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Obama Turns 47, McCain Heads to Sturgis

If you had to guess which presidential candidate would be attending the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota, would you pick the 47 year old or the 72 year old? If you picked Sen. Obama, you'd be wrong. McCain is making an appearance at Sturgis tomorrow night.

Sen. Obama will be celebrating his birthday in Michigan where he is set to unveil a new energy plan. Tomorrow night he'll be at a fundraiser in Boston.

If you had to guess which presidential candidate was consulting Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice on foreign affairs would you pick the one from her party -- a party which has frequently suggested she be added to the ticket as the VP candidate -- or the candidate from the other party? The Aspen Daily News, citing a new Time Magazine article, says it's Obama who has been consulting Condi Rice on foreign affairs.

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    Consulting Kinda Sleazy Rice (5.00 / 3) (#1)
    by BrianJ on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 11:33:50 PM EST
    Great idea!  Maybe I'll consult Ken Lay for tax advice.  Then I'll consult the ghost of Jeffrey Dahmer for tips on cuisine.

    Reminder: I believe (5.00 / 4) (#10)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 11:51:08 PM EST
    it's also the ghost of Ken Lay that you'd be consulting.  He died of a heart attack? a couple of years ago.

    Parent
    Hmmmmm (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by JavaCityPal on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 11:56:54 PM EST
    there are some who don't believe that he wasn't really just wisked away to some plush island to avoid losing all his money and spending time in prison.


    Parent
    I've always wondered (none / 0) (#21)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:02:31 AM EST
    about that myself.  The death was certainly timely -- and the funeral closed casket.

    Parent
    And, he had a visitor from this (none / 0) (#22)
    by JavaCityPal on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:03:29 AM EST
    administration the day before. :)

    Parent
    Indeed the location (5.00 / 1) (#64)
    by weltec2 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 02:24:38 AM EST
    for both is the same. He'll have to go to hell.

    Parent
    EEEK. And yuck. (none / 0) (#6)
    by oldpro on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 11:46:08 PM EST
    THAT was dreadful.

    It must be a slow news day.

    Parent

    I always felt (5.00 / 4) (#2)
    by Steve M on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 11:38:16 PM EST
    that Condi got a bad rap, which is to say, she is not quite as evil as the average Bush Administration member.

    On the issue of Iran it seems clear that she has been on the side of the angels and against Cheney's hardliners who would have attacked Iran already if it was up to them.

    That's not to absolve her of responsibility for this administration's record.  But it's not hard for me to imagine that she'd be valuable to talk to.

    Now, this being politics, the question is not what Obama hopes to achieve by talking with Rice, but what point he wants to make by letting it be known that he's talking with her.  I'll leave that question open to the floor.

    Condi's done a few good things (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by catfish on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 11:41:26 PM EST
    She played some inside baseball and kept Addington at bay, from what I remember.

    Parent
    Obama wants to transcend parties (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by catfish on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 11:42:20 PM EST
    that's my guess for what he hopes to gain by making his meeting with her public. (Tell me again why McCain is "so much worse"?)

    Parent
    I would say that (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by weltec2 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 02:44:15 AM EST
    he has transcended himself right out of the Democratic Party.

    Parent
    I never felt that way, myself (5.00 / 4) (#9)
    by JavaCityPal on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 11:49:02 PM EST
    I was opposed to the Iraq war when it was a mere glimmer in this administration's eye, and Obama claims he was, too.

    Any, and I mean ANY (including Powell), member of the administration who was party to the lying, covering up, and manipulations that took us to destroy Iraq would not be who I would expect, or condone, the democratic candidate for POTUS to use as an advisor or teacher.

    Rice sees foreign affairs from this Administration's perspective, and to think otherwise is naive. Obama is showing his judgment, again.


    Parent

    I know, I know (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by Steve M on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 11:54:40 PM EST
    but we need to find out if she has actionable intelligence before we render her to Syria!

