News and Commentary Archive for April, 2006

April 1, 2006: Don't these people have a job?
There were predictions of "thousands" of protesters for Dr. Rice's visit to Northwest England.  OK, we'll let them slide because they might have gotten wet.  The rainy and damp climate probably affected turnout, but where were these "thousands" of protesters?  An estimated 25 came to the airport.  The press generously reported 150 during a school visit.  Is that the best the moonbat left in England can do?  C'mon, show yourselves!  The more noise you make, the more support we get!
This is not new to us!  Here in South Florida, the birthplace of the Condista movement, we are very much aware of the benefits of "protests" by Fidel, Chavez, and their supporters.  The more they squeal, the more support we get!  So, put on your raincoats and take to the streets!  We need the money!  (We've had more than a few folks from the UK order our bumper stickers and t-shirts.)

Dr. Rice, as we've come to expect, was quite magnanimous.  She invited the discourse.  Could it be that she knows, better than anyone, that in a battle of wits, these people are "unarmed."  As reported in a Knight-Ridder article by Warren P. Strobel:

"I think that if there are indeed different views that it's best to express them, not to keep them bottled up," Rice said. "If it is not possible for me to go someplace and to be willing to encounter people with different views, then I'm really not doing my job."

And of course, many of the "protesters," were simply "cutting class" as we say in the US.  Mr. Strobel quoted a student in Blackburn, England:

Jabbar Khan, 16, who was among the students who greeted Rice on the school's front steps, said afterward, "We should be proud to have such a high-profile visitor to our school." But he sheepishly admitted that many students cut class - "skived off," as he put it - to join the protests.

April 3, 2006: Surprise trip to Iraq!
After Dr. Rice's two-day visit to Northwest England, hosted by British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, the Secretary of State and Mr. Straw left Sunday on an unannounced joint diplomatic journey to Iraq in an effort to catalyze the resolution of Iraq's impasse at forming a new government.  (Link)

April 6, 2006: Deep in the heart of Texas!
That's right, June 2nd and 3rd, Condistas will converge on the City of San Antonio in the Great State of Texas!  The occasion will be the Texas Republican Convention.  A Texas tornado known as Wendy Rogers, mother of three, and a woman dedicated to the Condista cause has been organizing our efforts at the event.  We urge ALL of you who support Dr. Rice to be our candidate for President in 2008 to plan on a trip to San Antonio.  Our national chairperson, Jessie Jane Duff, is planning on attending, as well as Jeffrey Jenkins, our Western Tennessee chairperson who organized our efforts at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference (SRLC) last month.  (By the way, Jeff continues to keep our message "on the air" in Memphis on talk radio station WREC-AM 600.)  Hopefully, some of our California Condistas will be able to attend, as well.  After they scored a win for Dr. Rice at the California Republican Convention presidential straw poll, their expertise will be welcome as we carry the message to Texas Republicans.

Let Wendy know if you plan on attending, or are even thinking of attending.  (She can be very convincing!  Her enthusiasm is contagious.)

April 6, 2006: AFR continues to grow!
The idea of drafting Dr. Rice has been spreading across the country as enthusiastic supporters continue to join Americans for Dr. Rice.  New recruits in Texas, New Mexico, South Carolina, Georgia, Colorado, West Virginia, New York, and other states are swelling the ranks bringing their energy and ideas to the group.  This infusion of new blood is essential if we're going to accomplish our goals.

In the days ahead, you'll see us highlighting new additions to our leadership.  For example, Scott Berry in Atlanta comes to us with the dedication of a new convert.  But he's not a new convert, at all!  He tells us he's been waiting for almost 3 years to start working to elect Dr. Rice as our President.  A true "Renaissance Man," Scott is a classical musician, opera singer, and conductor who drives a Dodge pick-up truck adorned with 5 Condi 2008 bumper stickers!  (His wife's van is similarly decorated.  He has promised pictures for us to post in the very near future.)  On top of that he is studying to become a "man of the cloth" as we say in the South.

