Condy Rice @ Wednesday's Spamalot

[Drakh]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 12:44am

Just for a head's up, but Condoleezza Rice was at Wednesday's Spamalot show. That is all I know. I was not at said show, but instead noticed her leaving the theater all secret-service style afterwards.

Today (31st) is also Sara Ramirez's 30th birthday! Everyone at the stage door sang for her, and she seemed quite pleasant to be doing the usual fan stuff. Quite a turnaround from before, eh?

Updated On: 9/1/05 at 12:44 AM

[ShuQ]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 1:34am

Hahaha did they plug in anything to the show for the old gal?

[emerald monkey]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 1:56am

i love how while thousands of people are dead and injured on the gulf coast that the president "cuts short" his 5 WEEK vacation in Texas and the Secratary of State Condi Rice is taking in a broadway show. What has happened to the priorities in this country? What kind of message does this send to the youth of America and other World Leaders?

amazing what this country has become.

im just saying...


Updated On: 9/1/05 at 01:56 AM

[Drakh]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 2:00am

Emerald Monkey-- I was definitely waiting for that post.

I'll keep threadjacking to a minimum, but I'm nevertheless quite surprised at the level of assistance when one compares 9/11 to Katrina. Maybe it's just me, but I feel like not much is being... done?

[pab]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 2:25am

I know that this started out as a Broadway post and has now sort of moved off-topic but, speaking of priorities, it might be difficult for the government to come up with the 30 billion dollars needed to help americans, suffering from the effects of Katrina, after spending well over 200 billion dollars to "help" Iraqis. We will be seeing a lot of fundraisers and telethons in the next few weeks and it will take the kindness of fellow americans to fully help out our bothers in need.

[Forester]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 2:51am

Off-topic - Sec of State job is to handle foreign relations. I don't what kind of help the State Department can give to the effected area. If the FEMA Director of the Interior Sec is watching the show, that's a different story. /off-topic

I wonder how the security was at the theatre.

[lm2]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 3:03am

The situation in the Deep South is tragic. I would have hoped we'd pull together rather than take cheap political potshots.

All agencies are doing what they can, as fast as they can. The problem is logistics. The real lesson to take from these first few days of Hurricane Katrina, is to make sure you and your family are prepared to be self-sufficient for at least three days in case of a disaster.

[Millie42]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 7:42am

She works ridiculous hours and has a very stressful job. She's not allowed to enjoy a show?

Just because people are in the public eye doesn't mean they aren't human.
Perhaps she had been working in nyc for a few days and had a night free. Besides, as it's been said, Katrina isn't under her domain.

[Patronus]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 9:52am

I think it's an issue of respect. No, Rice's position wouldn't work specifically on this tragedy, but given that Bush has been photographed playing around with a guitar and now the person with the 3rd highest ranking office in our country is out enjoying a show, it comes across badly in my personal opinion.

I do think that Condoleeza in most case is a very hard working woman and should be able to enjoy a night on the town - however, I just don't think this is the week to do it.

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 10:05am

i don't think the gov will be very swift to help some poor minorities. and after the tv coverage of the charming looters -- carrying off the big screen tv's and stereos above their heads, i think the red cross has an uphill pr battle to get $$. i raise funds for an NGO that assists people in chennai that were effected by the tsunami and i know all about inspiring people to give.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 10:26am

I dont understand the point of this post. Why shouldn't anyone by allowed to relax? I don't think it's that big of a deal.

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 10:31am

we are in the middle of the largest natural disaster in our history and the aftermath seems to be worse than the actual storm. it is in the very least, in poor taste to be indulging in frivolity in public. i have nothing against our officials enjoying themselves, but this is not the time to be yukking it up.
ps. as sec of state condi will be very helpful diplomatically helping to deal with our worsening energy crisis. the bushies have pissed off a lot of people in south america in particular who could help alleviate the oil crisis.

Updated On: 9/1/05 at 10:31 AM

[AndiV]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 10:45am

[Millie42]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 11:41am

I am sure those 3 hours on a Wed night, had they been used more wisely, would have solved every trouble in the world.
South America would now love us had she called them at 8:30 that night.

