Tim Blair

Not much action here, so I'll start.

1. I'm also in a stable condition - I just moved in with my horse

2. Dave Barry - used to be funny

3. Iowahawk - very elegant. He has the investment crowd cliches down pat.

4. How cool is that! Moon Bat Masterton

5. This is a bit subtle, but bear with me.

I would prefer that she tells the Saudis "Unless you stop financing our enemies, we'll wipe every fucking one of you off the face of the planet

"Yay Condi Rice. I want her to go to Saudi Arabia, and I want her first words upon getting off the plane to be 'I'll drive.'"

But the point about Condi Rice is, she would not do that.

Gene, you're going to have to explain that statement. After all, left as it is it implies that you have a psychic channel into Ms. Rice's brain, which we all know is impossible. So kindly explain what you meant by that.

• James Lileks: "Yay Condi Rice. I want her to go to Saudi Arabia, and I want her first words upon getting off the plane to be 'I'll drive.'"`

This is my favorite.
Who said with certainty that she would not do this?
Under that quiet and serene exterior may be hidden precosity.

Gene, you're going to have to explain that statement. After all, left as it is it implies that you have a psychic channel into Ms. Rice's brain, which we all know is impossible. So kindly explain what you meant by that.

Andrea, you're right that I don't have a psychic connection to Dr. Rice. My comment was a best-guess assumption, based on my impression of her as a "don't-rock-the-boat" kind of person, especially when it comes to our nominative allies.

In March 2002-- presumably knowing what kind of regime the Saudi rulers run-- she referred to them as our "moderate Arab friends."

Do you really think she'd get in their face about driving?

Hey, I tipped Dave Barry! Come on, a little hat tippage, here, somebody!

http://chadster.capitalfocus.org/index.php?p=367

Gene,

While most of us realize that SA is not our "moderate Arab friend", we also know that, while we are undertaking regime change in Iraq, the House of Saud is experiencing a civil war of sorts, and that the alternative to the undesirable regime in power is far, far worse. Dr. Rice is wise to chew the elephant one bit at a time. Iran, Syria and NoKo are next on the docket for good reason. I would imagine that our policy toward SA has been evolving for the better behind the scenes, though. Also, it is not a stretch to imagine that many of the realpolitik entrenched Arabists in State will be marginalized or at least better counter-balanced in a Rice administration. Perhaps the displaced die-hards could look for positions under Chirac.

Condi Rice's very existence as a highly-placed, very powerful, female U.S. government official with whom they will be forced to deal is burr enough under the Saudi saddle. I am going to smile every time I see her picture in the news, standing next to some fat prince in his ridiculous medieval robe and do-rag.

Not to mention that Condi is black, and the Saudi princes of the desert are not known for their tolerance toward the darker-skinned (despite the much-vaunted Muslim unity).

I REALLY, REALLY like Dr. Rice.

Not because she's the first black woman to be the US' "face we show the world" at State. Oh, I'm glad we have a black woman in that slot, it's just not the main reason why I like her.

I like her because she was NOT born into a wealthy, well-connected family with everything handed to her. On the contrary, she grew up when the separate but equal laws were still in place. She felt the impact of those racist laws. But, look where she is today.

For all that we read in the press that she's some sort of parrot for Pres. Bush, she seems to me someone who knows her own mind and who would NEVER be anyone's parrot. She's very bright (skipped 2 grades in school due to her intelligence) and very accomplished.

There's an old bio (1999) here:

Star In Waiting

I think it's the best form of revenge for anyone who was subjected to the Jim Crow laws to have achieved as much as Dr. Rice. (The same applies to Gen. Powell as well.)

Doesn't matter the race or skin color, I like it when someone succeeds despite the obstacles in their way.

Lileks quote is my fav too. i was thinking something similar to that. I'm so pleased that we will be sending a strong diplomat who is also a strong woman to places where women are looked upon ranging from not capable to human chattle.

[Berry's] quote hit a personal note when in my research class we are being trained to filter webpages/sites as to whether they can be citable in research. Of course, it depends on what you are citing it for.

Let's talk about "Farther-reaching and faster ignorance." Fancy it being written by a librarian. I wonder if he is being held accountable to fact checking as are the blogs out here. Most of those I read do have reader comments and those that don't are crossed checked by other blogs.

Anyone with half a brain knows that information for entertainment purposes or armchair political discourse must be used with caution. Duh! It can also be a first step in helping to solve a problem like in a corporation when a line worker can often see an obvious glitch that top management would never find.

Nice that John Q Public had a voice in this last election isn't it. Michael Moore can rant, but asked to defend his sources and "facts," just like the MSM, he calls foul. Too bad buddy.

Thank goodness the MSM can now be checked by the blogosphere and AM talk radio. What kind of ignorance would we be plunged into if we fell into the Walter Cronkite mode of "and that's the way it is"?

Condi rulez

Lileks says: Would you rather be dropped in America at 16 not knowing the lingo, or sent to Thailand alone in your teens unfamiliar with the local tongue?

Is he kidding? 25,000 sexpats in Pattaya can't be wrong, surely...

For another opinion on this, ask a Burmese refugee working in Mae Sot for 30% of the legal minimum...

jlchydro;

I liked "Moon Bat Masterton," thanks.

1. Krakafat now a stiff

3. Acquisition creates new dish: Sears FROG with cheese

5. Condi rides back of bus in Saudi Arabia: Rice Burner

I assume that Garry Trudeau's attack on Condaleeza Rice was in words and not pictures. Trudeau can't draw Rice. He can't draw a real person, and I've always been fascinated by the clumsy tricks and ruses he's adopted over the years to avoid having actually to draw the people he's trying to satirise. It's sort of pathetic.