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.)
Are the Dems ever going to be smart enough to remove their heads from their rectums?
No doubt Babs and JF'nK will want a fourth or fifth round in front of the cameras too, not to mention Ted "The Swimmer", and Leaky Leahy et all. They probably can drag this out till Easter, knowing how kind and generous Bill Frist is. Yep, Bill, this really looks like the same old Daschle-style bipartisanship to me.
Thanks for the ping!
You know what I saw out there? What the country saw: a fine, brilliant, Christian woman devoted to the service of her country. She performed quite well under fire, and what really pisses me off is that not one of our guys had the guts to stand up for her when Boxer called her a liar, or when Biden said that she was peddling half-truths.
It's the Red State Dems that are vulnerable. Bush will have to play some hardball before this is done; you watch.
Frist for President? My ass! He's failed his first test, imho. If he can't even manage a stout defense of Condi Rice against assorted calumnies and on behalf of his President, then he can't manage towel distribution in a whorehouse. Looks like we've got another Trent "Vacant" Lott on our hands, folks.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
I concur, Sir. I concur.
I hope they keep digging.
Bump!
bttt
"There are a number of Democrats not on the committee that want to have a chance to debate her nomination a couple of hours,"
Notice how they want to debate her nomination & not her personally, they don't have the spine to face her one-on-one!! and how 'bout the names of these democrats?
Barbara Boxer isn't smart enough to be the local dog catcher, much less bark at Dr, Rice in that manner.
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