The American Spectator : Rice Should Not Be on Romney's Menu

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Rice Should Not Be on Romney’s Menu

By Quin Hillyer on 7.13.12 @ 12:54PM

Former Sec-State would be disastrous veep choice.

If the Drudge Report is to be believed, Condoleezza Rice is at or near the top of Mitt Romney’s list for running mate. God forbid.

Ms. Rice is by all accounts a wonderful human being. She is intelligent and poised, and her sensibilities and most of her values and philosophy are admirable. She is a galvanizing speaker. But she would be a godawful choice as vice presidential nominee.

The first requirement for the choice is that the vice president be immediately ready to be a good president on Day One of the new administration if some disaster befalls the president. Secretary Rice fails that test. Despite all of her intelligence and knowledge, she did a remarkably poor job as National Security Advisor and as Secretary of State. She showed no sign of strong managerial ability, no indication she knows how to impose her will on policy, and no evidence that her policy instincts and analyses are particularly acute in the first place. On the contrary, she often was on the wrong side of policy disputes; our world standing is worse because of it.

As National Security Advisor, she (in)famously failed to adequately police the raging disputes between Don Rumsfeld’s Defense Department and Colin Powell’s State Department. What emerged was often not just a split-the-baby failure, but a roughly-tear-the-baby approach, with grisly results. From the earliest days of the U.S.-led coalition’s post-Saddam regency and reconstruction effort in Iraq, for instance, the endeavor was a notorious cluster-bumfuzzle, with competing and confusing agendas, lines of authority, and even personnel. Some top officials were sent all the way to Iraq, only to arrive and find that nobody expected them and they weren’t welcome. What began as a triumph eventually fizzled into a slow-rolling stumble-fest, with the Bush administration ignoring for nearly three years the wise calls from multiple sources for more troops and a counter-insurgency strategy matched to Iraq’s cultural realities. (In fact, much of the evidence indicates that she remained a staunch opponent of what became the vaunted “Surge” in Iraq, putting her on the wrong side of the best decision of President George W. Bush’s entire second term.)

Granted, the buck doesn’t stop with the National Security Advisor: It is ultimately the president’s job to make the right calls. But if a president is hamstrung by a weak hand as NSA, the likelihood is that he’ll make serious mistakes.

As Secretary of State, meanwhile, Rice was often captured by the left-leaning State bureaucracy. Her handling of policy towards North Korea was particularly inept, earning her serious criticism from numerous conservatives. She also, by some accounts, was far too slow in recognizing Russia’s Vladimir Putin for the thug he is, leading to baleful results. She also was an enthusiast of the radical-environmental Kyoto Treaty. Finally, Rice certainly didn’t help matters four years ago, and exhibited horrible predictive abilities to boot, when she praised the choice of Hillary Clinton as her successor, calling her “terrific.”

In other words, Rice is clearly experienced and well intentioned — but again and again, both wrong and ineffective. Even apart from the politics of choosing her, then, she’s just not the right person to be a heartbeat from the presidency.

Meanwhile, the politics of a Rice selection, despite the conventional “wisdom” from fuzzy-thinking Republican insiders, would be extremely damaging to Romney’s cause.

Oh, sure, she’s a black woman. Wow. Golly gee! The thinking is not so much that she will therefore attract a sudden surge of black voters or that left-leaning women will somehow flock to the Romney ticket, but that a whole lot of “moderates” of different hues will appreciate the optics and “message” that Romney will supposedly send by choosing Rice. Combined with Rice’s undisputed star power and impressiveness behind a microphone, this message of inclusiveness is supposed to be the proverbial “game changer.”

Perish the thought.

