Political Punch

A Nov. 15 2007 AP story indicates Chevron was fined $30M by the SEC for bribing Saddams’s thugs in the “oil for food” deal and that Chevron may face tax evasion charges later. The bribes were in the millions so someone pretty high up at Chevron had to sign off on the payments. Unfortunately the AP story did not mention Dr. Condoleezza Rice the Chevron board member and the chairman of the “Public Policy Committee” which is responsible for making sure this kind of activity does not happen.

The Chevron website says the committee’s purposes include “identifying, evaluating and monitoring social, political and environmental trends, issues and concerns”, “analyzing how public policy trends could impact business activities and performance". Dr. Rice never discussed the Iraqi bribes on the record (not in the minutes) at company meetings. That should not surprise anyone who is familiar with her lack of response to 911 warnings.

President Clinton put sanctions on Iraq. Actions by Chevron and Rice clearly violated those sanctions and amount to treason. I urge our new Attorney General Michael Mukasey and California Attorney General Jerry Brown determine who at Chevron authorized the millions in bribes.

Ellis

Good Lord, what a joke! If any woman in Condi's position is offended by this, then she doesn't have the preverbal "balls" to be in the job. I read the transcript and this is so over blown it's ridiculous. All she meant was the neither had no family members that were being affected. Which is a fact.
Talk about spin…. To use this as a springboard for any discussion is a joke.
Female psychological warfare??? I think I must be reading a comic book here.
What do you label it as when men speak frankly?

While I have very little respect for Secretary Rice's policies, I can not overlook the snide remarks from Senator Boxer.

As a reasonably successful (divorced)African American female, with no children, I understand the difficulties associated with finding an appropriate partner. Successful African American males are few and far between when compared to the number of available successful African American females. Rather than kick Dr. Rice to the curb because she has no children, I would tell Senator Boxer that it is to Dr. Rice's credit that at least she has not crossed the color line in matrimony as she has done in her public policy work.

There are many single African American women similarly situated i.e. Oprah Winfrey, that theoretically could have any man their money could buy. Yet, they remained mindful of the fact that race matters in the USA.

Politicians who have a heart that says 'when you hurt, I hurt. Your loss is mine as much as it is your' are fast becoming an 'endangered species'. I don't think the Senator's remark to Dr. Rice was as much a snide at the well accomplished Secretary as it is an unwitting admission of her own shameful selfishness. Of course, her children are either too old or too young so she has nothing to lose personally. Well, this is about America and not about the Boxer clan. Now, we know whether or not the Senator is for "God and Country" or for "me and my own". Go Boxer, you have nothing to lose, not even your reputation because it is already in the mud!

So with 3019 US troops dead from combat in Iraq, perhaps 600,000 Iraqi civilian deaths (at least 30,000 admitted by US and Iraqi officials), an Iraqi standard of living destroyed economically, socially in terms of human rights for females and non-Muslims, and in terms of security - all for a war of choice so that Bush could satisfy an Oedipal need to show up his daddy, and so Rice could please her - as she said - "husband" (meaning Bush) - all this and the thing ABC wants to discuss if whether or not Boxer was being mean in noting that Rice had no one that had been, was, or would be at risk from the Bush/Rice decisions to invade a country that did not threaten us, under the cover of a lie that the country did threaten us.

The media (including ABC) was never been other than a cheerleader for the Bush/Rumsfeld/Cheney/Rice war to get votes, and now the media wants us to ponder if Boxer was mean. Pathetic. But such is to be expected of a media not controlled by the right wing GOP Rich and Corporate - they just act that way.

Loved the way you folks never do a flip-flop count on Bush and the GOP like you did on Kerry, or a Brown suit means less of a man story on a GOP political fiqure, like you did on Gore. But ABC Political Boss Mark Halperin does not see a bias - so I guess there must not be one.

Picking up Murdoch's NY Post and Fox News Smears is just reporting what other responsible media outlets are reporting - eh?

Senator Boxer, although fundamentally valid in her pointed frustration, was more of a grand stander, in her address to Secretary Rice. Who pays the price; was her banter, but what exactly was her point? Why was she acting like she was engaged in caring for the concerns of our countries patriots. Where was Senator Boxer when terrorism was known throughout the Clinton years? This is not a simple matter of winning freedom for Iraq. If we can not launch operations from a friendly ally in the Middle East we are going to be in deep trouble when Iran and Syria escalate the threat; and ‘yes’ they will escalate the threat. We need an ally in that geographical location or we are going to be continually threatened by extremist.

