CONDI AND ARLEN

I have been chastised by a number of folks for seeming to endorse Condoleezza Rice for the 2008 GOP presidential candidacy. Cheney and Condi didn’t actually do so, for it merely revealed a plan many on Capitol Hill believe will be enacted by the Bush White House next year to replace Cheney with Condi as VP. This would clearly put her in the driver’s seat for the nomination.

Yet I will plead guilty. The Republicans have many fine potential candidates. I have even agreed to serve as foreign policy advisor to my friend Rod Martin’s coalition supporting the candidacy of Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Jeb would make a terrific president. Unfortunately, I don’t think he will be able to overcome the Bush Dynasty problem (at least in 2008 – by 2016 the problem will have dissolved and he’ll only be 63).

Nonetheless, the nightmare of a PIAPS Presidency – Hillary – trumps all other considerations for me. Should she be the Democrat nominee, there is only one GOP candidate who could defeat her: Condi.

For others – like my friends Rod Martin and Joe Farah – what trumps all considerations of being for Condi is that she is, however “mildly” or “reluctantly,” pro-abortion. I believe they would agree to choose Condi over Hillary any day if that were the only choice. Where we disagree is that they think some other GOP candidate, and one who is staunchly pro-life, could also beat Hillary. I have deep doubts. I think Condi is the only one who could do so.

But who knows? She’s very untested as a candidate. 2008 is a long way off. What’s important is to make it unimportant what Condi’s or any other candidates’ position on abortion is. The goal should be to have new pro-life Supreme Court Justices in place by the end of GW’s second term, giving the Court a pro-life majority that the next occupant of the White House can do nothing about, and will overturn Roe v. Wade.

Which brings us to Arlen Specter. Obviously, a gigantic mistake was made by George Bush and Rick Santorum to support Specter against challenger Pat Toomey last year. Another gigantic mistake was made by Bill Frist in not ejecting him from the Senate Judiciary Chairmanship last month. Now this pro-abortionist is an obstacle in the way, preventing the confirmation of pro-life judges and justices.

Last week it was announced that he has Hodgkins’ lymphomatic cancer, and it’s advanced, Stage IV. He has to undergo very aggressive chemotherapy with an especially toxic cocktail of chemicals called ABVD (for the drugs involved, adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine). We can only wish him success with his treatment and hope for a full recovery. The fact remains however that such aggressive treatment for such an advanced cancer administered to someone 75 years old can result in substantial cognitive impairment.

Given this possibility, it is only reasonable that he be asked to take a leave of absence from chairing the Judiciary Committee until his schedule of treatment is completed and he has been successfully tested to demonstrate no cognitive impairment.

The time is now to work for and achieve a pro-life Supreme Court. Not after 2008. Now – because it could be now or never. Hillary’s chances are growing and she could make it. So I suggest to the pro-life movement that it demand Arlen Specter step down from Judiciary and work like there’s no tomorrow for confirming pro-lifers to replace the Justices sure to retire in the next three years – for there may not be a tomorrow.

Besides, I think Condi will begin to see the pro-life light as she searches her soul on the issue. How could any morally sane person not be pro-life once they see this picture?