Boxer Is Loudest Voice of Opposition to Rice Nomination

[NVMojo]

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 - While some Democrats are still struggling to find their voices after November's election losses, Senator Barbara Boxer of California is not among them.

Her full-throated and combative questioning of Condoleezza Rice during two days of hearings on her nomination to be secretary of state was a vivid illustration of the aggressive posture that Ms. Boxer, a 64-year-old liberal from Marin County, near San Francisco, brought back to Washington after rolling up a big margin of victory in her re-election to a third term.

Before casting one of two Democratic votes against Ms. Rice on the Foreign Relations Committee - the other was John Kerry's - Ms. Boxer explained bluntly why she had been so persistent in pressing the national security adviser on what Ms. Boxer portrayed as the administration's misleading and misguided rationale for the war in Iraq.

"The fact is we've lost so many lives over it," she said. "So if we do get a little testy on the point, and I admit to be so, it's because it continues day in and day out, and 25 percent of the dead are from California. We cannot forget. We cannot forget that."

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/20/politics/20boxer.html?pagewanted=print&position=

[raysr]

1. Kerry-Boxer

2008?

[NVMojo]

2. or ...Boxer-Kerry!! This woman could do it!!!

[cestpaspossible]

4. Isn't it sad that we are so far behind the rest of the world

that the idea of even a woman veep candidate seem radical, even 20 years later.

[Lefergus70]

15. She deserves a stronger partner

An article available on Common Dreams convinces me that the ambivalent messages of Kerry would contrast too greatly with the clear thrust of Boxer's. (I'm not very techie, so forgive if this address doesn't work.)

http://www.commondreams.org/viewso5/0119-24.htm

[Barkley]

65. Boxer and Clark in 2008

That would be more balanced politically and geographically, and sexually etc.

Not JFK.

[UL_Approved]

22. My EXACT though last night

With some show of strength, after four years of Bush, that ticket could be a winner.

They both have to show clear and dogged determination at resisting Neo-Con bullshit. That is how they can win. No backing down now.

Its go time! :headbang:

[BattyDem]

9. I really want Boxer to run for President!

We need a leader like her. :-)

[porkrind]

23. Boxer is great. I'm finished with Kerry.

He had his chance.

[El Biggo Doggo]

58. damn straight

didja get his e-mail? "why I voted against Rice"...I coulda used some of that 'fire' about 8 months ago, when Swifties were batting lies off his head like wiffle-balls....

[alittlelark]

3. She's MY SENATOR.... and I LOVE HER!!!!!

I have donated to her PAC and have told her I want her to run in 2008.

[K8-EEE]

7. Let's Show Them -- BOXER'S Guts Will Pay Off!

I just hung up on the DNC and said I was donating to whereever she tells me to -- not only does she represent me as a Californian but she REALLY represents me....she told GWB to fuck off on his "authorization." If only more Dems had such guts our troops & the Iraqi people would not be in the mess they find themselves in today.

[leesa]

5. And all the other traitors cower and wish all the ugliness would just go

away. EVERYONE who voted for this piece of human trash need to be on trial for treason. They KNOW she lied about going to war and about 9-11 and they are actively overthrowing our democracy.

[NVMojo]

6. yeah, the shrub and his pals are not getting the best press today

in light of the over priced coronation event about to begin ....

[Tamyrlin79]

8. Senator Boxer is my Hero!

She's gotten a whole sh|t load of brownie points with me recently, beginning on Jan. 6, when she was the lone Senator to sign onto the House objection. Next to Howard Dean, she is my favorite Democrat at the moment.

I almost wish I could move to California just so I could vote for her.

Fuck Kerry (whose stock has definitely plummeted). Boxer should run for president in '08 if Dean cannot because he wins DNC chair. And if he doesn't, then Dean-Boxer '08 all the way!

[Seabiscuit]

16. We're on the same boat - but I'm the lucky one - I live in California.

[Sequoia]

67. There is HOPE!

I love you DUers. Boxer is my senator too! I voted for her ever since she ran for office. This thought puts a shine on my rather dreary gray day in Northern Cal.

[barb162]

10. I wish Biden had voted no and the others. Biden made a

fool out of her and snapped at her about all of her incorrect info she has been vomiting out the last 4 years but then he voted to approve her.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

11. Not only that, bends over and smiles whenever ** asks him

too.

Biden's name is stricken from my Democratic vocabulary.

[barb162]

12. Yeah but did you hear him telling Condi that Rummie didn't

know what the hell he was talking about and he was just about sneering/spitting it out and it is obvious that he can't stand the lies and distortions coming out of this administration, that Iraq is a total quagmire CAUSED ONLY by this administration's lies, etc.,and I can't figure how and why he publicly says these things and then votes along with them. Condi is part of, a symptom, a defender, of the whole sick administration.