My heart breaks for my comrades in arms and their children and loved ones who suffer with them; however, we do not honor or help them by tearing our country a part in political debate. If Boxer really wanted to help she would find a way to unite this country in a campaign that spurs this nation towards a collective stand; one that supports the necessary sacrifice to defeat this threat. Terrorism is not going to go away… even the President stated, during the early days of 911, that this fight will be ours, our children’s, and our children’s children, to fight. Wake up! ‘Career politicians;’ who ‘this American’ feels is the real problem.

It is time for senators and congressmen to quite running for office, using the Presidency as a scapegoat, and start doing their job to support their country. We are at war and politicians need to also be soldiers in combat; servants that do not have the option of saying ‘no’ to their commander and chief’s call to duty. Our governing officials should be helping the enlistment efforts; after all, they are a paid servants just like those in boots. They need to get off their aristocratic pedestals and start earning that fat pay check, benefit package, and ‘pork feed’ job security.

Why do we keep pointing out the fact that other nations are holding back their support? When has any nation given more towards the pursuit of world freedom than the American people? Wake up! It is time to quit filling the media with pessimistic commentaries that only weaken our countries posture; if the world has no respect for us, the congress, senate, and every condescending American is responsible.

It is my prayer that a shift of spirit and resolve will sweep upon this great nation so that every American will realize the need to get involved and support our efforts towards global stabilization. If there were a past mistake worthy of mentioning it would have to be the moment, after 911, when the country was told to go about their business as usual. In stead, Americans should have been instructed in ways to become involved; much like the efforts to conserve resources during the Second World War. We needed a readiness plan. Failing to involve every American was the biggest mistake; and one that the enemy does not hesitate to employ in their media exploits.

Do not waste our time, Senator Boxer, with your unprofessional outbursts, aimed at the heart strings of Americans. These are the times when the tough need to get tougher and we need to get behind the efforts to stop the insane ‘world’ violence that will, if not dealt with, bring this great nation to its knees. Make no mistake, all you on the hilltops of society, it is not the warriors, or their families, that do a disservice to this nation; instead, as Senator Boxer alluded, it is those that do not have any vested interest or are not choosing to “Pay the Price.” In the Second World War the home front united and paid the sacrifice to win the battle; where is that commitment now?

God Bless America

Robert R. White
Former Gunnery Sergeant
United States Marine Corps
Portland, Oregon

I thank God every day for the courage that President Bush has demonstrated throughout his presidency. Unlike his predecessors, who were only interested in keeping the status quo in the Middle East -- in spite of the building powder keg and frequent suicide bombings -- President Bush has a vision of a free and democratic Middle East. But this is a lengthy, expensive and very painful process.

This is analogous to a cancer patient. One can just maintain the status quo and treat the pain with painkillers, but the cancer still eats away the tissue and eventually the life is lost. Or one can attempt to eradicate the cancer with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological therapy, surgery or a combination of some or all of these treatments. But each of these treatments may have extremely serious side effects, which in and of themselves, can be unbearable. And the patient may frequently express doubt as to whether it is worth all the pain. But if successful, the patient can live a normal life for years. And, undoubtedly, the patient is forever thankful for having gone through the process.

I was a Bush Supporter, "but now I am not!!"

Why does that sound familiar?
First I was for it and now I am against it.
You people crack me up!
A little late now don't ya think!

Senator Boxer did the right thing....period!

"President Bush has the SOUL responsibility to protect our country and citizens. He is standing alone right now in the face of considerable oposition and standing up for the courage of his convictions. He told us after 9/11 that he would do everything in his power to prevent another attack on the United States. He has done so. "

Yeah! well I have some sad news for you Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11!
Thats why there was an attack on the US Embassy in Athens this morning.

He said he would get Bin Ladin.
Well there is no hide or hair of him is there.

Condie Rices excuse for him not listening to the memos in 2001 before 9/11.
He was tired of swatting flie! I like to know what flies he was swatting, unless of course that was her way of saying there was going to a lot of horse....... coming out of the whitehouse!

Sen. Boxer lodged a personal attack on Dr. Rice during her nomination hearing. So it isn't much of a stretch to believe this was a continuation of her animosity towards Dr. Rice. Had a Republican made the same comment to an official within a Democratic administration the Democrats would be demanding an apology. But I, personally, believe too much is being made of the comment. Dr. Rice showed much grace and dignity in not responding to the comment.

Unbelievable - we still have people confusing 9/11 with Iraq. Still unable to recognize how Bush's Iraq war has dangerously weakened our nation, in military and international standing. That not only has he stoked the fever of our enemies this way, but that the price tag for this war has impinged our ability to protect ourselves. That he has snubbed the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission while actually increasing the threats to our security.

