Dems Worry That Boxer Is Too Abrasive
By Don | July 23, 2009
Senate Democrats are worried that Barbara Boxer doesn't have the chops to get the climate change bill through the Senate.
From the Politico
A big chunk of the House climate change bill is in the hands of Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer — and some of its supporters are worried that she’s not up to the task.
In private conversations, Senate staffers say that Boxer’s abrasive personal style helped tank the climate bill that Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and former Sen. John Warner (R-Va.) sponsored last year. And several recent embarrassing episodes involving the California Democrat have them worried about a repeat performance.
During a committee hearing in June, Boxer upbraided a brigadier general for calling her “Ma’am” rather than “Senator.” During another hearing this month, Boxer found herself in a testy exchange with the CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, who accused her of “condescending” to him.
For some Democratic staffers, the incidents underscored the danger of having an outspoken partisan liberal in charge of making the kinds of compromises needed to get cap and trade through the Senate.
“One of the criticisms that comes down on Boxer a great deal is that she takes it to really a very personal level,” said one Democratic staffer.
Added another Democratic aide: “People don’t look at her as the person who’s going to make a deal and bring both sides to the table. Her way is the only way.”
Boxer says that she doesn't regret the recent episodes — and that any attention her political opponents devote to them will help her in her 2010 reelection bid.
“That only revs up my people,” she told POLITICO. “I use that to send them letters and say, ‘Help me.’ So I get millions of dollars because these people are attacking me in the most ridiculous, unfair way. The more they do it, the more I get energized for my [reelection] race, and the more my supporters help me because they think it’s so ridiculous and unfair.”
Although the Lieberman-Warner bill cleared her committee last year, Democratic staffers complain that Boxer failed to win over enough Democratic senators to get it through the Senate and relied on moralistic global warming arguments to guilt Democrats into backing the bill — even though several thought they lacked the information they needed to vet or alter it.
Given how difficult the bill had in getting past a heavily Democrat controlled House Boxer won't have any easy task ahead as the deficit soars and the price tag for the bill also increases. Add her own confrontational style to the mix and it may lead to failure.
Post #2205
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MADAM!
YOU ARE AN EMBARRASSMENT!
Your days on the stage are numbered.
Ah Ha… first Pelosi and now Boxer… looks like someone has decided they can’t handle their jobs. Have to wonder if it’s because Muslims don’t have much respect for women or if it’s because they really can’t handle their jobs… maybe a little of both!!
My note to Bill O’Reilly regarding Boxer:
Bill,
Kudos to you for having Harry Alford on your show and double kudos to Mr. Alford for his eloquence, guts and spunk. The way he handled Senator Barbara Boxer was just marvelous. His astute judgement in handling overbearing arrogance with guts proved what she has long needed. He even called her “Maam” and she was so flustered she didn’t remind him of how hard she worked to attain her exalted title of “Senator” as she did the US ARMY General who was briefing her. A disgrace to our great Nation!
Can we spell menopause? Or can we just be brave and say Typical California Liberal from the land of Fruits and Nuts.
Boxer is abrasive - and so is Pelosi - but so are a lot of other mooks who inhabit the halls of Congress and the offices of D.C.
Personally, I wouldn’t choose Boxer (or Pelosi) as one of my “team leaders”.
In the end, it seems to me that more politicians end up being “disgraces” than not - and it’s an equal opportunity thing between BOTH parties.
July 23 at 8:42 pm | #1 | Link
Miss Boxer, you threaten like a girl. Like a vainglorious, preening, little girl. It’s going to be a pleasure watching you get your wrinkly, sagging a** handed to you in the next election.
Love,
The American People
P.S. Who are “these people?” The National Black Chamber of Commerce?
(This is gonna be fun, guys!)