RUN, CONDI, RUN

A canidate for the presidency of the United States of America is worried about the effect his religion will have on the popular vote, and the people are worried, too. Will his religion affect his decision-making process? Is his religion suitable for America's highest office?

Am I talking about George 'Dubya' Bush?

No, I'm talking about John F.Kennedy.

I just finished reading the new biography of him, the one subtitled An Unfinished Life. An interesting read, if only because I discovered a) Kennedy was really, really, really sick for most of his life and all of his presidency, constantly pumped full of steroids and painkillers for his horrible back, ulcers, etc; and b) 'womanizer' does not really do justice to Kennedy's accomplishment's in that department. If bedding women was analagous to playing hockey, Kennedy would be Wayne Gretzky and Clinton would be Russel Crowe in Mystery, Alaska. (An obscure reference, but I'm in an obscure country, so what the hell.)

The author of the book makes a pretty convincing case that Kennedy was the right man at the right time. Unbelievable, what Kennedy had to deal with -- Cuba, Vietnam, the Soviet Union. He basically pulled the world back from the brink of nuclear war in the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was internationally focused and forward thinking.

And he was a Catholic.

Big deal?

Actually, yeah, it was a big deal. A huge deal, especially in the run-up to the election. I hadn't realized what an earth-shattering effect his run for the presidency was at that time. The whole debate centred around: Is America ready for a Catholic presidency?

The question of today is: How about a black female president?

It's possible.

After all, Canada had a female prime minister for a little while. (Okay, okay, nobody really liked Kim Campbell that much -- a nice lady and all, but following Brian Mulroney is not exactly going to win you any prizes. And the world didn't exactly pay too much notice at the time.)

Condoleeza Rice is wowing the world with her European tour right now, showing poise, grace, and ice-cold, rock solid firmness. She is one tough cookie. She is also disciplined, refined, elegant, intellectual and driven.

Dick Morris, Clinton's old campaign consultant, has a column today debating the likelihood and merits of a possible Condi run.

(See it here: www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/Comment/DickMorris/020905.html)

She would be a shrewd, more than capable coutnerpoint to Hillary's inevitable run in 2008.

Can you imagine that? These two vying for the world's top prize?

I don't know if Condi will run; a lot can happen in the next four years. (And boy does it look like the U.S. is gunning for Iran.) I think she could run, though, I think it's possible, maybe even likely, and I think she would do very, very well.

I like her. I like her stamina and resilience and singlemindedness. I may not necessarily agree with all of her boss's policies, but I appreciate and admire her very human struggle, the fact that she has risen from the very centre of racial segregation to the centre of her nation's government. It's kind of sad, though, that most of black America (with good reason) resents the administration she represents; kind of sad that her success can't be shared by the masses the way it should be.

Was America ready for a Catholic president in 1960? They were. It was a slim win, yes, but they were.

Is America ready for a black female president?

The world waits.