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An Iowa congressman says an Army general was not out of line when he addressed Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California) as "ma'am" during a recent Senate hearing. Brigadier General Michael Walsh, of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, was testifying last week before Boxer's Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works about the progress of the Louisiana restoration process in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Boxer: "Well, why has it been delayed? Walsh: "Ma'am, at the L-A-C-P-R is..." Boxer: "You know, do me a favor. Could say 'Senator' instead of 'ma'am?'" Walsh: "Yes." Boxer: "It's just a thing; I worked so...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday praised an Army soldier in eastern Afghanistan who drew media attention this month after rushing to defend his post from attack while wearing pink boxer shorts and flip-flops. In fact, Gates said he wants to meet the soldier and shake his hand the next time he visits Afghanistan. "Any soldier who goes into battle against the Taliban in pink boxers and flip-flops has a special kind of courage," Gates said in remarks prepared for a speech in New York. "I can only wonder about the impact on the Taliban. Just imagine...

Dear brothers (do you mind if I call you brothers?), Have you heard about the movement to ticket and fine people - meaning, people like you - for wearing sagging, underwear-revealing pants? It started in a small Louisiana town, where you can now get up to six months in jail and a $500 fine for exposing your undergarments. Proposals have since popped up from Atlanta to Baltimore to Trenton, and last week even in Yonkers. It's only a matter of time before some enterprising City Council member puts it on the table here in New York. And in every city,...

PRIESTS, PROSTITUTES, psychologists, cops, jazz musicians, poker players. Every trade has its jargon and "insider lingo." ... ..."Embrace the suck" isn't merely a wisecrack; it's an encyclopedic experience rendered as an epigram, gritty shorthand for "Face it, soldier. I've been there. War ain't easy. Now deal with the difficulty and let's get on with the mission."... ...Dynamic truth: Basically means "this is the plan when my supervisor gave it to me, but change is already in the works."

The law blog Independent Sources notes that Barbara Boxer has taken a lot of money from one of the nation's most notorious class-action law firms -- a firm that currently finds itself the target of a federal bribery and corruption probe. Milberg Weiss donated more than $30,000 to her 2004 campaign and over $44,000 in her first Senate campaign -- enough to make Milberg Weiss her fourth-largest contributor for her entire Senate career. Who is Milberg Weiss? Currently one of its former partners is testifying to just that question to a federal grand jury: U.S. prosecutors have stepped up their...

Supporters of California Sen. Barbara Boxer have launched an underwear line -- with liberal radio network AIR AMERICA hyping the goods! The next presidential race may be years away, but the race is already tightening up. Introducing: Boxer Classic Thong 2008! 100% Ultra-fine combed ring spun 1x1 baby rib cotton; Size up for a looser fit. AIR AMERICA's website has been featuring a link to the Boxer merchandise. "This under-goodie is 'outta sight' in low-rise pants... This product is designed to fit juniors," reads the pitch. Let the campaign begin!

RICE NOMINATION HEADS TO SENATE FLOOR FOR FINAL VOTE The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 16-2 Wednesday to approve Condoleezza Rice's nomination as secretary of state, clearing the way for a full Senate vote expected by Thursday. Jan. 18, 2005: Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice appears before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The committee passage came after two days of tough questioning on the administration's handling of the Iraq war. At Wednesday's hearing, after Democrats pressed her on whether the reasons for going to war were misleading, Rice acknowledged that "there were some bad decisions" by the administration on Iraq....

It was pretty obvious that Kerry got Boxer to do his dirty work for him when questioning Condi. It wouldn't have looked too good for the MA Senator if HE had taken on Condi himself.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.cries as she announces with Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones , D-Ohio, that they will object to the certification of Ohio's electoral votes during a joint session of Congress today Thursday, Jan. 6, 2005

NORM COLEMAN TO JOHN KERRY AT HEARING [KJL] "Some of us are overjoyed you're back."

U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif., talks with first-grader Mary Treadway, 6, while visiting an after school program held at the Earl Warren Elementary School in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2003. Boxer would rather have a president with whom she agrees on environmental issues. Instead, she has a campaign issue she believes is ready-made for home-state politics. Once a week, Boxer stands before reporters and cameras and blasts away at Republican moves on clean air, water and cleanups of toxic sites. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)