News and Commentary Archive for February, 2006

February 2, 2006: California Congress of Repubicans After-Action Report.  As promised we have photos from the CCR Convention attended by Golden State GOP'ers from across the state.  No other potential 2008 presidential contenders bothered to show up.  But we were there!  In 2008 red paint will be in short supply as California becomes a "red state" and millions of electoral maps will have to be re-painted.

Dave Cavena, a Southern California Condista, meets Ambassador Pierre-Richard Prosper, Republican Candidate for Attorney General.  The Ambassador, who has worked with Dr. Rice in the past, expressed his strong support for our Secretary of State as a presidential candidate in 2008.

California Candidates came by our display at CCR to express their support.  We'll send a free bumper sticker to the first 10 Condistas who can identify this California Republican candidate (middle).  Notice the Condi polo shirts and gear at our display table staffed by  Keith James (the original Arizona Condista) and Leon Morehead.  Click on the photo for a hi-res close-up of our mystery candidate.  Click here to e-mail your answer!

Condistas Suzanne Farrand, David Cavena, and Keith James went to the CCR Convention to "show the flag" and organize support for the future.  (Stay tuned!  The California Condistas have big plans for the future.)  Candidates and citizens alike came by our table to express their support and begin the hard work of making Condi "Madame President" in 2008.

CCR President Carl Burton and David Cavena ("Little Dave") kick off the CCR Convention.

Important contacts were made with many California College Republicans who are anxious to fan out across California's institutions of higher learning to organize for 2008.  They told us that they were going to turn the "Left Coast" into the "Condi Coast."  The winds of change are gathering strength in California thanks to all of these dedicated volunteers.

February 4, 2006: Coretta Scott King, whose death has focused national attention on the legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his wife, was praised by Dr. Rice as a "champion of civil rights."  The Secretary's statement went on to describe Scott King as "a devoted mother who gracefully balanced the demands of family with a career dedicated to non-violent social change."

February 4, 2006: Condi at the Super Bowl !
Tomorrow, Dr. Rice will be attending the Super Bowl, and she's picked the Pittsburg Steelers over the Seattle Seahawks.  Our Secretary of State has been an avid football fan since her youth and demonstrates a remarkable depth of knowledge about the game.  In fact, she has often been quoted (half-jokingly) that her "dream" job is to be the NFL Commissioner.  Of course, that will have to wait until 2016!

February 5, 2006: The New "A" Team was the description of Lynn Swann, Michael Steele, Condi Rice and Ken Blackwell in Salena Zito's Pittsburg Tribune-Review article, Principle trumps color.  It's refreshing to see an article like this in the mainstream media, on a big city editorial page.  It's not about being black, being a woman, being Latino, etc. its about the principles, excellence, achievement, and integrity -- and if we break a few glass ceilings along the way, that's just the icing on the cake!

February 8, 2006: We're at CPAC.
It promises to be a big week at CPAC.  We'll update you as soon as we can.  If we have any "spare" time in DC we'll update the site remotely.  Otherwise, we'll be back next week with big news!

February 8, 2006

Senate Candidate Greg Parke (VT) www.VoteParke.com, Jessie Jane Duff (AFR) chairperson, Chris Jefferson (AFR online forum), Niger Innis, Suzanne Farrand (AFR San Diego chairperson) at NBRA Banquet Feb. 8th dinner where our NEW television spot was debuted.

February 9, 2006: Oh What a Night!
The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) hadn’t even begun, but the National Black Republican Association (NBRA) Celebration of Pioneers Dinner, co-sponsored by Americans for Dr. Rice (AFR), kicked off the event last night in fine style.

It was a demonstration of the growing appeal of the GOP to black voters.  NBRA Chair Frances Rice, Esq. (no relation to Condi) organized an event that included conservative, Republican speakers that emphasized the role that black Republicans have played in the party and the nation.  The speakers went on to speak of a future,
rapidly coming to pass, where Republicans; black, white, brown, yellow and red; realize the conservative agenda for our country.  It was exciting.

The stunningly attractive, Angela McGlowan of Fox News emceed the event of speakers, prayer and singing, that honored Mr. Herman Cain, Roy and Niger Innis, Bishop Imagene Stewart, Bishop Keith Butler, Ms. Star Parker, and Mr. Lynn Swann.  Jessie Jane Duff, the AFR national chairperson, spoke energetically about Condi in 2008 and was warmly, and enthusiastically received as she debuted our new short, but slickly produced, television spot that will be airing in Washington, DC, beginning tomorrow and through the weekend on WJLA-ABC Channel 7.  (Click here to see the video.)