    Parent
    What are you using to as reason to (none / 0) (#19)
    by JavaCityPal on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:00:05 AM EST
    think she's credible enough to actually share any actionable intelligence?

    This administration will share nothing...and, I believe every one of them have proven that in front of congressional hearings while under oath.

    Parent

    Fortunately for our efforts (none / 0) (#24)
    by Steve M on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:10:11 AM EST
    the OLC opinions justifying enhanced interrogation techniques are still operative.

    Parent
    OLC? Help me out here please! n/t (none / 0) (#52)
    by nycstray on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 01:19:03 AM EST
    Probably not, but: (none / 0) (#53)
    by oculus on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 01:28:42 AM EST
    She has a mind of her own (none / 0) (#82)
    by catfish on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 09:15:50 AM EST
    even though she's a woman.

    Parent
    All I can say is. . . (5.00 / 2) (#15)
    by andgarden on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 11:56:31 PM EST
    Get used to it (5.00 / 10) (#18)
    by Steve M on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 11:58:48 PM EST
    In 3 years your job will be making excuses for people as well.

    Parent
    hehehe (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by andgarden on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:07:17 AM EST
    I know.

    Parent
    If you keep your mouth shut, like Colin (5.00 / 9) (#26)
    by PssttCmere08 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:18:24 AM EST
    Powell did over the lead up to the Iraq War, then you are every bit as evil as the rest of them.  Rice has been horrible in any post given her in the bush administration; and she should be the last person anyone should go to for foreign policy advice.  

    Parent
    Obama consulting (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by Andy08 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:44:44 AM EST
    Condoleeza Rice cannot be any good... I agree with you.

    She was Pres. Bush main advisor during 2001 and has been a major player as secretary of state...

    Why would Obama be consulting C.Rice ??

    Does anyone remember her testimony on the 9/11 commission about the PDB?

    RICE: If you'll just give me a moment, I will address fully the questions that you've asked.

    First of all, yes, the August 6 PDB was in response to questions of the president -- and that since he asked that this be done. It was not a particular threat report. And there was historical information in there about various aspects of al Qaeda's operations.

    Dick Clarke had told me, I think in a memorandum -- I remember it as being only a line or two -- that there were al Qaeda cells in the United States.

    Now, the question is, what did we need to do about that?

    And I also understood that that was what the FBI was doing, that the FBI was pursuing these al Qaeda cells. I believe in the August 6 memorandum it says that there were 70 full field investigations under way of these cells. And so there was no recommendation that we do something about this; the FBI was pursuing it. I really don't remember, Commissioner, whether I discussed this with the president.

    BEN-VENISTE: Thank you.

    RICE: I remember very well that the president was aware that there were issues inside the United States. He talked to people about this. But I don't remember the al Qaeda cells as being something that we were told we needed to do something about.

    BEN-VENISTE: Isn't it a fact, Dr. Rice, that the August 6 PDB warned against possible attacks in this country? And I ask you whether you recall the title of that PDB?

    RICE: I believe the title was, "Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside the United States."

    Now, the...

    BEN-VENISTE: Thank you.



    Parent
    AARGH! (5.00 / 3) (#39)
    by nycstray on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:55:17 AM EST
    I remember watching that. Doesn't she also have a fair bit of testimony about how clueless she was about what others under and working with her were doing at the time? I remember thinking I would have been fired for half of her answers if I had to justify/own up to something under my management. Heck, she was giving responses I wouldn't accept from my own crews.

    Parent
    Yes I recall (none / 0) (#47)
    by Andy08 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 01:10:13 AM EST
    something like that; I linked her whole testimony above.

    Parent
    Sorry, for some reason (none / 0) (#50)
    by nycstray on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 01:16:30 AM EST
    I didn't see it was linked! Knee jerk emotional response on my part. Certain things do that to me . . . .

    Parent
    It gives me a feeling of uneasiness (none / 0) (#59)
    by Edgar08 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 02:11:41 AM EST
    To see that set up like that and have it be used the way it's used now.