Welcome aboard, Scott.  We look forward to your accomplishments in the Peach State!

April 7, 2006: Website switch.
For a variety of reasons, we are switching our Internet home to a new domain -- one that is shorter and has less potential for confusion during radio and television spots.  You already may have seen the new domain name on our new batch of magnet bumper stickers that were sent out to all of you waiting for your Condi Gear to arrive.  Our new domain is www.4Condi.com.  Previous e-mail addresses at the AmericansForRice.com server will change over to this new domain sometime this weekend, but the old e-mail addresses will be forwarded to the new ones.  The website will slowly make the switch during this month.

April 7, 2006:  Alabama Condista home from the hospital.
Penny Melton, one of the "Alabama Gang," is happy to report that Sandra Schimmelpfennig is home from the hospital recovering from  cardiac surgery.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Sandra as she gets back on her feet.

April 8, 2006: Dr. Rice playing for her supper?
No, it's not THAT expensive to live in DC, but in a New York Times article, Condoleezza Rice on Piano, Dr. Rice's participation in a chamber music group is highlighted.  Of course, there were the requisite anti-Republican, anti-Bush references included in the article that make the Times, at best, a bird cage liner in most conservative homes.  However, the article by Dr. Anthony Tommasini (The Times chief classical music critic) does have some notable quotations and a wonderful Steven Crowley photo of Condi with her chamber music group.  That photo alone is worth the click to the Times website.  Dare I even  suggest to buy the Sunday NYT this weekend?  (Mr. Crowley, sir, could we please use your photo?  We'd be forever grateful, and we'd stop saying bad things about the Times -- at least for a week, or two.)

Of special interest to us was the following:
"...questions about her future plans predictably arose. Just as predictably, she stated that despite urgings from highly placed Republicans, thank you, no, she would not pursue the presidency." (emphasis ours)

"Highly placed Republicans..."  Well, that certainly couldn't be us!  Laura Bush and Scott McClellan come to mind.  Are there others of whom we're not aware?  There has been speculation that there are other Bush family members that are closet Condistas -- waiting for the appropriate moment to announce their support.  We're left to wonder, "Who?"  Could it be Bush 41?  Former First Lady Barbara?  Bush 43's twin daughters?  George P. Bush, a handsome Latino, with a political future of his own?


Tommasini also mentioned Condi's early roots in classical music:

 

April 11, 2006: Beltway Blindness.
There is a syndrome of political short sightedness that seems to affect anyone inside the DC beltway -- and it progresses to nearly delusional perceptions and "beltway blindness."  It is extremely common among Washington journalists.  A fine example of this condition is Ann McFeatters April 7, 2006, op-ed column, Commentary: Condoleezza Rice Doldrums.  That's right, if you believe the mainstream media, Dr. Rice's hands-on, frequent flier style of personal diplomacy coupled with sweeping reforms of the State Department and US international assistance programs are "in the doldrums."

In physics, as in politics, the Theory of Relativity teaches us that the reality of time and space can change depending upon the position of the observer -- especially as whatever is being observed travels faster and faster.  And in US history, no Secretary of State has traveled faster than Dr. Rice.  In fact, Condi is moving at almost the speed of political light!

"No," our accomplished chief diplomat didn't single-handedly end the Iraq War, stop nuclear proliferation, end world hunger, or cure cancer last week -- but it's ridiculous to use the word "doldrums" to describe her current situation.  Ms. McFeatters goes on to share her perceptions of Dr. Rice, but it is clear to us that what she has written tells us more about the writer than the subject.

On a trip abroad with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, she gave him her bed aboard her plane and slept in the aisle. Did she get credit for her chivalry and thoughtfulness? Nope. People thought it was a little weird.

Only in Washington could courtesy extended to a guest, be considered "weird."  Any Southerner, Dr. Rice included, will tell you that your guest is always offered the best cut of meat at the dinner table, your most comfortable accommodations, the last beer out of the ice chest, etc.  And such things are offered in a way that the guest isn't aware of the imposition and made to feel uncomfortable by accepting your hospitality.

