Many ask: 'What's up with Barbara Boxer?'

[question everything]

The Daily Breeze

Monday, January 24, 2005

Many ask: 'What's up with Barbara Boxer?'

Observers wonder if California's junior senator is the new liberal voice after her election victory has her coming out swinging.
By David Whitney
Sacramento Bee

(snip)

But rarely has Boxer made so many headlines so quickly in a congressional session and in fights against such overwhelming odds.

Many see in this a skilled politician, freed however temporarily from election worries of her own, rising up as the leading voice of Democrats who believe Bush should be challenged in every step of his second term as president.

(snip)

Boxer is now gaining steadily as the voice of unyielding Democratic opposition.

(snip)

"Could she be positioning herself to become what Ted Kennedy is now -- the voice of the liberal wing within the Democratic Party?" she asked. "She's got a lot of time. She's got six more years to develop that."

Bruce Cain, head of the Institute for Government Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, said California Democrats have a tremendous appetite for what Boxer has to offer on the national stage.

(snip)

Indeed, since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, Boxer was a strong voice for improving national security and intelligence gathering. She has been a leading advocate for equipping civilian aircraft to defeat shoulder-fired missiles and voted for the Patriot Act.

Barbara Sinclair, a political scientist at UCLA, said that as long as the Democratic Party dominates in California elections, Boxer is well suited to serve as the political counterpoint for a huge slice of them.


Find this article at:
http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/regstate/articles/1205482.html

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Boxer '08!

[Fovea]

4. she'd get my vote.

If I am still allowed to vote at that point.

[Lorien]

11. And if the machines would count your vote n/t.

[BrklynLiberal]

15. Now THAT is the big issue, and why I was so disappointed with the Dems who

did not stand up on Jan 6th .......
It was not about changing the election results (as was said about a million times that day!)..it was about making sure that everyone who wanted to register to vote would be able to, and everyone who registered and wanted to vote, would be able to, and every one who did vote, would be confident that their vote would be counted. I know in my heart of hearts, that if all of that had happened in this country, John Kerry would have been the one being inaugurated on January 20th.

[Politicub]

35. She has my full support for a run in '08

I will gladly volunteer my time to work for her campaign.

[silvermachine]

2. What's up?

She has a spine.
And some beliefs that she's willing to take the heat for, unlike so many in her party... so I can see why she's looked upon as an anomaly.

[Kota]

3. A politician doing their job. We shouldn't be questioning it, we

should be applauding it.

[renaissanceguy]

9. Exactly.

It's passion like this that gets the job done. Since Democrats were spineless the past four years, the country has moved to the right. We need to hold our reps in congress accountable. They shouldn't just assume that we'll re-elect them.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues/428793

[lies and propaganda]

33. i like this ticket...

say maybe a two pres, two vice pres system. Ill take Dean and Boxer as my presidents. its so great to dream

[0007]

51. I'll work the phone line, I'll do the neighborhood walk going door to door

I'll haul the old folks to the polls, I'll deliver yard signs. These are the folks I want to work for, not for those blabbery old senators that talk tough on the senate floor and then do nothing. In a million years I didn't think Senator Byrd would vote to confirm Condi. I'm tired of hearing the same old excuse, "why rock the boat Condi was gonna be confirmed anyway"

[fooj]

24. Indeed!

[Just Me]

50. If every politician honestly served the bests interests of "the people",

we would be living in a UNITED rather than DIVIDED States!!!

The neoCONimperialists intentionally galvanize the radical and fringe elements of our country in order to advance the neoCONimperialists' elitist ideology.

I applaud Boxer and Kerry, Byrd and Kennedy, and all those who are taking a strong stand for our people and for democracy!!!
:bounce:

[flygal]

87. Right! This makes news these days - someone actually having

a voice for the people who elected them.

[StClone]

5. Republicans, wingers, nut jobs start your motors

...of hate.

I am sure somewhere(s) there is a strategic coordinated think tank operation to invent dirt on Boxer. Bet it will soon be learned she "had" an abortion, "lovers," illegal contacts in China Town and/or she's just a crazy obstructionist.

[question everything]

13. Worse, her daughter married Hillary Clinton's brother n/t

[BrklynLiberal]

18. OH! I was wondering why she was referred to somewhere as Hillary's inlaw.

I did not know about that marriage. Thanks for the info.