    I just think, you know, any president, even a Democratic Party president and their NSA could have received a similiarly titled memo and still would not have been able to stop such an attack.  The title itself is sort of a "well duh," sort of thing anyway.  

    It's not that I think Bush was going to address the issue, but I don't like how that episode is handled by people who, it seems to me, smile just a little bit too much when they're saying "i told you so."

    Parent

    Just so's it's clear (none / 0) (#61)
    by Edgar08 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 02:15:20 AM EST
    I'm talking more about how Huffington and others have handled that situation on news shows and such.

    Parent
    another poor choice in an assoicate i see. (none / 0) (#66)
    by hellothere on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 03:06:58 AM EST
    dang this guy strikes out 100% it seems.

    Parent
    I've wanted to like Condi Rice (none / 0) (#72)
    by kempis on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 06:42:43 AM EST
    We're the same age and we're from Birmingham. We both smelled the smoke growing up. I am in awe of her accomplishments. I am horrified that she, of all people, became a post-civil-rights Republican. Even by the time I was a teenager, I knew that the Dixiecrats were becoming Republicans. LBJ's championing of the Civil Rights Act had definitely signaled that the national Democratic party was on the side of integration and civil rights. In the 70s, thanks to outspoken liberal Democrats, it was also clearly on the side of women's equality.

    The modern GOP was fired up as a backlash to the "identity politics" of the Democrats--which is a nice way of saying that women should stay in the kitchen and blacks should live separately and UNegually so that the world could return to that mythical, Leave it to Beaver, golden age of the 1950s.

    Condi should have known better.

    Furthermore, Condi was one of Bush's "Vulcans" (named after the statue in our home town) who were responsible for tutoring Bush on foreign affairs--like who is the president of Pakistan, etc. She and Wolfowitz and, I believe, Feith were involved.

    In short, Condi is (or was) a neoconservative and she's largely responsible for shaping Bush's disastrous, cartoonish good v evil view of foreign affairs.

    A lot of the mess we're in is as much her responsibility as it is Bush's. Obama may as well consult with Wolfowitz and Feith and Scooter Libby.

    Parent

    My problem with CR (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by lmv on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 01:09:24 AM EST
    is that she's not really as smart as she or Bush thinks she is.  

    She's an expert in the former Soviet Union and seemed slow to grasp the realities of the world in 2000.

    For the best description of her abilities, or lack thereof, I recommend reading Richard Clarke's book Against All Enemies.  

    Clarke, a national security expert in the Clinton Administration who was kept on by Bush Inc, documented 9/11 and the aftermath from inside the White House.  Yes, he gives himself a lot of credit but if his description of Rice is half accurate, the last person anyone should be asking for foreign policy advice is Condi Rice.

    (And, don't the Democrats have any good experts of their own he could consult, like, um, Richard Clarke?)

    Parent

    Right (none / 0) (#48)
    by Andy08 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 01:11:46 AM EST
    after all didn't Richard Clarke support  or was advising Obama?

    Parent
    The more interesting question is (5.00 / 2) (#76)
    by Roz on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 08:08:05 AM EST
    What the heck does Rice hope to achieve by advising Obama?

    Parent
    Rehabilitation, perhaps w/in the black community (none / 0) (#80)
    by jawbone on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 09:08:04 AM EST
    in particular and the in general as well.

    Meanwhile, I do hope he recalls that she was unable to imagine that airplanes could be used as weapons, even though she knew her boss had to sleep on a US naval vessel during the July '01 G8 meeting--due to warnings that terrorists might try to attack the leaders using...airplanes.

    Very limited imaginations, those Bushies. Unless it came to finding excuses for their wrongdoing.

    Oh, my. What a week: Offshore oil drilling, confabs with Rice...wasn't there something else?

    Parent

    Condi is probably (none / 0) (#58)
    by seeker on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 02:07:26 AM EST
    not as evil as the norm for this administration.  It is just not clear that she is espcially bright.