Unbelievable that there are those who still think that supporting the troops means marching them into mayhem, a civil war, without a clear battle plan or an exit strategy. Update for those in the dark: The troops themselves are the targets of the insurgency, that's what Murtha was flipping out about a YEAR ago. The situation has only worsened. You want to support your troops? Get them the hell outta there. You wanna support Iraq, which is the least we can do now that we've turned them all on their heads? Me too, but their new government needs to step up to the freakin plate and show some interest in their new democracy, instead of funding their tribal friends and using American soldiers as pounds of flesh for barter. Support Dubya, the illegitimate faux president? Ha!

Sure, God bless America, as long as she's doing the right thing - and everyone else in the world, too.

Someone needs to answer those important questions.
I was a Bush Supporter, but now I find myself wondering if he has any connection with realty.
My Daughter (26 years old) just attended the funeral of her best friend's husband who died when a bomb when off under his vehicle in Iraq.
My other daughter (23) has a good friend that was a Marine. He made it thru 2 tours of duty in Iraq. To us that is a miracle! My oppinion now is to get these people out of there NOW. It doesn't, matter what we do there, they will just fight each other as soon as we leave. History, Yugoslavia. As soon as the dictator was gone, (after 50 years) they started fighting each other again.

Cordelia: As always, you've said it better than I did.

This is definitely an overblown issue. Rice does not have children fighting in this war. I am sure that only a small handful of elected officials and high up policy makers even know someone in the military. Boxer was making an excellent point that this government is quick to send average Joe Americans to fight this blood for oil war while they go off in their SUV’s and have steak dinners with their jerk friends.

Okay everyone. My dad enlisted in the Navy in 1938. On December 7, 1941, he was on the battleship USS Maryland in the middle of Pearl Harbor when Japan attacked. After the Pearl attack, he was involved in all of the major South Pacific battles at Tarawa, Saipan, Leyte Gulf, just to name a few. Did he enjoy war, hell no, but he reinlisted after his first tour of duty was over. My dad realized that something bigger than himself was at stake.

On September 11, 2001, hyjacking terrorists took over US commercial planes and using the planes as bombs, flew them into the World Trade Center.

The attack on Pearl Harbor and the attack on the World Trade Center are called "acts of war."
Whenever a United States' Embassy is attacked, it's an "act of war."

Since 9/11, our government has successfully stopped many attempts by terrorists inside the United States.

Right around the corner from my home there was a Pakistani family. One morning in June, 2004, while taking my daughter to school, out of nowhere appeared four helicopters, FBI and CIA agents in flak jackets, the ATF, and local police, all with exposed rifles, guns, etc. This family had ties to terrorists. This, my dear people, was a little too close for comfort for me.

So, go ahead and bash the President and whomever else in the government. But just the fact that we, as US citizens, can freely go on the internet, sleep peacefully at night, go to the movies, shop whenever we like, without the fear of wondering where or when bombs would strike in the United States (maybe our neighbor's house, or maybe our very own home) is enough for me to support President Bush and our military.

Please don't continue the Democrat against Republican thing anymore. We are all US citizens and we are damned lucky!

Believe me, I cry every time I see a wounded or dead US or ally soldier. But I give them my utmost respect for taking on a job that most of us will not or cannot do.

I truly believe it is in the best interest of our nation to stand firmly behind President Bush and our troops. They truly realize what is going on and are serving us unselfishly.

We cannot leave Iraq until we have given them the opportunity to get on their feet. If we leave now, we risk not only our own security, we risk global security. The terrorists are embedded as it is now all over the world, even in our own country. Now is not the time to retreat.

As the saying goes; "When the going gets tough, the tough get going."

The Pearl Harbor Survivors Association motto is:
"Remember Pearl Harbor - Keep America Alert."

The men and women enlisted in our armed forces are very special people. I thank God everyday for them.

God Bless America!

Your female friend needs to take a Midol. Boxer's remark was: (a) empirically true, and (b) not about Condi. If Condi or your female friend or anyone else takes offense at Boxer's remark, that person is internalizing it and that person has a problem, not Boxer.

I consider myself a feminist, and I take exception to the idea that women are obligated to dance around empirical facts so as to not upset each other.

Someone worries about poor Condi Rice after all the blantant lies she has told we the people. You have GOT to be kidding!!!!

I think it's ridiculous to have a "female friend" commenting on this matter. And your female friend seems to have a view of female behavior right out of the dark ages. Or the Republican Party.

President Bush has the SOUL responsibility to protect our country and citizens. He is standing alone right now in the face of considerable oposition and standing up for the courage of his convictions. He told us after 9/11 that he would do everything in his power to prevent another attack on the United States. He has done so. His strategy for Baghdag is very logical and on a smaller scale already worked in NYC (with 2500 murders annually). Mayor Guiliani segregated the worst neighborhoods, took them over, the criminals left and the NYC police stayed and didn't let them come back. Once Baghdag feels safe they can become the democracy they deserve. I believe that if the U.S. military left Iraq now; the entire world would become even more unsafe. Leaving will imbolden the terrorists and they would declare victory! Why can't anyone offer up a solution for victory? Maybe because it's easier to criticize then to decide on what's in our country's best interest. Well, Dems, "what would you do if you were in charge". Ms. Rice is well equipped to take care of herself; I'm sure she simply considered the source of the comment and immediately dismissed it. Afterall, doesn't Boxer know we have an all volunteer Military.

