December 1, 2005:  Barbara Walters Special
On November 29, 2005, "The Ten Most Fascinating People of 2005" featured Dr. Rice -- and us very, very briefly.  That's nice that she was included, but we were more than a little concerned by some of the others that were so honored.  Of course, we expected that there would be an eccentric Hollywood celebrity, or two.  And when we saw Tom Cruise on the previews we weren't surprised.  But one person on the list that disturbed us was Kanye West.  Perhaps we should be more cognizant of the fact that, unlike some of his colleagues in the rap music business, he doesn't glorify the abuse of women, drug abuse, etc. and remain quiet.  For that, we will give him his due respect.  However, it was his remarks during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina ("President Bush doesn't care about black people.") that give us pause when he is then given public recognition.   (You can see it here, if you haven't had the "opportunity" to see it before.)

The remarkable contrast between Kanye and Condi is that they both came from educated, middle class black families, but their perspectives are so different.  According to Ms. Walters' report, Kanye's father, educated with advanced degrees and a former Black Panther activist, communicated to his son that racism was omnipresent in America and limited the future.  Condi's father on the other hand, told her that, in America, all things were possible, in spite of racism.  When faced with racism, Condi's father took control, organized armed patrols of his neighborhood (Barbara didn't mention that in her report.) and saw to it that his daughter received an education and excelled.  Young Condi, in return, told her father that one day she would be in the White House.

(By the way, Barbara chose Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, as the Most Fascinating Person of 2005.  As she told Larry King prior to the show, "You'll never guess who it is."  She's right, we never would have guessed that pick.)

December 2, 2005: Online Attack.
The Barbara Walters special attracted a lot of attention to the website.  It also attracted a number of hackers to our server.  Thanks to daily backups and multiple other security precautions our data wasn't compromised and it was just an annoyance.  However, it has delayed the shipment of many of your orders until this weekend.  Thank you for your patience as we recover from this event.
 

December 5, 2005: Back Off.
Dr. Rice leaves for Europe today – an unapologetic Secretary of State – in spite of all of the recent diplomatic “gnashing of teeth” over the use of “renditions” (the international transportation of suspected terrorists from one jurisdiction to another) and “secret prisons.” (It’s not secret anymore if it is being reported in the Washington Post!)

Now, all those reporters that were so concerned about the "suave and debonair" Ambassador Joe Wilson as he primped for the camera and did his best “007 International Man of Mystery” impersonation when he expressed his “outrage” at the “outing” of his wife by someone other than himself, can now investigate this real breach of security – hopefully with the same fervor as they pursued Scooter Libby and VP Cheney.
Yeah, right.

The UK’s Financial Times described this European trip in an article last week as a “forceful rejection of requests for information,” and Reuters in an article yesterday reported that Dr.Rice “will urge the Europeans to back off over the issue.”   Today, as she left from Andrews Air Force Base, she maintained the hard line attitude with a statement to the press prior to departure.  She defended aggressive US counter-terrorism policies and pointed out that even the French use “rendition” when it suits them – as in the case of “Carlos the Jackal” who was brought from the Sudan to France in 1994 and is now in a French prison.  Further, the European Commission rejected the terrorist’s claim that his capture and transfer to France was unlawful.

Perhaps with the recent terrorist attacks in London and unrest in Paris, Dr. Rice will have a more sympathetic audience than she would have had in the past.  Let’s hope so.

December 6, 2005: Condi is the Internet's
                                      Guardian Angel.
 Recently, there was an international "conspiracy" of sorts to rein in the internet and bring it under more "international" control.  The European Union, Brazil, China, and others were proposing a variety of changes to how the internet is administered. 
 
 According to Bobbie Johnson in an article today in the UK's The Guardian: "It was billed as a row which could have spelled the end of the internet as we know it."   It was feared by many internet users that these changes could lead to censorship.  (The Chinese already block a large number of sites that they find politically objectionable.)
 
 Fortunately, it was Condi to the rescue!  She teamed up with US Commerce Secretary Carlos Guiterrez prior to last month's World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) to write, "a strongly worded letter.....(that) could have been instrumental in preventing a diplomatic catfight over who controls the internet."  Here's an excerpt of the letter that appeared on the British IT industry website, The Register, last week.
 
 "The security and stability of the internet are essential to the United States, the European Union, and to the world.....We firmly believe that the existing internet system balances the stability and security we need with the innovation and dynamism that private sector leadership provides."

 (L) Ukrainians greet Sec. Rice.  She expressed support for their "Orange Revolution" during her visit.  Above, Dr. Rice addresses NATO.
 

