rice fuels rumours that it’s Condi v Hillary in 2008
The Sunday Times ^ | March 13, 2005 | Tony Allen-Mills

Posted on 03/12/2005 4:43:56 PM PST by MadIvan

WASHINGTON is suddenly agog at the prospect of President Condi. A flurry of speculation about the political ambitions of Condoleezza Rice was ignited yesterday when the US secretary of state took a first step towards wooing conservative Republican voters.

Asked in a newspaper interview to comment on widespread speculation that she might stand as the Republican candidate for the White House in 2008, Rice not only declined to rule out a run; she went on to discuss an unusual subject for a secretary of state — the rights and wrongs of abortion.

Rice was careful to avoid any suggestion that she is actively planning a campaign. But Washington pundits seized on her unexpectedly ambivalent responses as evidence that a dream contest is materialising for 2008: Rice v Hillary Clinton, an all-woman battle for the most powerful job in the world.

When the subject was first broached by the Washington Times reporter, Rice replied with a brush-off. “I never wanted to run for anything,” she said. “I have enormous respect for people who do run for office. It’s really hard for me to imagine myself in that role.”

She was pressed on whether she was prepared to repeat the famous denial of General William T Sherman, who said in 1884: “If nominated, I will not run; if elected I will not serve.”

Rice replied with a chuckle: “That’s not fair . . . I really can’t imagine it.”

Had she stopped there, many in Washington might not have paid too much attention. But even though President George W Bush has barely begun his second term, Republicans are painfully aware that he has no obvious successor.

The race has begun for various senators and governors who are already nosing around New Hampshire — the scene of early voting — in the hope of staking a claim to Bush’s majority. The first thing they must do to impress conservative voters is establish their views on abortion.

In a striking departure from her preoccupations with the Middle East and Iran, Rice talked about how she approaches an “extremely difficult moral issue” as “a deeply religious person”.

Rice admitted to being “mildly pro-choice” (in favour of a woman’s right to choose) — a position that for some right-wing voters will disqualify her immediately. But she emphasised that abortion should be “as rare a circumstance as possible”. She also argued that the government should not pay for abortions “because I believe those who hold a strong moral view on the other side should not be forced to fund it”.

Rice insisted that her remarks should not be misinterpreted: “I’m not trying to be elected.” But they are certain to be seized on by an army of admirers who have established websites seeking a Rice candidacy in 2008. “Our lady’s got the buzz,” proclaimed the weblog CondiPundit.

Washington analysts have long been divided over Rice’s chances. Some Republicans argue that she should first return to California and challenge a Democratic senator to gain campaign experience. She had a chance to run for governor two years ago, but yielded to Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Her supporters see her as an American Margaret Thatcher, ready to confound convention and become America’s first woman president. Dick Morris, the former Bill Clinton aide who has become an outspoken critic of Hillary Clinton, recently argued that Rice had become a “Republican rock star . . . her every movement covered by an adoring media”.

Rice took Europe by storm on her recent tour. If she pulls off a breakthrough in the Middle East peace process, Morris argued, a Rice candidacy could destroy the Democratic party’s electoral chances.

Harder-nosed analysts suggest that her political inexperience is too big a drawback, especially when pitted against the masterful manoeuvring of the Clintons.

Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Centre for Politics, said that the two women were in different leagues. Compared with the Clinton steamroller, the Rice candidacy was “cotton candy fluff”, he said.

Yet Rice has one card up her sleeve. She is a close friend of the president, whose endorsement could prove decisive. Bush recently joked that “if I catch her thinking that way (about becoming president), I’m going to remind her that I picked her to be secretary of state”. If she does well he may need to promote her.


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: condi; condoleezza; election08; hillary; president; rice; rice2008
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To: El Gato
Although I think she needs some experience first...

She's getting that right now....and what she doesn't pick up as Sec of State, she's a quick learner. I'd vote for her, and I'm as hard-line pro-life as they come. Bluntly, a Republican who is "pro-choice" is just that: pro-CHOICE. Leave it up to the woman, because in the end, it really is her decision. A Demonrat who is "pro-choice" is really pro-abortion. The Dems' version of choice is what kind of abortion do you choose: Saline injection, limb-separation, or partial birth?

