Posted on 01/19/2005 1:30:15 PM PST by fidelio
BC-Senate-Rice, 14th Ld,320 URGENT Rice given approval by Senate panel; Democrats will delay confirmation at least until next week Eds: TOPS to UPDATE with Democratic plans By BARRY SCHWEID AP Diplomatic Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Democrats intend to delay Condoleezza Rice's confirmation as secretary of state at least until next week rather than grant her Inauguration Day approval, a spokesman said Wednesday. "There are a number of Democrats not on the committee that want to have a chance to debate her nomination a couple of hours," said Manley, a spokesman for Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. He said Democrats would not seek to prevent Rice's confirmation as the nation's top diplomat, and he predicted her approval within a matter of days. Rice cleared the Foreign Relations Committee earlier in the day, 16-2, a lopsided vote that belied hours of skeptical questioning by Democrats critical of President Bush's foreign policy and his conduct of the war in Iraq. By contrast, Manley said he expected that Democrats would assent to confirmation on Thursday just after the inauguration of two members of Bush's second-term Cabinet. They are Mike Johans, nominated as secretary of agriculture, and Margaret Spellings, named to take over as education secretary. The Senate developments unfolded as the nation's outgoing top diplomat, Secretary of State Colin Powell, bid farewell to the workers he called his "family" at the State Department. Powell has not yet formally resigned his post, and isn't expected to do so until Rice is formally sworn in. "You were my troops, you were America's troops," the former Army general told the workers. "You are the carriers of America's values." He called Rice "a dear friend" and said she would bring "gifted leadership" to the department. Rice surmounted two days of sometimes contentious questioning - mostly by Democrats - on the administration's prosecution of the war.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Disgusting.
Why am I not surprised
Desperate petty sour grapes. I just hope they keep it up. The future bodes well for us with all this pandering to the loony-fringe.
Democrats, the party that just keeps giving.
Since these bozos are sore losers...this is not the least bit surprising....I'm sure they're prepared for this type of bull shit.
Please provide a link.
Thanks.
RACISTS - First Gonzalaz and now Rice! Democrats are Racists!
Paging Senator Frist, paging Senator Frist......you gonna put up with this c*ap??????
From the party that thinks Sandy-down-your-pants Burger did no wrong, this is SOP.
The Dems will delay through debates .. aka, grandstanding
The Republicans better not take their BS and state so on the Senate floor
small minded bastards are the dogcrap on the sidewalk of life.
DUers are calling the Dem Senators who voted yes to change their vote to a NO! Their hatred is pathetic!
Can we not let them delay the vote? The Senate has to get to work on Bush's agenda here. Stop wasting time on fruitless debate.
I never thought I would so fondly recall the days of Bob Dole and Trent Lott..
Keep doing it. The bad taste in America's mouth hasn't gone away.
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