She probably couldn't now but 2008 is a bit away. If she gets serious she'll square up. Look at Hillary. She's heading center right like a whirlwind and will pull it off if she's careful.

She can tranjsition from what she said here to agreeing with Justice Ginsburg that Roe v. Wade was a mistake (well, that is not a direct quote, but fiarly close, see http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/world/11112774.htm )and that, except for things like late term abortion, it should be left up to the states. If Bush gets enough appointments to the S. Ct. through, that may be the law by 2008 anyway.

Her views are nothing new, they wouldn't cost her as many votes as you might think, O.J.

McCain was unnominatable for less.

McCain was fine on abortion, always has been. I care a lot about abortion, as do most GOP types I am close to, and I can tell you right now that unless national security falls completely off the radar screen, Condi would be stronger than a horse radish milkshake in places like S. Carolina, where McCain would bring in more baggage than Delta.

It's awfully close to a tenable position. She needs to call her self "basically pro-life" and then say that the country isn't ready to ban abortion entirely, but that the states need the ability to require parental notification or ban late term abortions. Presto, she's basically where the President is.

David:

It's all about her position on judges and things like embryonic stem cells, therapeutic cloning etc.

Dan:

No, it was when he started playing footsie with pro-choice positions that evangelicals, who'd been leery of W, became passionate. Killed him in SC and the rest of the South.

OJ is certainly correct about McCain. Guiliani and Rice will need to say at least that Roe v Wade was a bad decision that should be reversed. That they will enthusiastically appoint the type judges who will reverse it.

To the merits of abortion, they can say I am pro choice, but this is a decision to be left up to states with no role to be played by the Federal Government including funding.

I think if that position is believable and trusted by pro-lifers it will be sufficient to get the nomination and strong support from pro-lifers against any concievable Democrat.

By the way, if Roe v Wade is reversed, there will only be a handful of Southern States that will end up with a complete ban on abortion. Pro-choice will be rejuvenated and Republicans might end up regretting the whole dang thing.

h:

Abortion is already ending and it hasn't produced much counter-movement. MS has only one provider left and they're closing. In many other Southern and rural states there are so few that the state may as well not allow it.

As for judges, I'm not worried. Not only is the selection of conservative judges now institutionalized in the GOP, but someone who calls herself a Second Amendment absolutist is not likely to appoint judges who can see penumbras.

She needs to name names. If she says she'd look for O'Connors it's over.

The electable moderate Republican position is going to be like Condi's only with a clear statement that the Constitution leaves the right to decide the abortion question to the states, and judges should be faithful to the Constitution. As long as they're appointing judges who leave the question to the states, many pro-lifers can live with an Arnold, Rudy, or Condi.

I think for Condi a 2008 run is impossible. You can't be Sec of State and prepare a presidential run. She should serve out as Sec of State and then, if she has political ambitions, run for governor of California to succeed Arnold. Once she has some political experience, she can be nominated for President.

condi and jeb for 2012

My Outlook directory has at least 500 names of folks who serve in one way or another with charitable organizations, the vast bulk of whom are evangelicals of one stripe or another. I can't think of a single one of them, though there must be a few, who supported McCain at any time. It had nothing to do with abortion, they just knew he wasn't one of them. That was all it took. Bush was.

Condi's statement on abortion will hurt her just as much as Cheney's mild differences with Bush on gay marriage hurt him-- not at all. All she needs to do is add a little nuance about states rights and talk about what a great choice for Chief Justice Clarence Thomas is this June when Rehnquist retires. If she runs, she wins.

Yes, she could be vp with that shtick.

McCain's travails:

http://www.sptimes.com/News/020300/Worldandnation/McCain_riding_high_to.shtml

I agree with both of you. But W is obligated to deliver the '08 nomination to someone who will continue his program, and when he decides, we'll all fall into line. If he opts for Condi, and the speech he used to announce Cheney for VP can be used with only a couple of miner tweeks, presumably he will set her on the proper path.

"..when he decides, we'll all fall into line"

Truer words were never spoken. At least on the money and organization side, GOP politics is now the Bush family business.

If Condi runs, then it will be with the President's blessing. She will be his candidate. So, I agree with David and Dan.

I'd agree with OJ if I could figure out what her position is. What vaugeness! Plenty of room here for tweaking.

Bob, she has said all she needed to say to sty in play through 2006.

Dan,yes, I'd agree with that. She kept her powder dry by being vague. A savvy politician.

"Condi would be stronger than a horse radish milkshake in places like S. Carolina, where McCain would bring in more baggage than Delta."

Dan are you really Dan Rather?