    Parent
    My (none / 0) (#69)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 05:26:52 AM EST
    impression of Condi is that she's only as good as the President she serves. She didn't seem this incompetent under Bush I.

    You have to remember though that she was responsible for tutoring W on foreign policy. Is she doing the same for Obama?

    Parent

    She didn't have as high profile or important post (none / 0) (#79)
    by jawbone on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 09:02:31 AM EST
    Who knows what mistakes she made back then, what with her inability to listen information which didn't fit her framing and objectives?

    Parent
    That isn't the help I thought (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by waldenpond on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 11:46:13 PM EST
    Obama would get from Rice in this campaign. If Rice was running with McCain... it would have helped Obama by contributing to a McSame campaign strategy.  But advice?  I still have images of her testimony.

    "Condoleezza Rice testified this morning before the 9/11 commission. Or as they're calling it in Washington -- 'The Passion of the Rice'. ... She did a great job. It is not easy raising your right hand while you're trying to cover your ass at the same time." --Jay Leno

    Of course it was McCain at a motorcycle rally.  Who doesn't like motorcycles?

    Imagine the secret (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 11:53:05 PM EST
    service patrol required at Sturgis.  There was a shooting a couple of years ago there, then security became really tight.

    I'll bet it's even tighter this year.

    Not that I know anything more about Sturgis than what I've read in the newspaper.  

    I bet it'll be the media... (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by EL seattle on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:32:19 AM EST
    ... that need security and protection at Sturgis.

    Parent
    They'll use a friendly cycle club (none / 0) (#25)
    by Ben Masel on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:10:39 AM EST
    as the primary security, and keep the Secret Service back.

    Tommy Thompson's coaching.

    Parent

    lol!~ I was totally clueless (5.00 / 0) (#28)
    by nycstray on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:23:05 AM EST
    when I suggested Obama might have sent the DNC letter because he was on his way to MI to pander and needed some more ammo. OY! I thought it was bad enough that I could have outlined most of his race speech (aside from the Grandma part) just from seeing his speech givin' pattern. I really need to separate myself more. . . .

    So, he's consulting Condi, eh? Too bad they aren't talkin' baseball  ;)

    What DNC letter? What did you say? T/U n/t (none / 0) (#81)
    by jawbone on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 09:15:24 AM EST
    So let me get this straight (5.00 / 6) (#31)
    by SoCalLiberal on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:33:21 AM EST
    Obama is consulting with Condo Rice and has reversed on offshore drilling.  So nice that progressives finally have their candidate.

    Well, Condi (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by Andy08 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:52:43 AM EST
    taught GW Bush "foreign affairs" back in 2000 so
    why not teach Obama since his potential presidency is starting to shape a lot like Bush III....

    seamless continuation... (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by Andy08 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:53:17 AM EST
    Couple things (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by Edgar08 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 01:10:03 AM EST
    It seems that there is often a conservative vein within the sturgis demographic.  but if there's one thing I know nothing about that's it.

    the other things is rice isn't an evil person.  I'm quite certain she is very much the genius in her own right currently employed by a dolt.  which happens.

    Here's an interesting tidbit from the wiki...

    Early political views

    Rice was a Democrat until 1982 when she changed her political affiliation to Republican after growing averse to former President Jimmy Carter's foreign policy.[17] She also cited influence from her father, John Wesley, in this decision, who himself switched from Democrat to Republican after being denied voting registration by the Democratic registrar. In her words to the 2000 Republican National Convention, "My father joined our party because the Democrats in Jim Crow Alabama of 1952 would not register him to vote. The Republicans did."[18]

    However, despite her party switch, Rice served as foreign policy advisor to the presidential campaign of Democratic U.S. Senator Gary Hart of Colorado during the 1984 primaries.[19]

    on the one hand, if one is inclined to see this as more than just a political gesture of bi-partisanship, i have no problem with Obama consulting someone who rejected Carter's foriegn policy agenda.  

