Monday was World AIDS Day, and one standard item of media bias every year is lamenting how some people still persist in thinking "AIDS is a gay disease," or a disease acquired by intravenous drug users – in short, often acquired by behavior, not by chance. This is not an ideological argument. It’s a medical fact.

 

 

 

 

Gabor Steingart reports in today's "Spiegel Online"  that, given the Dems infighting , Condoleezza Rice would be a great opportunity for McCain. 

Let's imagine that the first female president of the United States is elected in the near future, but that her name is not Hillary Clinton. And then let us imagine that the first black president moves into the White House in the foreseeable future, and that this person's name is not Barack Obama.

The answer to the riddle is, of course, Condoleezza Rice. The daughter of an Alabama pastor, an accomplished pianist, Bush confidante and secretary of state, she has all of the traits that are currently spread between the two Democratic candidates. She is experienced and perceptive, she is black and female, and she is adept at giving courageous speeches.

McCain has not ruled her out as a possibility, when asked by the press.  he praised her and said she had not approached him yet.
It bears repeating,  Condi can help shore up the conservative base behind McCain.  She is a Second Amendment "absolutist", and pro-life.  She supports all restrictions, including the partial birth ban. She has also said that her position on abortion becomes more pro-life as medical tech advances. ( More traits about fetuses can be discovered earlier.)

Steingart also mentions Condi's life story :

Her life story is as emotional as a novel by Alice Walker, who achieved global fame with her drama about the American South, "The Color Purple." Rice was eight when four girls were killed in her city in a bombing attack perpetrated by white racists in a local Baptist church. Rice had been friends with one of the victims.

Steingart is right again.  Condi's neighborhood was regularly harassed at night by the Klan.  A dud bomb was thrown into her front yard.  Her father took action by forming an armed neighborhood watch group that patrolled the streets to defend the neighbors.   This is part of the reason why Condi is pro-Second Amendment.  She said this experience taught her that there will be some times when the government will not protect you.

   Now, the next question:  does Condi want to run?   Steingart cites her meeting with Grover Norquist:

For the first time since taking office as secretary of state, Rice recently visited one of the meetings of the lobby group Americans for Tax Reform, especially influential during election periods. It is important to note that, for many Americans, their love of country is only exceeded by their affection for money.

Republican strategist Dan Senor, who served as the spokesman for the US civilian administration during the initial period of the Iraq occupation, said after Rice's appearance at the event: "Condoleezza has become active. She is campaigning for her candidacy." One thing he did reveal is that she did not discuss NATO."

 Regardless of what you may have heard in the past, Condi is in pre-candidate mode.   Let's show her our support.

HUGE NEWS!!!

Steve Clemons reports that Condoleezza Rice spoke to Grover Norquist’s weekly GOP briefing meeting:

What are these weekly meetings?? Clemons explains:

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.

This has started speculation that Dr. Rice may be hearing the call of the people after all!

Clemons spoke with a GOP insider who said:

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.

After the meeting Clemons reported her remarks:

The first question Condoleezza Rice received at the meeting was one about her “political future.” She responded by saying that she was not interested in more government service at this point — that she wanted to return to California and write a book that reflected on her time and work in the Bush administration. So, she is telegraphing a “no” about the possibility of a Vice Presidential possibility.

Others still argue that one does not talk serious foreign policy matters with the Wednesday Group Meeting without wanting to also telegraph that one might be interested in political futures. In other words, though saying she is not interested in the Vice Presidential slot on a McCain ticket, Condoleezza Rice might be convinced at some point to give up her near California dreams if “necessity” required it.

Now it’s our time to tell McCain we want Condi. Have you sent your e-mail, postcard, and donation to McCain’s camp yet??

You can also help the effort by buying a “Think Condi” t-shirt or an “I Like Condi” button. Shirts are $15. Buttons are $1. To order send an e-mail to : Wes at pumbaaj@aol.com

Keep the momentum going!!!

