Senate Begins Debate on Rice Nomination

[Sleepless In NY]

Senate Begins Debate on Rice Nomination

35 minutes ago
By BARRY SCHWEID, AP Diplomatic Writer

WASHINGTON - In a daylong debate, Democratic senators are using President Bush (news - web sites)'s nomination of Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) as secretary of state to rake his Iraq (news - web sites) war policy over the coals.


Rice's confirmation as Colin Powell (news - web sites)'s replacement appears not to be in doubt. Still, Sens. Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia and Barbara Boxer of California and eight other Democrats are lined up to get their licks in Tuesday, even though many of them may wind up in Rice's column when the vote is taken.


Republicans, by contrast, are expected to rally behind Rice — and President Bush — with briefer speeches. Nine hours have been set aside for the debate, divided equally between the two parties.

Byrd and Boxer, opponents of the war from the outset, have one-hour speeches scheduled. They consider the war a mistake and Bush's postwar strategy inadequate as determined insurgents take a rising toll of American casualties.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=5&u=/ap/20050125/ap_on_go_co/senate_rice

Please Rate & sign Senator Boxers petition http://ga4.org/campaign/ricehearings

[DustMolecule]

1. Why 'debate' when the nominee is such an obvious 'NO'

ah, to be 'polite'....well, I've 'politely signed Senator Boxer''s petition.

Thank you for offering your 'service to your country' Condi, now pleasse 'politely take your oil tanker and go off'....don't expect much more from the "Project for the New American Peasantry" - we don't have much more to give, and if we have it, it certainly won't be given to you!

[Sleepless In NY]

2. Rice is so obviously incompetent it hurts

Between her failures of 9/11 & the Iraqi war, I just don't know how anyone could feel justified in putting her in any position of authority. She deserves to be fired, not promoted. I'm so happy Senator Boxer is holding her feet to the fire, and I'm hoping the rest of the democrats do the same. Someone in this administration should be held responsible for the mess we are in.

[DustMolecule]

4. EVERYONE in this administration should be held responsible...

...and it's up to US, we the people, to make sure that happens. I'm not abdicating my responsiblity to this republic, are YOU? (Didn't think so......Peace ~ anda *smile* ~)

[Sleepless In NY]

7. DustMolecule... agree but maybe this would be a start

If only they could unify against bush, instead of handing him another free pass with her confirmation. You can tell by the polls alot of Americans are not happy with whats going on Iraq, to add insult to injury bush asked for another 80 billion today. Democrats could really benefit with the public if they stand against Rice.

[DustMolecule]

12. I agree....

The people need to stand against the Rice nomination (Democrats need to take the lead on this, but ... even if they don't....there are still 59 million Americans who have been marginallized and they are "MAD AS HELL".

Condi might be wise to take her oil tanker and run (while the gettin'' is good).

[ladjf]

13. I agree. Every Democrat should have protested the 2004

election processes and should vote NO on Rice's confirmation, not because it would change the outcome but, as you have said, to show
that none approve of what has been going on. For those Dems that voted yes on the Iraq war, this is the second chance to step up to the plate and show some courage.

[FlemingsGhost]

3. Ummmm ... it's your war too, Democrats.

So, NOW the Democratic Party is painting themselves as "anti-war"?

What a joke the Party has become.

[Sleepless In NY]

5. FlemingsGhost.... maybe they could make up for it

by not confirming Rice, might make their anti war stance a little easier to believe. Like admitting you made a mistake & are now trying to rectify it.

[VegasWolf]

6. That would take balls. I'm seriously doubt that they are up to it. Prove

me wrong.

[cestpaspossible]

9. Impossible

[publius_jr]

11. Speaking of balls...

Judging by Ms. Boxer's encounter with SoS Rice last week, she is suffering from an extreme case of elephantiasis, IYKWIM. We can add another point to the list of the twists of our day.

1. best golfer - black
2. best rapper - white
3. biggest balls in Senate - on a woman

Sheesh, what's next...most unfree nation - america?

[FlemingsGhost]

10. Here's what they're debating:

"Should we grovel at her feet, or kiss her ass after we confirm her?"

[ladjf]

14. What do you mean it's "your war too"?

Even though many Dems voted to allow Bush the authority to proceed,
that was before it was known that he was lying about everything.

[hickman1937]

8. The rite wing always promotes their failures,

I don't understand why anyone is surprised.

[Freddie Stubbs]

15. Is a former KKK member the right guy to be leading this debate?

You can bet that the press will frame this as former KKK memeber Robert Byrd attacking an Aftrican American woman.

[TNOE]

16. Yea, caller on CSPAN this morning

already made the claim - said he was black and he was sick and tired of old klansmembers like Byrd.... they get a message and stick to it don't they.

How old is Byrd? In his 80's? He was a klansmember in what - his 30's. Its not like he was a klansmember just a few years ago!! No one can "change" except Bush, the previous cokehead alcoholic.

[grumpy old fart]

17. Yep, that's a great reply to the KKK nonesense....

Just a few years ago, Bush was an irresponsible frat boy, cokehead, alcoholic (in his 40's no less), and now he's the Messiah. Some transformation....

[DustMolecule]

18. Also, Senator Byrd's time with the Klan was very brief.....

...it seems like he "got in, took a look around, and got the hell O-U-T. I respect that more than someone who never took the time to understand what the heck they're dealing with....and just yells and slams from afar. Senator Byrd PROBABLY went in there in 'good faith' (cause the KLAN was the thing to do in those days, in that place where he was, if you were white with 'career' on your mind)....and he REJECTED it!!!! It speaks VOLUMES...it really does.