If Romney chooses Condi Rice, he chooses the single former official most closely associated, in a very personal way, with G.W. Bush. It is in some ways undeserved, but Bush remains a profoundly unpopular former president, and the Obama campaign is all but drooling at every possible chance to make this election a referendum on the supposedly horrible Bush past rather than the even worse Obama present. Worse, the part of the Bush legacy that is most unpopular, overwhelmingly so (if, again, not entirely fairly), is the part most directly associated with Rice. Iraq. Weapons of mass destruction. Abu Ghraib. “Torture.” Missing Osama bin Laden at Tora Bora. Nation-building failures in Afghanistan.

Nothing would make Obama happier than replaying what so many Americans consider to be bad memories, and tying them to Romney. Nothing would do more to undermine Romney’s message of representing desirable, forward-looking change. By choosing Rice, he might as well forfeit the election right now and save Republican activists and donors the misery of wasted effort.

About the Author

Quin Hillyer is a senior editor of The American Spectator and a senior fellow at the Center for Individual Freedom. Follow him on Twitter @QuinHillyer.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (83) | Leave a comment Leave a comment

Drunken Sailor| 7.13.12 @ 1:05PM

Like the woman and think we need to put her somewhere to harness her abilities but I have to agree with you. VP is not that position.

Fast and Curious| 7.13.12 @ 2:09PM

Rice would never accept the job, this is an intentional "leak" to generate excitement for the ever so boring pick of Portman.

Brookschwarzenegro | 7.13.12 @ 6:47PM

"Ms. Rice is by all accounts a wonderful human being. She is intelligent and poised, and her sensibilities and most of her values and philosophy are admirable. She is a galvanizing speaker..."

I've never read such damning-with-faint-praise before! Ever.

Joellen| 7.14.12 @ 9:59AM

More damning is the fact that Bill Crystal and Peggy Noonan endorse her - once they did - I DIDNT. Can we get someone who is truly conservative - Allen West, Scott Walker, Jim DeMint, please anyone - not some republican lite - we are at war, and they need to have the strongest, gunho army if they want to beat Obama and his ilk.

C Smith | 7.14.12 @ 2:28PM

"Harness her abilities"?

... Today’s incursion on an already evacuated American embassy by a few hundred Serbs out of almost 200,000 taking part in an otherwise peaceful protest was provoked by the declaration of the Independent state of Kosovo. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in a prepared statement earlier this week affirmed: "The United States has today formally recognized Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state.” Few comprehend the sickening sensation of déjà vu Serbs are experiencing. Almost 70 years ago, another independent state was declared: the Independent State of Croatia.

In May 1941, the Independent State of Croatia was established by a Nazi puppet regime....

Oldefarte| 7.13.12 @ 1:07PM

Granted, but what whe would [as VP] return to this country would be something that is clearly lacking presently...........PERSONAL CLASS AND DIGNITY [as opposed to the low life that currently occuries the VP residence] !!!!

Oldefarte| 7.13.12 @ 1:12PM

Speaking of which [low life, that is] :

http://youtu.be/nesndIhL2QA

Oldefarte| 7.13.12 @ 2:01PM

'....Sarah Palin says former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would make a “wonderful” vice president and is more qualified to run the country if called on than President Barack Obama. “I think that Condoleezza Rice would be a wonderful vice president, and she certainly has much more experience than our sitting president does today,” .....Palin was responding to a story on The Drudge Report – which Matt Drudge says was leaked to him by the Romney campaign – that Rice has moved to the front of the pack as the presumptive Republican nominee narrows his field of potential running mates.Rice has repeatedly said in recent weeks that she is not interested in the job.....Asked about Rice’s own pro-choice views on abortion, Palin said, “I would certainly prefer a presidential and vice presidential candidate who had that respect for all innocent, precious, purposeful human life, and showed that respect via being a pro-life candidate.”But the Fox news contributor added, “We need to remember, though, that it’s not the vice president that would legislate abortion, and that would be Congress’s role. And we’ll keep that in mind.”
Palin said she was impressed with Rice’s experience, “especially in foreign policy, having served under President George [W.] Bush.”
“You know, I think her credentials far surpass Barack Obama’s or [Vice President] Joe Biden’s,” she said....'