Rev. Wayne Perryman, author of Unfounded Loyalty, spoke about his legal battle -- a class action lawsuit suing for reparations to compensate for racist practices.  Is he suing the US government?  Large corporations?  No, he's suing the Democratic Party and in the ninth federal circuit, no less!  His book is available on his website. 

Also speaking, was Representative, and Republican Senate candidate, Katherine Harris, who delivered a personal message from President Bush, and spoke about Republican goals and accomplishments – for many of which she has been a key player and architect.  (Full disclosure, this site’s webmaster, but not AFR, is a donor and supporter to Rep. Harris’ Senate campaign.) 



Scott Turner, former San Diego Charger, pastor, and candidate for California's 50th congressional district, came by to express his support for Condi 2008.  Please visit his website.   He needs YOUR support!

It was a remarkable night.

February 13, 2006: CPAC Success!
This year's CPAC 2006 was a move up to "the next level" for us at AFR.  It sent a clear message, combined with our TV ads running the same week, that, "We are here to stay."  Our national chairperson, Jessie Jane Duff, made her inside the beltway debut.  She was interviewed by TV, radio, print, and blog outlets.  On the first day of the conference, she was interviewed by Bill Schneider on CNN's Situation Room.  (We hope to post the video soon.)  Our merry band of Condistas worked day (and night) while in Washington.  No opportunity was missed to attend the various functions to recruit, network, and even raise a little cash.  Even after CPAC would shut down for the night, we'd head off to well known politico "watering holes" such as the The Monocle where we imbibed, in moderation, and treated the other patrons to rousing choruses of the Star Spangled Banner, God Bless America, and a few Elvis tunes while "Nick," the Republican, Greek-American maitre d' treated us to many tall tales of political intrigue on Capitol Hill.  The Condistas were also graciously invited to a party hosted by Grover Norquist.


Josiah Schmidt, Condista and College Republican from Ohio, was in charge at our table.  He welcomed CPAC attendees as they entered the conference exhibition area.

We were hard to miss at CPAC.  The organizers assigned us booth 101.  As attendees entered the exhibit hall, our banner, helium-filled "Condi '08" balloons, and display table were the first thing they saw.  As they would pass, our volunteers would offer them "I Like Condi" stickers for their CPAC ID badges -- most accepted and offered us words of encouragement and support.  (This surprised us somewhat since we were in Senator Allen's "backyard," and he certainly had home court advantage.)  More than a few of the Virginia college students that came to CPAC told us that, although they hitched a ride with the Allen folks to CPAC,  they were "Condistas at heart" and many of them still put our stickers on their ID's and took Condi gear from our table to take back to their campuses.

Abortion was the issue foremost on the minds of many CPAC attendees.  We spent much of ourtime quoting Dr. Rice's publicly stated position on abortion-related issues and correcting the INCORRECT assumption that Condi is "pro-choice" in the same way that most Democrats are.  It is unfortunate that well-known author Dick Morris has exacerbated this situation.  Although judges, for better or worse, will decide the abortion issue; Dr. Rice's position has a realistic chance of becoming the law of the land.  And we have no doubt that with her 2nd Amendment "absolutist" views that she'll appoint judges in the tradition of Roberts and Alito.  We'll summarize here, but read her quotations on our Issues webpage.
   1. "I believe the President has been in exactly the right place about this, which is, we have to respect the culture of life."
   2. Ban late-term abortions.  (This would include the horrendous, murderous practice of partial-birth abortions.)
   3. Ban federal funding of abortions.
   4. Parental notification for minors seeking abortions.
 
The CPAC Presidential "straw poll" was a little disappointing because of the way it was worded:

"Thinking ahead to the 2008 presidential election, who do you think will be the next Republican nominee for President?"

Many CPAC attendees told us that they wanted to vote for Condi, but that when faced with the poll question, the way it was worded, they speculated about the future and did not express their hope for the best candidate.  That, coupled with our being next door to Virginia, led to the widely reported results of Allen 22%, McCain 20%, Giuliani 12%, Rice 10%.  Unfortunately, the press doesn't report the "whole" story, just the headline.  We don't view this poll as a valid Presidential preference "straw poll" because of its wording and due to the fact that McCain had such a strong showing.  When CNN's Bill Schneider asked a CPAC vendor how McCain campaign button sales were going, in an effort to gauge grassroots support; the vendor responded, "Not a one."  Hmmm.  When we go back next year, we hope that the CPAC organizers hold a REAL Presidential preference straw poll.