She finally spilled the beans about Iraq, telling reporters that the United States had made "tactical errors, thousands of them, I'm sure."

And guess what?  There will be a lot more tactical errors made next week, next month and next year.  Warfare is an inexact science.  It is why there are countless references throughout history to the "art of war" or the "fog of war."  In the military, soldiers, sailors and marines are CONSTANTLY debriefed so that the "errors" that will inevitably occur can be avoided in the future. What's annoying is that many of the same journalists reporting this "admission" know that,  but they go right on to report this mischaracterization. This type of "gotcha" journalism does not serve the public interest as politicians all learn to be less candid and forthcoming in the future.

Even more amazing is the change in tone that occurs as the piece continues.  At first, she is critical and pessimistic with descriptions such as:

"She is left slogging around the globe...."

"Rice became the administration's new star. Now there are signs the wheels are coming off that bus. The fevered talk a few months ago about how she was certain to run for the White House in 2008, despite her persistent denials, has faded."   (Nobody told us!)

But Bush won't change course - that would be admitting he had been wrong.  (It's wrong to liberate millions of people?  It's wrong to promote democracy whenever we can?  It's wrong to encourage international efforts to educate girls and women?  Why would we want to change course?)

It's a lot to put on the slim, if well-toned, shoulders of one woman.....She's smart.  She knows what's important - not, at the moment, football - and she understands the players and how extremely vital the stakes are.

She may well be Bush's last, best hope for saving face and going out with grace.

Then, it's as if Ms. McFeatters journalistic Thorazine™ finally kicks in, and she returns to reality.  She proposes a single six-year presidential term, but realizes that it's not going to happen and then explains, "That's why we're all watching Condi."  (Really?  We miss the connection.  We were "watching" her because she's the best candidate for 2008.)   Then, this reporter gives Condi a "to-do" list in the form of several rhetorical questions with an anti-conservative quip at the end (de rigueur for anything appearing in the MSM these days), and surprise, surprise a complement, or two.  (Were those real compliments?  Or did you just have to say something nice to make sure your future interview requests don't immediately end up in the "circular file?")
Will she be able to prod the Iraqi government into governing, giving it a firm deadline to get its act together? Will she lay the groundwork for reducing the force structure in Iraq and bringing home U.S. soldiers? Will she be able to convince other countries that democratization of Third World countries is not only desirable but also viable? Will she admit that what this administration is trying to do in Iraq is anathema to conservatives - social engineering?  (Trying to create appropriate conditions for an emerging democracy amidst a worldwide movement of Islamic fascism dedicated to killing us sounds like a good move to us -- call it whatever you like!)

Now, the only good thing about "Beltway Blindness" is that it is losing its ability to spread like an infectious disease.  As the MSM loses market share and US newspaper circulation continues to drop fewer Americans are exposed to its deleterious effects.  Election 2008 is shaping up to be the first presidential election  where Internet-based alternative media may outstrip traditional media's influence.

April 14, 2006:   Racism and cancer shaped Dr. Rice's youth -- challenges her mother taught her to face with defiance, but not bitterness. Condoleezza Rice has shown us all that we can  overcome the obstacles in our lives.  More significantly, her life story shows us that we can teach our children, by our own example of will and determination, that they can overcome limits on their opportunity.  In an inspiring story in Good Housekeeping magazine by Anne Gearan, AP Diplomatic Writer, Dr. Rice reflects upon the racism and turbulence of the 1960s in Alabama and how her mother, Angelena Rice, taught her tenacity and grace under fire.  These qualities are still evident today in our Secretary of State.  Her mother, who died of breast cancer when Condoleezza was 30 years old, had a vision of success for her daughter's future.  Through hard work and perseverance her mother's vision came true.

