Redstate

Perhaps the title above this post says is all. I realize that as the mighty U.S., we ought to be able to buck certain trends but with respect to near-eastern diplomacy, three demographic types are all but nonstarters: persons of the Jewish faith, Arab muslims and women. Please don't confuse this post with the racial and/or sexist posts that all too frequently appear in blogs. The opinion stated above merely acknowledges the fact that there is little trust between Jews and Arabs and that women are oft considered "second class" persons in what might be called "less enlightened" cultures.

Well, that's my immediate reaction -- if a nation is racist/sexist enough that nominating a person of a certain ethnicity or gender will cause talks to break down with the government of that nation, why should we have anything to do with them?

I don't think that's feasible, though, although I wish it were.

As much as the thought of a SecState Lieberman does appeal to me, we need someone in that position who can really clean house over at State. Lieberman strikes me as far too genial and conciliatory to do this.

Condi Rice has both the diplomacy and the cojones to sweet-talk when she needs to and kick butt when she must as well. She's unflappable, extraordinarily talented, and ideal for the position. I would truly hope that she gets the job.

Joe has more to him than we have seen. He would morph outside of the confines of the Senate and the Dem party. I agree he would be a great move in so many ways. Great move but probably unlikely.

Don't waste Condi at State. Bush needs to have her at VP or elsewhere where she can take on Hillary. The contrast would be blinding. A cat fight is a far better strategy for 2008.

Joseph Lieberman is a man of integrity.  I would wholeheartedly support him.

Condi Rice has both the diplomacy and the cojones to sweet-talk when she needs to and kick butt when she must as well. She's unflappable, extraordinarily talented, and ideal for the position. I would truly hope that she gets the job.

The only thing she's been extraordinarily talented at is ignoring warnings about al Qaeda which resulted in the attacks on September 11, along with everyone else in the Bush administration. Although I'd see getting her out as NSA would be great, making her SecState, would be ridiculous.

.........but a secondary advantage to Joe at State is that the Republican governor of Connecticut would get to appoint a Republican replacement for him, making it 56-43-1

Do you remember how liberal he became as Gores running mate? I could never forget he went far left. Condi for State she can run in 08 too.

It's not bad.  Lieberman has proven himself on the issues when it counted and is one of the Democratic senators I think anyone here can agree is blessed with a fine intellect backed with a lot of wisdom.  I'm not sure whoever he was replaced with would necessarily be better in the Senate, even for Republicans.  I'm not going to beat around the bush (so to speak):  The question is his effectiveness at State right now given his religion.  

Let's put it this way:  he would be a bold choice, but I wouldn't object to seeing him there at all.

My guess is Bush will be looking for a loyalist here.  

I think that says it.

There was some interesting speculation on NPR at noon.  They interviewed a guy from congressional quarterly, and he suggested (I think I have this right) Condi, Wolfowitz, or Sen. Lugar.  His logic was that Bush might be looking to signal his intentions about Israel-Palestine very clearly with the choice of Sec of State.  Condi would signal consistency from Powell's efforts; Wolfowitz would signal a hardening of the pro-Israeli position; and Lugar would signal a moderation of their views.

Seemed like a reasonable way of looking at the choice.

Maybe I shouldn't have said "bold" choice, maybe "maverick" or "plausible" choice is a better word.  I think Condi's backround would be a real asset at State.  I don't want to see Lugar go, and I think Wolfowitz would meet with BIG RESISTANCE at state, but that's just my uneducated opinion.  Comments?

Ultimately because I still think the most important international relationship the United States has to cultivate is the one with Russia.  And I think Condi is better situated to understand that relationship than anyone.

I second the Lieberman idea.  I have always liked Joe (Lord knows that Lowell Weicker was not cutting it), and find him to be very fair for the most part.  That he tacked left during the 2000 campaign is explicable in that the role of the Veep is to be the attack dog, even if it is one that Joe is not famous for.  Nixon moderated somewhat for Ike (not his temperament, though), just as Bush Sr. jumped on the Reaganomics bandwagon. I for one concur that Lieberman would be able to grow out of his shell, as it were, once the millstone of the Senate Dems was lifted off of his neck.  At State, his mere presence would reaffirm our committment to Israel, and would send a strong message to our foes that we mean business.  As for the double benefit of gaining one more seat to compensate for the preposterous loss of Colorado, and even it the hold was only until 2006 (AG Blumenthal will no doubt try to move out of Hartford), the Dems need as much psychological shock as possible.  Honestly, I am disappoitned that we did not club them down to 198 or less.  Being under 200 is an important way to rub minority status in their face because they'll feel that they can try to peel off the moderates anytime they want.  But, I digress.  Lieberman will be a fine choice, though word is filtering out now that Condi will indeed be tapped.  That disappoints me as I felt that the state GOP here in CA needed a name candidate to put against Feinstein, or better yet, for an open seat is she retires.

