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Even though Condoleeza Rice's confirmation as the nation's next secretary of state is not in doubt, Democratic senators will use debate time Tuesday to pummel President Bush's Iraq war policy.
"This is all a proxy to debate Bush foreign policy, his preemption doctrine, to debate what's taking place in Iraq. That's all this is about," Kansas Republican Sen. Sam Brownback said. "Rice is enormously qualified the most qualified secretary of state we've ever had nominated." He added: "She's going to do a tremendous job, she's going to get the vote ... this is all to scuff up the Bush foreign policy."Sens. Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia and Barbara Boxer of California and eight other Democrats are lined up to get their licks in on the Senate floor, even though many of them may wind up voting for Rice, currently the president's national security adviser, at the end of the day anyway.
Republicans, by contrast, are expected to rally behind Rice and the president with briefer speeches. Nine hours have been set aside for the debate, divided equally between the two parties.