Condi destroys Hitlery in every way imagineable....except dishonesty. Hitlery would lie to her own mother if it would gain power for her. We all know deep inside that Condi is a good one and wouldn't screw her own country for short term profit.

121 posted on 03/13/2005 10:50:56 AM PST by Bombardier (Whiskey for my men, beer for my horses!)
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To: advance_copy

I want a ProLife Latino or Black on the ticket to take back the cities from the Dumorats.


122 posted on 03/13/2005 11:56:41 AM PST by TomasUSMC
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To: zeppenwolf

The false assumptions you make about me personally could have been avoided had you followed the thread a little further.

I understood what you meant the first time around, before the lengthy explanation. I just didn't agree. I still don't.


123 posted on 03/13/2005 11:57:06 AM PST by WhistlingPastTheGraveyard
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To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran
You think a person who has never run for any office would have a chance against a dirty trick master.

With the right campaign manager she can win. In the debates it's logic versus logic.

124 posted on 03/13/2005 12:02:18 PM PST by Centurion2000 (Nations do not survive by setting examples for others. Nations survive by making examples of others)
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To: marsh_of_mists

I agree with you 100 percent on that. I could live with a President Bayh. President Hillary makes my skin crawl just thinking about it.


125 posted on 03/13/2005 1:20:23 PM PST by Nascardude
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To: Nascardude
The true canidates will surface when its time. If it's Condi, then great. I just think its too early to speculate.

Anyone but Hill

www.donotvotehillary.com
126 posted on 03/13/2005 2:30:20 PM PST by ohiovol
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To: ohiovol
If it's Condi, then great

Even if she can't win? Without conservative evangelicals--who will stay away--it's going to be Hillary. There's a reason why the last three Republican presidents have been pro-life. Something to ponder.
127 posted on 03/13/2005 2:58:34 PM PST by farmer18th (Rice is to be thrown away, not elected...)
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To: ohiovol

Yeah. There are gonna be people we don't know of that come out of nowhere and make their presence known. Go back in time 3 years and not many people outside of the state of Massachussettes knew who John Kerry was. I'm not so sure the Democrat primaries are gonna be a slam dunk for Hillary like everyone says. Being a Clinton, she's got the name recognition. But right now it doesn't mean a thing.


128 posted on 03/13/2005 3:12:15 PM PST by Nascardude
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To: farmer18th

McCain and Specter are RINOs.

Condi?

If someone thinks she's a RINO, they're smoking too much crack.

She's more conservative than the current Bush...and makes the previous Bush look like a liberal loon.


129 posted on 03/13/2005 6:22:21 PM PST by Maelstrom (To prevent misinterpretation or abuse of the Constitution:The Bill of Rights limits government power)
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To: farmer18th
Kindly explain to me how "mildly pro-choice" means conservative?

Her views are the "pro-choice" crowd's worst nightmare.

Did you read her views or is your government support for control over life and death extend so far as to not read beyond the rather poor self-portrayal of "mildly pro-choice"?
130 posted on 03/13/2005 6:25:34 PM PST by Maelstrom (To prevent misinterpretation or abuse of the Constitution:The Bill of Rights limits government power)
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To: Nascardude

There are not many people outside of the state of Massachussettes who still have no idea who John Kerry was...most of his votes were generated by the liberal hate-machine "He's not Bush".


131 posted on 03/13/2005 6:29:28 PM PST by Maelstrom (To prevent misinterpretation or abuse of the Constitution:The Bill of Rights limits government power)
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To: MadIvan

Hillary won't get the nomination in 2008. It will be Evan Bayh. Count on it. And he will probably win. People here in Indiana will vote for him no matter what he does or says. Keep an eye on his positioning in the next couple of years.


132 posted on 03/13/2005 6:34:58 PM PST by mysterio
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To: WhistlingPastTheGraveyard

"The false assumptions you make about me personally..."