I thought for sure he was going to vote against her.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

14. And then he tells Europe to "get over it"

This guy needs medication maybe?

[xxqqqzme]

34. biden is a true DLCer

he has also signed on w/ the Democratic Party's answer 2 PNAC - PPI. I began distrusting biden the day his white, male ass questioned Anita Hill. He was nasty and, bottom-line, accused her of lying.

[barb162]

60. Geez, I watched that and only remember Arlen Specter

asking the same ignorant questions over and over. Glad you mentioned this...I believe Anita Hillwas totally telling the truth about that scum Thomas

[Lorien]

13. We need to alter some popular sayings

to "have balls" should mean "to wimp out", while saying "what a pussy"! should imply extreme courage. ;-)

[Seabiscuit]

17. I like that. A new vocabulary for the Boxer Rebellion era.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

18. Barbara - You go girl !!! n/t

[DFWJock]

19. Hats off

to Barbara Boxer, great job - nice to see someone actually stand up to Condasleeza.

[Supersedeas]

26. we salute the HONORABLE Senator from California

[goddess40]

20. I'm so disgusted with Russ Feingold yes vote.

I know he thinks the president should be able to pick his own cabinet which is fine, BUT by vote to approve of Condi he voted for the approval of the fascist gov't that holds us all hostage. He should have went on record as opposing the garbage and lies that Condi has dealt instead of putting his stamp of approval on it.
If he thought he was going to run for President he can now forget it, they would just throw this out there as proof that he supports the fascist regime.

Edit: Go Barbara, I wish we had more like you!!!!!

[PunkPop]

24. Me too

You expect it of Biden - he's such a phony.

[Carolina]

29. I know, I thought

he'd learned a lesson after his yes vote for Ashcroft 4 years ago.

God, I'm sick of these Wimpocrats.

[Rose Siding]

21. The admin even wheeled Cheney out yesterday to take a shot

He called her criticism "unfair".

Now that the dem caucus is unexpectedly holding these confirmations up a bit, it makes me wonder if the reactions of the blogosphere/e-activists have something to do with it. Boxer's appreciative letter re: support (via the petition) was so heartfelt.

[NVMojo]

25. oh, how sweet, neocon loyalty in action.

[What Is This Crap]

27. ytwnd

Boxer: youre the (wo)man now dogg!

[tigereye]

28. I love Senator Boxer!

She is great and has real guts!

[rudiger]

30. Boxer's Comments - correct?

Was Boxer wrong when she said,

Well, you should read what we voted on when we voted to support the war, which I did not, but most of my colleagues did. It was WMD, period. That was the reason and the causation for that, you know, particular vote.

However, I found a copy of the bill that was voted on <http://www.australianpolitics.com/news/2002/10/02-10-11.shtml">LINK> and it reads:

Whereas Iraq persists in violating resolutions of the United Nations Security Council by continuing to engage in brutal repression of its civilian population thereby threatening international peace and security in the region, by refusing to release, repatriate, or account for non-Iraqi citizens wrongfully detained by Iraq, including an American serviceman, and by failing to return property wrongfully seized by Iraq from Kuwait;

Did she goof? Or am I misinterpretting something?

[jdj]

36. what's after the semi-colon?

why did you leave that out?

[rudiger]

41. Boxer's Comment

Here's the fixed link to the text of the Joint Resolution on Iraq <LINK>. The rest of the document focuses mainly on WMDs, but this statement does show that a second motivation for the war was presented. I admit it is weak and secondary to WMDs, but it was there. So, was Boxer mistaken?

[Chico Man]

38. Read this

SEC. 2. SUPPORT FOR UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS.

The Congress of the United States supports the efforts by the President to -

strictly enforce through the United Nations Security Council all relevant Security Council resolutions applicable to Iraq and encourages him in those efforts; and

obtain prompt and decisive action by the Security Council to ensure that Iraq abandons its strategy of delay, evasion and noncompliance and promptly and strictly complies with all relevant Security Council resolutions.

The big question is, did we have any information that would lead us to believe that Saddam was, in fact, decieving the weapons inspectors relevant to inspections mandated by the Security Council resolutions?

The big answer is NO.

the President shall, ... make available ... his determination that -
reliance by the United States on further diplomatic or other peaceful means alone either (A) will not adequately protect the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq or (B) is not likely to lead to enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq;

Face it, it was a fraud - a huge, massive, ugly, nasty, fraud.

[jdj]

40. of course.

there's a reason the post stopped where it did.

Of course I was one of the folks yelling fraud in the early part of 2003 and before.