Oldefarte| 7.13.12 @ 4:54PM

Again, she will not be the choice [which someone predicted his leaning towards a pro-business politician with governmental executive experience able to assist with the defecit/debt problem]. My guess is either Portman or Jindal!!!!!!!

MK48| 7.13.12 @ 6:22PM

This is just a balloon to test the air.......nothing more.

Cobalt| 7.13.12 @ 1:12PM

You are correct, Mr. Hillyer.

Condi Rice would not be the best choice for Romney's running mate. Let's hope this whole episode was just a teaser for Obama, and people like Chris Matthews.

Gary B| 7.13.12 @ 2:40PM

Choosing her would prove Romney is a GOP hack.

TLP| 7.13.12 @ 4:20PM

I'm trying to think of which State's Electoral Votes she can deliver.

If you want to Punch the Base, right in their Face, Mitt?

Pick Rice.

If you want the support of Conservatives, Tea Partiers, and ANY of the Paulbots?

You'd best throw them a BONE.

Trust me.

JayDick| 7.13.12 @ 5:19PM

Yes, and the bone better have some meat on it.

TLP| 7.13.12 @ 7:03PM

Indeed.

Occam's Tool| 7.13.12 @ 7:40PM

TLP: which would you prefer: "church bell size balls" West or "10 ton balls of steel" Bolton. I think he's leaning to Bolton for something of importance, although it may be SecState.

TLP| 7.14.12 @ 7:50AM

You know I love ya, but I can't imagine John Bolton bringing anything to the ticket.

The U.N. Vote?

Colonel West?

I like Colonol West.

I'm looking for someone who can deliver me a State, although, the way that Cities and Towns have been going Belly Up, all over the Country, under their Democrat Leaders?

It may not matter.

The POS looks more like a Piece Of Toast, everyday.

Butch| 7.13.12 @ 1:20PM

Your last sentence was my thought the moment I saw the headline, Quin, except I went even further than you did.

Anthony| 7.13.12 @ 1:39PM

So Condi makes a red meat speech, after finally getting her head out of the sand about Obozo and the racical left, and the R establishment is swooning over her.
This woman, not that long ago, catagorically, said NO WAY, I'm not into elective office, and now, it's looking like she's just another hack pol, thristy for power.
I hope she is not Romney's choice. We have fine real CONSERVATIVES to choose from.
But allow me to give Condi her due, she has finally woken up as to who and what Obozo and the radical left are, so apparently did some of the R braintrust who attended this gala.
Join the club guys, we were years ahead of you, so perhaps you beltway brainiacs will listen to us conservatives now? Naw, never happen.
But good for you Condi, ignorance is a terrible thing, especially for a Provost of a major university!!

R Martin| 7.13.12 @ 1:51PM

Mr. Hillyer's thesis is entirely correct--she should not be the running mate--but I have an uneasy feeling that it is Rice's squishiness which may well make her attractive to all those unknown power brokers in the Romney campaign including, perhaps, Mrs. Romney.

Gary B| 7.13.12 @ 2:44PM

It's this kind of squishiness that drives conservatives nuts. Every time we think we're making some progress, someone throws in the towel.

Said before, you can trust a Democrat to be socialist to the end. You simply can't trust a Republican. They always, always, always flip at the worst possible time.

C. Vernon Crisler | 7.13.12 @ 1:53PM

Vice presidential choices, with the exception of Sarah, make little difference to the ticket. Reagan chose Shweicker in 1976 and Bush in 1980 -- poor choices indeed. However, people vote for the top of the ticket, and the VP role -- sans Cheney -- is almost entirely ceremonial.

