News and Commentary Archive for October, 2005 October 1, 2005: "Surprising" Poll Results!
Of course, they're not surprising to us. The Insider television program recently held an informal poll, as first reported by "Dr. Helen" on her blog. The poll asked viewers their preference for President in 2008 between Condi, Hillary and Oprah. Condi won with 47%, Hillary 37%, and Oprah 12%. (What happened to the other 4%?)Granted this is an unscientific poll, but it is yet another indication of the support that Dr. Rice enjoys. The show, after reporting these "surprising" results (Is that Hollywood liberal-speak for "Hillary didn't win?") hasn't posted the results anywhere we can find on their website. Our attempts to contact the producers of the program have been unsuccessful.
(OK, all together now in your best Claude Rains Casablanca impersonation:
"We're shocked, shocked to find out there's political bias in Hollywood!")
October 1, 2005: "Now is not the time to fade or falter" Dr. Rice, while speaking at the Princeton University Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs yesterday, delivered a clear and impassioned speech regarding Iraq and US foreign policy. The State Department has posted transcripts, online video (broadband or dial-up) and audio of this landmark address. She spoke to the crowd, describing US foreign policy based on an ideology of freedom and how that policy is liberating Afghanistan, Iraq, and Lebanon while expanding human rights and playing a key role in the War on Terror.
But if you believe, as I do and as President Bush does, that the root cause of September 11th was the violent expression of a global extremist ideology, an ideology rooted in the oppression and despair of the modern Middle East, then we must speak to remove the source of this terror by transforming that troubled region. If you believe as we do, then it cannot be denied that we are standing at an extraordinary moment in history.
October 2, 2005: "Too good an opportunity to miss!" was our description of the season premiere of ABC's Commander-in-Chief to Philip Sherwell of the Washington, DC, bureau of the British Sunday Telegraph whose article appears today. The opportunity, of course, was the chance to air our TV commercial on the New Hampshire ABC affiliate, WMUR during the show's premiere. After the premiere, we received press attention from a variety of outlets. The National Journal Hotline, published Move Over Geena Davis: Hillary's NOT the potential female POTUS featured in ads on WMUR. (Unfortunately, only available to subscribers.) The New York Daily News mentioned us in Richard Sisk's article on the 28th. And CNN's Showbiz Tonight ran a brief clip of our spot with JEANNIE MOOS doing "man (woman?) in street" interviews. Even Comedy Central asked for a copy of the video -- and we sent it to them!. October 4, 2005: "On the short list," was the phrase used by Brendan Miniter of the Wall Street Journal in his September 20th article, "We're All in the Same Bloat" to describe Dr. Rice as a potential running mate to the Republican presidential candidate in 2008. Of course, recent events, and the lackluster appeal of other potential candidates (as recognized by even the current administration), beg the question: "But WHY NOT Condi?" Here's his response:
She hasn't held elective office before, but if the nation comes under attack again, it's clear she has the backbone to do something about it. And that's about the only argument Republicans will have for continuing to be trusted with the reins of power after they jettison the rest of their agenda and adopt programs reminiscent of the New Deal and Great Society. Bankruptcy reform and a failed effort at Social Security reform just aren't enough to take to the voters, especially once the two Supreme Court vacancies are filled. October 6, 2005: Recognition -- at last!!!
After being ignored in previous national polls, it is refreshing to see that Fox FINALLY included Dr. Rice as a presidential candidate in their most recent poll of September 27-28, 2005. It is even more gratifying to see that she is consistently in the top 3 poll positions for 2008 when compared to other presidential hopefuls. And as reported by NewsMax, CONDI TIES HILLARY. Actually, the poll shows Hillary edging Condi 46% to 43%, but this is within the poll's margin of error. Imagine what the numbers would be with a well-financed, national campaign.
October 6, 2005: "It Will Take Condi Rice."
The first reviews of the Dick Morris book, Condi vs Hillary are out. One of the most extensive is the one found on the National Review Book Service. We hope to post our own review soon.
"It'll take more than a village to rid us of Hillary -- now, Dick Morris explains why it will take Condi Rice."
"Morris, the nation's most prominent political consultant, draws upon his years of experience with high-level, bare-knuckle political maneuvering to explain why, in 2008, no ordinary white male Republican candidate will do: Frist, Pataki, and George Allen, he says, can't win; Giuliani and McCain are too far to the left to be nominated; Jeb Bush and Dick Cheney have too much baggage; and the foreign-born Arnold Schwarzenegger can't run. That leaves only Condi Rice, making it certain that the first female President will be sworn in on January 20, 2009 -- and making 2008 the election of the century."
