From SFGate:

Boxer on the offensive

Thursday, January 20, 2005

SEN. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., asked the right questions in the confirmation hearing of Secretary of State-nominee Condoleezza Rice.

To be sure, Boxer did not score any points on style or diplomacy. The edge in her voice was a bit jarring to those who are accustomed to the more genteel rythyms of the U.S. Senate. Her relentlessness was off-putting to those who are more comfortable with collegiality at any cost. Boxer is drawing criticism for her alleged abrasiveness.

But they were the right questions at the right time at the right place.

As national security adviser, Rice should be forced to answer questions about the misinformation used to justify the invasion of Iraq -- and the administration's serious misjudgments about the complexity of the occupation. Boxer did not flinch in pointing out the inconsistencies and exaggerations in Rice's statements.

On Wednesday, Boxer accused Rice of an "unwillingness to give Americans the full story because selling the war was so important to Dr. Rice. That was her job."

There is no doubt that Rice will be confirmed, given the presumption of deference to the president on Cabinet selections. But that does not immunize appointees from accountability for their past actions and statements.

Boxer did her job.