Anthony| 7.13.12 @ 2:19PM

You are spot on Mr. Crisler, however picking Rice would be sticking his finger into the eyes of conservatives, the heart and soul of the R party and America. Not a smart move, but he's listening to the beltway brainiacs, not us.
Mr. "severely" conservative would be revealing his true empty words about who and what he is.
God, these people JUST DON'T GET IT!!!Conservativism is a WINNER.
I'll say it a 3rd time:
The three most ignored and forgotten words among the Washington establishment are, "We The People".
The three most vital words necessary to restore our Constitutional Republic are, 'Lock and Load".
Our 2nd Amendment is the people's true safeguard against political establishment oligarchies.

C. Vernon Crisler | 7.13.12 @ 3:12PM

Hmm, conservatives stuck their own fingers in their eyes in nominating Romney in the first place. Heck, conservatism wasn't even a winner in the Republican primaries, so how is it going to be a winner in the general? Conservatives, having bypassed the true conservatives in the primaries, are saddled with a moderate, and a hope that he might move to the right. As I've said before, even if Romney wins, it's going to be a disappointing for years for conservatives.

Anthony| 7.13.12 @ 4:18PM

All true Vern, not all conservatives chose Romney, but I get your point. But at least we live to fight another day, and kick Romney's ass at the same time, if he goes wobbly.
If America's first Kenyan, Muslim Marxist president wins a second term, America is finished.
I think our choice is quite clear.

Occam's Tool| 7.13.12 @ 7:39PM

West would not be a safe choice; but he would GALVANIZE the base like, well, like taking a terrorist and shooting a gun off next to his ear.

Butch| 7.13.12 @ 3:01PM

I think you're generally right, but I don't think that would be the case with Rice. The Democrats are groping for anything, anything to run on except the economy. Rice would give them the direct opportunity to run against Bush. They would be blaming the economy on "The Bush-Rice Wars."

C. Vernon Crisler | 7.13.12 @ 3:08PM

Hmmm, I just don't see people associating Rice with Bush. Besides, last I checked, we won the war with Iraq and it's a democratic country now (despite a lot of mistakes made in the process). Rice has her weak points, as Quin points out, but I don't think it would make much of a difference. People are voting against Obama (and whoever his VP is) this year, not for Romney (or Rice).

JayDick| 7.13.12 @ 5:23PM

Maybe, but many conservatives would stay home because of Rice. It is the top of the ticket that is really important, but I think the right VP can be a real asset during the campaign.

Derek Leaberry| 7.13.12 @ 1:59PM

Miss Rice is pro-choice on abortion, supports affirmative action, is probably supportive of homosexual marriage like Laura Bush, and was right-hand lady to George W. Bush's Middle East debacles. Nomination of Condi Rice would be a slap in the face to conservatives, especially social conservatives. She should not be the pick. Yet her political stands are similar to those of Mitt and Ann Romney. Perhaps Romney's hubris will steer him to picking Miss Rice.

Al Adab| 7.13.12 @ 2:06PM

Were he to select her, he would be accused of pandering for women and black votes. If he does not select her, he will be accused of ignoring women and blacks. Same hold true for any selection he makes. No matter what, the Dems will make an issue of it.

Purp| 7.13.12 @ 2:07PM

She won't be ... she's pro-choice. But that would be fun.

Frank Natoli| 7.13.12 @ 2:21PM

Hillyer has it exactly right. And if you doubt any of this article, read Rumsfeld's auto-bio. It's all there.

One thing Rumsfeld says that Hillyer doesn't is that Rice placed high value on agreement, on consensus, but whether or not what was agreed was best for the country was an almost irrelevant consideration. Rumsfeld suggests this was a consequence of Rice's Stanford provost life, where academia insists on consensus. Unfortunately, consensus almost never results in excellence, and often results in mediocrity if not failure. And Rice inflicted that again and again.

I'll take it one step further. Women, as a group, prefer consensus and are uncomfortable with conflict, even at the cost of excellence. Men, as a group, will strive for excellence, even [or perhaps especially] if that requires breaking heads. One may argue that it isn't always necessary to achieve excellence, but for Christ's sake, national security policy must not be one of those exceptions.