December 8, 2005: Condi enchante des européens, la partie deux.
(Condi charms the Europeans, part two)
Across Europe on her most recent voyage diplomatique Dr. Rice has again managed to garner support for, or at least diminish overt opposition to, US foreign policy -- especially as it relates to the War on Terror.  European and NATO leaders seemed almost eager to express their support and acceptance of the Secretary's statements on US policy as it relates to the detention and interrogation of terrorist suspects.
"It is my impression that Secretary Rice ... cleared the air. You will not see this discussion continuing at the NATO headquarters."
NATO Secretary General Jaap De Hoop Scheffer

 "(Expressions of support) seems to have been the flavor of the meeting," NATO spokesman James Appathurai

"(Dr. Rice) addressed the principles that guide United States policy with regards to respect for international law .... I have the impression all ministers generally welcomed that." Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht

"We must not be torn apart over the interpretation of international law."
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier

We doubt that there is ANY other US political leader that could have accomplished this.  Dr. Rice's personal relationships with foreign
 leaders around the world are invaluable to our country and are why in 2008 we must make every effort to make sure that she becomes our next President.

Dec. 11, 2005: Truth took this weekend off when Andrew Sullivan, Senior Editor at The New Republic and author of his own "Daily Dish" at AndrewSullivan.com, posted an item that erroneously quoted Dr. Rice.

"extraordinary renditions" when the US swoops in, captures an alleged terrorist, and transports him to countries like Uzbekistan, Egypt or Syria to be tortured, as long as the dictators say they'll be nice this time. You know: like with Libi. Her phrase:

"spiriting away terrorist suspects to mystery destinations for robust interrogation."

Is that a spa she's referring to or a torture chamber?

With a "holier than thou" attitude he also spoke of how he used to have TNR interns read an Orwell essay, Politics and the English Language.   In that essay, Orwell wrote: "Political language...is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind."   He implies that this somehow relates to the above quotation, and it might IF he were actually quoting Dr. Rice.  In a fine example of "fisking yourself," Mr. Sullivan links to the CNN transcript that shows that he was quoting the CNN reporter's voice over.

Diligent Condi-supporters brought this to our attention.  When they attempted to contact him for clarification, no response was received.

Displayed with artist Henry Payne's permission, previously published by the Detroit News.

December 11, 2005: K-Mart's Favorite Convict throws support behind Hillary for 2008.
In what will be a blow to many of us, Martha Stewart, in a recent Business Week interview has expressed her support for Hillary in 2008.

Q: You are an opinion leader in a lot of areas, but I haven't heard a lot about your political views. Who should be President in 2008?

A: If there is a woman running, I will be voting for the woman. I think [Hillary Clinton] would do a wonderful job. I think it would be very difficult and a big struggle for her, but I think she of all women out there would do a very good job.
Notice they didn't ask for whom she'd be voting -- as a convicted felon she won't be doing much of that!  And for our part, we're going to be "changing our sheets" this weekend.  After all, how can a Condista get a good night's rest sleeping on any of Martha's sheets, blankets, pillows, or comforters?

We doubt that vertical stripes will be a popular pattern in Martha's latest K-Mart collection.

December 11, 2005: Back by popular demand.
Many of you requested that we put the excerpt of the Dr. Rice segment from Barbara Walter's Ten Most Fascinating People of 2005 special back on the homepage for another week -- so here it is.  Next week, it'll still be found on our "Condi 101" page.

Excerpt from Barbara Walters'
Ten Most Fascinating People of 2005

December 13, 2005: Required Reading.
Dr. Rice had an op-ed piece in the Washington Post on December 11th entitled, "The Promise of Democratic Peace."  This is a concise essay that that outlines US foreign policy.

"....had we done nothing, consider all that we would have missed in just the past year: A Lebanon that is free of foreign occupation and advancing democratic reform. A Palestinian Authority run by an elected leader who openly calls for peace with Israel. An Egypt that has amended its constitution to hold multiparty elections. A Kuwait where women are now full citizens. And, of course, an Iraq that in the face of a horrific insurgency has held historic elections, drafted and ratified a new national charter, and will go to the polls again in coming days to elect a new constitutional government."



 

December 15, 2005: Now, She's the Secretary of "Stafense."
Something happened yesterday.  The State Department, under the leadership of Dr. Rice, was "empowered" by a White House directive, as was reported in a Reuters article, to: "....improve coordination, planning and implementation for reconstruction and stabilization assistance for foreign states at risk of, in, or in transition from conflict or civil strife."