I had specifically stated that I was making a reasonable presumption. At any rate, the class of people with whom I have complaint are very very clearly present in this forum, indeed in this thread.

"I understood what you meant the first time around, before the lengthy explanation. I just didn't agree. I still don't."

Ok. But a "lengthy explanation" creates, at a minimum, the possibility for debate. To say "I just don't agree" is a statement I infer means, "I can't defend my position". Or am I being unreasonable?

TO ME, those who say, "a 'mildy pro-choice' person is a RINO" are being juvenile and/or naive at the best, and falsely self-righteous at the worst, and in both cases counter-productive to the goal they claim to value.

While to say so and leave it at that would be divisive and unproductive, I am willing to debate the matter and explain my reasoning, as I feel I've done, at least in summary.

Are you? (or any other "pro-choicers are RINO's" readers?)

And THE REASON I am willing to discuss it here, is because I would like to further the Republican party, for a very many reasons, including but not limited to the fact that I would like to see abortions per pregnancies to continue declining over time.

Is that a concern of yours, as well?

PS: Whatever I appeared to assume of you, I retract it if I was wrong. Meanwhile, I have been labelled a RINO, for THE SOLE REASON that I would advocate Condi in the case where she is the only hope against Hellery. To me, THAT accusation is an infantile absurdity which is NOT reasonable as a presumption, let alone a conclusion. It is not often I feel like I'm taking on the role of "the martyr", but in this case, in this thread, I think (?) that I am taking a position which is very isomorphic to that of the sole conservative on something like The Bill Maher Show, attempting to promote an unpopular position which advances conservative values, while receiving only meaningless quips in return.


133 posted on 03/13/2005 6:57:17 PM PST by zeppenwolf
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To: Rakkasan1

Cool website--thanks!


134 posted on 03/13/2005 8:32:03 PM PST by exit82 (You see, I've been to the desert on a horse with no name-then I found FreeRepublic.)
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To: Maelstrom

Very simple. Concentrate: Pro-Choice = RINO.


135 posted on 03/13/2005 9:54:37 PM PST by farmer18th
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To: farmer18th

Ah...you are a rare and unique fellow.

See, many of us can recognize RINOs without making that brush so broad as to belong to an exclusive club like your own.

Arnold...RINO...Specter...RINO...CT Whitman...RINO...McCain. ..RINO, even, at least for you, Bush becomes a RINO. He's done well as a conservative, but not as well as I would like. The rest of us, however, require quite a bit more than a "mild" position on any given issue to make a RINO.

Good luck.


136 posted on 03/14/2005 4:21:49 AM PST by Maelstrom (To prevent misinterpretation or abuse of the Constitution:The Bill of Rights limits government power)
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To: Lurking2Long

"INOs in the minority and they just can't stand it...."

Oh my yes, we are just writhing in the humiliation cast upon us by extremist cranks like yourself. Take a look around, Chuckie--guess who's in the minority.

Probably you should go back to lurking--preferably somewhere else.


137 posted on 03/14/2005 5:45:06 AM PST by zook
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To: farmer18th

"Geraldino Ferraro didn't push Walter Mondale into office. "

Because she and he were both left leaning, out of the mainstream. Condi is not. The arguments you people make about Condi are the same ones you made about G.W. Bush. You think that the secret to winning and keeping the White House is to pander to the farthest right edge of the Republican Party. There's no evidence with which to back up your assertion.

So, once again, I say, "Go Condi!"


138 posted on 03/14/2005 5:48:41 AM PST by zook
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To: farmer18th

"Ever wonder why Pete Wilson disappeared? "

Ever wonder why Arnold showed up?

"George Bush didn't use the "sanctity of life" rhetoric by accident."

And GWB lifts not finger one to ban abortion. Condi, too, believes in the sanctity of life and, like Bush, wants them to be rare and remarkable in America.


139 posted on 03/14/2005 5:51:20 AM PST by zook
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To: Lurking2Long

Oh, yeah, forgot to mention: so far, 83% of Freepers say they would support Condi. Guess that makes us the majority around here.


140 posted on 03/14/2005 6:03:47 AM PST by zook
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