Note I said "as a group". There cannot be any doubt that Margaret Thatcher would bust whatever head got in the way of what was best for Britannia.

We've already got a Presidential candidate who, over time, has been all over the policy map. Do we really need a VP candidate who complements him...on the Left?

Anthony| 7.13.12 @ 2:51PM

Good points Frank, Rumsfeld sumed up Rice to a T.

darcy| 7.13.12 @ 6:27PM

In other words, she has NO leadership qualities that are what being President is all about. There is a fine line between considering counsel and knowing which counsel should be adopted, a line that only one with a settled standard of judgment may discern.

If one depends on following consensus, then one lacks a settled standard of judgment. In other words, Condi is a weak reed that will blow with the wind. On that point, she is highly useful to the establishment, not so much to the Republic.

Frank Natoli| 7.13.12 @ 9:07PM

I agree, but the feminization of politics and government are working against us. Mark Levin pointed out that Chief Justice Roberts fashions himself as a latter day John Marshall, claiming that Marshall's greatness was in getting strong majority decisions. So, Levin continues, Roberts wants to get strong majority decisions in order to...get strong majority decisions. Whether or not the decision is constitutional is completely irrelevant, as his contemptible action in the "Affordable Care Act" decision shows.

Occam's Tool| 7.13.12 @ 7:37PM

Oh man, West or Bolton would be awesome. But I just LOOOOOVE West. More of a Pitbull than "Pitbull."

Kingofthenet| 7.13.12 @ 2:22PM

What you talkin' bout Willis?

http://www.realnews247.com/con.....tifies.jpg

Skippy| 7.13.12 @ 3:40PM

The Kingoftheracists is in the house.

Aristocat| 7.13.12 @ 6:47PM

Please don't talk to each other...Comment on the article...

TLP| 7.14.12 @ 7:54AM

Besides.

Everybody knows he's the Kingofthenuts.

Jake| 7.13.12 @ 2:37PM

Condi Rice is probably the one choice who could derail Romney's chances.
The one upside to this rumor is that it makes a potential pick of Mr Personality Rob Portman..sigh..look a little more palatable.
With so many vibrant choices on the right-Rubio, Ryan , Jindal , Christie, McDonnell, Kasich etc - it defies logic and common sense that Romney would even consider reaching into the way back machine to pick Rice. And based on a single speech she gave in Utah ?
Romney has to be smarter than this . If not, we're doomed.

Kelly Staples| 7.13.12 @ 3:16PM

Juan Williams and Rove think she'd make a great pick. Enough said.

darcy| 7.13.12 @ 6:28PM

You got that right, Kelly.

MRD| 7.13.12 @ 4:20PM

I think the Romney camp is floating this as a test to see how conservatives react. Romney has "close connections" with Drudge and Drudge has been talking up Rice as has the team at the weekly Standard. I agree with Quin that this is about the worst possible pick, she is not conservative on any domestic issues and may not even be all that conservative on foreign affairs, Think about how North Korea was handled by team Bush. It plays into Obama's hands wanting to again run against the Bush administration. so were is this coming from? I think there is an effort in this election among Republican power brokers to tell conservatives and especially social conservatives to "go to hell". If they can win after thumbing their nose at this group they feel that no more will they ever have to deal with them. Obama presents this group of "ruling class" Republicans a unique opportunity. Obama is such a catastrophe we are forced to support virtually any warm body as a way to halt the destruction of our country. I am not thrilled with Rice as VP choice, but have no choice but to support Romney regardless. Karl Rove and company are playing a risky game however, This may just turn off enough conservatives that some do stay home

Reggie Love| 7.13.12 @ 4:20PM

Old Matt is pulling people's chains. No way COndi is the vp. First off,it would enrage the base. Second,it would make people go back to the Bush years.

