Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is speaking this morning to Grover Norquist's weekly powerhouse gathering at Americans for Tax Reform of conservative associations, think tanks, and political operations.
At the semi-secret gatherings which Republican political hopefuls migrate to to get the blessing of not only Norquist but the diverse parts of the nation's conservative money and political machinery, Norquist gives everyone in the room 3 minutes to pitch their cause or issue. I have attended before, but if one wants to attend again -- no one may write or speak about the internal discussion or who attended.
In this case, however, I am not attending -- but a source other than Norquist has leaked this information to The Washington Note and Huffington Post.
As one major Republican operative told me yesterday:
Someone like Condi Rice doesn't go to Grover Norquist's den to talk about the Annapolis Middle East peace process. She's going to secure her future in Republican politics and to position herself as a 'potential' VP candidate on the McCain ticket.
Grover Norquist is author of the new book, Leave Us Alone: Getting the Government's Hands Off Our Money, Our Guns, Our Lives. It would be interesting to know which pages of the book Condi has dog-eared.
-- Steve Clemons publishes the popular political blog, The Washington Note
UPDATE: Here is an update on Condoleezza Rice's discussion with and presentation to Norquist's Wednesday Group Meeting.
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
It's all a sham. If she's nominated for VP, questions about her sexual orientation would become fair game. Based on what I've heard from my sources at Stanford University, the GOP would not want anyone to go there.
This is a sham. From my sources at Stanford
Rice has been inept and couldn't cut a deal if she worked at a used car lot...next !!
Well, someone was foolish enough to give her a Ph.D. Her actions clearly show that she was not smart enough to ever earn one.
PERFECT!!!! As a DEMOCRAT I would love to see her on the ticket. Although she has been totally worthless as the Sec of State at least I can vote for "change" in the white house, if Obama wins the nomination!! If McCain was smart he would ask her....no, beg her to be on his ticket. This is one (and I'm sure there are others) Democrat that would switch to the other side in 08. Granted, that's only if Obama wins the nomination...if not GO HILLARY! HAH!
she has accomplished nothing.
what a revolting idea!
I would find it unbearable, even in a campaign, to have to listen to her spin and spin and spin. She is the queen of fast talking. There is also the fact that she has been monumentally ineffective as Secretary of State.
"Osama bin laden determined to strike within the United States."
Pretty much says it all. Condi couldn't negotiate her way out of a paper bag. Vice President??? No way Jose'.
Does Condi have a "Plan" or just "a list of actionable items"?
Why is the Secy of State meeting with a money-launderer?
McCain brought out the goods on Grover investigating Abramoff.
These papers came out in a court of law. If we had a real DOJ, one uncorrupted, Norquist would be facing charges.
Again, why is the Secy of State meeting with a money-launderer?
She can't even pee with Cheney now. How does she expect to run the world next year after Geezer McCain seizes up?
LOL, kudos, good one.........
When "The Donald" was asked if he thought he could do a better job than condi, he said he knew 30 people that could do a better job than condi. He said she can't close a deal. She goes overseas,
meets with people and never gets anything done.
I remember taking that day off of work to watch her testify before the 9/11 commission. When she said "historical data" I felt like picking up my TV and smashing it against a wall.
Let her be VP. Either democratic nominee would crush her in a debate and rake her over the coals for her bad/evil judgment and spineless cronyism.
If Republicans think that they can answer "black with black", they've got another thing coming.
I told you so! I posted this some days ago. I knew it was coming. Clemons, thanks for confirming my keen sense of intuition. Watch out Obamites. She is the toughest, most clever and highly educated candidate in the Republican party. Sleep well. I know Clinton supporters reading this are laughing at all of you right now. Condi is like Titanium.
Get real! She's fluff. Window dressing. She fills a couple of slots in bimbo bush's affirmative action quota. Just like Alberto V.O. 5 and "Uncle Tom" Colin Powell. Cheney won't let her play in the sand box with the big kids.
You wish this were the case. But the reality is that part of the reason Rumsfeld left is because of Condi Rice. She is solid. She is more highly educated than Obama could ever be on foreign policy and while I support Hillary Clinton, should she not be the nominee, many Clinton supporters, if not most will back McCain/Rice. So will many black women who support Obama. It will be very hard for a black woman to prevent another black woman from succeeding. I see that McCain is saavy. Good for him and Condi. I would rather see Rice as president one day, than Obama on any given day.
