Posted on 01/26/2005 9:23:45 AM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) won easy confirmation Wednesday to be President Bush (news - web sites)'s new secretary of state, despite strong dissent from a small group of Democrats who said she shares blame for mistakes and war deaths in Iraq (news - web sites).
The Senate voted 85 to 13 to confirm Rice, who succeeds Colin Powell (news - web sites) as America's top diplomat and becomes the first black woman to hold the job.
Plans were made for her to be sworn in at the White House Wednesday night, take her place in the State Department Thursday morning and have a more elaborate swearing-in by Bush at the agency on Friday.
The Senate vote showed some of the partisanship that delayed Rice's confirmation vote by several days. Twelve Democrats and independent James Jeffords (news - web sites) of Vermont voted against Rice. The Democrats included some of the Senate's best-known members such as Massachusetts Democratic Sens. Edward M. Kennedy and John Kerry (news - web sites), who was the party's presidential candidate in last year's election. Thirty Democrats voted for her.
Democratic foes of her appointment focused mostly on the way Bush and Rice took the United States to war in Iraq and how they have handled the war with insurgents since deposing Saddam Hussein (news - web sites).
They said mistakes had led to mounting American casualties. As the debate drew to a close, word came from Iraq of the crash of a U.S. military transport helicopter in bad weather, killing at least 30 people in the worst U.S. loss since the war.
Rice's nomination was never in doubt, however. Republicans had hoped to hold the vote last week, on the same day that Bush took the oath for his second term, but Democrats asked for more time. The GOP accused Democrats of inappropriately delaying Rice's confirmation to make political statements about Iraq policy.
Rice, 50, is Bush's trusted national security aide and a main architect of his policies on Iraq and the war on terror.
Although Rice was assured of confirmation, she got the most "no" votes since World War II. Seven senators voted against Henry Kissinger and six each against Dean Acheson and Alexander Haig.
"Dr. Rice is an honorable, fine public servant who needs to be confirmed," Bush said during a news conference Wednesday. "She will be a great secretary of state and Dr. Rice and I look forward to moving forward."
Bush rejected claims by Democrats that they had been lied to in the run-up to the war in Iraq.
On the Senate floor Wednesday, Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), R-Ariz., suggested Democrats are sore losers. Rice had enough votes to win confirmation, as even her Democratic critics acknowledge, McCain said.
"So I wonder why we are starting this new Congress with a protracted debate about a foregone conclusion," McCain said. Since Rice is qualified for the job, he said, "I can only conclude that we are doing this for no other reason than because of lingering bitterness over the outcome of the election."
What had seemed at the outset to be a cinch turned into sometimes angry debate over Bush's decision to go to war with Iraq, his struggle with a potent insurgency and Rice's role in helping him make a case for overthrowing Saddam.
An academic who specialized in the study of the now-defunct Soviet Union, she has been one of Bush's closest advisers as his national security adviser for four years. In testimony last week to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, she swore she has not been shy about disagreeing with him privately at times.
Now, she will be at his side trying to improve relations with European allies, pursuing a Middle East settlement between Israel and the Palestinians, seeking a way to stop North Korea (news - web sites) and Iran from developing nuclear weapons — and, above all, trying to pacify Iraq with limited additional U.S. casualties.
Who are the 2 no votes, if you please?
If nothing else, this vote helps to clearly define where the DSA has its operatives installed.
It took them quite a few years to come out in full view, but now, emboldened by pain after there last electoral debacle, here they are.. The Enemies Within
Hang on a while, the fine senator from West Virginia, Senator Robert Byrd (KKK-WV), will shortly burn a cross on the State Department steps and White House lawn in protest.
Bayh is running for President...
The (dirty) baker's dozen.
Its his absolute and total lust for power and control. It seems there is nothing in America that McCain doesn't think the IFG (Imperial Federal Government) should have some control over, and that he should lead the way on all of it.
Those 13 voted NO. The two Senators who did not vote remain unknown, to my knowledge, at this time.
What happened to "Filthy Harry" Reid of NV???
Thank you for the spelling correction.
It's always messed me up in crossword puzzles as well.
I may as well refer to the act as : Harry Carrey (probably spelled that wrong too ;-)
Boy it sure is difficult to soar like an eagle when you are surround with turkeys like boxer shorts boxer around you.
Would someone please remind her that this debate was carried on for one year and her side LOST LOST LOST. The house, the senate, and the presidency.....and oh yes, governor's offices too.
McCain's face has no symmetry. The man is ill.
Yes he is! And Bill Jones along with Lindsay Graham, his ignorant cheering section are getting just as bad!!!
Surprises me too. *IF* he were to run for President in 2008 and Iraq turns out well, this vote could bite him. I had always thought Bayh one of the more moderate democrats. I'll have to reconsider that...
if that is your opinion then I can't disagree, I just think he gets a bad rap sometimes cause you only hear the negative things (as usual) that he does. I think I admire him for his POW escapades but mostly cause he wants to get rid of alot of the pork in the budget.....I think that is obscene. I'm puzzled by some of his antics but when it comes to the war and taxes and stuff he is all Repub...
Akaka
Boxer
Byrd
Bayh
Dayton
Durbin
Harkin
Jeffords
Kennedy
Kerry
Lautenberg
Levin
Reed of RI
And in his wildest dreams he's borrowing John Kerry's 'Nam lighter to do it.
On the Senate floor Wednesday, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., suggested Democrats are sore losers. Rice had enough votes to win confirmation, as even her Democratic critics acknowledge, McCain said. "So I wonder why we are starting this new Congress with a protracted debate about a foregone conclusion," McCain said. Since Rice is qualified for the job, he said, "I can only conclude that we are doing this for no other reason than because of lingering bitterness over the outcome of the election."Oddly enough, I don't think Sen M is running for president. He must realize that he's unelectable as president, but practically unbeatable as a senator. He is working to build party unity I think. That could make him a viable (if not competitive) candidate, so long as he has no more Dean moments, and cozys up to the president. At the very least, it will give him influence within the RP, and that is sure to tick off some people. With GWB, his negatives were almost entirely seen among people from the minority party who weren't going to vote for him anyway. McCain is better known for his non-conservative positions, rather than for his conservative ones. And by 2008, with the DP shredding itself, and no big issue out there (that one is a big if), the MOR vote would roll this way.
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