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Condi Rice returns to Stanford -- and criticism
Student group circulates letter challenging her actions

by Don Kazak
Palo Alto Online Staff

Posted by YouShouldKnow, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Mar 5, 2009 at 12:20 pm

Ah, the ignorant liberal idealism of youth. Big brains with no life experience. Book learning without actual comprehension. Imagine doing all that research and only looking into one side of the issue. How marvelous (and safe) is it to judge another's 8 years work experience from the comfort of your teenage bedrooms to college dorms while the person you are attacking was doing her job, which with whether or not you agree, sure has racked up more life experience and knowledge of world affairs than you kids will probably see in your entire lifetime!

If you have questions, instead of self righteously attacking Dr. Rice, why don't you instead ask for a series of question and answer meetings. Learn something before you judge!

Posted by TwoSides, a resident of the South of Midtown neighborhood, on Mar 5, 2009 at 12:41 pm

We are initiating a coalition of Stanford community members to create a campus-wide movement to hold Condoleezza Rice accountable for her actions."

Who the hell are YOU to judge? Opine, yes. Judge? Hold accountable for actions? You take yourselves pretty seriously, don't you? Tell you what. Grow up, take jobs in the public sector, then the political arena, get some life experience THEN write your book if you still have issues.

Posted by A Noun Ea Mus, a resident of the Professorville neighborhood, on Mar 5, 2009 at 1:13 pm

History will judge her as a war criminal who endorsed and supported Torture and the attempted dismantlement of our constitutional form of government---using "we're at war" ruse. Her hands are also dripping with the blood of the thousands of our soldiers who died, grievously injured, when sent to a war based on a series of calculated lies and deception. Murder is what it was. She was a co-conspirator in all this.

As regards your ranting about the lack of life experience, validity, credentials, etc.

I suppose in that fable of "The Emperor's New Clothes" you would be screaming at the child (who said "But he isn't wearing anything") about how he wasn't a tailor, had no sewing experience, how it is easy to criticize other's clothes when he has his provided for him by his parents (who themselves are "wisely" admiring the clothing of the Emperor).

Posted by Just Asking, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Mar 5, 2009 at 1:48 pm

"e thing I am absolutely confident of and certain of in my mind, is that we did what we thought was necessary, but also what we believed was legal."

Was she quoting Goebbels?

Posted by Just Asking, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Mar 5, 2009 at 1:48 pm

"e thing I am absolutely confident of and certain of in my mind, is that we did what we thought was necessary, but also what we believed was legal."

Was she quoting Goebbels?

Posted by Perspective, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Mar 5, 2009 at 1:59 pm

Why on earth would Dr. Rice want to return to such an idiotic area? A place where the same people who scream about her being a "war criminal" want to "ban" her from living where ever she wishes, and bring her to some sort of "people's court" trial ( anyone remember the "cultural revolution" of China?)

Tell you what, students..why don't you call mommy and daddy and tell them that you want to be "accountable" also, and tell them you will take over all your living and studying expenses now. Something aobut a log in your own eye..

...unbelievable..

Posted by Gary, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Mar 5, 2009 at 2:18 pm

"On Wednesday might, a student antiwar group began circulating a letter saying that Rice should be held accountable for her role as a government official in the war in Iraq."

This is just Don Kazak pumping another one of his leftist causes. Remember that petition that he got behind to prevent Don Rumsfeld from coming to the Hoover Inst.? Despite Kazak's best efforts to push his ideology, in the guise of news, it failed completely, and was a real embarassment to those who signed the thing.

Anyways, Welcome Home Condi! Just ignore Kazak, if he asks for an interview.

Posted by Anonymous, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Mar 5, 2009 at 3:17 pm

I agree with A Noun Ea Mus, except for the bit about the soldiers - I'm much more concerned with the murder of thousands of innocent civilians.

There is no way I'm setting foot on that campus while they harbor documented international terrorists there. And no, I'm not a youth by any stretch of the imagination, should you wonder.

Posted by A Noun Ea Mus, a resident of the Professorville neighborhood, on Mar 5, 2009 at 3:36 pm

To Annonymouns....I had meant to include the thousands more of civilians killed, mention that a recent report states that we are LESS SAFE because of Bush/Rice/Rumsfeld, etc.'s bungled "War on Terror" (how can you have a war against a military tactic and then use such as an excuse to burn the Constitution?).....I could go on and on. And someone should go on and on....reading these charges as they all sit before a judge and jury.