All-in-all, it was a great conference, and we'll be back next year, stronger than ever.  Look for more Condistas to show up at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in Memphis next month and the California State Republican Convention.
 

February 15, 2006: Dr. Rice champions Internet freedom in China.
Yesterday, Secretary Rice launched a task force to counter efforts by other countries (principally China) to block internet sites that they find objectionable and to investigate the role that companies like: Google, Yahoo, Cisco Systems and Microsoft play.  In some cases, Internet companies have provided "evidence" in criminal proceedings that have led to the prosecution and jailing of Internet users whose only crime was exercising their right of free speech.  (Oh, we forgot, there is NO right to free speech in China.)  Today, congressional hearings are scheduled to investigate this issue further.

February 16, 2006: Condi "walks the line."
The AP's Anne Gearan quoted Dr. Rice in her article as having said that the US would "walk a fine line" in seeking punitive sanctions against Iran's Islamic government as she testified before
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday.  Dr. Rice's optimism and command of the facts out shined the sniping from both Republican and Democratic Senators -- some of whom suffer from Oval Office delusions of grandeur.  Condi seems to be the only person in Washington, other than Pentagon "what-if" planners, actually DOING something about the Iranian nuclear confrontation as she proposed increasing funding from $10 million to $75 million to "promote democracy" in Iran.  A lot more will be required, but at least the Secretary of State is "jump starting" the process.  The New York Sun published an op-ed piece today, "The Rice Solution," that was supportive of Dr. Rice's latest actions.

February 18, 2006: New Mailing List.
There are just too many Condistas.  That's why we are switching over to a new mailing list program that should handle our growing numbers.  We're still working on the finer points of this new website software, so if you have any problems signing up, e-mail our mailing list manager.  Our old data will be imported SLOWLY over the next 2 months, so it won't hurt to sign up again just to make sure you're "on the list." With the help of some new blood, we're going to realize our goal of a newsletter issued on a regular basis.  If you'd like to receive our newsletter, click here and sign up.  Of course, we need your information for a lot more than just sending you a newsletter.  We need to coordinate our efforts and communicate how we're going to meet our short and long-term goals.  Hopefully, you'll be so impressed that you'll respond to our appeals for financial support that will be included in each issue along with the latest news items.  We need you -- or at least your information -- on our mailing list today!  Click here NOW and take that first personal step towards putting Dr. Rice in the Oval Office.

February 18, 2006: No money for Hamas.
Yesterday, Dr. Rice didn't wavier in her determination that Hamas, classified as a terrorist group by the US, not receive money from, not only the US, but Middle Eastern nations as well.  In keeping with the administration policy that no distinction is drawn between terrorists and those that aid and abet them (Gee, some US Senators are skating dangerously close to being on the wrong side of that policy!), Dr. Rice spoke frankly about Iran, in particular, as quoted in an AP article. 
"Iran has its own troubles with the international community and it might want to think twice about enhancing those troubles (by bankrolling Hamas)."

Hopefully, her efforts and tough stance won't be undermined by the constant drumbeat of critics on the mainstream media that seem, at times, to be more concerned with scoring political points than winning the War on Terror.

February 20, 2006: Thank you, Señor Chavez!
Yesterday, Hugo Chavez, friend of Fidel. darling of the "moonbat" left in the US, and current Venezuelan head of state, personally attacked, yet again, Dr. Rice.  His rantings were dutifully picked up by the mainstream media, as in this AP article, along with the sound bite, "Don't mess with me, girl."  Normally, we don't pay attention to this Castro wannabe, but here in South Florida, the telephones began to ring and spontaneous expressions of support (more than usual) were received at the sight of our Condi bumper stickers as we went about our business this weekend.  Spanish-language talk radio in South Florida, a bastion of conservative anti-Communists, spoke of this new attack on our Secretary of State.
We, Americans for Dr. Rice, were born in Miami and nursed with Cuban coffee.  And even though we've moved our headquarters to Washington, DC, we haven't forgotten our "Little Havana" roots.  Every time this guy opens his mouth, we receive more support from South Floridians -- many of whom are Cuban or Venezuelan-Americans who will be eligible to vote in 2008!  The importance of this group cannot be underestimated.  Not only do they volunteer (and donate) to help us, but their votes are why Cuban-born Mel Martinez is in the Senate, Mario Diaz-Balart and Illeana Ros-Lehtinen are in the House of Representatives, and, if memory serves, why President Bush became President in 2000 (without the Cuban-American vote Al Gore would have been President!).