October 8, 2005: Dr. Rice extends offer of assistance to earthquake victims.
I send my deepest condolences to all those affected by today’s earthquake centered in northern Pakistan. The devastation in northern Pakistan and on both sides of the line of control in Kashmir is a terrible tragedy for the people of the region.
I spoke with the foreign ministers of both Pakistan and India this morning to convey our sympathy and offer whatever assistance may be needed.
At this difficult time, the United States stands with its friends in Pakistan and India, just as they stood with us and offered assistance after Hurricane Katrina.
October 8, 2005: Rod Lurie given the boot!
In a surprise move after airing only two episodes of the new ABC hit show Commander-in-Chief, Touchstone Television, a part of the Walt Disney empire, fired creator-writer Rod Lurie (a self-described Clinton supporter) and replaced him with Steve Bochco (Remember Hill Street Blues and NYPD Blue?). The LA Times reported the studio "shake-up" today in an article entitled, "Bochco Takes Over Hit Series." More interesting is the report by columnist Nikki Finke of the LA Weekly (as listed on The Drudge Report) that the rift is the result of a "rough sex" scene between the President's daughter and a Secret Service agent. Maybe this is a sign that this drama, which so far has gotten off to a reasonably good start, ideologically speaking, (except for the obligatory references to Republicans as devious, back-stabbing ideologues that cheat at poker that are de rigueur for anything political coming out of Hollywood), will not descend into Desperate Housewives on Pennsylvania Avenue, or Girls Gone Wild at the White House. (We'll end this here -- don't want to give them any ideas!)
October 8, 2005: The Face of America.
Our globe-trotting Secretary of State is increasingly becoming the "face" of the United States abroad. This upcoming week she'll again be racking up the diplomatic frequent flier miles as she travels to Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan). To underscore human rights concerns, Uzbekistan, was dropped off of the itinerary. (Read the State Department statement here.)
In a number of radio talk shows and press interviews after our television commercial's debut on the season premiere of ABC's Commander-in-Chief on September 27th in New Hampshire; we had a few questions, and comments, posed to us about how a female leader would never be accepted, or respected, in Muslim countries. This is laughable to anyone who has followed Dr. Rice's tenure as our chief diplomat. The truth of the situation is that she commands more respect around the world, Islamic countries included, than many of her predecessors. Her command of the facts, personal relationships with world leaders based on mutual trust over a period of years (after being part of three administrations) and clear, consistent articulation of US foreign policy allows her to aggressively pursue our national interests and goals without being perceived as belligerent. When she compromises or accommodates our friends and allies, it is not seen as appeasement. This is one of the principal reasons that Dr. Rice's knowledge and personal relationships cannot be squandered. They are a national resource. She must be the candidate in 2008. To send her "back to the minors" (to use a sports metaphor), as some have suggested, to spend 4-12 years as a governor or senator would set back US foreign policy immeasurably. We would lose the benefit of her knowledge and relationships that will reach its zenith at the end of her term as Secretary of State.
Overseas, Dr. Rice is the face of the United States to millions (billions?) of people -- and not just because she is our Secretary of State and in a position of power. It is also because of her personal story of overcoming racism, of overcoming sexism, of rising to power based on personal merit with the support of a strong family that valued education and hard work. Now, it is imperative that we carry that same message in preparation for 2008. It is our mission to make sure that here at home Condi is recognized as the "face of America" as well.
October 8, 2005: New Jersey support for Condi.
Hispanic GOP leader and NJ District 33 Assemblyman nominee Richard Valdes reports that while Dr. Rice was in northern New Jersey to deliver her Princeton address she had the opportunity to meet Doug Forrester, Republican gubernatorial candidate. (If you missed this speech, be sure to go to the State Dept. website to watch it online. broadband, dial-up, audio) Rich tells us that NJ will be "Condi country" in 2008. He's exactly the type of leader that will put NJ into play for 2008. Here's his message to us:
Go Condi !
As you know we are running a tight gubernatorial race in New Jersey. Condi was here in Princeton last week with Doug Forrester and we appreciate seeing her in NJ. The northern part of New Jersey, near New York City, is also supportive of Dr. Rice's potential presidential candidacy and we look forward to seeing more of Condi in Northern New Jersey - in particular - Hudson County.
Best regards,
Rich
Please visit Rich's website and Doug's website.
October 11, 2005: The "Original" Mississippi Republican is a Condista!