    And I can't.  I really wish I could cause it's getting better, but it isn't and it taints every positive attitude that might remain in my heart and mind about politics.

    And that's anyone out there who DOES believe Obama should not be consulting with Rice and would be ripping Clinton much worse if Clinton did the same thing herself (even though I don't think she'd have to).

    But my honest feeling is Obama should not be criticized for consulting with Rice.  I support it.  It doesn't mean he's going to adopt the ideology, but fact remains Rice still has a perspective and has access to info and long term agendas that Obama should, at the very least, listen.  If only to reject.

    It's just sad, if everything would have turned out differently, even with Obama as the winner of the primary, I'd have actually been a much better supporter of Obama than 90% of his supporters simply because I actually do believe, moron that I am, that there's nothing wrong at all, indeed, even something good about Obama consulting with Rice.


    Hmm (5.00 / 1) (#67)
    by Edgar08 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 04:49:51 AM EST
    Mulling this over some more.

    I really should be a lot more outraged about Obama taking advice from Condi considering his whole schtick about how people who voted yes on the AUMF lack judgment.

    Awkward.

    I would never have thought Obama for (none / 0) (#8)
    by Valhalla on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 11:46:55 PM EST
    the motorcycle rally.  Not his crowd at all.  (also, not sure what McCain's age has to do with making it unlikely he'd go -- unless it required riding a hog and doing jump-the-barrel tricks like Eval Knieval or something)

    Condi was a tossup, could've gone either way.

    I love the sound of motorcycles (5.00 / 0) (#13)
    by JavaCityPal on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 11:53:27 PM EST
    especially in groups....I'll follow the motorcycle drill teams at parades for blocks. Never had the urge to ride on one, though.

    Doesn't surprise me one bit that it was McCain instead of Obama. Jet pilot v. motorcade passenger.


    Parent

    He's got some 'splainin to do (as usual) (none / 0) (#11)
    by blogtopus on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 11:51:19 PM EST
    I think it's terribly shortsighted of Obama to consult not only a person who's shown pretty crappy FP judgement, but is perceived as a major member of the Bush Cartel (they named a friggin' Oil Tanker after her).

    Because, now this is going to be fairly shocking to some of you, Condi happens to be AA, and this coupled with her bang-up job on FP is going to lead some to believe Obama is consulting her merely because she is AA. Not me; I won't jump to that conclusion immediately, I think he's trying for that 'non-partisan' angle myself.*

    Anyway, I'm sure he's got non-reacial reasons for talking with Condi, but they're going to have to be more than just logical, especially with certain elements of our population. They're going to have to be pretty darned compelling. Appearances are everything, as he is very aware much aware of, and he should have seen / known this was coming.

    Hopefully his campaign won't attack those who criticize Condi as being reacist, or he can count on losing at least 3-4 % in the next poll.

    *If Condi is actually just a woefully misused FP genius, then this might be a good move, but he'll still have to prove how she actually is beneficial to FP discussions.

    ABC News video on Yahoo (5.00 / 4) (#29)
    by BarnBabe on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:24:16 AM EST
    They are interviewing Bill and asking if he would do or say things differently during his wife's campaign. He side steps the issues because he does not want people to misunderstand, but ends with I Am Not A Racist. I have never been a racist.

    Parent
    G*d, that's sad (5.00 / 4) (#32)
    by nycstray on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:42:42 AM EST
    and it totally p!sses me off.

    Parent
    This will be big news (5.00 / 3) (#36)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:49:11 AM EST
    and will help McCain more than Obama....

    Parent
    This will haunt the party (5.00 / 4) (#51)
    by Edgar08 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 01:17:54 AM EST
    for a very long time.

    There was the naked aggression of Rev. Wright or there is just someone claiming they know what Bill's interntions are any given day.

    It's been poison from the beginning.  A really bad showing on the part of everyone who supported Obama in any capacity whatsoever.

    I am still very upset about it.


