Barbara Boxer's GOP jabs earn respect, jeers

associated press ^ | February 13, 2005 | ERICA WERNER

[Dog Gone]

California liberal has taken flak for some moves, but she wouldn't have it any other way

RESOURCES

SEN. BOXER'S BIOGRAPHY

• Party: Democrat
• Birth date: Nov. 11, 1940
• Age: 63
• Birthplace: Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Education: Bachelor of arts, Brooklyn College, 1962.
• Family: Husband, Stewart, a lawyer; adult children Doug and Nicole; one grandson, Zachary.
• Experience: U.S. senator, 1993 to present; House member, 1983 to 1993; Marin County supervisor, 1976 to 1982; aide to then-U.S. Rep. John Burton, 1974-75; reporter for Pacific Sun newspaper, 1972-73; stockbroker, 1962-65.

WASHINGTON - Sen. Barbara Boxer always has spoken up, but the California Democrat seems to have gotten a lot louder lately.

Her opposition to Condoleezza Rice's secretary of state nomination was so combative that it was parodied on Saturday Night Live. That came on the heels of her decision to sign onto a House member's complaint about Ohio voting problems, forcing Congress to debate them before certifying President Bush's re-election victory.

Boxer is being touted on liberal blogs as the Democrats' best hope for president in 2008. Conservatives are excoriating her as — in House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's phrase — the leader of the "X-Files wing" of the Democratic Party.

But she says she is just standing up for what she believes.

"I've always been this way," she says, "and I'm trying to figure out exactly why people suddenly find this to be interesting, you know. Somehow I have touched something inside people, and I have not ever had this happen before. The only thing I can think, after reading what people said, is a feeling that I'm asking the kind of questions and saying the kind of things that they are feeling."

Maybe she's becoming a spokeswoman, or even a symbol, for voters who oppose the Iraq war or feel shut out by the Bush administration.

Maybe, with the Democratic Party at sea after November's election losses, some people sense a leadership void and are looking to her to fill it.

Maybe it's not that Boxer's gotten louder but that other Democrats can barely be heard at all. At least, that's what some of her supporters are saying.

Whatever the explanation, Boxer has never been more in the spotlight.

Sometimes, she can make even fellow Democrats squirm.

"Democrats are so afraid of being criticized, or so afraid that they'll be accused of being too liberal, that they don't really act with the courage of their convictions. And then comes Barbara Boxer," says Madeleine Begun Kane, a writer from Queens, N.Y., who created a "President Boxer" blog. "She's been a shining light during an otherwise very depressing period."

[Enterprise]

Yaaaa well, Barbara Boxers jabs earns as must respect as Barbara Boxers shorts.

[Polybius]

• Birthplace: Brooklyn, N.Y.

It seems her loudness is a "birth defect".

[Darkwolf377]

She certainly has the self-love and big yap to be their nominee.

If she runs in 2008 and battles Hillary for the nomination, and of course HRC would win THAT battle, then the Republicans might have to run Condi Rice against her.

[EagleUSA]

It seems her loudness is a "birth defect".
======
Yes, that, and her aspirations. Another leftist POS. Our sad state is overrun with them...

[Ed_in_NJ]

You mean Boxers briefs?

[Ed_in_NJ]

Loud broads have a tendency to become louder older broads.

[fiercebunny]

But she says she is just standing up for what she believes.

well then, it must be okay! /sarcasm

[carlr]

"Democrats are so afraid of being criticized, or so afraid that they'll be accused of being too liberal, that they don't really act with the courage of their convictions.

In other words they know they can`t put forward their true positions.

They should be proud.</sneer>

[farmfriend]

missed one. sorry.

[freeangel]

She may "be able to make other Democrats squirm", but Condi handled her well in a great smack down.

[Enterprise]

Boxers or briefs? Hey - sounds like a question for an MTV show.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

"She's been a shining light during an otherwise very depressing period."

What the Dems fail to realize is that the "shining light" is an oncoming trainwreck, LOL!

Keep up the good work, Babs. You are one of the best things to happen to the GOP in a long time!

[jporcus]

The only reason she's so outspoken right now is that she just got relected (for another 6 long years we'll have to suffer through). Up until the election, she was quiet on every single controversial issue - not a peep. Typical politician. Anyway, I'm happy withthe way she is acting - she's made a total fool of herself.

[Theresawithanh]

I loved the pic I saw online that had BB in full scream mode, and the caption was something like "30 years of feminism brought us this?"

And just to think, the people of my state keep on voting for her makes me want to hurl.

[DoughtyOne]

The fact that BlaBla Boxer has a B.A. degree, enforces my premise that degrees are rarely evidence of intelligence. I have worked with people who had doctorates, whose ability to think logically outside their field, was not impressive. In a few instances, some of the least intellectually capable people I've known, were still able to achieve doctorates.

When Boxer, Kennedy, Kerry and a host of others come to mind, so does sedition.

Perhaps that will cast me in a bad light. I can't help it. That's my take.

[farmfriend]

In a few instances, some of the least intellectually capable people I've known, were still able to achieve doctorates.

I can think of a few people who might agree with you.

[Republican Wildcat]

some of the least intellectually capable people I've known, were still able to achieve doctorates

Book sense without common sense - what's that old Japanese saying? "Knowledge without wisdom is a like a stack of books on the back of a donkey."

[DoughtyOne]

Heh heh, I like it.