Condi for President

Dick Morris, the greatest American political strategist of the twenthy-century, writes that to stop Hillary in 2008, the Republicans need to draft Condi to run against her. I love the idea. I have been a fan of Secretary Rice for many years, finding her to be intelligent, articulate, graceful, and witty. Morris gives several reasons she is qualified and able to beat Senator Clinton:

• She has proven herself on the world stage as President Bush's National Security Advisor and Secretary of State


• She would undermine the demographic base on which the Democratic Party relies heavily, African-Americans, Hispanics, and single white women.


• She has proven, and will continue to prove, that she has the "ability to handle crises and conduct herself with dignity"


• Her social conservative and deep religious roots will garner the support of the religious right, capitulating her to the lead in the primaries.


• America has a deep desire to prove that we have overcome the prejudices and sins of the past and can show that there is no ceiling, that one can rise as far as his ability, by electing a compentent black woman.

Of course, Condoleezza Rice is not the only option. I refer you back to an entry I wrote in July where I linked to an Orson Scott Card article that proposes Colin Powell (who has said that he will respect his wife's wishes and not run for public office again), Condoleezza Rice, and J.C. Watts. He makes the case that J.C. Watts has the best chance against Senator Clinton.

Most pundits, though, think that the Republicans will end up nomitating either Rudy Guiliani or Sen. John McCain. Those two men, though, face a tough primary season due to thier liberal/libertarian views on social issues. If I had to give my order of precedence it would be:

1. Secretary Rice


2. Former Congressman Watts


3. Rudy Guiliani


4. Colin Powell (but only with his wife's blessing)


5. and I NEVER want to see McCain get the nomination

However, one thing I've learned is that in politics, everything is so volitale and circumstances can change anything. There is a lot that can happen in the next two-to-three years that make me modify these opinions. It will be fun, though, to watch and see what happens.