Posted by YouShouldKnow, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Mar 5, 2009 at 3:57 pm

[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

Posted by TwoSides, a resident of the South of Midtown neighborhood, on Mar 5, 2009 at 4:17 pm

Gee, I'm kind of still mourning the murder of thousands of innocent civilians in Washington DC and New York in 2001. While I AM pro choice, I find myself mourning the late term abortions (murders) that Obama's little buddy Sebelius seems to think are okey-dokey. Oh right, to people such as you, American's don't count. I forgot.

Posted by Gary, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Mar 5, 2009 at 4:19 pm

Condi will be remembered by history as part of an administration that liberated Iraq, killed Saddam, stuck a stake through the heart of al qaeda (by liberating Iraq), kept this nation safe, and made the world safer by taking on the jihadists. She also supported the liberation of New Europe, something BHO is now undermining.

I would agree that the "war on terror" is a nonsense term. It is like saying we are at war with bullets or bombs. We are, nevertheless, at war...with Muslims whose jihad is to project the Quran as written.

Posted by Anonymous, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Mar 5, 2009 at 4:32 pm

"the right to Freedom supposed to be enjoyed by ALL Americans".

And not others? The acts of Rice and her ilk have made this one of the least free countries in the western world. All by design of course.

Signed,

Idiot, from Greek idios ("private," "one's own").

Posted by Anonymous, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Mar 5, 2009 at 4:36 pm

TwoSides, I don't see how the thousands of innocent dead in Afghanistan and Iraq had anything more to do with 9/11 than the US soldiers occupying more than half of the world's countries.

Posted by Sharon, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Mar 5, 2009 at 5:09 pm

Condi is an asset to the USA, an asset to Stanford and Hoover and I hope she makes much more than the $2.5 million advance on her book.

Who cares what a couple of still wet behind the ears students whine about?

Ignore them and they will return to the Vagina Monologues or PETA in no time.

Posted by TwoSides, a resident of the South of Midtown neighborhood, on Mar 5, 2009 at 5:29 pm

Um, I dunno, dig up a few thousand of the bodies that Saddam had killed because they didn't agree with him and ask them what THEY think about the situation....there are TWO SIDES to every situation.

Posted by Lighten Up, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Mar 5, 2009 at 6:47 pm

Welcome home Condi. How's your tennis game?

Posted by A Noun Ea Mus, a resident of the Professorville neighborhood, on Mar 5, 2009 at 9:56 pm

Gary said...

"Condi will be remembered by history as part of an administration that liberated Iraq"...if unleashing ethnic violence and "cleansing", ultimately creating a situation where Iran is the only long term winner, etc. is "liberation".....you must be reading a different dictionary than the rest of the world. Or those who will write tomorrow's history books.

, "killed Saddam," no Shiite guys bungled his hanging and that scene only added to the ethnic divide.

"stuck a stake through the heart of al qaeda (by liberating Iraq)"

Now that is a sick hoot! There is a recent report out showing that our invasion of Iraq only served to aid in recruitment to Al Queda and their offshoot groups. We are less safe because of the idiocy of invading Iraq (supposedly in response to 9/11). Al Qeuda wasn't in Iraq until we went in there. Al Queda has now melded with the Taliban and whole sections of Pakistan. Quite a mess now! Thank you GW, Condi, Dan and Dick. If someone tried to boost Al Queda they couldn't have come up with a better recipe or cooking show.

, "kept this nation safe, and made the world safer by taking on the jihadists."

Saddam Hussein and his Baath Party were NOT jihadists! I can't believe you honestly think this! I guess a Muslim is a Muslim is an Arab is an Arab is a Jihadist or something.

"She also supported the liberation of New Europe, something BHO is now undermining."

Is taunting the Russians via having countries like Poland, Ukraine, Georgia all join NATO "liberation"? I mean even if you are naive enough to think that is a smart foreign policy goal (to have NATO members of every country surrounding the Russian Federation)......how is that "liberation"? Can you imagine how we Americans would react if Putin had formed similar military alliances with Canada and Mexico? We've been batty over Cuba now going on about 50 years and look where that has gotten us. It's weird how Bush wax'd on about Putin's soul then "his" administration wax'd off and basically created a situation which is a recipe for armed conflict. Again, if one tried to do a series of stupid moves one would be challenged to do better.

Further some one keeps insinuating that people calling Rice what she is (someone who should be indicted for murder and treason) are suggesting she not be allowed to live in Palo Alto. I would be quite happy to have her as my next door neighbor. I just envision it being a correctional facility. On my way to work everyday I could flip them all off and say "serves you right for getting so many killed by criminal design, trying to undo the Constitution".

Posted by YouShouldKnow, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Mar 5, 2009 at 10:13 pm

You know Moose, you only prove every Conservatives point that liberals need to fan the flames of hatred to stay alive.