April 15, 2006: They're here!
Help change history for a dollar!
The new style bumper stickers that we're sending out as part of our SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope) program arrived. Those of you who have been waiting so long and patiently will be receiving them soon! (Thanks to your support, ALL of the older design bumper stickers were gone in less than 60 days!)  Due to the generosity of some of our donors, we'll be sending the new style bumper stickers to ALL of you who have sent in your dollar bills for the SASE program in the past!   Also, we are going to be instituting a new shipping system that should be more efficient in getting your Condi gear items to you quickly.  Of course, if you still don't like to order anything online, you can send us a dollar and a business size (#10) SASE to our Miami address: Americans for Dr. Rice, 9737 NW 41st St., #419, Miami, FL 33178, and we'll send you one of our new bumper stickers -- just like in the past.  (Sending your SASE to our Washington, DC, office will only delay your getting your bumper stickers.)  Thanks to your support we are looking forward to seeing these bumper stickers on American highways everywhere!

April 15, 2006: Dr. Rice, a "Source of Light"
This Easter Sunday, the Right Reverend Nicholas Reade will be referring to Dr. Rice's recent visit to Northwestern England, at the invitation of British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, as a "source of light."  Condi made the trip despite predictions of "thousands" of protesters that would greet her.  Although there were protesters, turn out was light compared to the dire predictions -- even with the protesters' numbers increased by the participation of school age youths skipping class, or "skived off," as they say in the UK.

Here she made a journey," the bishop said.

"But those small candles were also symbols, or parables, of the greater light brought alive in the resurrection hope of Jesus."

April 15, 2006: New homepage.
We are slowly switching over to our new Internet home, www.4Condi.com.  The old web pages will still be around.  When they are updated, the older pages will be forwarded to the new ones.  Our previous e-mail addresses have already switched over.   However, e-mail sent to the old e-mail addresses will be forwarded until everyone has made the switch.

Dr. Rice at the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations 04.19.06.  This remarkable image by Chicago Photographer Jennifer Girard (studio) really captures the energy and confidence of Dr. Rice. (used with the gracious permission of the photographer)

April 20, 2006: Campaign Buttons-Sold Out !
Time marches on and our old-design campaign buttons are gone -- a victim of your continuing support -- after more than 5000 were distributed.  For the foreseeable future, we'll be carrying only the Eisenhower-motif "I LIKE CONDI" buttons.   This classic, 1.5 inch diameter design will be with us through Inauguration Day!  Click here to get yours!  If you want something more subtle for daily wear, try our lapel pins -- another shipment of 1000 just arrived.
 

The larger (approx. 3") buttons are no longer available.

April 21, 2006: Sustaining Donors.
Check out our new donation page.  You'll notice that there's a new way to donate as a sustaining donor that makes regular monthly donations.  While you are "checking out" our new donation page, make sure you use it if you haven't done so for a while!

Dr. Rice's arrival this past week at Naval Station Great Lakes.  If our e-mail is any indication, Condi will be a popular Commander-in-Chief.

April 21, 2006: New Mexico is "Condi Country"
Nicole Collins, RN, has been designated as our New Mexico chairperson and in spite of being a critical care nurse, a graduate student working on her Master's in Public Administration, and a VP of the Federated Republican Women's Club in Albuquerque has found the time to dedicate to make sure that the battleground state of New Mexico is "Condi Country" in 2008.  Despite the distance between Washington, DC, and New Mexico; Nicole and our national chairperson, Jessie Jane Duff, have already become self-declared "sisters in the cause."  Look for more announcements of new Condista leaders soon and join us in welcoming Nicole to Americans for Dr. Rice.

April 22, 2006: Back to Europe.
Next week, Dr. Rice will visit Greece, Bulgaria, and Turkey.  She'll be laying the groundwork for the NATO summit in November.  As always terrorism, will be on the agenda, too.  With any luck, she may have to extend her trip to go and greet a newly elected Iraqi Prime Minister.

April 23, 2006: Now, we're "mature"
Today's Sunday Washington Post, ran an article, "Coy Candidates May Be Called Up by the Draft" by reporter Zachary Goldfarb.  The article prominently mentioned several Condistas: Wendy Rogers in Texas, Steve Berry in Georgia, as well as our national chairperson, Jessie Jane Duff.  Overall, a very positive piece about draft movements in general.  Although we don't know quite what to make of the following:

"...Americans for Dr. Rice is one of the more mature political draft efforts underway in anticipation of 2008."