Shes an idiot! Shopping for shoes while our men and women get killed in Iraq.
i hate to break it to you, but as a Black woman, and despite the "wisdom" of the media - i will not be supporting Condi because she's Black, because she's a republican! Most African Americans are democrats, and despite feeling proud of her, we realised that she has creepy political ideas that would scare Lucifer back to hell. What's not to be proud of!
She's a lightweight.
On Rice, I have never in my life heard someone speak so many words and say nothing.
she's good isn't she?! lol it's like HRC but Black.
Condi thinks if she is vice-president the president will be some random idiot and SHE will be in charge.
Rice's tenure is a spectacular series of failures. She ignored the Clinton White House warnings about Al-Quaeda and 9/11 happened on her watch as National Security Advisor. She was one of the architects of the phoney Iraq drum-beat for war and party to the incompetent execution of said war. Now as Secretary of State, she's presiding over the darkest days of US International standing and influence. At best she's ineffective, at worst she's incompetent. Yeah, that's exactly who I want as Great Grandpa McCain's second in line.
It would be hard to name a prominent Republican less likely to be offered the VP slot. than Rice.
I doubt there is any real consideration of Rice underway. It is much more likely this information was released for a political purpose unrelated to actually offering Rice the slot. Rice would be the Democrat's dream candidate. Eight years of detailed discussions of Bushco foreign policy failures and blunders would be in play. All the 9/11, could it have been prevented stuff would be in play. The Lesbian angle might come into play.
And the racist part of the country that won't vote for Obama under any circumstances would all of a sudden not be voting for McCain.
I cannot believe how terrible the commenting format here has become. I am going to go elsewhere. Maybe Alternet. I posted to this thread twice and both comments where lost in the HuffPo ether. I will try one more time as I have learned to copy my comments before posting because so many have become lost. Here is the repost: See this is precisely how things work in the conservative bizarro world? You take one of the most inept and incompetent people to ever serve as National Security Adviser (Aug 6th PDB comes to mind) and one who has been lack luster Sec of State and you vote for them for VP! Me am so glad me not repuglican.
Rice became Secretary of State after her negligence with respect to September 11. I hate to think of what she would have to screw up to justify promoting her to vice president.
are you kidding me? the whole bush team should be tried and jailed for deliberately lying to us about the war, among other things in his legacy. It was good enough reason to put Clinton up for impeachment, simply for lying, but for some reason, it escapes Bush....hmmmm
Can anyone explain to me, why McCain would want an incompetent Bushie on his ticket?
Same reason he copies an incompetent Bushie in his policies.
that's the last thing this country needs- rice keeping her bloody hands in this country's pocket
Sure, that would be a nice move for MCBush. I wish he would put her on the ticket as it would solidify the case being made that he would be an extension of Bush.
Will her female partner Randy Bean be moving into the VP's mansion with Condi, or will she stay in the home they own together in Palo Alto?
And this is important to you because...
Because if she is a lesbian, we need to know that. She is a major player in a party that discriminates against gays. So if she is hiding who she really is, we need to make that public. Then we would know not only is she a disgrace to both her races, the human race and the Black race, but also to her core being. This then would make her not only incompetent but a very sad human being who has sold out her life for her career. And do you want someone like that to remain in the White House? Look what has happened the eight years she has been there already.
wow.....very enlightening as to how liberal think. I cant believe you actually think she is a disgrace to the human race if she is gay.
So she would be a "disgrace to her race" if she were a lesbian?
Sheesh. I can't believe the way you progressives talk.
An African American Lesbian as VP? That sounds perfect, but they still have to get thier politics and philosphy correct. No more right wing nonsense... She was part of the mess that got us into the current situation. So, her femaleness, African Americaness, and Lesbianess will not overcome her sins...
If John McCain selects Condi Rice, then Obama will select one of the women governor and cancel her out. QED.
I think Obama will choose whoever does him the most good among voters.
Spoken like a true liberal.
Posted March 26, 2008 | 10:47 AM (EST)