I just wanted to share with this group some thoughts I have about Condoleezza Rice. When I listen to her speak, I'm struck by how thoughtful, well spoken, and composed she is. Her statements are clear, her diction is excellent, and she appears very earnest to me; these are triats I'm not used to in polititions. Whatever the concentration was for her doctorate I don't know, but she certainly leaves a positive statement for higher education. I just thought I'd share, not that it really matters

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I've had that same opinion of her. I'm hoping it's a sign of her earnestness too. We'll see.

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'68 220D(another one)
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I find her attractive! But then, I find exceptionally intelligent women attractive!

My wife however, thinks she looks like "Worf" on Star Trek whenever she furrows her brow! :p

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It's not just her education. If you check her bio, you'll discover that she's basically been trained as a show-pony since she was 4 years old. That's a big part of the reason that Bush chose her in the first place.

Name one politician that doesn't fit that bill

__________________
past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

I hope she's monitoring the MBshop forum so she can have access to those that really know it all.

LMAO!

__________________
past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

I heard her talking about the transfer from Clinton reign giving her a laundry list of anti-terrorist stuff and Bush saying (my words) lets just make it one item: eliminate Al Qaida. It took a little bit to create that plan and it was a super secret plan submitted in very early September. My impression of her description of that plan (made while I wrestled with morning traffic) was that the September 11 attacks didn't change it that much, the plan already called out for some pretty aggressive stuff. Remember Bush is a Texan and Texans tend to do things in a big way.

Some of those Hawks have wanted to destroy Al-Quaida and Sadam's Iraq for a long long time.

I was also impressed while watching the "interviews". I noted some of the questioners were outmatched and tried to compensate with aggressiveness and what sounded to me like a bad cross examination.

Good for her.

How ironic that on September 11th, Dr. Rice was supposed to give a policy speech on threats to the US, and that the administration's priority was "missile defense." Her speech, which obviously was cancelled, did mention terrorism, but didn't identify Al Quida.

I read her bio that she speaks 7 languages fluently.

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Rice has impressive credentials, no doubt about, and she is an excellent orator. However, regardless of the oratorial skills and high IQ, etc, one cannot hide the fact that Bush's priority before 9/11 was in the wrong place. The administration will not openly admitted it, and that, my friends, is what ALL politicians do.

I was pleased when Bush picked her at the beginning of the administration. However, despite her command of the english language and attention to detail and apparent qualifications, I have been unimpressed of late.

the first thing she did to destroy her credibility for me was to aquire W's smirky grin "Biff Tannen from Back to the Future" speech delivery. She was on meet the press sometime last year, and smugly answered a question that was asked. "Before september 11th, nobody could have imagined that terrorists would use an airliner for a direct attack on american soil. It just was not thought of as a possibility" Had she picked up a Times best-seller list several years before and checked out Tom Clancy's Debt of Honor, she'd have seen EXACTLY that attack played out on the final pages. but... Noone could have imagined it... at least none of the millions who read that book... I'm not a clancy fan, but plenty of others are. to tell the public it was unthinkable is just plain ignorant.

I listened to much of the interrogation today. In her opening remarks, she repeated the disparaging 'freedom-hating' moniker given to Al Quaeda by the administration. This alone, even without bringing the complexities of the word 'evil' into the picture, is just plain stupid. It is dissapointing to have such people of power come before the public and smugly dismiss their intelect with such distain that they feel labeling the enemy as 'freedom hating' will cause heads to nod. Rediculous.

She made mention of a 'rote and emotionless' response she received when delivering a strong message to a foreign power early in her tenure. Then she turns around and puppets Bush-speak in her answers.

One annoying Commissioner was asking direct questions, and she refused to answer. He called her on it, and the audience applauded. Another later told her later to stop filibustering, but she persisted. Later, an even more annoying Commissioner (sorry, on the radio I couldn't tell who was talking!) asked her things regarding national security issues that seem as though they ought to have been things she would have been aware of prior to Sept 11th. Things like "are you aware that it was legal to carry a pocket knife up to 4 inches in length on a us aircraft?" to which she replied, "I was not aware of that". !?!?! I was aware of this, and only because I have flown on more than one occasion prior to Sept 11th. Ought we not expect the highest national security official to be at least aware of the knowledge posessed by average citizens? come on. granted, the line of questioning was excessive, but I don't think its too much to ask of someone in her position.

I was hoping to hear some contrition or at least an aknowlegement that everyone could have done better. That's all we really need to heal a little bit, but no- we did everything we could have and everything we did was fine... I think that it is possible that the plot was mainly unknown to the admin- fine. I think there is some validity to blaming the Clinton admin for insufficient responses to prior attacks. It is always easy to look back with perfect vision. BUT, in the present moment, be honest. When you him-haw and skirt and dodge answers as so many in this (and certainly in prior) administration does, it is shameful and depressing. All you have to do is watch Scott McClellan do a press conference to see a great example of this. plastic people.
ugh!

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She's another dang bothersome female like Brittany, always calling me and weeping for hot botanical love. Its kind of sad that these women can't control themselves, but I'm getting used to it.

B

Golly! What other works of fiction are they not reading that could solve other problems? I cannot believe the administration has failed to consult Clancy on all facets of national security. The man is a highly accomplished novelist, after all.

Perhaps we should convene a novelists' advisory committee for national security and another for space travel. Oh, how about one for alternate energy sources?

B