Venezuela is the ONLY Latin-American member of OPEC, and it seems to us that maybe they don't understand that continued threats of "cutting-off" oil exports only strengthens the political drive for alternative energy sources in the US.  (You have to ask yourself, "What would make a former Texas oilman, now President, fund alternative energy to the tune of BILLIONS of dollars?)  Dr. Rice will be preaching to the choir in Iowa (an important early primary state), as she talks of her difficulties with this South-of-the-Border buffoon, and why she supports ethanol, hydrogen, fuel cells, hybrids, etc.
We can only hope that this guy keeps up the rhetoric until 2008.

 February, 20, 2006: Support for Condi keeps on growing!



Today, on Presidents Day, the results of a Sienna Research poll prompted Stephen Powell of the Hearst News Service to write:
"Growing numbers of Americans oppose a presidential bid by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., in 2008 — and favor a run by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice — amid broad public willingness to elect a woman as president, according to a nationwide poll released Sunday."

An Associated Press article today reported:
"A majority of American voters remain ready to elect a woman president and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is making gains on that front..."

As measured from last year, 48% of those polled think that Dr. Rice should run for President in 2008, up from 42%.  That's a 14% increase in a year -- and the campaign hasn't even begun.  Interestingly, 44% of those polled thought that Hillary should NOT run, up from 37% a year ago.

Also today, Conservative Talk Show icon, Rush Limbaugh, a.k.a. "El Rushbo," in discussing these poll results with his callers, declared that he would vote for Dr. Rice.  When challenged by callers who said they would not vote for a woman as commander in chief, he cited examples of strong female leaders like Britain's "Iron Lady," Margaret Thatcher, and Israel's Golda Meir.  Sounds like Rush is a Condista! 

February 23, 2006: "On the Road Again" and "Always on my mind" (with apologies to Willie Nelson) could describe Dr. Rice's devotion to the Middle East.  She left this week knowing that she'd be facing a cool, skeptical audience from Arab countries.  (Rueters article.)  However, by her returning to the region, and speaking directly to foreign leaders, foreign press, and opposition groups in those countries; she clearly demonstrates the importance of the Middle East for the United States and allows our foreign policy message not to be diluted by the 24-hour satellite news channels and their, "talking head" pundits.

The strategy of speaking directly to the people worked well domestically for another Republican, a President that didn't always have the luxury of having his party in the majority in the Senate -- or the House, and yet he still managed to accomplish many of his policy objectives.  Dr. Rice is using this page from Ronald Reagan's playbook on the international stage.

Woody Allen said, "Ninety percent of life is showing up."  And while life is more than a  movie production, who can argue with the importance of the images of a nation's leaders when they travel?  Remember Reagan at the Korean DMZ, in front of the Berlin Wall, shaking hands with Gorbachev in Iceland?  Remember Dr. King speaking to 250,000 people during the "March on Washington?"  Or remember the Soviet Union's parades with their military hardware and nuclear weapons (scenes being replayed in Iran today)?  In each case, the images' message was clear, and little, if any, translation was needed for an international audience. 

Likewise, can anyone doubt the importance of Dr. Rice's travels?  Perhaps her travels have not produced images as dramatic as Reagan's, but she's not the President -- not yet anyway!  Can anyone doubt the clear message of human and women's rights that is sent throughout the Arab world when Dr. Rice addresses their nations as our Secretary of State, as a leader, and as one of the "most powerful" people on earth?  Can Syria miss the message of our resolve to see democracy take hold in Lebanon, when Dr. Rice, at great personal risk, travels there on a "surprise" visit today?

Now, one visit does not guarantee success, or even rapid progress, in any of these endeavors.  (The Soviet Union did not immediately collapse after any of Reagan's appearances, but few doubt the important role they played in setting the stage.)  But even when not successful, these visits lay the foundation for the future.  Dr. Rice's clear statement, and re-statement, of US values, goals and willingness to work with our friends and allies towards peace in the Middle East, and elsewhere, hastens the day that those values, goals -- and peace -- become a reality.

