Rice - I don't get it

[Don]

http://us.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/01/26/rice.confirmation.ap/index.html

Can someone explain to me why a good chuck of the Dems would vote for Rice despite criticizing her? Why not vote against her? What is the point of saying this and that and then voting for her? I don't get it. I don't know how that process works.

[Drunken Master]

They don't want to appear obstructionist.

Keep in the American legislative branch is significantly different from ours. There is a deeper separation between the executive branch and the legislatures, and while certain executive decisions come under the review of Congress and the Senate, there is still the sense that certain decisions - like who should be in his Cabinet - ought to be the President's responsibility. This is why the President's choices for Cabinet are never overruled by Congress. In fact, Rice garnered the highest votes against for a secretary of State since WWII - and only 13 voted against her in the Senate.

[yychobbyist]

Political Capital - now someone at the WH owes them - maybe not a lot but they will get something out of it.

bbk

Yeah, don't you watch West Wing?

[yychobbyist]

lol ...and you can get everything you know about American law from Law&Order, not to mention all you can learn about fooling with dead bodies by watching CSI. :eek:


bbk

And all I need to know about the heartland by watching The Simple Life.

[danmand]

Actually you might learn more about business from the Simple Life #3 - Interns, than you would from the Donlad Trump show.


Actually, you might learn more about business by seeing an SP, than you would from the Donlad Trump show.

[yychobbyist]

Actually, you might learn more about business by seeing an SP, than you would from the Donlad Trump show.

Thanks but I think I'll stick to learning my business chops from the folks actually out there making the money than by watching something on t.v.

[onthebottom]

TV Shows are the perfect way to learn about other countries, I know that after watching the McKenzie Brothers I understood Canada much better!

DM has it exactly right and only a handful of Dems spoke out - the process is to confirm that the choice is qualified. The second largest number of dissenting votes for SS was Kissinger.

OTB

[yychobbyist]

TV Shows are the perfect way to learn about other countries, I know that after watching the McKenzie Brothers I understood Canada much better!

DM has it exactly right and only a handful of Dems spoke out - the process is to confirm that the choice is qualified. The second largest number of dissenting votes for SS was Kissinger.

OTB

Bob and Doug rule. Kissinger voted for the SS? Didn't know they needed a vote.

[onthebottom]

Bob and Doug rule. Kissinger voted for the SS? Didn't know they needed a vote.

Are not Doug and Bob you’re version of McNeil Lehr?

Secretary of State - SS, geez try and be a bit cleaver will ya.

OTB

[yychobbyist]

Are not Doug and Bob you’re version of McNeil Lehr?

Secretary of State - SS, geez try and be a bit cleaver will ya.

OTB

Guess my Bob and Doug response didn't quite ring true hunh?

[Asterix]

OTB is right, try and be a bit more cleaver. Your usual rapier wit just ain't cuttin' it.

[BiggieE]

I think another reason is because, in the likelyhood that the Democrats ever field a candidate for President that actually wins, they don't want the Republicans to turn the tables on them, and vote against their candidates for cabinet positions. Of course, they'll call the Republicans obstructionists anyway.....

[Don]

You're not getting it. The 'no' votes were very significant.
Rice was a cornerstone adviser to Bush. The grilling she got
wasn't expected. The Ds made their point LOUD and CLEAR.


They could have made their point LOUDER AND CLEARER if they simply voted 'No'. I understand the reasoning and think it is lame.

gaud i hate politics.

[Mcluhan]

A page of history is worth a volumn of logic.

In US history the Pres. always gets his way.
The vote doesn't count. It's the Senate hearings that count.

This isn't a football game where the score is the end of the game.
This is a chess game where this is the first of but many moves!

The Attorney-General designate is about to go through a worse gauntlet.

Both their vague and non-responsive answers will be well noted and
the next time they appear before the various committees and Senate hearings
their words will be used to impeach their testimony.

Again, this is a chess game. We're not playing Texas style power [uups,
meant poker] here. Think long term trench warfare here, folks.

I can't wait for the next Secretary of Defense to face the trail of tears.

I soooo love politics. Has to be the best thing than a delicious SP.
Humm. Politics or Sex. What's the difference? With a politician we
get screwed. With a SP we get laid. With a female politician whose
an attorney. We always get screwed. Even when we're laid to [get]
a piece.

D.Q. could it be that you've just invented a new art form? The Polnet? (political sonnet) as in the merging of politics and poetry?

Or maybe I need a scotch..

[onthebottom]

Guess my Bob and Doug response didn't quite ring true hunh?

Yes, it was simple enough for anyone to get, McNeil / Lehr used to host a PBS news program - but I guess that flew over your head.

OTB

[red]

Yes, it was simple enough for anyone to get, McNeil / Lehr used to host a PBS news program - but I guess that flew over your head.

OTB


mcneil was from nova scotia.