And I'm not begrudging Dr. Rice's academic or professional success.  I have no doubt she was a tremendous asset to Chevron when she was an executive there.  But she did not have the background or experience to be National Security Advisor, much less Secretary of State.  She was a miserable failure as NSA - 3000 of my neighbors are dead because she repeatedly ignored warnings about an impending terrorist attack.  Add to that her lies about Iraq, her lies to the 9/11 commission, and she's proven herself criminally unfit for the position she holds now, much less the highest office in the land.

My opposition to Rice has nothing to do with race and everything to do with her performance as a member of the cabinet.  But I suspected, and you proved me right, that many people's knee-jerk reaction will be to percieve any criticism of her, no matter how well-founded, as racist.  That's exactly why she may be the most dangerous candidate the Republicans could run - she's nearly as incompetent and inexperienced as Bush, at least in terms of running the country, but the Republicans can tar any critic as biased against her, despite a mountain of legitimate criticism that exists despite her race or gender.

So let me state again: I would be proud if this country elected a black president, or a female president.  But as an individual, Condi Rice has proven herself to be incompetent, a liar, and a dangerous person to entrust our safety to.  I fear the Republicans will run her, knowing all this, and shout down any legitimate criticism exactly the way you have in the post above.