That is a compliment, right?

April 24, 2006: Dump Cheney?
Even our allies the Brits joined in on the chorus of those calling for President Bush to "dump Cheney."  (Editor's note: We remain just interested bystanders in this political performance, so far.)  Yesterday, the London Sunday Times Washington reporter, Sarah Baxter, cited unnamed "Republicans" in an article urging the President to
"...dump Dick Cheney as vice-president and replace him with Condoleezza Rice if he is serious about presenting a new face to the jaded American public."

Fred Barnes, executive editor of the Weekly Standard and Fox News commentator, seems to be the source of many of these rumors -- especially after his March 20th Wall Street Journal op-ed piece that spelled out his White House "purge" scenario.  He has had, and presumably still has, access to many administration insiders.  This lends credence to his speculation about the future.  However, as his companion, Mort Kondracke, on the Fox News program The Beltway Boys has noted, the confirmation hearings involved in such a shake-up would be a "take no prisoners" type of political operation for the Democrats as they get ready for 2006 and 2008.

Most Condistas have referred to the scenario of Dr. Rice becoming VP after Cheney stepping down as "Plan A."  Many of us have thought that this was a strategy laid out long ago -- although there is rampant speculation as to who is originator of this "strategery."  The advantages of the plan are that it basically designates Dr. Rice as President Bush's heir apparent and takes the wind out of the sails of almost every other Republican primary contender.  The downside, or maybe not, is that it would initiate a political slugfest during the confirmation hearings that would follow.  Of course, shrill partisan attacks by Democrats, or politically motivated attacks by Republicans with presidential aspirations of their own, could potentially backfire on those who are behind such attacks.  (These attacks could become a political "nuclear hand grenade."  A very effective weapon, but potentially lethal to the poor bastard that "pulls the pin" unless he, or she, can throw it far, far away.)

There is another reason a nasty confirmation battle might not be a negative for Dr. Rice. Critics of Dr. Rice often say that she can't run for the White House because she hasn't survived the crucible of a hard fought election.  Taking on, even inviting, scathing confirmation hearings could go a long way towards silencing these critics.  We're confident that she'd eat her attackers from Capitol Hill for lunch with her command of the facts and cool demeanor under fire -- from even the most outspoken of the left wing of the Democratic Party.  In fact, the more strident and outrageous the attack, the better Dr. Rice would appear.  She's a "lose-lose" situation for the current Democratic leadership in any future confirmation hearings.  If they are too aggressive, they'll come off as shrill partisan politicians.  If they are too conciliatory, they'll alienate their moonbat left-wing base.

On the other hand, there is the "draft" scenario, or "Plan B."  This has to have a certain appeal to Republican strategists while at the same time provoking a little fear.  This is something that hasn't been done, seriously, since Eisenhower over half a century ago.  And even then, it was done with the backing of supporters with millions of dollars at their disposal.  Additionally, in the ever-changing world of the Internet, the "grassroots" are like a genie in a bottle -- very unpredictable once released.  So, this is uncharted territory for many in the Republican Party hierarchy.  And let's face it, there is always fear of the unknown, of things that are not "under control."  But in the cold reality of political calculus, there is no Republican candidate, other than Dr. Rice, that puts the Democrats on the defensive in states that have been considered solidly "blue" since FDR.  This alone should override almost every other  consideration.  The Democrats are "lost" if they have to devote millions of dollars to "defending" California, New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and dare we say it -- even New York?

If you listen to Dr. Rice's denials about an interest in running, you'll frequently hear her refer to her desire to support a "fine" Republican candidate, yet unnamed, for 2008.  Although we can certainly understand her desire to leave the spot light for a well-deserved rest after years of dedicated service to our nation; eventually, even Dr. Rice will come to the realization that there is no one who comes close to her as a potential candidate.  There is no doubt in our minds that once she arrives at this conclusion, as we have, that she will not ignore the call to serve her country once again.