    Parent

    It should haunt the party for a very long time (5.00 / 6) (#55)
    by Valhalla on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 01:40:47 AM EST
    Making Bill Clinton out to be racist was despicable.

    Parent
    Unfortunately... (5.00 / 1) (#73)
    by lambert on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 07:27:35 AM EST
    ... the only solution is to inflict pain on the perps. Which isn't the way to win friends and incluence people that "matter," let me tell you.

    Parent
    Here's the link (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by nycstray on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 02:11:50 AM EST
    in case anyone's interested, and he's on at some point on GMA starting at 7AM.

    Parent
    Ummm... (none / 0) (#17)
    by oldpro on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 11:57:20 PM EST
    Well, she IS the Secretary of State.

    Might not hurt to have spoken with her ONCE about foreign policy...she, at least, has the creds.

    Parent

    Couldn't/shouldn't he have done this (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by nycstray on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:48:52 AM EST
    in the past in his role as Senator and his duties there?

    Parent
    Not except as a member (5.00 / 3) (#49)
    by oldpro on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 01:13:53 AM EST
    of a Foreign Relations Committee or sub-committee.

    Oops....

    Of course, he is chair of a sub-committee which, I hear, has never met...and that has responsibility for oversight of NATO, etc. NATO, which has troops in Afghanistan in support of our troops.

    So.....yeah.  He should have.

    No question.

    Too busy running for president.

    Parent

    Do they meet at the White House? (none / 0) (#68)
    by MichaelGale on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 05:24:10 AM EST
    Do they do video conferencing? Do they meet for lunch? Are they good friends? Does Bush approve?

    Inquiring minds want to know.


    Parent

    Well, both (none / 0) (#56)
    by Grace on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 01:42:01 AM EST
    Condi and Barack are tall thin people, so maybe that's it?  Maybe tall thin people like to hang out with other tall thin people?  

    Because, now this is going to be fairly shocking to some of you, Condi happens to be AA, and this coupled with her bang-up job on FP is going to lead some to believe Obama is consulting her merely because she is AA. Not me; I won't jump to that conclusion immediately, I think he's trying for that 'non-partisan' angle myself.*

    I think it's non-partisan post-racial too.  I believe, though I could be wrong, both Condi and Barack like to shop for clothes and shoes and they could be exchanging shopping tips.  Perhaps Barack wants to surprise Michelle for her birthday or Christmas and he's getting ideas from Condi?  

    Parent

    Huh? (none / 0) (#84)
    by squeaky on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 01:00:01 PM EST
    Obama likes to shop? Where did you get that bit of spin, wingnuttia? Same place that creates the McSame ads that you love. Bet you loved the ones about Edwards hairdo, and Gore lactating.

    But maybe you are confusing COndi who loooves to shop, and Obama who hates shopping. They do share at least one visual characteristic.


    Parent

    McCain (none / 0) (#34)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:48:37 AM EST
    is attending  Veterans rally at Sturgis.

    I figure if Obama attended Sturgis, it would be to "comparatively rehabilitate," it would be to make his bowling performance not seem like such a big deal.

    unless (none / 0) (#40)
    by dws3665 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:56:02 AM EST
    it's for the measurements to her office, I think this is very disturbing.

    She is about the most out-of-her/his-depth diplomat we've had in decades. Her "expertise" is Soviet (not Russian, but Soviet) culture and politics. Another example of the utter imbecility of Bush that he chose her -- and promoted her then kept her on -- when the key diplomatic challenges facing the nation so clearly fell outside her areas of expertise.

    Cheney and his imps couldn't have begged for a more perfect foil for their machinations.

    Who could have predicted, indeed.

    a lot of people (none / 0) (#41)
    by dws3665 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 12:58:10 AM EST
    would not feel especially comfortable at Sturgis.

    My sister went last year (none / 0) (#44)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 01:07:43 AM EST
    said it was the most fun she's had in her life.

    My sister and I don't share common tastes.

