Posted on 02/23/2008 8:25:00 AM PST by jdm
For the last few years, Condoleezza Rice's name has come up in conjunction with the Vice Presidency in a number of strange ways. First, in 2004, rumors had George Bush dumping Dick Cheney to invite Rice onto his re-election ticket. When that didn't happen, the rumors persisted as late as last year that Cheney would retire for health reasons and allow Rice to be selected as the replacement VP -- and put her in position to run for President in 2008.
That didn't happen, either, but it hasn't stopped the Rice advocates from pressing to make her VP. At CPAC, one could see "Condi" buttons and stickers pushing for her selection to the ticket. Yesterday, however, she threw cold water -- again -- on the effort:
The secretary of State told reporters Friday she will not be a vice presidential candidate in the upcoming election.
"I have always said that the one thing that I have not seen myself doing is running for elected office in the United States," she said at a news conference to discuss her recent trip to Africa. "I didn't even run for high school president. It's sort of not in my genes."
Instead, Rice told reporters: "You can all come and visit me in California."
Some conservatives looked to Rice to balance out a McCain-led ticket, but that has a lot less popularity than it did in 2004. As Secretary of State, Rice has dutifully executed the Bush administration's foreign policy, but has not fulfilled the promise that conservatives held with her appointment. She has not conducted the housecleaning of the bureaucracy that some wanted, and her work at the Annapolis conference rubbed many the wrong way, with her equating the Palestinians to the experiences of African-Americans.
Still, she remains a popular figure among Republicans, and could provide some star quality in a national election. Rice might better serve herself by running for Governor in California in 2010, or possibly even the Senate against either Dianne Feinstein or Barbara Boxer. She's unlikely to do so, though, given her oft-expressed disinterest in electoral politics. The only position for she seems ready to campaign is NFL Commissioner, although perhaps not even that, given how much time Roger Goodell has had to spend with Arlen Specter of late.
After sticking with the Bush administration for its entire eight years, Rice probably wants nothing more than at least a short period of obscurity, and it's hard to blame her for that. However, if that invitation to visit her in California and have a long conversation remains open, I'd love to take her up on it.
Good. I excluded her when she started sounding like Madeline Albright.
Rice has been a huge disappointment. Foreign policy has been a disaster.
California? She’s not moving to Gaza to help those oppressed Palistinians?
If I were Condi Rice after ehat she’s been through the last 8 years the last thing I’d want is 4 to 8 more years of it. I don’t blame her for getting out of Washington DC go back to some school somewhere and write a book, play the piano and watch football.
Let Rice finish out her term as Saudi Ambassador to the United States.
I have never understood why so many Republicans think she would be a great President or VP. She has shown nothing.
She has too much baggage to be a candidate. Besides, we have enough the Halfrican running for the Dems on the race ticket. Why is it we are so determined to make everything about race!!!
You want an honest answer? She was so popular because she is smart, articulate and black. Any black conservative who is smart and articulate will be in higher demand than a white counterpart of the same smartness. This is a statement of fact, not a judgement. Politics being a blood sport, you get an advantage where you can.
If Rise has not underwhelmed everybody with her “strange” analogies of plight of Palestinians and black people, and other weak posturing in the Middle East, she would still be high on any conservative wish list, including mine.
I have detected no groundswell for her candidacy. However, the MSM has to write about something.
“Slightly pro-”choice”’ and pro-Law of the Sea Treaty, etc., Rice, will get even more people to vote 3rd party, or stay home.
Duh.
McLame doesn’t need to “reach” left.
Duh!
I’m not sure I’d vote for a Republican ticket with pro-abort Condi Rice on it.
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