J.C.Eaton| 7.13.12 @ 4:25PM

Quin, easily one of your top three blogs. Ms. Rice[stipulating for the sake of argument that she is "nice"] would be a ghastly v-p nominee. She is not going to bring any state, any significant voting block, or any deeply held philosophical position to the ticket. Except perhaps, the accommodationist lobby. True, the Religious Right would go nuts over this woman's placeement ; better to stick a red-hot poker in their eye. She is certainly no leader, simply a diplomat.Finally, she is possessed of NO campaign experience and would melt like butter under the withering glare and fire of political combat.

Mimi | 7.13.12 @ 5:19PM

The V.P. choice should be a fighter...To go out and do dirt to those that well deserve it! Condi just won't do! Not enough spitfire there.
We need a real BULLDOG....A real fabulous speaker...Ryan, WEST, Gingrich, Santorum...even Christie......Mitt is TOO NICE...Will make a respectable and fine President, He needs a TOUGH GUY...smart for telling it like it is....and remarkably BLUNT!

MK48| 7.13.12 @ 6:27PM

Mimi...........I agree we need a take "no prisoners" VP......someone who knows where all the dead bodies are buried.....Newt would be my pick and then Ryan.

AhiaBoy| 7.13.12 @ 5:49PM

West or Rubio.

Rubio or West.

Face it, a few percentage points of Hispanic voters would throw the election to Romney.

And West would be the pit bull to Romney's Mr.-Nice-Guy-Competent-Businessman persona.

Just imagine West debating the Gaffer. Delicious!

R Martin| 7.13.12 @ 6:28PM

I'm not sold on Rubio, but I like West a lot. He is the absolute antithesis of Biden with respect to intelligence and eloquence. And he's a serious conservative. There are few politicians who can speak extemporaneously as clearly and as fluidly as Col. West. He would be a huge help to Romney.

darcy| 7.13.12 @ 6:29PM

I would leave top of ticket blank, and I'm serious, if Mitt panders to hispanics by picking Rubio.

AhiaBoy| 7.13.12 @ 10:41PM

Well, that would certainly help Obama, darcy.

darcy| 7.14.12 @ 2:22AM

Not where I live, it wouldn't, unless the electoral college is scraped.

Who Knows?| 7.13.12 @ 6:32PM

We don't need a steamed Rice dish to be next in line to be president.

Aristocat| 7.13.12 @ 6:43PM

She's pro-abortion. If Romney picks her, pro-life people like me will stay home in droves.

AhiaBoy| 7.13.12 @ 10:44PM

And while staying home, you can spend you time praying for the country Aristocat, because Obama will win, and you'll have a more vicious pro-choicer in office than if Mitt & Condi won.

Seek| 7.13.12 @ 6:51PM

As was noted on this site in a blog, the "report" of Condi Rice vaulting to the top of Romney's veep short list originated from Drudge. Matt Drudge is a publicity hound, not a real journalist. My guess is that Rice has zero chance of of getting the nod. She's an affirmative action hire (a twofer, actually), a Bush-era retread and a liberal -- take your pick because all are true.

Who will be the running mate? Probably an experienced Republican governor or senator with solid conservative credentials. Mitch Daniels, John Kasich and Rob Portman come to mind. As for Sarah Palin -- don't make me laugh.

darcy| 7.14.12 @ 2:24AM

Mitch Daniels is NOT a conservative, except on fiscal policy.

Occam's Tool| 7.13.12 @ 7:35PM

Rice's failure to see problems with Putin was all the more grating because her background was as a SOVIET expert!

Blithering idiot she is.

Reggie Love| 7.13.12 @ 7:50PM

I think BIlly Kristol was the first one to pimp this idea.

Crassus| 7.13.12 @ 9:25PM

He's been pumping Condi for VP since 2000.

Immortal 600| 7.13.12 @ 8:08PM

Allen West period

Dixon| 7.13.12 @ 8:24PM

For THIS election the #1 objective is removing obamanation from the office of the President.

