Democrats Could Delay Rice Confirmation in Full Floor Debate

[kerrygoddess]

It appears that Kerry and Boxer are working their magic with Senate leaders on the confirmation of Condoleezza Rice. NBC News via MSNBC is reporting that “Democrats planned to delay her widely expected confirmation by the full Senate.”

Rice was “the first nominee for secretary of state to receive any “no” votes since Alexander M. Haig in 1981.”

Some dismay (mildly noted) has been posted on the internet today about the Democrats who voted to confirm Rice. NBC News reports “Other Democrats, including ranking member Joseph Biden of Delaware, said they were only reluctantly voting to elevate Rice to the nation’s top diplomatic job.”

Rice’s quick confirmation by the full Senate on Thursday had been considered a formality, but Democrats who opposed the nomination were in negotiations with Senate leaders for a full floor debate and a roll-call vote. With most senators attending events surrounding Bush’s inauguration Thursday, those demands could delay Rice’s confirmation into next week, NBC News’ Ken Strickland reported.

“There are a number of Democrats not on the committee that want to have a chance to debate her nomination a couple of hours,” Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada, told The Associated Press later.

As though to highlight their protest over Rice, Manley said he expected that Democrats would quickly assent to confirmation Thursday of two other members of Bush’s second-term Cabinet: Mike Johans, nominated for agriculture secretary, and Margaret Spellings, named to take over as education secretary.

The Democratic maneuver surprised the White House, which had expected to have Rice in place shortly after Bush was sworn in Thursday for his second term. A spokesman told NBC News: “It’s troubling to see some in the Senate want to play politics with national security.”

State Department officials confirmed that the post would not be vacant. Colin Powell would remain until Rice is confirmed and sworn in. Clearly, the Bush administration has been playing politics with our national security for the past four years. It is not surprising that once again the spin they spin is that the Democrats are to blame. And of course, we all see daily how the majority of the MSM plays right into the right wing’s tightly controlled message.

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=250

[Generator]

1. I just read that before signing into DU!

Hey-look if the Bushies are going to ruin the country-at least the so called opposition party can do is make it harder for them.

It's a start. Oh so late..but is it too late? We shall see.

[blondeatlast]

4. If they can take a stand against Condi, it's a great symbolic move.

Also expends a bit more of the Monkey King's so-called "political capital."

I'm also impressed that they delayed the vote; perhaps it will help get the payola press's attention after the coronation.

I can dream, can't I?

[NV Whino]

2. Whatever we can do to throw a monkey wrench into their neocon cogs

is okay with me.

edit: spelling

[cindyw]

3. Play politics with security? I didn't know if Rice wasn't on the job

there was no one protecting the US. It all makes sense now.

[blondeatlast]

5. EXCELLENT!

clapclapclapclapclapclap!

[kerrygoddess]

6. Hell they are playing with everything!

Isn't that why we have been fighting them.

I'm so happy that Kerry and Boxer are making a stand with this. And Kennedy earlier today made a stand on the Gonzales nomination, calling for a delay in the vote.

It's going to be interesting... we need to get behind our Dem Senators and urge them to speak out about both.

[cindyw]

9. Especially those of us from cali!

[kerrygoddess]

10. Who busted their tails for Kerry

:toast:

[cindyw]

11. Oh yes!

:toast:

[kerrygoddess]

12. Good to see you here!

[cindyw]

13. Same here. Wish all that crap hadn't happened in the end, but bygones

must be. Just wish more people here could have that attitude.

[kerrygoddess]

14. Agreed...

Such is the way of such places - LOL!
LUTD came out of all that... so it's all good.

[Spinzonner]

7. Actually Democrats are protecting the United States

by keeping the State Department out of Condi's bloody hands even if for only a week and even if just in Colin's slightly less bloody hands.

[kerrygoddess]

8. Here's an interesting read on Condi in the MSM

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6845354/

[kerrygoddess]

15. Kerry's statement on "NO" vote

Senator John Kerry Opposes Nomination Of Dr. Condoleezza Rice for Secretary of State

Wednesday, January 19, 2005

I appreciate Dr. Rice’s willingness to stay late last evening to have an exchange with the committee on the critical foreign policy and security questions before us.