...and one more thing.  As for the President tapping someone loyal to him, I am not sure if that issue matters as much.  After all, he backed Specter in the primary, depriving us of a Senator Toomey, and quite possibly costing him the state (remember all those Kerry-Specter signs?).

I just don't know how good they are. Granted, she was provost at Stanford.

Rice needs a tough, proven lieutenant responsible for day-to-day management.

Funny, television reporters calling her "Condi" today on second reference. Not many call Powell, "Colin."

I would bet that Joe Lieberman wouldn't accept the position in a million years.

Since Ms. Rice seems less approachable than Secretary Powell, I don't understand why, other than a lack of respect for her because she is a woman, journalists would do that. Neither, of course, are ever going to be confused with Tommy Thompson for informality.

I call her Condi not because I know her but because I find her no-BS businesslike approach endearing.  But that's just me.  ;)  It's certainly not because I think she's unserious; just the opposite.  It's like the way some folks call Netanyahu "Bibi".

But at a press conference or other more formal gathering? Does anyone ask "George" or "W" to answer their questions?

And they should have their a** handed to them for that.  I've worked for women in positions of power in my life, very profitably, and do you know what?  It's like anything else, with anyone else:  there's a place for familiarity and then... there isn't.  Sometimes the press likes to play games, too.  

we'll sell 'em real cheap!

Only in the mind of Richard Clarke, parroted by democrats and MSM, did Dr. Condoleezza Rice and the Bush administration ignore al Qaeda and the threat posed by Islamists.  The Senate Intelligence Report and the 9-11 Commission Report emphatically debunk this Democratic talking point.

In my humble opinion, Dr. Rice would feel more at home in the Department of Defense.  I'm not sure she is ready to fill Secretary Rumsfeld's shoes, although, she does have President Bush's ear.

Sen. Lieberman, appearing on Fox News Sunday, all but dismissed any chance he would accept a cabinet position in the Bush administration.  He seems to be comfortable with his seniority in the senate.

Therefore, I believe Dr. Rice will be nominated for Secretary of State.  Politically, and on face value, this is probably not the best use of Dr. Rice's talent.  Strategically, this is a very smart move.  President Bush, during his second term, will do what is right for the nation and the security of the American people - not political careers.  That is why he was reelected with the largest popular vote in history.

Will Dr. Rice accept the nomination?  I don't know.  Any attempt to restructure the State Department will make the controversy at the CIA look like a walk in the park.  Political career or national security?  That is a choice Dr. Rice will have to make.  The American people have chosen national security over politics.  Should Dr. Rice accept the nomination for Secretary of State, Joel Mowbray would be an indispensable resource and a view from outside the beltway.

Therefore, I believe Dr. Rice will be nominated for Secretary of State.  Politically, and on face value, this is probably not the best use of Dr. Rice's talent.  Strategically, this is a very smart move.

I'm wondering what this exactly this praise of the Rice appointment is based on.  What has she accomplished during her tenure as NSA that makes you think she will do so much for national security as Secretary of State?  

Will Dr. Rice accept the nomination?  I don't know.

I believe if she is offered the job it means she has already agreed to accept it.  She is Bush's confidant-- he can find out whether she wants the job or not before he offers it.

Should Dr. Rice accept the nomination for Secretary of State, Joel Mowbray would be an indispensable resource and a view from outside the beltway.

I would hope Rice would be wise enough not to listen to someone who was still touting the virtues of Ahmad Chalabi as recently as last spring.

He was doing the usual "I'm-not-campaigning-but-I-would-serve-if-asked" fan-dance on one of the Sunday shows last weekend.  Although he said that he thought the rumors was a result of McCain's revenge for Lieberman having previously talked up McCain for a hypothetical Democratic administration cabinet post.