    Parent

    the Sturgis rally is a blast (5.00 / 1) (#75)
    by Nettle on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 08:02:34 AM EST
    though competing with thousands and thousands of motorcycles, the interstate highway across the state is literally jammed with them and hotel rates suck for those of us just trying to get a room for the night who aren't part of the rally.  Still, every year there are way too many deaths related to the rally and this year is no exception.  I suggest if you go, don't just hang out in Sturgis but check out the greater Black Hills, maybe take a trip to Wounded Knee and the Badlands, but heavens, drive carefully.  

    Parent
    Bike Death Week (5.00 / 1) (#83)
    by CoralGables on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 09:38:18 AM EST
    I doubt Sturgis can compare to Daytona's bike week for morgue reports. The mixture of booze and bikes and no helmets had a record 21 deaths in Daytona a couple years ago.

    And when did Hawaiian Tropic start sending girls to Sturgis? Daytona I understand. Sturgis is an odd place to find bikinis or a presidential candidate.

    Parent

    Great headline. But, didn't (none / 0) (#43)
    by oculus on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 01:01:52 AM EST
    Obama consult w/Rice re the Kenyan election?

    South Dakota? (none / 0) (#54)
    by CoralGables on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 01:36:35 AM EST
    I'm a long way from there but isn't Sturgis In South Dakota?

    That's what google told me :) (none / 0) (#57)
    by nycstray on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 01:44:47 AM EST
    I have a twitch when it comes to motorcycles these days. All the ones around me set of car alarms as they ride around the 'hood. One will annoy the heck outta ya, but we have a day in the spring and one in the fall when they spend the whole day in packs roaming the 'hood. Really sucks if it's a beautiful window open day, which it usually is. heh, I just realized the guy that rented the garage next door must be gone now. Or away. His bike is always being  fiddled with (which is teeth grinding for an hour or 2) and when he starts it for a ride, it backfires. Been a couple months since he has disturbed us :)

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    whew! somebody noticed (none / 0) (#74)
    by Nettle on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 07:47:11 AM EST
    Sturgis is indeed in the beautiful Black Hills, Paha Sapa, of South Dakota.

    As for Condi, she's incredibly smart but has always been in service to corporate global interests, particularly energy interests - her 'expertise', recall, was put into use by Chevron as she covered for murder and environmental decimation in Niger Delta and finangled deals for Caspian oil and on it still goes.  Forget the 'democracy' crap, its just that.  I wondered if Obama's (hidden, why?) protection of the planned pipelines in Afghanistan/Pakistan came from Condi Rice or his other Clinton days advisor, Susan Rice.  Neither are appropriate for moving forward on foreign policy and certainly not for setting the goals.  

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    Ask her what not to do! (none / 0) (#70)
    by mmc9431 on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 05:34:44 AM EST
    With the records of this administration, Obama will gain nothing with the American public by consulting with any member of this administration. (Unless maybe advise on what not to do)

    CR was a failure as Nat. Sec. Adv and her record as Sec of State is just as bleak. Her positive accomplishments in this administration could probably be listed on an index card!

    At Least He Is Not (none / 0) (#71)
    by bob h on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 05:37:11 AM EST
    celebrating his birthday on Martha's Vineyard.  Lets be grateful.

    Let's be grateful (none / 0) (#78)
    by BronxFem on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 08:15:58 AM EST
    he is not celebrating his birthday on an airport tarmac with Dubya while New Orleans sinks.

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    How does this play? (none / 0) (#77)
    by cmugirl on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 08:11:30 AM EST
    How does this play with his theme that electing McCain is a "third Bush term" if he is consulting with one of the architects of the disasterous foreign policy under the first two Bush terms?

    Oh, Barack....what a disappointment you've turned out to be since 2004.

    The way I see it (none / 0) (#85)
    by coigue on Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 02:11:16 PM EST
    is that she is the outgoing Secy.and has knowledge that is pertinent to the next president.

    Whether or not he agrees with her decision.

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