So, anywhere around the globe, in any "hotspot," where the US might have "boots on the ground," or any major effort underway short of major combat operations, Condi is going to be the "go to guy."  Inside the beltway they're joking that Condi just became the "Secretary of Stafense" and that Don Rumsfeld just became the first Secretary of Defense to serve as SECDEF under three US Presidents -- Ford, Bush and Rice.

Now, understand, we have nothing but the utmost of respect for Secretary Rumsfeld and feel that he has been unfairly assailed in the media.  This is because the left-leaning media knows that, "if you throw enough spaghetti on the wall, some of it will stick."  Like a good soldier, "Rummy" is taking the abuse in order to protect the administration, and maybe even Condi.  As an "aging warrior" his "career" is expendable if it paves the way for the future.

With President Bush going on a media offensive to combat falling poll numbers (with some success so far), he has turned to the one individual in his administration that has never let him down, that has his complete trust, that has tutored him in foreign policy, that has rising poll numbers, that has a record of rapidly accomplishing important goals, and that has a personal style of "hands-on" diplomacy that has been very successful  -- Dr. Condoleezza Rice.

(It is rumored that some diplomats have called her "Jedi Knight" because of her ability to persuade foreign leaders during one-on-one meetings with her charming personality and overwhelming command of the facts.  In case you don't remember, "Jedi Knights" in the Star Wars movies were able to exert "mind control" over others.  Light sabers may be the next hot fashion accessory in Washington, DC.)

December 15, 2005: Election Day in Iraq!
In what appears to be a great victory for democracy in Iraq, there have been reports of heavy turnout throughout Iraq, including Sunni regions.  Polling hours had to be extended to accommodate the voters.  Even Agence France-Presse (AFP), has reported, Iraqis throng polls in landmark vote in an article accompanied by the photo of an Iraqi woman's ink stained finger being held up in the "V" sign against the background of the Iraqi flag.  The Christian Science Monitor published an article by Dan Murphy entitled, An Iraqi Election Primer.  It is an excellent summary of the election and an analysis of its importance for the future.  And in a reluctantly positive article, Iraq Election: Turning point at last?, Paul Reynolds of the the BBC wrote, "All this is not unhopeful for US policymakers."   Associated Press reporter, Bassem Mroue and his in-country colleagues throughout Iraq reported this afternoon:

Iraqis voted Thursday in one of the largest and freest elections in the Arab world, with strong turnout reported in Sunni areas and even a shortage of ballots in some precincts. Several explosions rocked Baghdad throughout the day, but the level of violence was low.
The heavy participation in the parliamentary voting by the Sunnis, who had shunned balloting last January, bolstered U.S. hopes of calming the insurgency enough to begin withdrawing its troops next year.

It is very interesting to read these reports, especially after listening to Dr. Rice's speech and Q&A session at the Heritage Foundation on the 13th prior to the election.  It is available online.  (broadband, dial-up, audio)  This was preceded by her Washington Post op-ed on the 11th, "The Promise of Democratic Peace."

It's been a good week for democracy, Iraq, and the United States.

December 19, 2005:  High Profile.
This past week, Dr. Rice has been interviewed by Katie Couric, Brit Hume, Sean Hannity, Tony Snow, Chris Wallace, Anne Gearan, Deborah Orin, and Tim Russert.  She also appeared at the Heritage Foundation.  All this while maintaining a busy schedule at the State Department.  (Transcripts)
The high public profile seems to be paying off --  Dr. Rice came out on top of Hillary, John Kerry, and Mark Warner in a recent Zogby poll.  (And that was taken before last week!)

Liberian President-elect Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Secretary Rice meet in Washington.

December 25, 2005: Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year.
We are continuing to work through the holidays to meet your Condi Gear orders.  Our volunteers are taking their holiday vacation to try and keep up with the demand.  Updates to the website may be few and far between until after the New Year as we work to comply with regulatory necessities.

December 26, 2005: Condi Gear.
It’s been a great year for sales of “Condi Gear,” and your support has been wonderful. However, we have become victims of our own success, and the job is just too big for an informal volunteer effort.  Therefore, all sales of "Condi Gear" items, with the exception of the SASE $1 bumper sticker offer, are temporarily suspended until sometime late in January, 2006.   We are re-organizing how we handle our merchandise sales and donations to serve the growing number of Dr. Rice supporters more efficiently and economically.  We just have sent off the orders through 5 pm EST, December 26, 2005, and appreciate your patience as you have waited for your Condi Gear to be delivered.  We will continue to fill orders through midnight EST tonight.  We look forward to offering you new items and better service in the future.