[roenyc]

16. they are already saying she is crazy

looks like she is sick. whats wrong with her. blah blah blah they were not happy about her coming down on condi. oh yea and she is predudiced. ha ha ha. i love that one. she cant see a black person do well!!!!!

[indigolady]

47. Don't start rumors, even if you are being sarcastic.

[roenyc]

93. I am not starting rumors,

perhaps you should start visiting other sites. We hear at DU are very liberal but others in the conservative world and i dont only mean the freepers are doing their crazy bitch whiner thing. its just how they work and boxer is going to need the support of every democrat in that house to get past all of this.

1) she is honest and says it like it is. And more then that she means it!!

2) She is a Woman!!! so naturally there must be something wrong with her.

3) the rest of the dems are more worried about their image and getting along then getting to the truth. so she is very much alone. i am just letting you know what is up. you want to stick you head in the sand fine with me. but remember what we are dealing with here. these people will destroy her.

[oldtime dfl_er]

6. probably the only person in washington who isn't bought and sold

or living in abject fear for her political future. Boxer is doing what she was hired to do, and she's doing a damn fine job of it. Im embarrassed for my two female senators (Murray and Cantwell), who are already so compromised by special interests and their own fears of not being reelected that they can't stand up for anything.


www.cafepress.com/showtheworld

[Minstrel Boy]

7. Like Al Gore and RFK Jr, she's woken up and smelled the fascism.

Imagine a party of people like that.

[me b zola]

65. I believe that is EXACTLY it...

She has woken up to the smell of fascim..and it doesn't set well with her. I think there are a few others who smelled that smell and are stirring.


I SOOOO imagine a party with her backbone & courage. Believing it is possible is the first step to making it reality.

[calimary]

75. Well, I gotta tell you, this statement of yours about waking up and

smelling fascism -

A "mature" gent was one of several hundred grassroots Democrats at this "DNC Listening Event" I attended a couple of weekends ago, and he had a chance to speak. He said he was from the World War 2 era, and as such, learned what fascism smells like. He declared without hesitation that he knows enough to recognize that same smell yet again - now.

Who wouldn't take such a voice of experience seriously? His words made more than just me take notice.

[elehhhhna]

8. The voice of reason is now "the voice of the liberal wing ...

within the Democratic Party" ?

Verus the Mepublicanish Status Quo Trough-Pigs , er, I mean, the rest of the Dems?

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

10. Just...maybe she's ALWAYS been concerned with the truth.

Why is a big deal for the media and public to presuppose that Boxer TELLING THE TRUTH about the war and Shrub's criminal warhawks is something out of character for her or any other DEM?

JB

[OldVlad]

12. I think people are way to optimistic about Boxer

She's been a Senator for a long time here, and I think this move to the left is just posturing...not that that is necessarily a bad thing, but I think before people get all hopeful and gush they need to remember that she is a career politician that has compromised before, and will again when it suits her needs.

[H3Dakota]

20. I entirely agree - but no one wants to listen...

Remember, she DID vote for the Patriot Act - now suddenly she's standing up to the conservatives? How could anyone believe her to be the new voice of the liberals?

Political posturing, that is all it is in my book, too. The exact same reason that all the other Dems did NOT side with her - they are all jockeying to hold their current positions & not run the risk of damaging their political careers.

[frictionlessO]

36. uhmmm she was also one of the few who voted AGAINST the war!!!

getting overexcited about any politician is foolhardy, but Boxer was also a leading environmental advocate as well.

I checked her voting record out and with the exception of a few votes I wish she wouldnt have made, shes been near perfect everywhere else.

Besides who the hell else do we have, that matches her?? No, she brings hope and I seriously doubt its posturing. Unless you think all is already lost here in America, and that no matter what any currently elected politician does its probably just posturing in your eyes.

[d.l.Green]

37. The time is ripe for a woman President but not the one the DLC is

looking at. Boxer/Dean '08!!!

[trogdor]

38. Nearly everyone voted for the PATRIOT Act.

Lighten up, Francis.

[0007]

52. Who had time to read that mountain of garbage before it was

voted on anyway? And Barbara sez she wouldn't have if she had time to read it!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

59. Then abstain.

:think:



That being said, it's Senators like Boxer that generally keep flickering hope alive for the Dem party.

