Democrats To Vote Rice In Despite "Reservations" [Say Anything]

It looks like Rice is going to get the nod from an "overwhelming" majority in the Senate.

WASHINGTON - Despite strong Democratic dissent, Condoleezza Rice, President Bush's trusted national security aide and a main architect of his policies on Iraq and the war on terror, appears headed to overwhelming Senate approval as the next secretary of state.

Once approved, Rice, 50, will replace Colin Powell and become the first black woman to serve as the nation's top diplomat.

A dozen or so Democrats were lined up to vote against her Wednesday. Probably as many others intended to yield to President Bush's right to pick his own Cabinet even though they, too, harbored serious doubts about Iraq policy.

Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., said he would support the president's choice despite reservations about Rice's performance on Iraq. "She did no more than any other member of the administration, but they all misled," Biden told CBS' "The Early Show" on Wednesday.

The sort of hedging put on display by Sen. Biden in that last paragraph absolutely drives me up the wall. If they don't like Rice they should vote against her. This whole "Well she's a big fat lying-liar, but I'll probably vote for her anyway" thing is ridiculous.

Its typical. If Rice goes on to do something truly historic all these Senators can point back and say "See, I knew she had it in her. I voted for her." But if she falls into controversy they can point back and say "I voted for her, but I had my reservations. See when I called her a big fat lying-liar?"

Not that this whole Democrat opposition to Rice isn't just for show anyway. These people have to look like they're doing something after the thorough trouncing they received in November.

[Cross-posted at Say Anything]

posted by Ace at 09:42 AM

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