[Chico Man]

42. The "threat" to the US was Iraqi WMD

The fact that Saddam terrorized his own people, continued to do so, or even potentially held a US soldier captive was never grounds for war.

It was all WMD, all the time.

[rudiger]

44. I agree!

The fact that Saddam terrorized his own people, continued to do so, or even potentially held a US soldier captive was never grounds for war.

It was all WMD, all the time.

I agree! That was the selling point for the war! However, we can't refute (which Boxer seemed to do) that the Joint Resolution On Iraq included other points for war besides WMDs.

[Chico Man]

46. I don't think she is refuting the precise verbage

She is echoing the sentiment of millions.

[jdj]

47. Well she didn't vote for it.

And WMD was one of the selling points, but at the time the other one, in fact which proceeded the WMD threat was the so-called "matter of emphasis" which linked al quaeda and Iraq. Without 9/11 and the imagined link with al quaeda the war would not have happened, WMD or not.

Lay off Boxer.

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Chico Man]

51. She is echoing the sentiment of millions

How is that making a fool of oneself?

Perhaps you're just jealous no one has the balls to stand up for your cause, whatever insignificant one that may be.

[Name removed]

54. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jswordy]

31. Barbara Boxer is the ONLY Democrat I see with the...

...uh...GUTS to stand up and say what is on her mind right now in these hearings. Thank God for her, and thank God her district is Democratic enough where she can afford to do so.

Kerry's rather tepid performance left much to be desired for me. Kinda like his prez run.

[jdj]

37. That's true and it is so freaking sad.

Why don't dems read the fucking polls? The polls, if folks believe them, say people like Bush because he's definite and decisive.

Yet dem politicians continue to waffle and quiver in the public sphere...it is so embarassing. Barbara Boxer is my hero, and she really put herself on the line with Condi, I am sure the repukes will find a way to relatiate.

[bejammin075]

32. I'll give her $, even though I'm in PA

She is my hero. If only there were 60 senators like her. Shoving the Fist of Truth up Condi's ass. Wish I had a graphic for that.

[ckramer]

33. Boxer for President!

[jdj]

35. God bless her.

Glad she was unapologetic about it.

If even 50% of our elected democratic officials acted like this, we'd have a 100% better public image.

Democratic politicians today seem to have switched genitals respective to their genders...that's the kindest way I can put it without name-calling.

[rodeodance]

39. "combative questioning" it says, I did not necessarily think it was that.

[jdj]

48. this article is actually honest although it is worded to offend

what I read between this lines is that it is calling her a feminazi daring to question W's other woman. How dare she?

[Lizzie Borden]

43. I e-mailed her...

and John Kerry too. Things are to the point that I think we need to contact these people and support them when they do something right. It shouldn't need to be that way, but I think it is. Besides, it only takes about 5 minutes.

[driver8]

45. In the LA Times today there were a couple of LTTE...

regarding Boxer. One person wanted to know if Boxer could be recalled and another felt that "her envy of a more intelligent and successful woman is obvious."

How dare anyone criticize a member of the boy king's staff...it is appalling that people are thinking for themselves and speaking out. That is not what America is all about! Everyone get in line like good little followers and let this administration lead us where we deserve to be lead...

I swear, the re-thugs are some ignorant m'fers!

[Chico Man]

52. Boxer tore Condi's credibility to shreds

It's going to take a hell of a lot longer than 4 years to get other countries to listen Condi's "peace talk" after that one!

Thank you Boxer!

[EndElectoral]

49. Boxer has the guts to confront the neocons...the rest seem like wimps

[donheld]

53. Barbara Boxer has made me very proud

The last couple of weeks she has been the best thing the democrats have had in the entire party.

[Name removed]

55. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

57. BOXER WON...GET OVER IT!!!!

[fshrink]

56. Loudest voice of opposition. Period.

This woman is among the very few to have earned, and not lost, respect through this despicable fall.

[ShadesOfC]

59. Props to Babs!

I was never a big fan of Boxer but have to say her comments yesterday made up for a lot of the disappointed I've had with her in the past.:toast:

[rpannier]

61. Gotta love Barbara

Great Human Being...Great Senator

[Dr Fate]

62. Looks like Babs is working on her mandate!

!!!

[Massachusetts]

63. Boxer = Veritas The Goddess of Truth

:kick:

[Barkley]

64. Right On Boxer

She's right not to endorse Condi: why should reward failure?

[bastille90]

66. WTG

I am proud to say that Barbara Boxer is my senator. I sent a mass e-mail to the U. S. Senate saying I would support for President whoever signed the Jan. 6 resolution, be it democrat or republican, with my own time and money. I am both glad and proud to say that I have to look no farther than my own state. :bounce