I don't believe that the senator intended to attack the secretary on a personal basis. But, what the senator failed to understand is what is more important, country or family, to anybody, be it a public official or an ordinary citizen. In my opinion, country is more important than family. The question is whether or not the war was a necessary war in the first place. I am not sure if she voted for the war in 2003. If she did, she does have the moral ground to disapprove the new strategy now.

As far as one believes that the war is a necessary war to defend the country, he or she has to die for it. I don’t think that the Bush administration has made the decision to go to war because members of his administration don’t have family members in the army. I don’t think that his administration is less concerned and less thoughtful than the senator for the loss of life. The bottom line is instead of attacking each other for political or other reasons, it is better to stand together and get rid of the problem for once and all. Not doing everything possible to come out victorious in this war will be a tragic mistake of the 21st century.

It wasn't a choice of cut & run or stand and fight. It wasn't a choice of eliminate Iraq or lose the United States. In fact it was never a choice... to begin with.

Bush Hawks & company needed a cause for the administration given them by the Supremes. They ware already planning the Iraq war before 9/11 and those incidents gave them justification for their plans. Each cause of the invasion and war has been shown to be wrong. Intelligence officials told the admin. it was wrong. Plain and simple Bush needed and wanted a war.

Now, a volunteer army is shipped like cattle to a slaughter, and for what? We destroyed any infrastructure Iraq may have had left after the war by the means we used to govern and supervise it. We provided the means, if not the methods, of opening the door to Iran, and now complain because Iraq, limited, cannot close it.

In medieval times, the kings led their armys to war. This was expected. Perhaps it is time to return to those practices. Want to make war? Get in front of your army and lead, not safely at the back pushing my countrymen to their death.

Two closing thoughts of others, paraphrased:
1. War cannot determine who is right, only who is left.
2. War is the last refuge of the incompetent politician.

We shouldn't focus on two female politicians but what is really at stake. The lives of several soldiers that are fighting a war that is increasingly becoming unwinnable. We should not forget that when signing up to defend this country there are risks. Unfortunately it is not just an opportunity to see the world and get paid to go to college. When you sign up for serving your country the risk is there that you will be called up to duty in the event of war and that you may lose your life while doing it. I for one am very greatful for the American soldiers on foreign as well as domestic soil serving this country so that we sustain what we as Americans stand for. Let us not take shots at one another but focus our attentions on the real threat of the fact that there are people who are sleepless finding ways to kill us and destroy our way of living and it was not because we chose to go to war with Iraq. The threat has always been there. Let those 3000 soldiers lives be remembered with dignity of serving this country and not in vain as some of these politicians and politician want to be's, would like it to be remembered. Let's put our heads together and get this job done.

Of course Ms. Boxer meant this as an "attack". She simply hedged her language like most talking heads. This is why the majority of Amercans approve of the Donald - we don't have to wonder what he was saying.

Boy I have heard this before! I am a pediatrician who turns out to be single and without children. Does the above mean that I care less or lack the adequate emotional involvement regarding the medical outcome of the sick infants that I treat, as opposed to my married with children's colleagues? Ms. Boxer's comments to Ms. Rice are ridiculous. She should be ashamed of herself. She doesn't need cheap, low blows to debate the issue. I doubt she would have used the same argument if she was addressing Colin Powell.

Red Herring. It's a voluntary military. There is no arm-twisting involved, and you seldom hear troop complaining...as well they could be do to repeated deployments.

Politicians who complain, see poll numbers and take the easy out of attacking the President, who in contrast can take the correct path (albeit also easy)since he will never run for reelection.

The correct path acknowledges that should we leave or cut-back too soon, it risks $100 oil barrels, Turkish attacks into Kurdish territories, Iranian attempted takeovers of Shiite territories, Saudi military backing of Sunnis and their equal oil rights, Iranian acceleration of plutonium enrichment, and the resulting nuclear arms race of other Arab nations, prompting preemptive nuclear action by Israel against those most likely to use such weapons against them.

The downside to doing the right thing: slightly increased casualties in what has been and will continue to be a low-casualty war for the US in contrast to Viet Nam and Korea, let alone the World Wars, or our own Civil War.