So what is it, exactly, that we're trying to do?  In a nutshell, after a year and a half of work, what is our "mission statement?"  It is our goal, our mission, to organize and demonstrate the support that is out there for Dr. Rice's candidacy in 2008.  We need to provide Dr. Rice the option of legitimately saying that she is accepting the "call" from the American people and the Republican Party.  After that, the mechanics of actually putting her on the ballot will be anti-climatic.  Whether it's "Plan A" or "Plan B, " you can count on the Condistas to be here all the way to Inauguration Day, January, 2009.April 22, 2006: Dr. Rice defends the President!
Yesterday, with long-time Bush and Condi confidant Karen Hughes introducing her to the participants of the Edward R. Murrow program for visiting international journalists, Dr. Rice defended the President on a variety of issues.  But there was one exchange with a member of the audience that didn't get highlighted by the mainstream media.

The last question was from an African journalist whose "question" was more of a critique of the Administration's Africa policy than any effort to elicit information.  At the heart of this question was the implication that we just don't care about Africa, or black people.  (Remember Kanye West after hurricane Katrina?  "President Bush doesn't care about black people.")  Well, if you're a Republican whose tired of being falsely characterized as a racist, you would have thoroughly enjoyed Dr. Rice's response as she demonstrated her command of the facts and discredited these false assumptions, accepted as fact by many -- the product of years of misinformation and propaganda from the Left.

"Under President Bush...we are spending three times more on official development assistance in Africa than at any time in American history. Secondly, as to AIDS and malaria, it is the President that launched....the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which is $15 billion of American taxpayers' money....That's unheard of in the international community. Third, it's the United States that has the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which has made it possible for thousands and thousands and thousands, probably millions of Africans to have jobs as a result of access to American markets for African goods. Fourth, it's the United States that led the debt relief effort, the HIPIC effort, for highly impoverished countries to completely relieve their debt...."

Dr. Rice's breadth of knowledge and ability to clearly articulate US foreign policy is simply amazing -- especially when answering critics.  The Presidential debates in 2008 promise to be historical events.  We can't wait!  (See, or hear, the entire event: broadband video, audio)


April 24, 2006: Condi, now she's the "International Woman of Mystery"
With all due respect to Austin Powers, Mike Myers, and President Bush (According to Drudge, he's an Austin Powers fan.), Dr. Rice's current European travels have become the subject of wild speculation by the press as to where she'll make her next "surprise" visit.  This week's European itinerary of "only" 3 countries leaves a lot of "wiggle room" for an "unplanned" excursion.  Reuters is already reporting about the "mystery" destination for our globe-trotting Secretary of State.  (article)  Top of the list is Iraq, where a new Prime Minister awaits the "most powerful woman in the world."  Other possible destinations; Cyprus, Libya, Afghanistan, or any of the various Gulf States.  Even Russia has been mentioned as a possible destination so that she could "seal the deal" on an Iranian nuclear deal.  One thing's for certain, this Secretary of State earns every penny of her paycheck!

There are major security issues involved with any of these potential destinations.
"With Rice's aides willing to mislead about potential stops to dangerous countries, her trips have become surrounded with speculation."

Of course, unlike Austin Powers, Dr. Rice doesn't have to go on an international mission to recover her "mojo" -- she's always had it and never lost it!  We just prefer to call it: competence, intelligence, knowledge, achievement, integrity, and excellence -- the qualities needed to be our nation's next Commander-in-Chief.

Women in powerful positions are becoming commonplace internationally.  The Greek Foreign Minister Theodora Bakoyannis and Dr. Rice in Athens 04.25.06

April 26, 2006: "To boldly go where no MAN has gone before..."  OK, maybe we watched a little too much Star Trek when we were kids. However, despite the protests by Communists and anarchists, isn't it ironic that Dr. Rice visits Greece, but her male predecessor, Colin Powell, cancelled his trip in 2004 when he was Secretary of State and President Clinton cut his Greek visit short in 1999? Just an observation. 

