- January 19, 2005 -- SOME Democrats are fleeing D.C. rather than face President Bush's inaugural, but there are a few bipartisan events — like yesterday's "ladies' lunch" at the penthouse of Democratic mega-donor Lynn Wasserman for Republican Anna Perez, an NBC executive v.p. and former counselor to Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice. On hand were Democrats like Al Gore campaign manager Donna Brazile, Bill Clinton press secretary DeeDee Myers and activist Hilary Rosen, plus Republicans like Mary Matalin. Among the lunchers, it wasn't just Republicans who thought John Kerry sounded patronizing when he quizzed Rice at her confirmation hearing yesterday.
- SENATOR JOHN KERRY Despite Paul Bremer saying he thought they need more troops, despite General Shinkseki talking about more troops, despite the acknowledged mistake by so many people, certainly all the leaders I met with in the region in recent days about the disbanding of the military, the de-Baathification that went as deep as it did; despite the failure to guard ammo dumps, the weapons of which are now being turned on our troops; despite the failure to guard nuclear facilities, when after all the purpose of the invasion was to deal with weapons of mass destruction; despite the inability to deliver services immediately; despite the security level that we have today, you sat there this morning and suggested that it was the right number of troops, contrary to the advice of most thoughtful people who have been analyzing this.
MS. RICE This was never going to be easy; it was always going to have ups and downs. I'm sure that we have multiple, many decisions, some of which were good, some of which might not have been good.
But the strategic decision to overthrow Saddam Hussein was the right one. And we're all going to be very glad that we no longer have to deal with a bloody dictator in the middle of the world's most dangerous region, who was an avowed enemy of the United States.
- SENATOR BARBARA BOXER I personally believe - this is my personal view - that your loyalty to the mission you were given, to sell this war, overwhelmed your respect for the truth. ...You don't seem to be willing to, (A), admit a mistake, or give any indication of what you're going to do to forcefully involve others. As a matter of fact, you've said more misstatements; that the territory of the terrorists has been shrinking when your own administration says it's now expanded to 60 countries. So I am deeply troubled.
MS. RICE ...Senator, I have to say that I have never, ever lost respect for the truth in the service of anything. It is not my nature. It is not my character. And I would hope that we can have this conversation and discuss what happened before and what went on before and what I said, without impugning my credibility or my integrity. ...
SENATOR BOXER Well, you should read what we voted on when we voted to support the war, which I did not, but most of my colleagues did. It was W.M.D. - period. That was the reason and the causation for that, you know, particular vote. But, again, I just feel you quote President Bush when it suits you but you contradicted him when he said, "Yes, Saddam could have a nuclear weapon in less than a year." You go on television nine months later and said, "Nobody ever said it was" --
MS. RICE Senator, that was just a question of pointing out to people that there was an uncertainty. No one was saying that he would have to have a weapon within a year for it to be worth it to go to war.
SENATOR BOXER Well, if you can't admit to this mistake, I hope that you'll --
MS. RICE Senator, we can have this discussion in any way that you would like. But I really hope that you will refrain from impugning my integrity. Thank you very much. ...
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