February 25, 2006: Media Expert joins AFR!
We are very happy to announce the association of Terri Hartman, a media professional with a wealth of experience to bring to the table.  Terri has worked in corporate public relations and with individual celebrities for many years.  She is based in Central Florida, and her client roster has included clients as diverse as the late, legendary Bob Hope, World Heavyweight Champion George Foreman, and REVLON®.  Currently, she is working on a feature film, and in her "spare" time, she is an officer in the Hillsborough County Republican Women’s Club – the longest established women’s Republican club in Tampa, Florida.  As our national media director, she is going to be handling our press releases and scheduling for Jessie Jane Duff, our national chairperson.
 

AFR National Chairperson Jessie Jane Duff met

San Diego Condista Suzanne Farrand with Republican homeless activist Ted Hayes at the California Republican Convention in San José this past weekend.   You have to visit this website for more information about this Republican leader.

February 27, 2006: California Dreamin':
The California Condistas strike again!  This time in San José at the California Republican Party Convention over this past weekend.  Golden State Condistas Suzanne Farrand, Dave Cavena, Harrison Leonard, Mike Kroon, and Christopher Meade were joined by Jessie Jane Duff, national chairperson, who flew in from DC to demonstrate again that California can be a "red state" in 2008 -- if Condi is the nominee.  The Condi Gear that they had was all but sold out as the 1,400 conventioneers snapped up the polo shirts, bumper stickers, t-shirts, campaign buttons, etc.

(Looks like we'll have to re-order, AGAIN!!!  Sorry if you've been waiting for your order since CPAC, but we never imagined the popularity of our Condi Gear!We'll get it to you just as soon as it's delivered!)

We even rated a mention in the San Jose Mercury News report by Kate Folmar on Arnold Schwarzenegger's speech, and Jessie was interviewed by talk radio reporters and others.

The 1,400 party faithful at the convention spent Friday afternoon in committee meetings and ... perused convention booths -- one selling "Draft Condi"' for president polo shirts was a hot ticket.

We hope to have a few photos to post soon!  (See above)

February 27, 2006: Dr. Rice to visit UK.
Dr. Rice has accepted an invitation to visit British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw's home town at some date, to be determined, later this year.  Mr. Straw was Condi's guest in Alabama last year, attending an American football game, and seeing part of the US not frequently seen by foreign diplomats.  These trips are viewed as a way to cement US relationships with our  overseas friends and allies with a personal touch essential to building trust.

February 28, 2006: Condi is One of Three Key "Players" for 2008.  Angus Reid Consultants reported their analysis after a recent Marist College poll showed Dr. Rice in a three way tie with Rudy Giuliani and John McCain among Republicans polled Feb 13-15.

Feb. 28, 2006: Pumping Iron with Condi !
Tomorrow morning, EARLY, at 5:45 am EST, Condi will be working out with her personal trainer on NBC television in a 3-day series of health and fitness segments by the attractive, sophisticated, occasionally controversial, "inside the beltway" personality and Washington reporter Barbara Harrrison, of NBC Channel 4, WRG.  Her reports will run tomorrow, Thursday and Friday mornings.  Republicans pumping iron -- it's not just for Arnold anymore!

"She (Condi) is amazing. The amount of weights she handles and the endurance she has...We see her as one of the busiest people in the world," (Harrison) said. "The fact that she can squeeze in a workout in the middle of her incredible schedule, suggests the rest of us should be able to do the same thing."

February 28, 2006: Condi to Kofi -- No deal on watered-down UN Human Rights reform.
In keeping with the administration's opposition to UN reform that would maintain the status quo of the UN Human Rights Council being composed of countries with abysmal human rights records while providing diplomatic cover for the world body, Ambassador John Bolton announced that the US would vote against the reform proposal brokered by General Assembly President Jan Eliasson.  The plain spoken Amb. Bolton was sent to the UN after a controversial appointment by President Bush last year to deliver what was described as "diplomatic 'tough love'" at the recent Conservative Political Action Conference's (CPAC) Reagan dinner held earlier this month.  UN Deputy Spokesperson, Marie Okabe,  confirmed that the matter was discussed when Dr. Rice telephoned Secretary General Kofi Annan this weekend, but would provide no details of their conversation.  The UK's The Guardian reported in an article yesterday that, "...presumably Rice informed the secretary-general of the U.S. opposition."