WaxWorks
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Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Condi Does It Again
I have posted repeatedly about the negligence by Condi Rice leading up to September 11 and her misleading, if not perjurous testimony before the 9/11 Commission, so I was greatly relieved to see her unequivocally state that she would not seek the Presidency. I shared my relief with a friend of mine, who incredulously wondered why I would feel relieved. When I shared with him Rice's comments about the Presidency, he reminded me how the truth and Ms. Rice are mutually exclusive, so her statement likely meant that she WAS intending to run. I can't say I can disagree with that.
But now, according to today's Washington Post, Rice has gone a step further: attempting to hinder the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's investigation of allegations concerning the conduct of John Bolton. According the Post:
On Monday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told her senior staff she was
disappointed about the stream of allegations and said she did not want any
information coming out of the department that could adversely affect the
nomination, said officials speaking on the condition of anonymity.
So Barbara Boxer has written Rice a letter today, noting that:
I am sure you are aware that Article 2, Section 2 of the Constitution states
that thePresident is to appoint Ambassadors "by and with the Advice and Consent
of the Senate." As such, the Senate is fully vested with the authority to
investigate executive nominations to ensure that they are qualified in tenns of
experience, temperament, and conduct. In addition, paragraph 1 of Rule XXVI of
the Standing Rules of the Senate authorizes Committees "to require by subpoena or
otherwise the attendance of such witnesses and the production of such
correspondence, books, papers, and documents." The Supreme Court has upheld this authority, calling it, "an essential and appropriate auxiliary to the
legislative function."
Boxer has asked Rice to issue an instruction to her Department that it cooperate fully with the Bolton investigation. Rice proponents for her taking the position of Secretary of State have consistently stated that she would be echoing the President's sentiments as a policymaker. Perhaps this directive is another example of this.
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