I would vote for, and support any credible candidate opposing obamanation. Looks like Mitt is it.

I will support any credible Veep RM that would help Mitt defeat obamanation.

If Condi helps Mitt win the battleground states required to beat obamanation by attracting votes from moderates, women, single women, single black women, concert piano players...I am all for it.

If Rubio can attract the same number of votes and states as Condi....he's the best choice, because of his more solid Conservative credentials.

But if Condi makes it harder for Mitt to win, she's not the right choice.

Being ready to be President is a noble criteria, but Romney better make sure he selects the best veep that HELPS him beat obamanation.

It is the #1 goal for the Republic.

Carlotta| 7.13.12 @ 9:05PM

I must agree with Mr. Hillyer.
I would be less than thrilled with the choice of Ms. Rice as vice-presidential nominee.
I believe it would be a terrible mistake for Gov. Romney and Republican Party.
I sincerely hope that Gov. Romney makes the right choice..Someone with the "right stuff" to set this country back on a conservative course.
We need a 'real' conservative in the office of the vice-president.
I will vote for Gov. Romney because I love my country, and feel that each day that Barack Obama is in the White House is a blow to American freedoms; and he must be defeated if we are to save America from his policies and ideology.
I will continue to hope and pray that Mitt Romney makes the right choice. It is not my place to choose his running mate, but as a supporter of his campaign, I must protest Ms. Rice.

Crassus| 7.13.12 @ 10:26PM

Neil Boortz and Peggy Noonan both think that Condi would make an excellent choice for the Vice-Presidential nomination. Neil Boortz and Peggy Noonan are idiots.

Cobalt| 7.13.12 @ 10:44PM

If Condi Rice were a white person, would she still be the subject of this talk about being a running mate?

If Condi Rice became President, what would she do?

What would her positions be on domestic policies like welfare, and other social programs? What kind of people would she put on the Federal Bench, and on the Supreme Court? Would she turn out to be a liberal who leans far to the left?

RCV| 7.14.12 @ 5:27AM

What the right doesn't realize is that Romney owes them nothing and isn't looking to please them in a VP choice. They did everything they could to derail his nomination. Their hatred of Obama will give Romney their votes by default, and he sure doesn't need their money. He will go to the center in picking a VP, and he will go to the center throughout his presidency. The fact is that the right blew their chances in failing to coalesce early around a single candidate. Romney owes you nothing.

TLP| 7.14.12 @ 7:56AM

Listen to him.

He's an Expert on "The Right".

Pathetic.

RCV| 7.14.12 @ 12:36PM

Well you guys were sure experts. Look how well you did in the nomination process.

Parker| 7.14.12 @ 10:08AM

Great insight Quinn; especially the parts about Bush.
I suspect this was 'leaked' to Drudge simply to see what the trial balloon would generate in terms of reaction by the conservative base. From what I have read, it appears to be a draw. On the other hand, I keep hearing that name, Rob Portman, Senator from Ohio. As an Ohioan, Don't do it! That's all the warning you'll get. Portman is not what he portends to be. He is nothing but a moderate and has the charisma, charm and personality of a cardboard box. He's a less good-looking version of Jon Huntsman. He's George Voinovich without the tears and the ears. Portman will not help 'win' Ohio. The worst strategy, in my opinion, would be to lose a GOP seat in the Senate at a time when the Senate needs to gain seats not abandon them. While Portman is not the most conservative Senator, he is a vote for repealing ACA and has a good head for budgets, but he does fancy himself to be a 'compromising aisle crosser.' Yes, a replacement could be appointed, but it would be temporary and Ohio elected Sherrod Brown last time around, so there are no guarantees. Ohio has a history of floundering from one party to the next and is heavily influenced by Unions. But Portman, as a veep, would be a disaster. Sorry guys, he is a cold-fish. Oh, don't forget, he too, was a Bushie. You just gotta love the GOP and their love for the Bush family. If Romney blows this (don't be too sure he isn't being helped to do just that), Jeb is waiting for 2016.

