I (heart) Barbara Boxer

[Zola Q. LaPlaya]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 9:07am

You gotta love the junior Senator from California. That spiky 'do, that grimace crying out for botox, that wagging finger and the Judge Judy voice.

From this week's Economist:

"Being parodied on Saturday Night Live is a backhanded tribute to political significance. Last weekend saw Barbara Boxer grilling Condoleezza Rice in the Senate, using an increasingly bizarre series of props. Starting out by waving a large scorecard-figure zero (how many weapons of mass destruction found in Iraq) and a graph with a tiny yellow bar (for the truth) and a large blue bar (what you say), the Californian senator graduated to pouring vinegar (your lies) and baking soda (our current situation in Iraq) into a plaster-of-paris volcano (the rising tension in the Middle East). Mrs. Boxer's "lie volcano" duly erupted.

The feisty Mrs. Boxer has become a heroine to the left. [...] Mrs. Boxer, who was re-elected in November by 2 million votes in deep blue California, has at least six years to express the inexpressible frustration of her peers."

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 9:20am

and who says economists are a humorless* buncha stuffed shirts?

*added moments later after i realized i thought it without typing it

Updated On: 2/10/05 at 09:20 AM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 9:29am

Loved the SNL skit, and loved what inspired it, watching Boxer grill the saintly, always-right Rice. I love how we're not supposed to critique this woman, Dr. Rice, because of "her moving story." As if the architect for aggressive and unpopular war should be hands-off because she's a brilliant black lady with "a moving story of overcoming prejudice." If she ends up acting like a white man who readily sends people to war with any justification, who cares about her moving story? There are over 1400 dead Americans out there who move me more.

The far right getting all incensed over liberal critiiques of Condi cracks me up. Liberals have been condemned for decades for not seeing past race or gender; now we're supposed to judge our new secretary of state with different eyes ... because of her race and gender?

In Boxer vs. Rice, Boxer is MY "million dollar baby."

Updated On: 2/10/05 at 09:29 AM

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 9:38am

and according to rasmussen who's pretty doggone non-partisan, opinion on iraq seems to be a bit in flux. granted, the numbers are not where i'd like 'em to be, but they're moving. i expect a gallup/usa today poll at any moment showing 100% approval for anything the president does by 100% of the people (now read it again thinking, yes, i'm sure papa realizes how off that specific poll has been).
iraq opinion

[Auggie27]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 9:55am

...” Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist says that “The GOP Generation captures with clarity the dynamics that are propelling this Republican era to staggering new heights.”

Deliver me from his staggering heights.

But before we reach them, let's look back a bit:

From the Times, 1967:

"...US Officials were surprised and heartened today at the size of the turnout in South Vietnam's presidential election, despite a Vietcong terrorist campaign to disrupt the voting. According to reports from Saigon, 83% of the 5.85 mllion registered voters cast their ballots... Even though the winners were US backed generals, it does not, in the Administration's view, diminish the significance of the constitutional step that's been taken..."

Updated On: 2/10/05 at 09:55 AM

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:03am

the key line in there is "even though the winners were us backed generals." you'd be hard pressed to make the case that this election was a manipulation by the us in order to instill a puppet government.

people are staggering all right because they had to listen to frist give a speech.

[Jacques_Clouseau]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 10:59am

In Boxer vs. Rice, Boxer is MY "million dollar baby."

And thusly, should be put out of her misery.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 12:50pm

God Bless Barbara Boxer indeed!

I agree, Auggie. All of a sudden, us liberals are tsk tsk'd for not supporting the first black woman Secretary of State. That mentality is drenched in racism--any black woman will do!

Lemme tell you--I can't count the number of black women who cussed Rice as they walked past my TV set at a certain theatre. She is not seen as a proud moment to all.

[Jacques_Clouseau]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 12:59pm

The real thing to cuss is a TV at a theatre Jerby. There's no excuse. God knows I don't have a TV in the liqour storage closet at my certain theatre.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 1:01pm

What in hell are you talking about JC??

[Auggie27]

Posted: 2/11/05 at 9:10am

In the last 24 hours, I've loved watching Rice play DOWN North Korea's boast about the most lethal and theatening WMD, after previously working the nation into a frenzy over the non-existent WMD in Iraq. Oh, those darned Koreans -- we knew they had nukes. Not to worry!

I dunno about Secretary of State, but she'd be a great publicist in the Entertainment biz. She could try to sell GOOD VIBRATIONS or the movie of PHANTOM.

[HotTicket]

Posted: 2/11/05 at 11:03am

Black people not celebrating Ms. Rice's accomplishments perplexes me to no end. Gangsters, rappers and basket ball players are respected and thought to be role models. Go figure.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/11/05 at 12:28pm

Hot Ticket--that is sooooo racist what you are saying. It really is. On so many levels.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 2/11/05 at 12:30pm

jrb, you're kidding right?

