Breaking: Condi Rice Flirts With VP Possibility -- Speaks to Grover Norquist's Wednesday Group Meeting

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.

Comments

[gjoh]

God save the US from VP Condi Rice!

[unclebucky]

McDeath/McGrimace '08 Oh, yeah, that is really gonna go far. You know, even in this rarified posting space, it is important to state how desperate these guys are with such a choice. Rice, who spoke with Grover Norquist's group, the guy who wanted to strangle the Government in a "bathtub." These people, these neocons remind me of the character Trelane on Star Trek, who try to control others but who HATE being controlled. They constantly stare at themselves in a mirror admiringly. Sad.

[Lorenzoh]

McCain / Rice is not at all farfetched. If you saw the recent Frontline "Bush's War" we were treated to a ringside seat at the steady, steady rise of Madam Dr. Rice who for all the world reminds me of an Indian cobra. The only person in her way now is Dick Cheney, all she has to do is get rid of him by mid-summer then the door is open for the Dear Cheerleader to appoint another vice president. John McCain?? Then Madam Dr. Rice would easily take the second slot for the 2008 election. After about a year (2009) what chance would an old man with cancer have against an intriguing and very determined cobra.

[BobSF94117]

Get rid of Dick Cheney?!!??! Wouldn't that amount to some sort of Darth/Luke power thingy?

[deminmo]

My guess is Condi is a woman who plays the fool sometimes
to get into a position to do the most damage. She has been
"promoted" for her allegance to Bush. She has a lot of freedom
on her "visits". As a VP after being a Bush disciple, she will
be in a prime position to continue the Bush legacy.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

I'll see your black candidate, and raise you one!!! Idiots!

[speakingtruth2power]

Nothing would be more appropriate for J W McBomb's campaign

than to have that lying, neocon war whore join the ticket as his VP.

On the other hand, after we dump Hillary, Democrats can launch

an entire cabinet of strong, qualified, intelligent and experienced

members of a team that can deliver change and deBushification.

[transendentilist]

Is this you, being your, "better self?" Is this your idea of Obamian unity and change?? You sound like a grade school kid on a playground. Too bad you can't live up to all of Obama's hype about hope and change and working together.

[kellygrrrl]

how about WE all come back to Planet Reality and dispense will ALL the hype about ANY candidate? It is exceptionally troubling to hear the Poll today which shows 28% of Clinton backers saying they will vote for McCain. I mean, why not just ship your kids off to Iraq or Iran now and send every penny you have directly to Dick Cheney. Yes, I am a supporter of Obama. But as I have said from the start, I will vote for the Dem Nominee.

[bobbyvassallo]

Rice has been in the middle of it. She has great international experience and would be an excellent choice. bobby vassallo

[wolfgangmo]

Yah but will she service McBush as often as she services Bush?

That aside, she has experience all right. Experience at being wrong again and again and again. In my home town we stopped giving matches to the village idiot.

[strandwolf]

Oh, Bob-a-Dob, such powers of reasoning!

[SonnyBono]

Agreed - she has been in the middle of it - I guess you want the local fire bug to be the captain of the fire department - I mean she has done so well with all her international endeavors like.... wait, give me a minute, I'll think of something.

I got it before 9/11 - oh, wait, she couldn't be bothered when Clark wanted her to read a memo about Bin Laden wanting to attack America - but that was when she was National Security Advisor so forget it.

How about when she said that the evidence of Iraq's nuclear program would be a mushroom cloud over Toledo - well, she was wrong about that and the whole war thing.

How about when she stonewalled the UN on the cease fire in Lebanon - well, it did let the Israeli IDF kill a lot of Lebanese men, women and children and let us not forget how much "progress" we have seen in the Israeli - Palestinian issue under her leadership.

She is an expert on Russia and under her watch the Cold War is back - after she taught Bush all about Russia and the old Soviet Union and W looked into Putin's soul.

Actually she would be a great choice for McCain - a first rate enabler for a warmonger - truly a marriage made in - well, not heaven but somewhere.

[LivingStardust]

I really hope McCain makes her his choice for VP. Rice is possibly the only woman in this country LESS electable than Hillary. Go on, John. Pick her and find out why foreign heads of state laugh when she leaves the room (that's not hyperbole, but observed behavior).

[NoRemorse]

Yes, and you observed that where? I thought so.

[transendentilist]

Who are you talking to??

[transendentilist]

If Hillary is so unelectable, how come she and Obama are running neck and neck, or with just a slight lead by Obama?????


It is the greatest misfortune to underestimate your opponent.-----------Lao Tsu

[mach]

I thought that was Sun Tsu

[buddhistMonkey]

First, they're not neck-and-neck. Obama has an insurmountable delegate and popular vote lead. The only reason you may not know this fact is that the media wants to keep Hillary's candidacy alive so that they've got a horse race to cover.

Second, it's once thing to do well in a primary, and something else entirely to do well in a general election. Hillary has much higher negatives than either Obama or McCain, which is why she's losing to Obama now, and would lose to McCain if she were somehow to stage a coup at the convention.

[savory1]

It appears that the Republicans are gearing up for a go round with Obama. Conde/McCain is not working for me.

[uglybetty]

What I make of this is ....Nader has a great chance of winning the election ,if they pick Obama to run against McCain and Condi !

[AdLib]

PLEASE! Pick Condi for VP!

Literally become the ticket of 4 more years of the Bush Administration, please!

Bush Job Disapproval (per CNN): 67%

Country is on the Wrong Track (per Gallup): 80%

[mach]

And yet this lame duck president gets everything through that he wants through.....regardless of approval ratings.....it must be frustrating.

[buddhistMonkey]

Like a FISA bill with retroactive immunity?

[anney]

"She's going to secure her future in Republican politics and to position herself as a 'potential' VP candidate on the McCain ticket."

Oh, GAWD!

[kissmygrits]

Wow, then the Republicans could have a full ticket of people who know nothing about the economy and showed bad judgment on Iraq. I love it, actually.

[Tejano1]

she ought to be "flirting" with The Hague and a war crimes trial.

[transendentilist]

Hey, Texan01. Hillary did not order shock and awe. She didn't order an invasion either. If you want to try Hillary, you have to try Obama as well, because he votes to fund this war every single time. Ever since Mr. "been against it from the beginning," got into the senate, he has voted right along with Hillary on Iraq.

[dsmyre]

Condi Rice - the Geraldine Ferraro of 2008.

[Rickter]

Heck, why not. She's been so darn effective the first time around. Once you've sold your soul - you really don't have a lot to lose this point anyway...

[mollysgran]

Condi was raised to be a princess, not a politician. I have read a great deal about her - and to tell you the truth, she "creeps me out"!