Our politicians cannot cite relatively low casualty figures and get reelected. They also cannot point to fighting for low oil prices and corresponding uninterrupted supplies. They cannot get Americans to figure out the consequences of a nuclear Iran. So politicians do what politicians do and shoot the messenger with poll backing.

Condi should have said something about baking cookies versus saving the world, but someone else already tried that rather unsuccessfully...and her child never fought anywhere either.

I think that it is beyond wrong that a United States Senator would launch an attack on a government official exposing that an official's policy will not have an adverse effect on that official. I can say with confidence that a professional policy maker's policies usually do not affect themselves. I am sure many of Senator Boxer's controversial policies that she voted for did not affect her but had an adverse effect on various citizens. Also, to suggest that a human being and Secretary of State would be tossing around troops, other human beings, without any moral compass is truly inhumane. I am sure the safety of the troops weighs very heavily on the minds of all Americans, especially the ones charged with that safety. Finally, the ability to lead is one that sometimes comes with the understanding that you must do what you think is right regardless of the opposition. I believe in this to an extent but look at the reaction of the troops to more troops, not the Honorable Senator from California. Elder Bush had about 500,000 troops when he went into Iraq. Today we have around 150,000. This is not "the greatest military blunder since Vietnam." P.S. Whoever said that really does not need to discuss military history again.

Since when was "female" psychological warfare any different than "male" psychological warfare. It's ALL psychological warfare which is the way humans communicate sometimes. The real problem is that we as a nation at war need to fully support the effort and do everything that is neccessary to win it.

Conservatives: Please, please be quiet about this. Haven't you heard the adage, "When your opponent is self destructing, it's best to get out of the way". Liberals: Please, please continue to support this form of debate. We are interested in how you really feel, and these types of exchanges are where you can really get off your chests your inner feelings so all Americans can see what is in your heart. Senator Boxer: thank you thank you! And please don't stop and don't let the media tell you what you can and can't say. Who are they to tell you, the mighty senator anyhow? They are jerks! You just keep on letting us know how you view the world. You may now continue the rants.

Ha-ha. You go Senator Boxer. It obviously has nothing to do with Rice being single. This is something many talk about everyday. They have nothing to lose in this war that is based on deceiving the American people and using the American military to invade a nation without just cause. We have enough problems in America with race relations, poor healthcare, homelessness, etc., etc. Yet we are in someone else's screwed up country trying to "help" them. Right. I guess they need one last shot at that oil.

Men and women are dying before they have a chance to live and they don't care because their kids and loved ones are not the ones fighting blindly for their causes. It should be an honor to serve and defend ones country but their is no honor in the military's leader right now and thus no honor in their lives being lost. Someone should tell the truth and shame those devils.

To Bob:
You're reading the posts wrong. In this format, the poster's name FOLLOWS the post - it's confusing b/c of the way the site sets up the broken lines between posts. I think you're responding to Gabe. My rant was about womanhood not being contingent upon motherhood. Peace.

Everyone needs to stop whining about who's kids are serving in the military. This is an all volunteer military and our young men and women who elected to serve proudly need our help to support them. Because of them, we Americans have a choice to serve or not. When the draft is re-established then you bean counters can bitch about which kids are serving and which are not. Until then, stop whining and support our military!!!

Boxer is a freak..just like every other politician from California, especially Pelosi.

"So who pays the price? The American military and their families."

How is this controversial? People who fear be reminded that blogging, and speaking, and shouting down others, in favor of the war is all very fine, but like to forget that there are few paying a high price for a policy many (used to) favor. If you take offense at this, you need to a good long look at yourself.

This is another overblown issue just like the Kerry "Botched" joke.

The simple fact is our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters are stuck over there with NO EXIT STRATEGY.

The 3000 plus dead American soldiers resulting from POOR PLANNING and INADEQUATE EQUIPMENT don't get us in an uproar.

Yet we get offended or enraged over TONE and WORDS between to bickering political parties.

What a Joke!

We can't leave because we can't CUT & RUN, we need to have the resolve to win. Somebody please tell me what that actually means...since this administration won't tell me what it is? Do we want the Shia's or Sunni's in power? Cause that is the choice, there is no third option. There is NOT GOING TO BE A UTOPIAN Iraq with all 3 sides playing nice, so what is the point of staying. Pride, sorry, I'd rather have my kid home with a battered ego.

When Michael Moore made the same point, he wasn't accused of using "Female Psycholical Warfare". I noticed that the columnist uses a quote from a woman to make his "cat fight" point.

Way to go Senator Boxer...........finally someone has the (guts) to stand up to "Condi" cute little name for a war freak just like Bush.

Who Cares? Those two can take care of themselves. How about bringing all of our children home......biological or not.........they are ours. We've all lost too much already and it looks as though if King George gets his way we will lose thousands more.
Barb

Another catty remark by one of all the fabulous dames in the Congress who simply can't stand the fact that they are not the most powerful woman in this country. Sorry Pelosi, but run a poor second. Hillary, I can't hear you.