Oldefarte| 7.14.12 @ 2:12PM

Well, she's no Jesse Jackson Jr., but of course no one is perfect !!!!!

C Smith | 7.14.12 @ 2:26PM

"Harness her abilities"?

In May 1941, the Independent State of Croatia was established by a Nazi puppet regime....

Dai Alanye | 7.15.12 @ 6:30AM

Why should any American be concerned about Serbia? In fact, add Croatia and Slovenia to that.

Kosovo is historically an Albanian territory, fought over by Serbs and Turks.

ReaganConservative4ever| 7.15.12 @ 2:20AM

Sec of State Dr Condoleezza Rice's qualifications are absolutely impeccable and without question, and her unflappable demeanor and personal propriety are such that no one can politically, or any other way ruffle her feathers so to speak, but it is in fact that she is an extremely accomplished, talented, intellectually intelligent, articulate, experienced, prolific black American Conservative leader that liberals will have to contend with in their standard tactic meme and theme of labeling Republicans as all white and male dominated, which Sec Rice will absolutely tears that theme and meme apart just by her very presence in the election against them.

In addition, if anyone doesn't know how a real Presidential, and Vice Presidential leader for that matter, should be like, speak like, act like, think like, and most of all embody, encompass, and personify, let alone have the impeccable qualified credentials that she has, then they need to watch the youtube video of Sec of State Dr.Condoleezza Rice at the Ronald Reagan Library conference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15vZyrfPoqY&list=PL22733332189A7C1A&index=12&feature=plpp_video

Dai Alanye | 7.15.12 @ 6:32AM

Conservative? Compared with Obama, perhaps, but not by any other standard.

Si Vis Pacem | 7.15.12 @ 11:47AM

"...Sec Rice will absolutely tears that theme and meme apart just by her very presence..." with emphasis on tears, plural, as in "sobs and." Unwitting truth, but true it was. Quinn is right. Brilliant, yes, but tough and determined she ain't.

Dennis D| 7.15.12 @ 2:20PM

Media will have a party grilling her on Iraq and Waterboarding.

Si Vis Pacem | 7.15.12 @ 11:40AM

Mr Hillyer...
"Ouch!" as they say. Agreed.

Dr. Rice misses one additional criterion: Intellectual confidence in the core of what one believes. Like W, it's difficult to read the entrails and know just what it is she believes or if she'll make a stand to defend it. "Realpolitik" doesn't cut. (We have doubts enough with the presumptive Candidate.)

One of GWB's better moments was his selection of Dick Cheney; GHWB's poorer was his selection of Quayle. At this time when certainty and confidence are at a premium it would be good if Romney took his cue from Dubbya. (Er, something like that...)

David| 7.15.12 @ 12:34PM

How about throwing Fred Thompson into the VP mix?

My choice is Santorum. He already beat Romney in several battleground states during the primary race and came close in several others.

He will attract blue collar workers (including union types) and conservative democrats.

And he has far more experience and has more detailed positions on most issues than West or Rubio do.

He is a fighter and a winner. Look at what he accomplished in the primary when he had the least amount of resources of all the candidates.

Dennis D| 7.15.12 @ 2:19PM

I agree with Quin 100%. As much as I adore Dr Rice she is not good for Romney. It hands Obama a gift by taking focus off his failures and returning to the Bush Bush Dem platform of 2006 and 2008. We need a pitbull like Chris Christie or Rubio. Christie is my preference.

Gary B| 7.15.12 @ 6:44PM

An important question: Do you trust her? I sure don't. The list of Republicans I trust is very, very short.

independentgirl | 7.16.12 @ 2:18AM

Condi Rice as VP!!! Absolutely not! She is no more qualified than what we have now as Prez. Forget the color factor, she's a human being who would be in way over her pay grade.

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