I have this terrible feeling that this will not be the last post I have to write about Condoleezza Rice, but hopefully I'm wrong.

Condi has been all the rage in the McCain Veepstakes discussions.  Her campaign denies that she's interested; she denies that she's interested and many say that the odds of us seeing a McCain/Rice ticket are remote, yet the talk continues.

Earlier this week, the talented jwilkes wrote a piece about potential McCain vice presidential running mates.  He mentioned a few frightening possibilities.  Electorally, maybe the most frightening is Tim Pawlenty, the current governor of Minnesota.  In terms of most frightening for the country, however, Condoleezza Rice came out on top...at least in my book.

In the post jwilkes discusses the advantages that Condi brings to the ticket.  First and foremost she brings racial and gender balance to the ticket.  I am amazed, but happy to be saying that for the first time in this nation's history, it is important.  Second, she brings credibility on the domestic security front.  Third, she has executive experience at the federal level.

Those are all reasons McCain might consider Condoleezza Rice as his VP and all of those perceived positives that Rice brings with her imply only one real advantage: electability.  And it seems, at least at this point, that Rice delivers in that department.

A recent Marist poll shows a McCain/Rice ticket beating either an Obama/Clinton ticket or a Clinton/Obama ticket.  Against Obama/Clinton the spread is 49% - 44% and against the reverse ticket the score is 49% - 46%.

There are several huge problems with this poll. 

An Obama/Clinton pairing of any kind seems very unlikely.  We've already discussed the potential Democratic defectors of both Clinton and Obama (20% of each side's supporters) when the other wins this drawn out Democratic primary battle.  In a poll, particularly taken right now, many of those voters will feel comfortable shouting down a ticket with their Democratic adversary at the top. 

The results are likely to change drastically once Obama makes use of the Democrat's Secret Weapon and selects his VP.

Also the poll only surveyed 576 people.  This is a small number and leaves a margin of error of at least +/- 4%.

Despite those problems with the poll, any semi-legitimate poll that shows the Republicans winning in New York is alarming.  If they actually did it would mean they would hand the Democrats a Mondale-style beating.

I don't believe that this will happen, but if it can get close in New York, imagine what could happen in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, etc...

Fortunately there is a good chance that McCain selecting Rice as his vice presidential running mate will cause him to completely tank in the polls as soon as voters remember that Rice has been a major Iraq War architect.

As jwilkes put it, Rice is "A gamble, for certain."

If that gamble were to somehow pay off though, this country would be in a lot of trouble.  McCain is bad enough, but Condoleezza Rice is about as bad as it gets.

She personifies the Bush Administration.

Condi has not always been the Secretary of State.  During the build up to the war with Iraq in 2002 and 2003, she was the National Security Advisor.  She was one of the key players in creating and delivering the case for war.

She repeatedly helped the Bush administration lie to the American public about everything from members of the European Union harboring torture tactics to weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. 

In regards to torture, Condi is known for this gem: "The United States does not transport, and has not transported, detainees from one country to another for the purpose of interrogation using torture. The United States does not use the airspace or the airports of any country for the purpose of transporting a detainee to a country where he or she will be tortured"

Of course that statement is ludicrous so I won't spend another 500 words explaining what's wrong with it. 

Condoleezza also conveniently "forgot" about the infamous Presidential Daily Briefing of August 6, 2001 in which she informed the President that Bin Laden was determined to attack the United States.  The President ignored that, but then Condi ignored his ignorance of the situation. 

She also attacked former counterterrorism chief Richard Clarke by claiming that he did not take the threat from Al-Qaida seriously.  Richard Clarke is a true patriot who obsessed over Bin Laden and the Al-Qaida network for years even before Condi and Bush took office.

As Secretary of State, the nation's top diplomat, she has been anything but diplomatic.  In an effort to repair relations with Europe she only made the situation worse.  Making statements that Prime Minister Merkel of Germany lied, when clearly she did not, and accusing the Romanians and Polish of using torture are not solid diplomatic tactics.

But the fact is this is who we, as Obama supporters, may face in the fall.

If I were to put The Party ahead of my country I would definitely want Condi to be McCain's number two.  However, since I am an American and a patriot before I am a Democrat, I ask you John McCain, please, please, please do not select Condoleezza Rice as your running mate. 

We've had enough.  It is time to cleanse ourselves of the Bush Administration, and Condi is part of that.  Please John, let's have an election between two genuine patriots. 

I believe you when you say that you are a true patriot.  And I believe Barack Obama when he says he is too.  You are different types of patriots, but America lovers none the less.

I love America too...a lot.  I just want an experience in which I know we'll be ok either way.  This could be the year that I get to experience that Sen. McCain, but not if you pick Condi.  

So please, for your sake, for my sake, and the nation's sake, tell her no.  I'll be a lot easier on you if you do.

Thanks John.