 In yet another clear demonstration of support for Condi in the South, Jeanie Key reports that she attended church at the United Methodist Church in Lumberton, Mississippi. Apparently, the spontaneous expressions of support and demands for more Condi gear created what she termed a "crisis" as she sent an SOS out to fellow Condi supporters. Her own mother, Doris Lee "Mama" McCarley (a.k.a. "The Original Mississippi Republican"), exercised her seniority and expropriated Jeanie's recently acquired Condi campaign button. Ms. McCarley has campaigned for Republicans since 1932, ran the Lamar and Forest County phone banks for Gov. Haley Barbour's campaign, served as Lamar County precinct chairperson and has been recognized by the RNC magazine. She is excited at the prospect of voting for Dr. Rice in 2008 AND 2012. Here's the photographic proof!
October 11, 2005: Alabama Gang strikes again!
This past weekend, Sandra Schimmelpfennig, with her merry band of Condistas, was our agent provocateur at the Alabama Federation of Republican Women (AFRW) convention in Gulf Shores. They spread our message, sold some Condi Gear and recruited new Condistas to the cause. See their photo from our Sept. 12th posting. Not content to stop there, they are planning an organizational gathering in northern Alabama next month and have invited Dr. Pete Stevens, our erudite, eastern Tennessee chairperson to speak to a meeting of the Republican Women of Madison -- look for a bulletin with more details, and maybe some local radio promos, soon. As Dr. Rice's home state, we look forward to developing a strong organization there. Condi's support in Alabama is very strong; Alabamans are proud of their famous daughter!
Condistas Return to Iowa!
After the success of our television debut on the season premiere of Commander-in-Chief  in New Hampshire, we are returning to the Hawkeye State for the fourth time. Initially, it was a lone activist in a Mini-Cooper. Now, she is joined by several Iowa College Republicans, our own Kavon Nikrad (of Minnesota) and a slew of Iowans who support Condi from across the state and as far away as Kualu Lumpur and Singapore. (They're on vacation!) Soon we will 
announce the formation of our Iowa organization and leadership. Our return is going to be heralded by television on WOI, Channel 5, Des Moines. This time our 60-second spot will appear on the fourth episode of Commander-in-Chief. However, due to the excitement and funds raised by our earlier television and radio promotions, we are able to place our ads on such popular shows as Good Morning America, The View, and the Sunday news program This Week on the ABC affiliate, as well. While this media blitz is occurring we'll be at the Iowa GOP's 5th Annual Ronald Reagan Dinner. We've paid for an exhibit table to display our support and Condi Gear and maybe even ask for a donation, or two, while at this event. We are certain that our friend, Senator Bill Frist, the "Special Guest Speaker," will be happy to hear that we are in attendance, too.
October 12, 2005: Show your support and help change history for a buck!
Can we make it any easier? Don't like to buy anything over the Internet? Send us a single dollar; a check, a money order, a dollar bill, four quarters, ten dimes, twenty nickels, or one-hundred pennies along with a regular #10 business size (41/8 x 9½ ) self-addressed, self-stamped (SASE) envelope and we'll send you our newest bumper sticker -- as shown above, approximately 3x9 inches. Send your dollar to:
Americans for Dr. Rice - SASE Offer
9737 NW 41st Street, #419
Miami, FL 33178
Note: A 37¢ stamp is adequate. If you decide to send cash or coin, it is at your own risk. Be sure to include your e-mail address, if you want to receive further information from us.
October 18, 2005: Good News, or Bad News?
Last Sunday's Meet the Press again had Tim Russert asking Dr. Rice about her plans for 2008. We had been expecting the usual denials. After all, we had been through this before in March, and NBC was calling us for tapes and information prior to the show. However, like the story about a group of blind men describing an elephant, each one -- depending on their perspective -- "saw" something different, yet all were correct in their descriptions. Some saw just the denial, some saw that no comment was made when asked if our television commercials should stop, some saw the negative impact to our fund-raising (based upon what happened in March), etc.
So where does this leave us?
Well, we are a draft movement. And after looking at the "before and after" pictures of recent Presidents, it's astonishing that ANYBODY would want the job. One of the definitions of "draft" on Dictionary.com is:
To select from a group for some usually compulsory service.
The group, in this case, is the pool of potential Republican candidates and our only means of compelling Dr. Rice to run is to diligently continue to demonstrate the support that she enjoys and the inadequacy of the alternatives. Her denials have been premised on the assumption that there will be competitive Republican candidates. These candidates are not apparent to us, and we feel that they are just a open invitation to a Republican loss in 2008.
