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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

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Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC Political Researcher



Condi Rice for governor?

Posted: Friday, May 25, 2007 1:46 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: ,

From NBC's Andrea Mitchell
On a trip to California this week, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has done so many non-foreign policy photo-ops that local reporters have been speculating she's laying the groundwork for a run for governor. Now she's added fuel to that speculation by giving a very non-Sherman-like answer to a question about having future political ambitions. The transcript of the Q&A with a local newspaper reporter was just released by the State Department.

Asked about running for governor, Rice answered: " Look, one doesn't ever know what life may bring, but I sure don't have any plans to run for office." In the past, Rice has always simply said she plans to return to teaching in Stanford. Since she never speaks carelessly, this is a significant departure. 

Transcript of the relevant Q&A follows:
QUESTION:  Okay. Since we're on your future, there's a lot of speculation over the last couple of years. I think a couple years ago you were in the news, you know, would you take on Schwarzenegger. Do you have any political ambitions and would you rule -- would you definitively rule out ever running for elective office in California?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, I don't see myself running for elective office. I really don't. I don't think I ever ran for student government, actually. But look, one doesn't ever know what life will bring, but I sure don't have any plans to run for office.

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"I don't think I ever ran for student government, actually." Crappy memory - excellent first step.
Conie's Mother said this about bush and Condie. "She just can't seem to say no to that man". Must be love.
Run for President or VP with Fred Thompson. I'll vote for you either way. A great campaign ad would be Condi in her Matrix outfit offering voters the choice between the blue and red pill. "This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes."
Wonderful. Another complete idiot and liar being touted for the presidency on the Republican side.
Vomit. The woman hasn't had a diplomatic success since she became Sect'ry of State. Typical Bushite, she's expecting a promotion following a worse than poor performance. Did this woman start in T ball?
I realize that this is all speculation but the horror of the possibility is mind-boggling. Ahhnold is probably choking right now. Ms. Rice is a good little soldier - follows whereever her baby bush leads. I have never seen any instance of independent thought from this woman.
Rice will probably never return to the classroom as a primary vocation. One good reason is that she chose a bad major: the Soviet Union. That was her specialty and still is. Unfortunately the (former) Soviet Union has not cooperated with her academic career in that Mr. Gorbachev tore that wall down. Tough luck for Condi there. She is tenured at Stanford and has a few friends left, but more likely she will plant herself in the phallic ivory tower that houses the Hoover Institution on the Stanford campus. There, she can pontificate about the (former) Soviet Union, make burnt offerings to the living spirit of Milton Friedman, run for governor or dominatrix of a variety of states, not likely California. The Republican governor of the moment has turned way left and the natives love him for it. The Republican party in CA would run her in a Cold War minute and she would lose to just about anybody in a landslide. Too much squat on her Ferragamos.
Condi ... i know Governor Schwarzenegger ... Governor Schwarzenegger is a friend of California ...I'm sorry Condi.... you are no Schwarzenegger.
When the big earthquake hits CA Condi will be in NY shopping for shoes and won't want to return -- just as for hurricane Katrina.
Well Stanford must be breathing a little easier now that Condi is considering an option that doesn't include her teaching in their classrooms.
DavTN, You have finally confirmed what I have thought all along...proven by Newt et al...the repubs have been taking hallucinogens all the time! Rabbit Hole!? Anyway, hope everyone has a safe and sane holiday weekend.
The only time she should run is when she is running away from her crimes.
I am confident the people of California don't want this boot licking lapdog for anything!
Let's hope "life brings" retirement. Condi, we've all had enough of you and this disastrous Administration. You attend a lot of meetings, attend inumerable photo-ops, and blather on and on before Congress but what, if anything have your really accomplished? Nada-thing.
Maybe Governor of Uzbekistan.
Dude.....no way Condi gets CA's gov's mansion! She needs to take a timeout and think about the havoc she and her political boyfriend...oops I meant to say boss!....have wreaked on an already unstable region.
Don't forget she has an oil tanker named after her too-the Condoleezza. Wonder where her loyalty lies. What a wench!
Reminds me of a joke I've found (might be hard to read without paragraph spacing): "Who's On First" -- new version George: Condi! Nice to see you. What's happening? Condi: Sir, I have the report here about the new leader of China George: Great. Lay it on me. Condi: Hu is the new leader of China . George: That's what I want to know. Condi: That's what I'm telling you. George: That's what I'm asking you. Who is the new leader of China ? Condi: Yes. George: I mean the fellow's name. Condi: Hu. George: The guy in China . Condi: Hu. George: The new leader of China Condi: Hu. George: The main man in China ! Condi: Hu is leading China George: Now whaddya' asking me for? Condi: I'm telling you, Hu is leading China . George: Well, I'm asking you. Who is leading China ? Condi: That's the man's name. George: That's who's name? Condi: Yes. George: Will you, or will you not, tell me the name of the new leader of China ? Condi: Yes, sir. George: Yassir? Yassir Arafat is in China ? I thought he's dead in the Middle East . Condi: That's correct. George: Then who is in China ? Condi: Yes, sir. George: Yassir is in China ? Condi: No, sir. George: Then who is? Condi: Yes, sir. George: Yassir? Condi: No, sir. George: Look Condi. I need to know the name of the new leader of China . Get me the Secretary General of the U.N. on the phone. Condi: Kofi? George: No, thanks. Condi: You want Kofi? George: No. Condi: You don't want Kofi. George: No. But now that you mention it, I could use a glass of milk. And then get me the U.N. Condi: Yes, sir. George: Not Yassir! The guy at the U.N. Condi: Kofi? George: Milk! Will you please make the call? Condi: And call who? George: Who is the guy at the U.N? Condi: Hu is the guy in China George: Will you stay out of China ?! Condi: Yes, sir. George: And stay out of the Middle East ! Just get me the guy at the U.N. Condi: Kofi. George: All right! With cream and two sugars.


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