Rice-a-Roni

Condoleeza Rice was confirmed the other day (thanks to the wonderful PC network I wasn't able to make a comment until now). I just wanted to thank the 13 Senators who had the courage to vote against the person who is going to make Colin Powell look like a god of foreign policy.

NAYs-13
Daniel Akaka (D-HI)
Evan Bayh (D-IN)
Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Harry Byrd (D-WV)
Mark Dayton (D-MN)
Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Jim Jeffords (I-VT)
Ted Kennedy (D-MA)
John Kerry (D-MA)
Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Carl Levin (D-MI)
Jack Reed (D-RI)

It's good to see Jack Reed's vote.

I think that both Kerry's and Bayh's votes confirm that they are, in fact, running for President in '08. Both of their votes are uncharacteristic of them, especially Bayh, but there is an outside chance Rice will run for President in '08. In the snowball's chance she gets the nomination, it would be hard for Bayh or Kerry to run against her after voting for her.

Some interesting/local YEA votes:
Lincoln Chafee (R-RI)
Hillary Clinton (D-NY)
Jon Corzine (D-NJ)
Chris Dodd (D-CT)
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Pat Leahy (D-VT)
Joe Lieberman (D-CT)
Barack Obama (D-IL)
Harry Reid (D-NV)
Charles Schumer (D-NY)

(for the love of God, someone please challenge Lieberman in a primary!)

The Alberto Gonzales vote is coming up soon. That should be closer (but he'll still be confirmed).

Gonzales passed the Judiciary Committee by a 10-8 margin. All Democrats on the comittee opposed, including some who affirmed Rice. A good sign.