This is news? This is the debate you want the American public to have? It would seem that you have missed the entire point of the hearing. Maybe you should be reporting for Teen People or Hollywood Extra instead of ABC News.

It seems all evil people are single and childless these days! No love in their hearts for anyone but themselves!!

There are no innocent comments in D.C. - every word is carefully considered; not only for content, but also impact. There is no strenght in a personal attack; unfortunately that is the only thing coming out of Washington these days. Also keep in mind we are heading into the next election cycle with everyone on both sides of the fence trying to straddle the issues. We witnessed this yesterday after the Presidents speech. Everyone of the Representatives, and Senators who commented really don't care about the issues their main concern is maintaining their power base, and unfortunately we are going to see much more of this infighting than we are real solutions to the mess we are in. At this point we have to support or troops ABOVE ALL the hell with politics. Fund them adequately to do their jobs - when I hear Members of the House and the Senate indicate they want to pull the plug on funding I feel this is a disgrace. Yes, disagree with the situation, try to change policy, in a constructive way, but to put any of our Armed Forces at any additional risk for the sake of a "sound bite" that you can use for your re-election - really. Our choice to be in Iraq is done; we now have to find a way to leave, but with some sort of stability in place when we do leave. What we loose sight of the fact we are faced with an enemy that does'nt follow the normal rules of conflict, and will strike where ever they want if they get the chance. To those in policy positions; they don't risk as much as the rest of us common citizens, but we have elected them, and as a democracy; which those who choose to hate us will never understand; we can and must hold them accountable. What the American public should do is make our voices heard - contact your Representatives - Senators let them know that they need to do their jobs, and quit attacking each other and focus on what is really important.

No statement Boxer made is false.
Truth, unfamiliar territory to this administration, is the cause of Rice's consternation.

Boxer has a VERY valid point. Why isn't president Bush's daughters at war like alot of americans are. This decision has very little affect on the politicians at all because it is not their family. This War is over controlling Oil PERIOD. I have had many of family members over there already and they will ALL tell you the same thing!!!

To Andrea C. Shame on you for speaking of your mother in that manner. She revolved her life around her children as millions of people do.
I can only hope your are the happy, successfull, wonderful person you state yourself to be.
As for the Rice vs. Boxer argument, it is clearly a Republican/Democrat thing.

Will two powerful women ever be able to have a disagreement without some middle-aged media man calling it a cat fight? So they exchanged "harsh" words, so what? Plenty of men rant at each other like this and no one cares. And the bullet/butterfly comment sounds like it came out of the 1800s...

Lil' Tapper did start quite a flame war and he got dinosaur ABC some attention with this article; hence I suppose he'd consider this piece of rubbish to be a success.

This is an issue? NPR attempted to turned Chuck Hagel's impassioned questioning of Rice into a rude chastisement. Rice shares responsibility in the architecture and execution of a brutal and illegal war in which our soldiers and Iraqi civilians are being killed for the glory pursued by her boss. If they hold her feet to the fire in aggressive ways, she deserves that and worse treatment.

This had nothing to do w/Rice being single and childless...If I had been Sen. Boxer, I would have added, "President Bush's daughters are not serving in the military (which actually make me feel safer, but I digress)...VP Cheney's children are not serving in the military (although one has an excuse, but that's another issue)...where are Rummy's and Wolfie's kids?

There's nothing in the constitution (or logic or common sense) that makes the opinion or authority of a single person, without children, any less valid than that of someone else.

Boxer simply illustrates the false compassion of the democrats which enslaves us all.

FAHRENHEIT 9/11: "Out of the 535 members of Congress, only one had an enlisted son in Iraq."

“Only four of the 535 members of Congress have children in the military; only one, Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., has a child who fought in Iraq.” Kevin Horrigan, “Hired Guns,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 11, 2003.

We have so many problems in our own country that to be involved in Iraq is insane. We have American citizens who go hungry everyday.. we have American citizens in the south who were affected by hurricane Katrina who still have no jobs and no housing.. we have American citizens who have to make a choice everyday between food & heat or between heat & medication or between food & medication.. we should be ashamed! Why can't we take of our own? Why are we spending billions of dollars there and not here? When are we going to have a government run by the people and for the people? I mean our own people.

WHO PAYS THE PRICE? Those who sign on to serve and defend the constitution. We have an all-volunteer army.