At the risk of repeating ourselves, we recall a quotation from the American Spectator's Mark Goldblatt:
"... she's said that she has no plans to run, that she won't run, that her real ambition is to become commissioner of the National Football League. But I believe Rice is first and foremost a PATRIOT, and if a case were put forward that campaigning for president were an act of service to her country, rather than service to her ego, she might reconsider."
Now, you may ask, "What is the 'Good News' in all of this?" As a result of the appearances on Meet the Press, Fox News Sunday and other mentions in the media, the website has been quite busy, orders for "Condi Gear" are up, and and donations continue. This is a distinct departure from last March's denial on Meet the Press when just the opposite occurred. To us this is just another sign of the potential strength of a Rice candidacy. What other candidate could deny an interest in running and then have more donations, more purchases of campaign gear, and more website traffic?
October 19, 2005: Overwhelmed! Swamped!
Call it what you like. Our South Florida, Cuban coffee-fueled, late night volunteers are overwhelmed with the large volume of website orders that have been coming in since the release of the Dick Morris book, Condi vs Hillary and the recent media attention that we have been receiving. Please bear with us. All orders through October 21st should go out this weekend, unless we're out of stock of a particular item -- in which case the orders will go out by October 26th while we wait for our next restocking order to arrive.
October 21, 2005: Home Sweet Alabama!
This weekend Dr. Rice will be back in her home state for a "mostly public itinerary that mixes foreign policy, college football, civil rights, minority health care, hurricane relief and Rice's own personal history," as Mary Orndorff, Washington Correspondent for the Birmingham News described it in her article of this week, History, game set for Rice weekend. The subtitle held more interest for us, however: Visit may be step toward presidential bid, say some.
This visit appears to be the model for future "escorted tours" with foreign dignitaries. The British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw will be accompanying Dr. Rice this weekend.
"I hope as Secretary of State to take some of my colleagues outside of Washington, D.C., so that they and the countries that they represent can have a feel for America," Rice said Saturday in London. "The South is my home. Birmingham is my home. Jack Straw is one of my closest colleagues and Britain one of our closest allies. And so I look forward to going to Birmingham."
Of course, Dr. Rice cannot even visit her home state without someone complaining about it as Ms. Orndorff reports.
But the jaunt also is getting early reviews as an extended photo opportunity for a potential future presidential candidate. One member of British Parliament said the trip suggests "that the role of the foreign secretary includes supporting Condoleezza Rice's presidential bid," according to the Daily Mail in London.
Gee, we never would have thought of that, but now that you mention it -- not a bad idea. Thanks!
October 22, 2005: Alabama-Tennessee Football Game. Can you get any more American than a Saturday afternoon college football game between two rivals from neighboring states? We don't think so. Watch this pre-game excerpt from the game with Dr. Rice as she does the time-honored "coin-toss."
October 22, 2005: "We're proud of her." is how Gigi Douban, staff writer for the Birmingham News quoted Anita Ellis Harris, a former classmate of Dr. Rice's at Brunetta C. Hill Elementary during the Secretary of State's visit to her home state yesterday. (Read the article here.) Of course, our "Alabama gang" Condistas, led by Sandra Schimmelpfennig and Penny Melton were in the crowd to see Dr. Rice and took advantage of the opportunity to recruit other Alabamans to the cause. Judging by the warm reception from the crowd, recruiting more Condi-supporters won't be a problem.
Two of the newest TEAM CONDI members
from Univ. of Alabama. Crimson Tide track
star Marcus Siwemuke and Carrie Caldwell.
They were standing in line to see & greet
Secretary Rice yesterday at U of A. Notice
the lapel pins they are both proudly wearing!
Click here to buy yours now!
October 23, 2005: Media Bias -- NAH!
This week it was widely reported that Hillary "beat" Condi 50%-41% in a WNBC-Marist poll, but the fact that Dr. Rice was tied for the top spot with Rudy Giuliani in the poll among Republicans was hardly mentioned -- if at all. Not to mention that while Rudy's and McCain's numbers are dropping from eight months ago, Condi's are going up! This is remarkable given that Condi doesn't have a multimillion dollar fund-raising machine like Hillary has. Of course, polls can be misleading. McCain came in a close third which is truly remarkable since we've been to a lot of Republican events in the past year, and if there have been McCain supporters at any of them, they sure keep themselves well-hidden. In fact, in ARIZONA, there was palpable disgust for the man displayed at the NFRA National Convention over the Labor Day weekend -- complete with "No McCain stickers." The other potential Republican candidates, dubbed "political pygmies" by Dick Morris recently were all in the single digits.
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