Your people are IN dude. The Koolaid is flowing and the sugar rush is on. Why not put your energies into planning for the future instead of beating on every liberals favorite dead horse? Your over the top bias negates any good point you may have in the future!

You are just ticked that Obama is already handing Conservatives as much to harp on as Bush handed libs. Shoe is on the other foot and you aren't liking it much, are you? Do you look at pictures of George Bush and sing Auld Lang Syne?

How come the Weekly can remove my post appropriately skewering someone whom is quite objectionable but it doesn't delete the duplicate comment about Goebbels?

Posted by Walter_E_Wallis, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2009 at 6:56 am
Walter_E_Wallis is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online

I am just a small town engineer, not a Big City Lawyer, but I would relish challenging the fitness of any of those signatories to the attack on Dr. Rice to ever pass the bar. This turgid compost is a fitting product of The Farm.

Posted by Long Term Conservative, a resident of Menlo Park, on Mar 6, 2009 at 9:25 am

When it comes down to the facts and not the opinions of those who claim to be righteous and are not, we will find the Dr. Condoleeza Rice is an asset to this country, the United States of America. She believed in and carried out heavy duty diplomacy when there was war in for the former Soviet state of Georgia. She tried to prevent war from from being a reality between Pakistan and India over the recent Mumbai incidents. We reached a cease fire between Israel and the Hamas before she left office. She would love to see peace everywhere. If you, Dr. Condoleeze rice ever get a chance to read this, remember one thing. You were in my prayers while you were in the Bush Administration and you still are. God Bless You.

Posted by A Noun Ea Mus, a resident of the Professorville neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2009 at 9:46 am

To Walter...

Well I'm just a Cave Man Lawyer (SNL skit)....

This isn't about who is a better person on some "fitness" level. What are you envisioning Condi and I challenge each other to see who can do more pull ups or hold our breath under water the longest (ala Water Boarding)? Or play some brain game? I freely am willing to entertain/admit/acknowledge that on many personal levels or "bars" Condoleeza Rice may be "superior" to me---and many others.

But this has nothing to do with her crimes and those of her fellow cronies. I suppose you would have been a defense attorney at Nuremberg and started touting the credentials and intellectual prowess of those in the docket compared to their accusers and the judges?

To YOUSHOULDKNOW..

I am not aware of any real issues or things that Obama is handing the conservatives that in any way comes close to what Bush & Co. did. Actually not much at all in any regard. I am at times disappointed with some of his appointments as, for me, that are a bit too conservative. But it seems as if he has an agenda and may indeed be politically nimble, powerful, and skilled enough to pull off. But we'll see as the problems are so deep and entrenched that any fix is akin to going down a Class 5 River in a bath tub.

Even with the best case scenarios there will still be a lot or economic reckoning to contend with. But maybe, just maybe, we can muster an agenda which can tackle some problems which have been brewing and staring us in the face for a while now---while previous idiots had their heads buried in the sane as they lined their pockets.

I just log on and saw Rice is coming back and students are protesting. I just answered your condescending tone and attitude. Yeah probably some of the students are still wet behind the ear, entitled little snobs and snots. But others have probably already had more valuable life experiences than many here combined. Again, just as in my answer to Walter above, that is not the issue.

But go ahead and reduce the issue to one of personal attacks and taunts. It's better than discussing the actual issues for you probably.

Posted by Walter_E_Wallis, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2009 at 10:26 am
Walter_E_Wallis is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online

No. NonnyNonny, not a wrestling match but an examination of the documents that took us to war, first in Kuwait and then into Baghdad. All [i]s crossed and ts dotted. And as for the war crimes, have you ever had custodial control of someone? Do you understand people don't willingly submit to custody and that the ultimate penalty for resisting custody is death? I am disgusted that the vaporings of the ignorant like you coerced Bush into essentially turning Gitmo over to the enemy, an enemy who tests military discipline every day because their bodies and minds are sacrosanct. I am sorry Dr. Rice did not flush the internationalists out of the State Department, but then she had to work with the tools she was given. Besides, NonnyNonny, I'll bet she could take you in any contest, physical, mental or ethical.

Posted by MrDave, a resident of the Community Center neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2009 at 11:44 am

I think she is a hottie. Welcome back Condi!

Posted by Freddie, a resident of the Southgate neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2009 at 11:57 am

What has anyone, anybody, and/or anything that is associated with stanford and other so called institutions of hiel learning ever sacrificed, struggled or done with their lives? I am asking a valid,legitimate and honest question.

Posted by YouShouldKnow, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2009 at 11:58 am

Moose? Walters initial post actually did not refer to you. He specifically said 'the signatories'.