I'm really tired of all the mothers that are whining. No mother wants to lose her son, but her son is a man and he made the honorable and laudable decision to serve his country. Where would we be today if no one ever stood up to defend our country? I am the son of a 30-year Army veteran of 3 wars; my ancestors fought in every U.S. war since we had a country. My grandfather was known to cry only once in his life - when he signed the papers to allow his only child, his 17 year old son, to go off to fight in WW2. No doubt it was by far the hardest thing he ever did - but there was a job that had to be done.

Has anyone ever heard the phrase "Freedom is not free?"

It's a sad day in America when stating a simple fact is bashed by the media as an "attack."

Truth is dead. Now if only the mainstream media would finish dying off with it.

To: Andrea C.
You stated that whoever said "the greatest military blunder since Vietnam." really does not need to discuss military history again. Madam, that person would be Senator Chuck Hagel, Republican from Nebraska. For you to suggest that Sen. Hagel shouldnt discuss military history because he doesnt understand the reality of what is currently going on is ABSOLUTELY ABSURD and your ignorance is appalling. Sen. Hagel was a ground troop who served during the Vietnam War's fiercest fighting, and fought across the Cambodian border when the U.S. gov't lied to the public and stated that wasn't the case. To suggest the Sen. Hagel doesnt understand military history and strategy is an enormous flaw and reflection of your ignorance of the situation in Iraq.

Boxer's comments were fine; she was only driving home the point that war is hell on the solders and their families, not on the politicians and/or their staff's families.

Reading anything else into Boxer's comments is looking for something to fight about.

I am 42 and don't have kids; personally, I'm glad I don't have any war babies this administration can appropriate to wage war.

Yawn. Next I expect you'll be talking about which woman dresses more feminine, and who bakes better chocolate chip cookies.

This isn't news analysis. It's a pathetically bad attempt by the old school media to compete with the blogs on news commentary. The problem is the old school media is constantly dumbing down everything.

As the leader of our country, President Bush has looked into the face of more mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, children, and fellow soldiers of killed and wounded heroes of this war personally than anyone on the face of this earth. To say that he or Condi would do different with a child in harms way is crazy. As his daughters being children of the President of the United States of America, they live in dangerous harms way everyday of their life long before any soldier set foot on Iraqs soil. Necessity has alway demanded, in war time, that our President make crucial decisions that affect countless lives and we should be proud that we have a strong leader who makes decisions with our countries future in mind. We are all weary of this war but as wise people learn from their personal struggles and battles in life, the cost of compromise or quitting is many, many times more costly than the resolve to win.

Wish I would have understood the below 30+ years ago when I got married. Is there a book on this stuff?

"And you need to understand female psychological warfare. The most effective bullet is the one that sails in looking like a butterly-- the 'innocent' remark. There's no defense against it. To defend against it is to validate it as an attack, and allow it to hit.

I think Condi should have stood up, walked out and called Boxer the ass that she is. An apology is in order from the low class Senator, but then she would have to admit that it was an evil attack. Perhaps she has the same joke writer as Senator Kerry.

I highly respect anyone who must, on a daily basis, think beyond "themselves" and what "their" personal cost is, and try to make decisions that actually affect an entire world. There are few women that belong in politics and postions where they have such global impact and influence. Thank God there is a woman capable of the type of work, and decision making Condoleza Rice does and is willing to do. For a woman to make such decisions and do the type of work Condoleza does responsibly, she cannot think with the type of emotions Boxer has inferred that she should.

As a single, never been married, no children Military vets female. I take offense to the senator comments. I don't have kids but have 3 sibiling who have been in the military. I have countless newphews and many friends who are still in the military. I have consider even going back to the reserve to serve my county again. I think of the freedom for all mankind and how great it would be for Iraq to share in that freedom. Even if it cost me my life.

To David L. - Have you been reading or watching the news lately? You really need to wake up. If you have been following Senator Boxer's career as I have, I being a Californian, you would know that Senator Boxer's comments were not an attack on Ms. Rice at all. She was mearly commenting on the fact that most of those who are making decisions about this war are not directly affected by it. The scary thing is that the media seems to be making this a "female" thing. I bet if it were MR. Rice, Senator Boxer would have made the same exact statement. Would it have been a "female" tactic then?

This article is missing the point. Why is the US even still involved in this "War". Where is the hunt for Bin Laden? USA supported Saddam Hussein with money and weapons and then we do a flip flop because Bush cannot hunt down Bin Laden.

My vote is with the previous poster, let us make a rule that every President who "declares war" or "war on terror" must send their children and grandchildren to the front lines.

Gone are the time of WWII when our soldiers were really fighting for the freedom of the US.

Today our soldiers are fighting for the greed of money and domination for the oil companies that are greasing the palms of this president REGIME.

Typical Democrats.....just what we should ecpect from them. Only 1 years and 11 1/2 months left.