       Supporters of Condoleezza Rice have mobilized the membership.    We want McCain to consider Condi as a running mate.   News stories say he hasn't really decided on anyone yet.  As reported in the recent issue of U.S. News & World Report, a postcard campaign has been started by thinkcondi.com.   What we are asking is that everyone who would like McCain to consider Condoleezza Rice for his running mate,  send a postcard, e-mail, and/or a donation to the McCain campaign national headquarters.   The mailing address is:

  In yesterday's Boston Globe, Republican political analyst Todd Domke created a method to choose the best running mate for McCain.   It was almost scientific:

On the following 20 criteria, rate possible vice presidential candidates from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent). Add those 20 numbers and - presto! - you'll have your top-scoring finalists.

If a candidate rated a 5 on each of the 20 criteria, the total score would be 100. But no one is perfect.

For each criterion, you'll see a sample candidate who deserves a high-5 score. At the end, you'll see my ranking of 20 candidates who have been speculated about as realistic prospects.

Criteria included health, age, "conservatively conservative", scandal free, could help win swing states, etc.   In his final calculus the top 3 possibilities are:

1. Tim Pawlenty - 85
2. Charlie Crist - 81
3. Condoleezza Rice  - 80

Condi is on McCain's radar.  Let's hope he reads "The Boston Globe".  The score card Todd Domke put together is very thorough.  You should take a look at the article and evaluate the possibilities for yourself!

There is an article in the latest issue of "The New Yorker"  about McCain's running mate options.    It says:

“WITH MCCAIN ATOP TICKET, TALK SHIFTS TO SPOT NO. 2,” the Times headlined the day after Spot No. 1 was definitively filled. According to the accompanying story, McCain has no Vice-Presidential short list and no process for making one, “merely a process to find a process.”

   This seems odd, but I guess he figures he has time to contemplate.  

   The good part is :

"If McCain really wants to have it all—to refurbish his maverick image without having to flip-flop on the panderings that have tarnished it; to galvanize the attention of the press, the nation, and the world; to make a bold play for the center without seriously alienating “the base”—then he can avail himself of a highly interesting option: Condoleezza Rice."

Why?

"To deal first with the obvious: Rice may be “only” the second woman and the second African-American to be Secretary of State, but she is indisputably the highest-ranking black female official ever to have served in any branch of the United States government. Her nomination to a constitutional executive office would cost McCain the votes of his party’s hardened racists and incorrigible misogynists [translation- the GOP is the party of racism and misogyny] . They are surely fewer in number, though, than the people who would like to participate in breaking the glass ceiling of race or gender but, given the choice, would rather do so in a more timid way, and/or without abandoning their party. And with Rice on the ticket the Republicans could attack Clinton or Obama with far less restraint."

But what about the Iraq War????   Won't that harm the ticket????

"By choosing Rice, McCain would shackle himself anew to Bush’s Iraq war. But it’s hard to see how those chains could get much tighter than he has already made them. Rice would fit nicely into McCain’s view of the war as worth fighting but, until Donald Rumsfeld’s exit from the Pentagon, fought clumsily. And it would be fairly easy to establish a story line that would cast Rice as having been less Bush’s enabler than a loyal subordinate who nevertheless pushed gently from within for a more reasonable, more diplomatic approach."

But isn't Rice an idiot?? The worst Secretary of State in US history?????

"It’s true that her record in office has been one of failure [says the liberal media], from downgrading terrorism as a priority before 9/11 [translation- 9/11 is her fault] to ignoring the Israel-Palestine problem until (almost certainly) too late. But this does not seem to have done much damage to her popularity. In a Washington Post-ABC News poll taken when opposition to the Iraq war was approaching its height, she enjoyed a “favorable-unfavorable” rating of nearly two to one. The conservative rank and file likes her. Though she once described herself as “mildly pro-choice,” she is agile enough to complete the journey to mildly pro-life. And she is a preacher’s daughter."