Dr. Rice is willing, ready and able to visit countries, even those that may have significant anti-American elements, to further US foreign policy.  She recognizes the importance of winning the ideological "front" in the War on Terror, and she's not afraid of admitting past US foreign policy misadventures to begin repairing damaged diplomatic relationships.  Her visit to Cairo, as well as her current trip, are examples of her efforts in this regard. (link)

April 26, 2006: "Dream Ticket" was how the left-leaning British Guardian characterized the "Washington political classes" hope for a potential Clinton vs Rice match up in 2008.  Remarkably, the special report, written by Julian Borger and Suzanne Goldenberg, had some very complimentary things to say about Dr. Rice and her potential as a candidate.

On the Republican side, Senator John McCain is the undoubted frontrunner, but his chances could evaporate should the two big stars (Rudy or Condi) ....decide to enter the race....But the Draft Rudy group will have to overcome opposition from the Republican right....Both men are outshone, however, by Condoleezza Rice, whose star power as the first African American woman to serve as secretary of state can not be denied.....If Ms Rice is persuaded to enter the contest, despite her insistence she is not interested, all bets are off.

Their take on Hillary?

Hillary Clinton is so far ahead of her potential rivals in the polls and in the "money primary" - the race to corral the financial donors with the deepest pockets - that many observers believe she has built an impregnable position....Senator Clinton has risen to a position of Democratic hegemony without ever admitting any interest in occupying the Oval Office.

The crew of "Starship Condi," the C-17 that brought Secretary Rice safely to Baghdad this week. (State Dept. photo, Joellen Duckett)


As they prepare for dinner in Baghdad, Dr. Rice and Sec. of Defense Rumsfeld share a smile after he shows her the Condi 2008 polo shirt he brought in his overnight bag .  (Just kidding,

April 26, 2006: Rice & Rummy Road Trip!
Showing the world that there are no hard feelings between these two top administration officials, the Secretaries of State and Defense showed up in Iraq during a “surprise” visit to Baghdad.  Along with lending support to the new Iraqi Prime Minister, visiting US troops, and striking a blow against speculation that there’s some type of “feud” between the two cabinet members; this is yet another example of Dr. Rice’s hands-on, personal style of diplomacy – an extension of the “Rice Doctrine,” or transformational diplomacy.  The success of her policies will help speed the return home of US troops, although some may remain in support roles, such as the Provincial Reconstruction Teams that Condi’s leadership helped to launch.

In a direct challenge to rumors in the press that Dr. Rice’s comments in the UK about “thousands of mistakes” in Iraq led to a rift between Rumsfeld and Rice; the Secretary of State, with the elder warhorse standing next to her, pointedly answered reporters’ questions (as reported by the AP's Anne Gearan & Robert Burns):

"Have we made mistakes? I‘m sure we have," Rice told reporters with Rumsfeld beside her. "In a big historical circumstance like this you‘re going to do some things well and you‘re going to do some things not well."

Now, the only question we have now is: “Who slept in the VIP cabin, and who slept stretched out on their seat?”  After the row caused by the sleeping arrangements when Dr. Rice traveled to Iraq with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, we’re anxious to know! (link)
it's only his dinner napkin.)

April 28, 2006: Donkey Insomnia?
According to Professor Michael Alvarez of CalTech, writing in the Pasadena Star News, about Dr. Rice becoming VP, and then a presidential candidate in '08:
This is a nightmare scenario for Democratic hopes to retake the presidency in 2008. It's a scenario with enough plausibility to strike fear in the hearts of some Democratic strategists.... If you are a Democrat who really wants to get the Republicans out of the White House in 2008, this is a vision of the future that may keep you awake at night.

You can read the full article from the 19th here.

April 29, 2006: New Bumper Sticker and T-shirt designs. In preparation for the Texas State Republican Convention, June 2nd and 3rd, we are going to unveil two new bumper sticker and t-shirt designs.  (Hat tip to Wendy and JR for the design work and inspiration.) These should be available shortly on our website.