Our Loyal Opposition

From Condi's confirmation hearings yesterday:

"As both the chairman and the ranking member have so well stated, American foreign policy today is at a crossroads. In Iraq, across the Middle East, in North Korea, in our relations with China and in so many other places we face major challenges. I would submit that Dr. Rice has the skill, the judgment and the poise and the leadership to lead in these difficult times. If confirmed, she will have the deep personal trust and confidence of the president, a real asset. She's been by his side for every crucial national security decision in the last four years. My sense is that the president trusts her implicitly. When Dr. Rice meets with Hu Jintao or Ariel Sharon or Vladimir Putin, there will be no doubt that she speaks for and on behalf of the president of the United States. The problems we face abroad are complex and sizable. If Dr. Rice's past performance is any indication, though, we can rest easy. [!!] It's difficult to know ahead of time how anyone will perform as secretary of state. Time and events test vision, facile thinking and resolute problem solving. But indeed, this is a remarkable woman that I introduce to you today, and it is with great pride that I do so." -- Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-California

Ain't democracy beautiful?

Me, I'd grill the new Sec. of State on her alleged passion for football:

Rice: I really consider myself a student of the game. I find the strategy and tactics absolutely fascinating. I find the evolution of the game really interesting. Again, as it relates to military history. Military history has swung back and forth between advantage to the offense and advantage to the defense. When the offense has the advantage, then a new technology will come along that will temporarily give the defense the advantage and vice versa. Football has that kind of pattern, too.

Sen. Perrin: Oh come now, Ms. Rice! Isn't it a fact that defense wins championships? Didn't you see how the Patriots' D shut down the Colts' high octane offense this past weekend? This waffling about "patterns" and swinging back and forth suggests to me that you really don't understand the game at all, and it explains our miserable performance in Iraq. If this war was the NFL, we'd be lucky to snag a wild card berth! I yield the rest of my time to Sen. Carlin.

Sen. Carlin: I'd like to thank the esteemed Senator for his time. Ground acquisition. And that's what football is, football's a ground acquisition game. You knock the crap out of eleven guys and take their land away from them. Of course, we only do it ten yards at a time. That's the way we did it with the Indians - we won it little by little. First down in Ohio - Midwest to go!

Maybe I missed it, but has any Senator contrasted Condi's claim that "It's just nonsense to say that because we've confronted it [the terrorist threat], we've created more of it," with Dear Leader's recent statements?