   But "The New Yorker" concludes she'd be a good choice for McCain:

"Choosing Rice would be a trick. Her failures would be buried in an avalanche of positive publicity for a personal story as yet only vaguely known to the broad public. (One of the little girls who died in the 1963 Birmingham church bombing was her playmate? We didn’t know that!) But the trick would not be an entirely cynical one. Her ascension, though nowhere near as momentous a breakthrough as the election of Obama or Clinton, would be a breakthrough all the same. In this connection, a kind word for George W. Bush may be in order. By appointing first Colin Powell and then Rice to the most senior job in the Cabinet, a job of global scope, Bush changed the way millions of white Americans think about black public officials. This may turn out to the most positive legacy of his benighted Presidency. "

Wanna know more????  E-mail me or go to http://www.thinkcondi.com

Robert Novak was interviewed by Geraldo on FOX News recently.   He asked him about possible running mates for McCain.  His suggestion:  CONDOLEEZZA RICE!!   (Hat tip- Think Progress)

I would never in a million years even dream of voting McCain,  but I'd definitely do it if Condi were his running mate.   One of the first 'Draft Condi" TV commercials ran during in NH during the premiere episode of "Commander In Chief".  In the episode,  Vice President Geena Davis becomes President after the President dies.   

"Think Condi" is the group touting Condi as a VP choice.   They will be at CPAC next weekend.   


Check out her record.  Read one of her biographies.  Take a serious look at this contender.   The election may depend on it.

Last week, the New York Times ran a campaign advertisement     human interest story profiling the speechwriter for Barack Obama:

   His name is Jon Favreau .  He is 26 years old and a former member of the John Kerry 2004 campaign.   (Well, there are 2 strikes against him already.)   If you've noticed that there are repetitive catch phrases ("change")   and not a lot of specific details or campaign promises in Obama's speeches,  now you know why.

Jon heads a team of 3 speech writers.   The other two writers on the team are  Adam Frankel (also 26 ) and Ben Rhodes (30).  Frankel has helped an advisor to JFK write his memoirs, and Rhodes helped write the Iraq Study Group Report.  

  Favreau worked on the national team of the Kerry campaign right after he graduated from college.  He eventually became a writer for Kerry.  When he saw Obama's speech for the 2004 Convention,  he asked Obama to delete a phrase  from the speech.  The phrase was already a part of Kerry's  convention speech.

   The NYT article describes Obama's Kennedy-esque poise and stature.  It says he seemed to channel JFK when he spoke.   That it may be due to his charisma, not the words he spoke.   A historian from Brown University , Ted Widmer, notes that  Obama's speeches were good for the early part of the campaign,  but now he needs to suggest some concrete proposals.

     Why would Obama pick 3 young whipper snappers for his speech writing team???  I would think more experienced advisors would at least oversee this team.   The fact that Favreau wrote for the campaign that lost the last election should be a warning sign for Obama. 

   The phrase "baby faced" is used to describe Favreau at least 3 times in this small article.   The article also mentioned that he has no girlfriend.   A quick google search of his name reveals remarks by many squealing liberal females discussing his good looks.  A glance at his photo in the article tells me they would probably be wasting their time.

Mr. Rusher wrote an article last week about vice-presidents:  what they need to bring to the ticket,  how they affect elections, etc.   He suggested Dr. Condoleezza Rice as a VP pick.   

What a great idea!!!!  I have been on the Condi for President bandwagon for years.   Our efforts to draft her failed, but we did make a big splash. 

At the Mackinac Island Conference we began Plan B:   Promoting her as a VP.   This strategy cut down on our costs significantly, and was more appealing to those who already had a favorite for Pres.

Mr. Rusher explained the demographic aspect of the idea:  appealing to black voters and female voters.  These two blocks are DNC strongholds.   This is a good idea strategically, BUT we need to focus on what she has done under the Bush presidencies (both 41 and 43).

*As an expert on Russian affairs, she was able to stand up to Yeltsin and build relations with Putin.  

* As the face of the US to the outside world,  she was the one person who countries who hated Bush would deal with.

* She was able to convince North Korea to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons and come to a bargaining table.  (This is a country that considered nukes a "birth right".)

* She is a vehement defender of the War on Terror.   This is very important.   Despite the moonbattery and protests about the war,  she was able to articulate time and time again why we are there. Anyone who can handle both Yeltsin and Barbara Boxer is one tough cookie.  She would always relay the good news in Iraq development (including the new hospital built in Baghdad.)   The new infrastructure developed in the peaceful Iraqi provinces have Dr. Rice's stamp of approval.(  For a full view of the progress in iraq, see http://www.cpa-iraq.org.)   Progress has been slow, but steady.  Some in the Military are predicting more troops coming home as soon as this year.