People need times to relax or they cannot do their best work.
Maybe she has had the tickets for a while? It IS a popular show. I doubt anyone would not go if they were her.

I assume most of the people on this thread are deeply concerned for those in LA, but I doubt that is stopping anyone from posting/watching tv/going out with friends even though they could spend those very moments volunteering at the Red Cross. You can't work ALL THE TIME.

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 11:56am

when there is a national tragedy it is the part of public officials to set the tone. whether or not condi would be using her time to help is irrelevent.
ms. rice does not move through the world like you or i. she is not confined by the dates on her tickets. she is the most powerful woman in the US and if she wants tickets tomorrow or a month from now, she can get them.

Updated On: 9/1/05 at 11:56 AM

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 12:41pm

Well we all know how hard it is to get Spamalot tickets....:) Maybe it was a bad judgement call on her part to go to an entertainment event while the country is battling a tragedy, but I'm not holding it against her. I have no doubt she's been working her butt off while certain people (AHEM! Mr. President!) have been on extended vacations.

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 7:27pm

As others have said, the SECSTATE's job is primarily directed at an international audience, so State does not have a role in dealing with the disaster in the Gulf. In fact, they would be barred from working in this realm, given their mandate.

That said, suffice it to say Rice and her team work very hard in a VERY high stress place. It is quite likely she was up in NY for various meetings related to her job, and had the opportunity to take in a show in a free moment. Days are usually very thoroughly planned out, but even at the show, she would have been available/reachable to if she was called upon to do something.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 7:33pm

I'm def. thinking she had the tickets WAY before this hurricane stuff.

So some of you need to chill the f&(k out. If Katrina isn't really something she is in control of handling, then let the woman enjoy 3 damn hours out.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 8:34pm

I agree with ljay.

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 8:56pm

let them eat cake.

whether she got the tickets last night or last year, it is not appropriate to appear in public at a comedy show during this time and condi as a master of diplomacy should know this. miz rice happens to be "on vacation". she and karl rove also have a dual function as bush's brain and could no doubt be of much help to him during this time when his incompetence is staggeringly apparent.
it reads as indifference, especially when the federal government has failed these people on so many levels.

Updated On: 9/1/05 at 08:56 PM

[jerseygurl]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 10:58pm

Yesterday morning she played tennis with Monica Seles before seeing SPAMALOT.

Then this came in:
Just moments ago at the Ferragamo on 5th Avenue, Condoleeza Rice was seen spending several thousands of dollars on some nice, new shoes (we’ve confirmed this, so her new heels will surely get coverage from the WaPo’s Robin Givhan). A fellow shopper, unable to fathom the absurdity of Rice’s timing, went up to the Secretary and reportedly shouted, “How dare you shop for shoes while thousands are dying and homeless!” Never one to have her fashion choices questioned, Rice had security PHYSICALLY REMOVE the woman.

I'm sorry... this is far beyond an evening of relaxation. It typifies this administration. Tomorrow Bush will force himself to do another fly-over. Pathetic.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 11:35pm

It should be interesting to see how much aid comes pouring in from overseas, just like US citizens donated for tsunami relief.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 9/1/05 at 11:46pm

ljay, i agree with you. jeez, she probably has had the tix for months, and as someone said, it isn't her department's job.

[WickedJerseyGirl]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 2:09am

Sure, she had the tickets. Do you not think she could get them any time she wanted them? She cut her vacation short four days after the hurricane hit and the day after she caught Spamalot. I am not saying she could have done anything specifically, but it was extrememly disrespectful. She could be doing something. I watched on the news as a photojournalist was crying because he watched two babies die from dehydration. And did you see the elderly woman that died in her wheelchair and was covered with a blanket and pushed aside? I am glad one of nation's leaders has time to catch a show while all of this is going on.

[RockabyeHamlet]

Posted: 9/2/05 at 2:33am

I cant believe all of this b.s. The administration as a whole needs to be bitch-slapped. I am just waiting out time until 2008. I am so sick of seeing all these problems when NOTHING is being done to help. Bush can talk all he wants, and fly over the area all he wants, it won't do a damned thing. These people dont need words of wisdom from Dubya, they need air, clean water, nothing that the US cant provide if everyone got off there asses and helped. Starting with Mr. Bush