Unless you are some terribly precocious annoying Stanford student who actually signed that thing, which would explain a lot actually; I hate to tell you, Walter's Just Not That Into You. Know what happens when you kneel by that pond gazing at your own reflection for too long? Eventually you become so mesmerized by yourself you fall in, subsequently finding out that you're all wet! So dry off, sit back, and enjoy the 4-8 year trip into socialism. That's perhaps the worst thing George and Company did. They left the door wide open for 'Change'. Change from what can be likened to a movie, a drama too long and drawn out with war and suffering that began with a horrific assault on our Country...to a horror movie with bad actors, gratuitous violence, A list actors repeating a poorly written histrionic script, D list politicians with unpaid taxes and ending with a horrific assault from within our own Country by a ventriloquist, our own President, George Soros.

Posted by Anonymous, a resident of the Palo Alto Hills neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2009 at 12:17 pm

Having a member of the Bush Gang here amongst us offers us the opportunity to have our voices heard. She is responsible for much of the debacle we face now with the economic collapse thanks to the no-bid contracts, the war based on lies, the pre-emptive war based on ideology, the excessive corruption allowed to run rampant. Yes let's hold her accountable. And let's work to promote justice and see that she is tried in court as she should be, not Iraqi style, but American style where the facts can surface and she can face the truth of what she has done to our country.

Posted by YouShouldKnow, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2009 at 1:01 pm

This is all rather amusing considering the past of our current "I don't recall" Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Can YOU say shady past? Let's see what SHE winds up having to do in this job. Singing to the Carpenters "We've Only Just Begun"

Posted by TwoSides, a resident of the South of Midtown neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2009 at 1:20 pm

"We"? "Lets". Not me pal. Count me out of this public character assasination. I abstained from drinking the Koolaid. Sugar seriously impairs my judgement. Appears I am not the only one.

Ms. Rice was doing her job the best she could under circumstances none of us could ever understand unless we were in her position. Ignorance and fear manifests as rage. Questions and answers would be a good start, but even then I doubt for many years we CAN get the full story, considering we are still in a hot mess. Why don't you wait to read her book before you start making judgements?

Posted by Peter Dow, a resident of another community, on Mar 6, 2009 at 1:43 pm

"Condoleezza Rice for President in 2012. Join this group of supporters from everywhere on the world wide web."

Rice for President Yahoo Group

Web Link

Posted by colorado, a resident of another community, on Mar 6, 2009 at 1:51 pm

Yes, hail to the Chief, George Soros.

For a minute there, YOUSHOULDKNOW, I thought I was the only one who did.

Hey stupid! Yes, that means you moose. And the rest of you uneducated libs. Google Soros. Get educated and shut up for a while will ya. Get off the daily kos.

Posted by TwoSides, a resident of the South of Midtown neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2009 at 2:01 pm

Sigh. <eye roll> guess it's about time for the Weekly to delete and lock down this line of commentary. Doesn't it usually happen about now? I don't understand that. Let the people comment, eventually no one has any more to say and other news items and comments take the place of the current discussion.

Posted by TwoSides, a resident of the South of Midtown neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2009 at 2:02 pm

I know about Soros too Colorado, and more and more people are getting educated on him. Truly frightening reading. Don't read at night.

Posted by Walter_E_Wallis, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Walter_E_Wallis is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online

Hey T/S, there's sometimes 3 sides - yours, theirs and mine.

Posted by Paul, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2009 at 5:08 pm

Badmouthing Hillary again? Didn't you people learn anything from that massive exercise in Republican futility and waste of taxpayer dollars called Whitewater? Get over it already. You're beat.

Posted by Paul, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2009 at 5:09 pm

"What has anyone, anybody, and/or anything that is associated with stanford and other so called institutions of hiel learning ever sacrificed, struggled or done with their lives? I am asking a valid,legitimate and honest question."

Yeah. What did Donald Rumsfeld do with his life?

Posted by Gary, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Mar 6, 2009 at 5:52 pm

"Yeah. What did Donald Rumsfeld do with his life?"

Above all else, he led the attack to liberate Iraq from Saddam and Afghanistan from the taliban, with the army he had (much diminished by Clinton), and drive a stake through the heart of al qaeda. Job well done.

Posted by Sharon, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Mar 13, 2009 at 2:38 pm

Glad to see that Condi is back and is not intimidated by naive demonstators

Condoleezza Rice said Friday that one of her deepest regrets from her time as secretary of state was the failure of the Bush administration to achieve real reform of immigration laws.

"We need immigration reform. I don't care if it's for the person who crawls across the desert to earn $5 an hour, or for Sergey Brin, who came here from Russia and founded Google," she said at an economic summit at Stanford University. "As a country, we can't have people living in the shadows. It's just wrong. It's not only ineffective, it's wrong." Web Link