  Many naysayers, in the GOP, say we should avoid any connection to Bush 43 at all costs.  I say Bush did what was necessary, and the work is not done yet.  We need to have some sort of carryover into the new administration to ensure a smooth transition both at home and abroad.

Anyone who says Condi supporters are racist and sexist are dead wrong.  We are realists.   We support Dr. Rice not because of her immutable characteristics, but because of her strength and leaadership.

Come and join us.

I am shocked!!!! 

Ron Paul really seems to believe and endorse those conspiracy theories his cult followers have been pushing.   In an article in the New Republic, his various newsletters are examined.  He has at least 3 different newsletters that circulate.  They have promoted racism and anti-gay hatred.   They have also floated notions of a coming race war in major cities, and the infamous New World Order/ Freemason conspiracy.     Please read the TNR article yourself.
(Hat tip- Michelle Malkin)

I am sure there are intelligent, reasonably prudent people who support Ron Paul.  I am not calling them kooks at all.  It's his cult-like supporters who travel to GOP conventions and approach individual people, foaming at the mouth about the New Unified America and Giuliani's plot that caused 9/11 that I believe are the kooks.

I was willing to give this Texas GOP Congressman the benefit of the doubt.  I believed he couldn't possibly control the actions of all of his volunteers.   He probably never knew what they were saying.   Now I see evidence that he is more personally connected to these kooky theories than I first imagined.

For all of you reasonably prudent, intelligent Ron Paul supporters out there,  I recommend you read this TNR article, which includes links to the individual newsletters.  This isn't some sort of last minute smear campaign.  This is a media trail at least 15 years long.  

Become fully informed before pulling that lever on primary day.

The Drudge News Flash this morning said that Hillary may be dropping out of the Presidential Race.   That seems very unlike her.     James Carville wants her to tough it out.   John Edwards is predicting she'll be out.

Which raises the question - 

How will conservative bloggers , pundits, and commentators make their money??????

I am suspicious that many conservatives who write for the Spectator , National Review, or blogs were secretly salivating at the prospect of a Hillary presidency.   A tell-all book about Hillary's latest bumblings is an almost guaranteed bestseller.  Of course, we conservatives always love to read about her in the magazines and blogs too.   Criticizing Hillary is like shooting fish in a barrel,  and for conservative media figures, it's also easy money.   ( I guess all of the damage she'd do to our national security is just secondary  in importance.)

The concept of Hillary dropping out of the race is like Britney getting successful mental health treatment and joining a convent.     It's a loss for many "in the know".

So...  who will be the next mega-target?  It should be Barack Hussein Obama.  (As we speak,  I am putting together my Obama media binder.  ) The conservative media can start by looking for his white grandmother who is in hiding somewhere.   We can also dig into his Muslim roots.   (I myself may start by visiting that property he bought from a donor at a low low price.   Land deals make for good media fodder.)

Let's cross our fingers.

You may not see a lot of press coverage about this event.    Paul supporters are peeved that he won't be invited to a GOP debate following the Iowa caucus this Thursday.  

A bunch of supporters decided to get together and hold an impromptu protest rally yesterday.  It was very empowering and inspiring to all who attended.  It reignited the fire in the bellies of many campaign workers.

Where was this rally held?   In Gov. Huckabee's office?

No.

On Capitol Hill?

No.

This rally was held in a much more prominent place: 

In the online game "World of Warcraft" . This is one of those games where you create a fictional character, such as a gnome, druid, shaman, warlock,  dwarf, elf,  or even an undead zombie.

Each character in the game has a real person commanding it in the game.  

Apparently, lots of Paul fans play this game (and at least one blogger-   I am a walking bull named "Goodburger".)

The exact breakdown in demographics (numbers of talking bulls, elves, gnomes, shamans, etc.) was not available at press time.

Check the video of the march here:



Maybe Ron Paul should run for Mayor of Ironforge??