I actually liked a lot of what Biden had to say...

[Guaranteed]

He was even very apologetic about voting for Condi...

He, apparently, thinks it's just part of his position to vote that way.

I wonder what Obama, Dodd's, FEINGOLD's, and Nelson's excuses are.

[still_one]

1. democrats deserve to lose election

THEY STAND FOR NOTHING!!!

God bless Boxer and even Kerry

[JI7]

2. i agree with you about Biden

i like what he says and i always find him interesting to listen to. even if you don't always agree with him on something. i just think he is interesting/enjoyable to listen to.

the other dem senators voted for Condi for the same reason Biden did. and for Obama his first vote is not going to be against another minority for a top position.

Feingold voted for Ashcroft and said then he believes the President gets to pick whoever they want. Dodd and Nelson are the same.

[LibDemAlways]

3. Biden did say, however, that

he won't vote for someone who is "incompetent." I think the so-called "National Security Advisor" who ignored the 9/11 intelligence is, indeed, incompetent and should have been tossed out on her ass long ago. But in this administration, incompetence is promoted, and most Dems go along to get along.

[bumblebee1]

18. If Condi were a man, she would have been tossed out on her ass.

[Spazito]

4. My sadness is because actions speak louder than words...

and to vote for her after saying what he did negates all that came before, imo. The message to the world is: Even though this woman lied to the US public, believes torture is acceptable and throwing the Geneva Conventions into the trashbin, he supports her being the face and voice of the United States.

[cali]

9. He's the ranking democrat on committee

Having him effectively shut out of important issues and stonewalled on information would scarcely be to our advantage. He was right to vote for her.

[Spazito]

12. The republicans will continue to shut out the democrats with or...

without a yes or no vote, imo. They did exactly that regarding sharing intelligence, etc, prior to this and will continue to do so after. Being the ranking democrat should not mean 'go along to get along' when voting on such an important appointment, one that tells the world what the policies and beliefs of the United States will be. Tradition and protocol exist only until one takes courage and changes that which is wrong.

I would not normally comment on the internal politics of the US but, in this case, her appointment affects the world in that she will be the messenger to all and that message seems to be a horrifying one, imo.

[cali]

16. You're wrong.

Dems have not been entirely shut out of the intelligence or foreign affairs loops to date, at least according to several dem Senators, including Biden. They don't want to be in the future. And nothing- absolutely nothing- was going to stop her confirmation. I'm sorry as hell that she's the new SOS, but blaming the dems for that is fruitless.

[Spazito]

17. I guess I don't understand how voting to confirm her changes...

anything. Biden pointed out the lies told to the dems, for example the number of Iraqis actually trained, and confirming her just allows the lies to continue because they will continue to have access to the lies.

Edited to add: Now that Biden, as ranking member, voted to send the nomination to the floor of the Senate, does that now free him to vote no with the whole Senate or, from your take, must he also vote yes tomorrow?

[robbedvoter]

13. Our advantage ? As in castrated animals?

Democrats are like castrated animals
As soon as they get used to their permanent minority status they'll start behaving themselves and not go around peeing on the furniture and acting up.
Grover Norquist -NOW, Nov 5 2004

[canadianbeaver]

11. Yes that is exactly what he is saying .... I agree........

I really feel that America is going down the wrong road and there is nothing that the people can/will do.....they don't want to make a stand..they allow, as Kerry put it, "More of the same"...I will watch as the world spins and humans are systematically pushed down into submission....there is no where to turn, run or hide....Money rules all and we are to accept it and keep going to work and paying your bills and making sure you do as you are told...I am reading Ayn Rands book "ANTHEM"...it is how the planet will be, as people have let themselves be told what is good for them..is there anyone out there that can tell me how things will get better? As long as we are in a world of PROFIT rather than NEED we will be going in the same circles we travel now....MONEY AND GREED MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND....I want off this ride...

[NYCGirl]

5. BGL, it probably isn't the popular thing to say, but I agree with you NT

[Guaranteed]

7. I should say that I don't think he was right to vote for her, though,

while I understand his reasoning.

His problem is that he's still doing this "work with them" shit. He doesn't get that there IS no working with this administration. Total opposition is the only thing worthwhile.

[KittyWampus]

20. Total Opposition Means Not Even Kibbutzing With Moderates Like Lugar

[charlie]

6. Pfft

Feingold is the one with the conviction that a president is entitled to the cabinet he requests. It's what compelled him to vote for Ashcroft. I think he's wrong, but he's consistent.

Biden, on the other hand, voted against Ashcroft. He can't really claim the same excuse as Feingold.

[Guaranteed]

8. He also voted against the IWR, though, didn't he?

And, like Kerry said, this woman was one of the principle architects of that.

[charlie]

10. Who, Feingold?

Yes, he did. But like I said, Feingold has at the very least a tenuous claim of fidelity to principle. Showboating Joe doesn't.

[fob]

14. BGL, I agree ALL Democrats should vote no for that trainwreck that is

notsoKindasleazy, but what is the alternative?

The best we could get is all vote no and she is confirmed on a partyline vote. The dems take the hit mediawide as obstructionist, partisan and "playing politics" with such an important position. While the true nature of the beast is swept under the rug. The Dems would gain the position of "any fuck ups are YOUR problem, bush*y" which is a pretty valuable thing, IMO. Just look at the 1993 Deficit Reduction Act that NOT ONE repuke voted for, Clinton was able to use the results of that act to bash Newtie about the head and neck.

So back to today, so voting yes after revealing the incompetence of the interviewee is seemingly weak, but I think it can be used to advantage. And as I type that I hate having to be one of the "dems-secret-plan" advocates, but I'll take what I can get at this point. What I get is bush* has an incompetent as SoS and while she WILL get people killed, so would whomever bush* would send up there. Only if he had to choose someone else we just might get a GOOD liar in that position. Someone that could provide cover and have the process of unearthing their lies start over. That prick Fred Thompson is one off the top of my head(I also expect to start to hear his name mentioned in repuke prezidentin circles).

So, to summarize, Dems landed some heavy blows, won't take too much heat relative to ALL voting no, and as the saying goes, be careful what you ask for because you might get it, bush* now HAS CONdie as SoS and I predict they'll be some sort of apology issued on her behalf before the years out, I just hope there's not too much death involved in the reason for the apology.


Pretty thin, I admit, but the ALL IN on the no's would yield not much more(although OUR DEMS integrity should have been factored in)


JMHO

[selmo7]

15. I like Biden too

and his flamboyant style.

I appreciate that he reasoned his thinking and blew open the hypocricy of the neocon premise.

But I note that there is still something not quite integrated when there are so many doubts and still a Yes vote. There is something wrong with the "political correctness" of it all.

There is something wrong when you go into a second marriage (as was his metaphor) based on HOPE only and not the knowledge and experience of lies and contrivances and the dissatisfaction of so many troubling DOUBTS.

In other words there is a big split here, seemingly inherent in the way they feel they have to do their jobs.

edit: typo

[YvonneCa]

19. Biden's role is Democratic LEADER...

...he will have to work closely with a new Secretary of State.That would be very difficult if he had voted no. Despite all he said, I think this is the only reason he voted for Rice. And I'm pretty sure he knows she IS a neo-con, too.

[CWebster]

21. I wish he'd shut his lame- brain smarmy piehole. nt