[0007]

69. LOL! Man that can be said about all of 'em, right?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

83. Not all of them, no.

We're down to the "Humble Handful."tm

[Sterling]

55. The only Dem I am %100 percent is un-bought I McKinney.

nt

[Kolesar]

31. She kicked Sec'y Thomas White over the Enron electric rate scandals

:)

[More Than A Feeling]

14. Barbara Boxer, why do you kick so much ass? n/t

[question everything]

61. On CNN Bill Schneider talked about her on Judy Woodruff's

and said basically what the story above - that she just won a six-year term and has the luxury to say what's on her mind. That many other Democrats quietly laud her but... their seats are not that secure.

How depressing.

[yurbud]

17. Boxer is giving me hope for our democracy compared to other dems silence

[tinfoilinfor2005]

19. In The Clearing Stands A Boxer...

The rest of our democratic representatives look very small to me these days, especially in the shadow of Senator Boxer. I don't believe one minute that she has an agenda other than the desire to keep our country from destructing at the hands of Bush & Co.

[AuntiBush]

45. Agreed!

You're couldn't be more correct, Jon! I too believe (sadly, so) she's the only that's without an agenda, but the one she was hired to do - stand-up for the American voters.

[Demeter]

21. Barbara Is Doing The Job That Hillary Won't

My question is: why won't Hillary do this work? It desperately needs to be done. It is classic Democrat and democratic. It has widespread and growing support.

So why won't Hillary or even Diane Feinstein do this, too? How are we going to get a coalition going? We can't have an army of one on this. Our lives, fortunes and sacred honors are at stake.

[Samantha]

76. Hilliary describes herself as a "New Dem"

Translation: DLC. Moving to the right -- not left.

[bvar22]

85. Hillary has been bought by Corporate Interests.

She has her ticket to the Rich White Men's Club, and she isn't going to upset the gravey train.

[iamjoy]

22. What Was Her Margin Of Victory?

For example, Dubya won 51 to 48* and is saying that was the voters saying they were perfectly happy with his using false premesis to get us into a pre-emptive war, that we want social security destroyed, civil rights (including reproductive freedom) severely curtailed and want more religion (Christianity) in our public/political lives, like giving large tax cuts to millionaires while cutting social programs for our most needy. So, if he claim a mandate for that off of his victory, what sort of mandate does Boxer have from the most populous state in the Union?

* please don't respond with comments about election fraud. While a very serious matter it is not relevant to my question.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

25. 57.8 % of the vote

6.9 million votes, more votes than any other senator in CA has received.

[iamjoy]

26. Mandate! (eom)

[RedCloud]

30. More like Womandate!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

32. Well, it depends...

I think the criteria for a mandate for a female democratic is much different than that of a male repuglican, at least as stated in the Tom DeLay rule book.

[fooj]

23. What's the deal? She is doing the right thing! Why is that so

difficult to comprehend? Yes. She is a lady with ethics and strength of character. What's up with Boxer? More of our elected officials need to find their moral compass and start modeling behavior that embraces honor, integrity and courage. It would behoove the media to do so, as well! I am so proud that Boxer is my senator! She is a living testimony to the power of TRUTH!

[rocktivity]

27. Here it comes--the "Boxer Is Crazy" meme!

Boxer is now gaining steadily as the voice of unyielding Democratic opposition...

Why does that NOT strike me as a compliment? When President Mightymouse is "unyielding," it's called "moral courage." Boxer, on the other hand, is a modern-day Don Quixote going off half-cocked to tilt helplessly at the monolithic GOP windmill--is that it? She's Howard Dean in a dress?

:headbang:
rocknation

[Victimerican]

54. nah, couldnt be...

She's not going to be president in 4 years ;p

:evilgrin:

[ronnykmarshall]

28. I love my Senator!

She's kicking ass and taking names later!

[RedCloud]

29. We need Boxer Shorts!

go get 'em!

Vote for Boxer or no sex!

[Rainscents]

34. I watched "french Connection"...

the other night and it was poor women who stood up to King and said......We are NOT going to take your bullshits anymore and made the difference!!! It seems like, women are the one who has guts and take actions!!! We need more of Boxer!!!

[Untouchedalarm]

78. Funny

I gotta red pair. Go Boxer

[Untouchedalarm]

79. Oops

Blue pair ha ha

[clem_c_rock]

39. Boxer, Conyers, and McKinney = the few, the proud, and the brave

I don't see why Obama gets all the press when these guys are around?