Absolute rubbish. I'm not feeling this. Granted, I enjoy a bounty of stimuli and opportunities in a large, liberal metropolis. But I hope it's only a small segment of the female populace that still finds their identity threatened by the absence of issue. I for one always had a regrettably diminished view of my much beloved mother because it seemed she based the entirety of her personhood on her children, instead of perfecting her own individuality. Possessed of great spirit and a very high IQ, but constrained to that relegated place in society, as was, and apparently still is, the lamentable condition of women for far too long. In this unnatural setting, even the most capable, dedicated mother finds herself lacking in some of the crucial skills necessary to care for her children. And worse, such constantly frustrated people can't possibly maintain themselves in such a hostile environment for long. They come apart at the seams like tattered queens. I think it’s tragic and sinful. That's why I live where and how I live.

I always thought a lot of career women who were also great mothers (and not much of career women who dissed their kids), but not less of career women who were childless. You never know - a childless person may have wanted to be a mother, but couldn't or didn’t for any number of good reasons - that wouldn't nullify their empathy or innate desire to care for others. In addition, I believe the better parent delays or even forgoes conception altogether if she knows she can't adequately provide, be it emotionally, financially, etc. She has to be able to keep herself positive, healthy and moving forward, lest she be ill disposed to launch her children well. Such unfortunate children don't always make the best contributions to society. In fact, they often make a lot of dirty work for the rest.

I opted out of motherhood quite consciously, but I gave substantial help (cheerfully!) in rearing my single-parent sister's children, who acknowledge me as a co-parent. I never gave birth but am very nurturing, even maternal in my own way (aren’t we all, male or female, to some extent, if we're normal?). I’m a fantastic homemaker. I’m wonderful with animals, grow my own veggies and bake my own pies. I take care of a lot of people. I constantly cultivate the feminine principles. But I didn’t reproduce, and probably couldn’t do all I do now if I had. Simultaneously, I am appalled at the deplorable lack of parenting skills that has become the norm today - I mean utterly appalled, and fearful for the future of the human race and the planet because of it.

But back to the argument... To take it to the logical extreme, no ill-mannered slut is more of a woman than I am simply because she allowed the byproduct of her debaucherous life style to go full term. The act of breeding alone is not sacred. But proper parenting and good child-rearing, in my opinion, are. There are many nuances in societal human interaction. It really does take a village to raise a child. Thus, only a deficient intellect would reduce these complexities to the simplistic kind of interpretation proposed here.

I'm no big fan of Condi - I distrusted her Chevron background the day she came to work for George Bush, and I disliked her from the time she was spotted here in New York shoe shopping while New Orleans drowned. But, I do not for a moment discount her accomplishments - she is clearly brilliant, savvy, powerful; virtually peerless in many esteemed respects. I have an admiration for her, just as I admire Barbara Boxer for her grace and grit. I generally find myself allied with Sen. Boxer, but in my mind, Sec. Rice is to be congratulated for her navigation around the need to breed in order to bring herself to such a level of achievement. I don’t think she’d be the least bit threatened (indeed, she should be amused) by the insinuation, even if genuine, that she lacked womanhood simply because she lacked motherhood. And I would prefer to think more of Sen. Boxer than to believe she levied such a comment with this type of low-brow malice.

I think that it is beyond wrong that a United States Senator would launch an attack on a government official exposing that an official's policy will not have an adverse effect on that official. I can say with confidence that a professional policy maker's policies usually do not affect themselves. I am sure many of Senator Boxer's controversial policies that she voted for did not affect her but had an adverse effect on various citizens. Also, to suggest that a human being and Secretary of State would be tossing around troops, other human beings, without any moral compass is truly inhumane. I am sure the safety of the troops weighs very heavily on the minds of all Americans, especially the ones charged with that safety. Finally, the ability to lead is one that sometimes comes with the understanding that you must do what you think is right regardless of the opposition. I believe in this to an extent but look at the reaction of the troops to more troops, not the Honorable Senator from California. Elder Bush had about 500,000 troops when he went into Iraq. Today we have around 150,000. This is not "the greatest military blunder since Vietnam." P.S. Whoever said that really does not need to discuss military history again.

Boxer should have known her comment would be interpreted as a slight to people without a spouse or children. As a feminist she shouldn't have made such a comment. There is no draft and those in the military know they may have to serve in that capacity. I have had every generation from my grandfathers, father, husband, son and brothers, serve in the U.S. armed forces. We all enjoy freedom because of their sacrifice.

Bush takes care of the rich, especially the super rich, and their children. He's asking the poor guys in the military to sacrifice, but not increasing their pay. During Bush's presidential campaign, his people circulated claims that one Bush daughter planned to teach poor children in DC, and the other planned to do work in Africa. Not surprising, I haven't heard a word about ANY public service actually done by those two. I think they should join the army and go to Iraq.