Dean's World

Condoleeza Rice: my dream candidate.

Definitely not Senator. That position is reserved for those with delusions of grandeur (look at the bulk of the current inhabitants of that particular asylum). Governor is the way to go: you got to make the big decisions, and you can't hide as well behind the fact that nobody knows what you do. As governor, you're visible. As senator, you can be everything to everybody, and get away with it for years - until you run for president. Tne it all comes out.
N.B. Sen. Kerry's too letters on how he was supporting war and not supporting war. Remember that?
In Sum: Senate bad - Governor good.

Mike - I think you're right in terms of analyzing which position is better for political advancement, but what i'm primarily interested in is whether or not Condi, who is - at the end of the day - a professional bureaucrat, can make the necessary *compromises* to function in the political arena.

Governor may be better as a springboard for a presidential career; Senator would also tell me what I want to know before voting for her for President.

Hey, it's not unprecedented. Remember "I Like Ike?"

Plus, there's already a catchy theme song, courtesy of Bow Wow Wow:

I know a girl who's tough but sweet
She's so fine, she can't be beat
She's got everything that I desire
Sets the summer sun on fire

I want Condi, I want Condi

Vote for her when the sun goes down
Ain't no finer girl in town
You're my girl, just what the doctor ordered
So sweet, you make my mouth water

I want Condi, I want Condi

Condi on the beach, there's nothing better
But I like Condi when she's wrapped in a sweater
Some day soon I'll make you mine,
Then I'll have Condi all the time

I want Condi, I want Condi
I want Condi, I want Condi

For the record, I don't think she'll be the nominee, but I do think she's the best Veep pic.

The U.S. used to have a habit of electing the most visible general after every successful war. Washington, Jackson, Grant, Eisenhower. And Rice has been like a general in this war (in fact, a good deal more powerful than a general in some regards).

I think her chances hinge entirely on how the war on terror (or whatever they're calling it) goes over the next 2.5 years. If there is a lot of success, Americans will feel like rewarding someone. Rice could be the one.

But, even then, she's got to be considered a longshot.

I want to see Condi run. For all teh good reasons of course..

but..

I gotta say the best reason is to see the apopplexy of the Civil rights and Women's rigths groupps finding some bass akward way of telling women and blacks not to vote for her.

Historically, we have elected the following kinds of people to the White House:

1) Sitting Governors. Something like 75% of all Presidents were Governors.

2) Generals. A half-dozen or so. Something like 15%.

3) Senators and Vice Presidents: if I recall correctly, two of each.

4) Sitting Congressman. One, if I recall correctly.

5) Other: I'm pretty sure none.

Of course, it's an election, and any natural-born citizen who is over the age of 35 is eligible. A black woman would be a wonderful moment for the entire country if she won. It would be almost as good if she were elected VP.

Dean - there have also been a few sitting Secretaries of State, back in the early years of the Republic.

5) Other: I'm pretty sure none.

Good point, I think you're right, at least in modern times.

But there is very recent precedent for a move from one of the top intelligence posts to VP: George W Bush was director of the CIA iirc, and also later went on to be President.

Wow. Can you imagine 16 years of Vice-President and then President Condi? That would really be something.