[leQ]

43. here! here! (eom)

.

[pacalo]

40. Goooooo, Barbara!

http://www.ilovewavs.com/ForChat/ChatSong/Bad%20Girl,%20talking%20about%20Bad%20Bad%20Girls%20-%20Song%20Clip.wav

[question everything]

62. OOps. Did not realize you were sending me to a music video

glad did not click on it at 2:00 am ;-)

[The Zanti Regent]

64. I will gladly send her one of my old canes!

...so she can whack some common sense into the Nazis!

[Massachusetts]

41. She is acting and leading like a DEMOCRAT.

:kick:

[Benhurst]

42. What's up with Barbara Boxer? Maybe she just has

a soul and a backbone. No wonder she's a loner on Capitol Hill.

[AuntiBush]

44. Sad, really sad... (But, BOXER in 2008)

I was thinking the same thing the other night. How sad is it when you await other Sen's to stand-up to the podium for the very thing (the vote) that got them there to begin with.

And the only conclusion one came reasonably arrive at, as to why none of the other's (but 1, wonderfully brave Senator Boxer) wouldn't back her up, not even Hillary, her daughter's mother-in-law leaves you safely to assume all of them have their own agenda, or do not care about us above their own positions, or even sadder that they're are none clean.

But Senator Boxer, if she ran tomorrow she'd have my VOTE!

How does GORE/BOXER sound? What does anyone think about GORE re-running?

[donheld]

46. Ms Boxer is fast becoming my Hero

i claim her as my senator

[indigolady]

48. I'm proud that she is MY Senator

She's asking the questions that should be asked.
What is wrong with the rest of the so called "opposition" party?

[0rganism]

49. Smart politics is what's up; she's taking the heat off Pelosi and Reid

Boxer can afford to play it loose, her seat is safe for at least six years. Pelosi is probably safe, but risks marginalization of the Democratic house leadership position if she doesn't moderate her positions. Reid is already moderate, so we need lightning rods to his left to keep the national party's ideology from compromising even more to meet the demands of neoconservative media whores.

The dipshits will wear themselves out chasing Boxer, and let the other Dems off the hook by way of neglect.

Just one more reason to appreciate Sen. Boxer.

[Laurab]

66. I don't think any of them can afford to "play it safe" anymore

Honestly, I think they're deluding themselves if they think they can. There is absolutely NO bipartisanship in this regime. I am glad to have Boxer there speaking out for me - I've adopted her as my senator. Hillary is my actual senator, and I watch her and I see everything she says or does as being political gain motivated, but I'm not sure she's gaining anything. It's not the same country it was when Bubba was running. I think it was still a democracy then.

Shrub's regime has taken over, and is in the process of destroying our country (and several others as well). "Playing it safe" when votes don't seem to count anymore is foolish. Playing it safe is turning us into a one-party system. Not one single one of them can afford to do it. I can only hope that more of our representatives are going to open their eyes and see this. There is nothing to be gained anymore from playing it safe, and the gloves need to come off every single one of them.

[0rganism]

70. You're right, but they can't afford to draw too much attention either

Liberalism is "officially" (if not actually) out of favor with the American people now. As long as we're relying on folks like Baucus(D-MT) and Nelson(D-NE) to prop up Democratic filibusters of the most disgusting legislative abuses, it helps to have someone like Boxer at the focus of the media's ire.

[GiovanniC]

53. Many Ask: "What's Up With All The Democrats BESIDES Barbara Boxer?"

This is how you know it's bad: The anomoly is the Democrat that actually FIGHTS BACK against the Republicans.

[PATRICK]

58. True

This is the sad state of affairs when one person decides to do her job, the right thing or the just plain demands of rationality. This is how far we have sunk when it is presumed everything must be a career move.

Then again, this is exactly typical of how the Dems are universally played in the press and they have done a lot to encourage this slant by playing directly into it and even buying it themselves, like any other duped John Q. Public.

[Groggy]

56. She is my hero...

She has integrity and isn't afraid to speak her mind. She has my vote if she ever runs for President! We need more people like her. Too bad the other demos in WAshington can't be more like her. How about a Boxer/Dean or Dean/Boxer ticket??

