The senior aide behind Condi's "rock star image"

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: The Man Behind the Secretary of State's Rock Star Image
By JOEL BRINKLEY
Published: December 5, 2005

....Despite the time-worn diplomatic formula of quiet airport greetings by often-dour foreign ministers, for Ms. Rice the more telegenic receptions in Bishkek and Tokyo were not anomalies. Among the diplomats, politicians and journalists of the world, there is no argument that she has ascended to rock star status.

In her office, her aides say that has been one result of a deliberate strategy.

"We think it is very important that she connects with the ordinary citizens of the countries she visits," said Jim Wilkinson, a senior aide to Ms. Rice. An important part of his job is to set up her image-making events....

***

All of this has raised Ms. Rice's profile at home as well. For months now, she has tried to bat away speculation that she is campaigning for higher office. "Condi vs. Hillary," the book by Dick Morris and Eileen McGann, was on best-seller lists this fall. It surmises that Ms. Rice will run for president against Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton....

***

Mr. Wilkinson, 35, a fast-talking jokester and the son of a funeral director from Nacogdoches, Tex., sits in a small office across the hall from the secretary of state's suite. His work obviously holds a high priority for her, and he serves as a gatekeeper for many people in the building who want to see her....

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/05/politics/05rice.html?oref=login

[Warpy]

1. Since when was Olive Oyl a rock star?

Honestly, that snarling, dowdy woman is going to need a lot more than a fancy dress to improve her image here and overseas.

[sendero]

2. "rock star image"..

.... don't make me laugh :rofl:

[IowaGuy]

16. well, it could be argued that she looks better than.....

Keith Richards, maybe not succesfully argued, but at least argued....


of course there are other rock stars like, uh, "Buckethead" whose sense of style rivals hers....(sorry, Buckethead...nothin personal)

[chookie]

19. Keith Richards has lead a better life

and contributed more to the culture of mankind that that imbecile Rice, who merely pretends to be competent.

The notion that Condi is a rock star -- ANYWHERE -- is absurd. She is despised. And she will return from her latest mission to Europe, another attempt to force feed our allies the notion that America must be able to torture at will, even more despised.

"Condi Vs Hillary" has gone the way of "Popular War Time President" and "Mission Accomplished." It's just that the MSM hasn't QUITE caught up to the bleeding obvious yet.

[ixion]

3. rock star? war criminal, IMO

but hey, I like real rock-n-roll, so what do I know. ;-)

[BillZBubb]

4. Of course the NYT is totally whoring again to make her a "star"

The Times has become a joke. They fall all over themselves when talking about Powell or Rice--both of whom have been proven to be incompetent liars.

[walldude]

8. In trying to appear to be racially sensitive they end up

supporting war criminals and looking stupid. Colin and Condi, a horrible disaster no matter what color they are.

Oh and "Rock Star Image?" You mean she's been drinking and drugging heavily, banging groupies and trashing hotel rooms? Damn and I missed it!

[Cha]

5. Give. me. a. break..

I can't imagine the Rock Stars wanting someone like condisleeza in their group.

condiliar is a wannabe and it's the corporated media who are even taking this beyond joke status.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

6. She forgot to connect with the ordinary citizens of America.

I, for one, do NOT see her as a "rock star". In my head space she's more like a "war criminal".

[sniffa]

7. *boom boom cLap! boom boom cLap*

"we wiLL, we wiLL rock you!"

that's what i hear whenever i see her entering the arena.

[area51]

21. ROFL (n/t)

[graywarrior]

9. I hear hissing...like when the snakes are talking to her

[mcscajun]

15. Do you suppose she speaks Parseltongue?

SSSsssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss....

[Straight Shooter]

10. Only if your idea of a rock star is an anorexic dominatrix wannabe. n/t

[Neil Lisst]

11. Rock Star?! Ha! They wish. Talk about your spin.

Who blew who to get that piece printed?

You can bet someone had the knee pads on. That story is a straight up plant ala Judas and Scooter.

[peekaloo]

12. LOL...her image maker is the son of a funeral parlor director.

Explains why she looks so "lifelike".

[Neil Lisst]

20. It's obvious who does her make-up, isn't it?!

you know it's true!!

[HeeBGBz]

13. Pet Rock is more like it

pffft.

[mcscajun]

14. Rock Star Status???

WTF are they kidding?

Are there Condi Groupies out there we haven't heard of yet? Is her picture on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine? Are paparazzi stalking her outside hotels, airports, and restaurants?

Rock star, my ass.

Artificially "raising her profile" for a supposed presidential run? Oh Please Say it Isn't SO! :puke:

[donheld]

17. If Condi is a rockstar then Axl Rose is a ballet dancer

:grr:

[JAbuchan08]

18. Appealing to regular Americans

by acting like a self-centered infantile ie a "rockstar". Yeah, right.

[rocktivity]

22. PUFF PIECE ALERT!!!

As she landed in Tokyo early this year, waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs was Konishiki, the popular, 600-pound, Japanese-American sumo champion, decked out in a billowing black silk kimono. When he reached out to give Ms. Rice a hug she looked startled and gasped as he enveloped her delicate frame. The next day, a senior Japanese official said, "she and Konishiki were all over the newspapers" across Japan.

This was a work of a "senior aide"? For someone who's supposed to be America's head diplomat? All together now--

:puke:
rocknation