“After serious consideration, I have decided to vote against this nomination. Dr. Rice is a principal architect, implementer, and defender of a series of administration policies that have not made our country as secure as we should be and have alienated much-needed allies in our common cause of winning the war against terrorism. Regrettably, I did not see in Dr. Rice’s testimony any acknowledgment of the need to change course or of a new vision for America’s role in the world. On Iraq, on North Korea, on Iran, to name just a few of the most critical challenges, it seems to be more of the same.

“I hope I am proven wrong. I hope the course will change. And I hope that the administration will recognize the strength of a foreign policy that has bipartisan support. I am prepared to work with Dr. Rice and others in the administration to try to reach agreement on policies that will truly strengthen our security and restore America’s credibility on the world stage. And I am confident colleagues on both sides of the aisle are prepared to do so as well.

http://kerry.senate.gov/high/record.cfm?id=230708

[NVMojo]

16. I am enjoying this!! first we embarass and piss the living hell out of the

repugs with the first in years challenge to the vote by Barbara Boxer!!! You can't imagine how pissed the repugs are about that. Now this. I am really digging this. If you can't beat them, make them fecking squirm like hell under the light!!!!

[kerrygoddess]

18. Exactly!

They are playing this out very, very well.

Anyone who thought John Kerry would sit back and do nothing was dreaming.

[DrGonzoLives]

17. Heard that on NPR as well

While plenty of people here just want to scream "DINO!," those who have a degree of political sophistication will realize that they are doing this to make the story about RICE, not about the DEMOCRATS.

It's called strategy. It's a good thing.

[Guaranteed]

19. Yes, I've actually been rather impressed, for the most part, with

the way they've handled this. We could have had more solidarity with the "no" votes, but the longer we drag this out (and it's getting media attention, which is the most important thing), the better.

[kerrygoddess]

20. Putting them on notice...

It takes but one "no" vote to put them on notice. We saw that on the 6th and as time goes by we will see more and more standing up to them with Kerry, Boxer and Kennedy leading the way.

[kerrygoddess]

21. Kerry, Kennedy to vote against Rice

Kerry, Kennedy to vote against Rice
By Associated Press
Wednesday, January 19, 2005

WASHINGTON - Sen. John Kerry , D-Mass., whose condemnation of the Bush administration's Iraq policies was a cornerstone of his presidential campaign, was one of two senators to vote against the nomination of Condoleezza Rice as secretary of state Wednesday.

Kerry said Rice, who has served as Bush's national security adviser, was a principal architect and defender of Iraq policies that alienated U.S. allies and failed to make the country safer.

``Regrettably, I did not see in Dr. Rice's testimony any acknowledgment of the need to change course or of a new vision for America's role in the world,'' said Kerry. ``On Iraq, on North Korea, on Iran, to name just a few of the most critical challenges, it seems to be more of the same.''

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy , D-Mass., also plans to vote against Rice's nomination.

His spokeswoman, Stephanie Cutter, said Rice ``had a major role in developing the irresponsible and reckless Iraq policy, and its been a catastrophic failure, a continuing quagmire. She shouldn't be promoted to Secretary of State.''

http://news.bostonherald.com/election2004/view.bg?articleid=64331

[progressiveright]

22. social security

is the one they will need to fillibuster in order to stop it. and from what we've been hearing it seems like it will happen too, DLC signed on to fight any privatization tooth and nail. You can't fillibuster everything because then republicans will have popular support to take the option away.

[kerrygoddess]

23. The plot thickens

The plot thickens... I just found this buried in a NYTimes article:

"Underscoring the Democrats' dissatisfaction, Senator Robert C. Byrd, an outspoken critic of the decision to go to war, announced late in the day that he would not allow the Senate to approve Ms. Rice without a few days of consideration of her lengthy testimony, and at least a token debate on the floor. His refusal to join in the unanimous consent of all senators for a quick vote effectively torpedoed the administration's hopes to have her nomination approved Thursday.

"Senator Byrd and others believe that the Senate's advise-and-consent constitutional responsibilities are not a rubber stamp," Mr. Byrd's spokesman said.

"The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has held two days of hearings. Senators should have a chance to review those hearings, read the transcripts, and think about their votes before casting them.""

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/20/politics/20diplo.html