[sehlatik]

57. I'm from Mississippi...

and Barbara Boxer is MY Senator! Unfortunately for me, my two senators are Republican thugs, Trent Lott and Thad Cochran. Boxer is a true warrior in the fight for democracy, and a truly fearless woman. May she continue to fight voraciously for our freedoms in America.

[sellitman]

73. Dream Ticket:

Boxer / Conyers

Sign me up!

[grahamhgreen]

80. Boxer '08 - I'd rather lose with a winner...

than win with a loser.

[Piperay]

60. The Daily Breeze or as it is unaffectionately called

by some of us...The Daily DEBRIS is a repug right wing rag, always has been, always well be. It's the local paper for my area and if it wasn't for the fact that it is the only way I can find out what's happening in the South Bay I wouldn't get the thing if they paid me, have to read it with a clothespin on my nose. x(

[question everything]

63. The DB published it, but the story is from SacBee - which could be the

same thing, I suppose.

[rucky]

67. Bust a Move, Barbara! n/t

[sorechasm]

74. Boxer Rebellion, Boxer Shorts, Never Boxer In

Great Candidate for Bumper Stickers.

She's the first Demo Senator to finally turn the tables and begin Boxing-In the Retreads. You'd think it would be so easy, but who could stand being dragged about by their low blows.

She's going to need a lot of confidence to withstand the onslaught of ridicule she's destined to receive if she keeps this up. If you haven't done so already could you thank her (and Conyers, et.al.) for their stands these past few weeks?


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1521973

[gademocrat7]

68. Boxer has backbone

Keep the pressure on Senator Boxer...Thank you!!!!

[hangloose]

71. Go Barbra GO!

[TankLV]

72. I hope she's positioning herself to become the voice of the TYPICAL

MODERATE Democratic party member - you know - the BASE - and would represent the MODERATE position of the party like she has.

It's the RIGHT WING DINO's of the party who don't act or agree with her.

Take back the party!

[primavera]

77. You mean, other than her behaving like a Democrat? n/t

[leesa]

81. The infamous "Many Ask" Of course it is only this RW stooge 'reporter'

asking. Go Fuck yourself, David Whitney.

[VegasWolf]

82. Exactly, a democrat with balls. Who would have thunk it. n/t

[fshrink]

84. Minimal smarty reframing crap here. For the time being.

The others, ALL the others, disqualified themselves as far as I'm concerned, if only by remaining silent. Respect is earned through courage and honesty. I will repeat this for the next 4 years: I'd rather lose with a democratic candidate who acts and speaks like a liberal than win with a savvy liar.

[bvar22]

86. The Boxer Rebellion continues tomorrow.

9:30 AM CSPAN 2

Watch CSPAN over the net here:
http://www.c-span.org/watch/cspan2_rm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS2

[nolabels]

88. I would like to ask the many WHAT THE HELL'S UP WITH YOURS

This proud CALIFORNIAN we have as a our Senator makes me more proud all the time. Somebody tell that AWOL that he needs to serve out the rest of time at T.A.N.G.

[Sivafae]

89. I gotta give SOME props to some of the others too

I mean, the rest said that they would use all means necessary to challenge/stop some of the change the repugs wanted.
<-----But yeah, I like her.

[Hissyspit]

90. Wolcott on Boxer

This is from another discussion, but it belongs here, too, for anyone who has not read it.

from www.jameswolcott.com
James Wolcott is a contributing editor for Vanity Fair

Lonely Are the Brave
Posted by James Wolcott
Why is Barbara Boxer out there all alone asking the tough questions about Condi Rice's snail trail of deceit and fearmongering? She has the audacity to act as if the Senate actually has some traditional advise-and-consent role to play and for her pains is caricatured as a shrieking harridan on Saturday Night Live and a witch on talk radio. Boxer was terrific today on CNN, refusing to back down and reiterating her questions and objections regarding Rice with emphatic clarity while Sen Lugar mumble-mumbled some pathetic excuse-making about how Rice didn't deliberately mislead the country re Iraq's WMDs, she just did the best she could under the circumstances. Look, Biden and the rest of you Democratic punk-asses--get behind Boxer or get lost. She shouldn't be up there on the parapet alone, not with this wrecking crew trying to gear us up for war on Iran.

[Skittles]

91. wonderful seening a Democrat actually DOING THIER F***ING JOB

yes INDEED

[Sleepless In NY]

92. She is amazing! Boxer in 2008