February 01, 2005
Condi '08?
Via Glenn, I came across the Draft Condi Website.
All I can say is: Stop it! Stop it right now!
Look, I like her as much as anyone else. But, people, she's a policy wonk, not a politician (and no, running for Provost of Stanford doesn't count). She is extremely good at what she does, but this just isn't enough, IMHO, to qualify her as a legitimate POTUS candidate. Whether you like it nor not, such a candidate has to have major political skills and experience if he or she expects to win.
I know that most of the buzz around her now isn't all that serious, but it strikes me that every little bit of it serves as a dangerous distraction. In case anybody hasn't noticed it yet, Dubya's shoes are going to be awfully hard to fill, even if things go well the next four years. Whoever goes up against Hillary/Obama '08 is going to have a tough, tough fight. The Repubs need to be doing some serious star-searching right now, not indulging in unrealistic daydreams.
Posted by Robert at February 1, 2005 12:30 PMokay, you're scaring me here. I thought it was only a fit of paranoia that had me waking up in a sweat about Hil/Bar 08. I mean, c'mon. they're unproven as politicos go, and if you cut them, they will bleed DNC blue (and bleed, and bleed, but that's another story). which could get them the nod, but not the electorate.
and while I think you're right that Condi won't be a candidate, I'd like to be wrong. you wanna fill W's shoes - she's the one who spent most waking moments of the last four years in conversation with the man. she may not have the governing creds, but she's got experience, and I think she has vision to get where she's gotten.*
will it be a distraction? meh. I think people who had a lot of fun on the rollercoaster of 04 don't want to get off yet. just stayin' busy, I guess. pretty harmless.
*I have to add that I think 08 will be the year of the non-white-male candidate, and I think it was an unspoken issue in 04 - how else do you get a fraud like Sharpton as a serious top-10 candidate? and certain people will make a big deal about that, which will play into the Hilary/Condi/Pelosi et al square-off.
Posted by: tee bee at February 1, 2005 02:03 PMwow. do I get to count the crickets chirping about this one as a sign that I'm right? just askin'.
Posted by: tee bee at February 2, 2005 06:09 PMYeah, those damn crickets! I get them all the time. Wish I knew how to stop 'em.
Posted by: Robert the LB at February 3, 2005 08:52 AMso who do you want to see run in 08? and what important qualifications do you think they have?
Posted by: tee bee at February 3, 2005 11:33 AMYa got me - and that's the worrisome thing. Someone with some strong fiscal and defense creds - and some political experience behind them - has to step forward soon.
Posted by: Robert the LB at February 3, 2005 11:43 AMwell, good thing we've got some time... should be interesting.
Posted by: tee bee at February 3, 2005 08:13 PM
