Kossak
LetsFight alerts us to
a letter from Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice (R-
ExxonMobil). The letter appears on the Randi Rhodes website.
Rice has directed State Department staff to not cooperate with Senate requests for further information on John Bolton's actions. Yesterday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to defer a vote on Bolton's confirmation until charges against him were further looked into. That means Senate staff making further inquiries, and evidently Rice means to find that these inquiries are unsuccessful.
Boxer helpfully shows where Rice runs aground the Constitution she (Rice) swore to uphold.
The money quote:
I am sure you are aware that Article 2, Section 2 of the Constitution states that the
President is to appoint Ambassadors "by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate."
As such, the Senate is fully vested with the authority to investigate executive nominations
to ensure that they are qualified in tenns of experience, temperament, and conduct. In
addition, paragraph 1 of Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate authorizes
Committees "to require by subpoena or otherwise the attendance of such witnesses and
the production of such correspondence, books, papers, and documents." The Supreme
Court has upheld this authority, calling it, "an essential and appropriate auxiliary to the
legislative function."
Here's the WaPo's take on Rice's directive:
On Monday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told her senior staff she was disappointed about the stream of allegations and said she did not want any information coming out of the department that could adversely affect the nomination, said officials speaking on the condition of anonymity.
I've followed the live blogging discussions of the hearing on both Kos and Atrios (fascinating!), but C-Span hasn't kept the hearing up (every time I try to select it I'm told it's not available). It's clip 21301, if it ever gets put back. There is a link to it, but it hasn't worked when I've tried it (multiple times).
Boxer is scheduled to appear on Rhodes' radio show today, as well. Let's hope she sent a copy of the letter to Vilnius, where Rice is attending a NATO meeting.