[HotTicket]

Posted: 2/11/05 at 12:34pm

JRB I was responding to your racist comment about the black women who cussed Rice walking by the television at your theater.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/11/05 at 12:36pm

No. I am not.

To imply that all black people respect gangsters, rappers, and basketball players--and ONLY those people, not political leaders, leaders in the community like I dunno MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR?? And then to imply that the black community should be marching down Martin Luther King Blvd in celebration of a woman who many black Americans feel is as much of a liar and as responsible for as many deaths as they do Shrubya is racist.

Like I said, several black women (and men) had unpleasant things to say about her as they walked past my TV. And that was important to see firsthand after conservatives have tried to make people like me and Auggie feel like sexist, racist bastards for not being happy about the first black woman in that position.

Sorry--but not just anyone will do.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/11/05 at 12:37pm

How in hell was MY comment racist? Yes, let's see you pull the "I know you are but what am I" out of your a$$.

[HotTicket]

Posted: 2/11/05 at 12:42pm

I would like to see Condi make a run for the presidency.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 2/11/05 at 12:46pm

jrb, that plays into the whole groupthink notion that a person is not "black" if they don't subscribe to certain pre-ordained notions about what being "black" is or isn't. that my friend is racist. however, it fits with the idea of demonizing anything that challenges conventional wisdom about minorities which is again, racist in nature. by stating clearly that "not just anyone will do" you've basically attempted to strip her of her african american nature because she does not espouse the same beliefs as you seem to think that all african americans must have. how incredibly racist of you.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 2/11/05 at 12:58pm

now with regard to hotticket's comment. i don't see him asking for a parade of any kind. i merely see him questioning why some elements of a specific culture which seem to celebrate and exemplify the worst of humanity (homophobia and misogyny) tend to be lionized while other elements which celebrate and exemplify some of humanity's best asperations (scholarship and public service) are demonized. just because he is discussing african american culture does not make every word he says automatically racist. he did not even say that they even should be celebrating condi's success, only that he found it perplexing that they did not.

hotticket if you turn out to be a f***ing racist, i'll strangle you myself.

Updated On: 2/11/05 at 12:58 PM

[HotTicket]

Posted: 2/11/05 at 1:08pm

Papa I would offer you my neck if that were true.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/11/05 at 1:10pm

papa, your talking points copied from various blogs, while fab and applicable to other discussions, are not quite in step with this dialogue. Please return to your blogs and copy more applicable talking points.

I said nothing about what it means to be black--only that black people do not have to like all black people. Just like I don't like all white people. Or gay people.

Seriously now, the KEY difference in how you two are viewing my comments is that you both like and respect Rice. I am speaking from the perspective that she is not someone to like or respect. You make it sound like all people, but especially black people should be happy just because she is black and female. Well some of us in this country are not happy about her because we think she is a huge liar.

And this same discussion is happening in our country over Gonzales. How DARE we not be HAPPY that the first Latino is taking this position?? Possibly because he condones torture.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 2/11/05 at 1:11pm

must...resist

urge...to...quote

meatloaf...

noooooooooooooooooooooo

[sweetiedarlinmia]

Posted: 2/11/05 at 1:20pm

Well, I'm going to out my two cents in and say that, as a black woman, I'm always proud of the accomplishments of my culture. BUT as Mia, I am NOT proud of Dr. Rice's actions, statements, and stances. I am not proud of how, I feel, she has become a puppet. I am not proud of how, I feel, she has sold her soul for a little bit of "power". Curse me all you want to but I
greatly enjoyed watching Barbara Boxer skewer her.

Just because a person happens to have the my same ethnic heritage does not mean I will immediately stand behind and agree with their statements.I personally do NOT praise Gangsters, rappers, and Ballplayers. The people I praise are educators, businessmen and women, clergy, scientists, literary scholars and geniuses, filmmakers who portray African Americans in non-stereotypical ways, songwriters and performers who do not see the degredation of women and their culture as a way to make a buck, politicians and civil rights activists who do not sacrifice the cause for partisan politics. I admire, praise and respect people who honor and respect themselves and their heritage. I praise my peers, who despite what society has them written off as, are certainly going to be the next generation of positive world-changers and just happen to be African American.

Oh and I can personally say that JRB is no way racist.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 2/11/05 at 1:27pm

i wonder if you ever step outside that shell, jrb? or if you even read what's written or just assume you know? i didn't copy those points from anywhere. they are my thoughts and my feelings on the issue.

it must really get under your skin that all of the secretaries of state under george bush have been african american. if must kill you that this administration has been conspicuous about putting people of color in positions of responsibility never before seen. that in and of itself is an accompishment regardless of how you feel about their politics.

i stand by the fact that you are racist in the worst way. you don't see a person's ethnicity, only their political affiliation.

sorry--but not just anyone will do.

get used to seeing it, jrb. and deal with the fact that the gop will be able to use lines like that in ads in the african american community and the latino community. you'll be lucky to come out of 2006 still able to block cloture in the senate.