Remember all the fun we had over the summer wondering if Bush insists on getting his questions in advance? Apparently, it started something of a trend.
Condoleezza Rice should expect few surprises when she faces the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Jan. 18 and 19 for confirmation hearings on her nomination to be secretary of state. Committee Chairman Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.) and other GOP members have agreed to submit in advance the questions they plan to ask her, a decision some Democrats find surprising.
Lugar will give Rice the questions he plans to ask orally because he feels she should be fully prepared to answer without delay, said Lugar spokesman Andy Fisher said. “This is not a pop quiz,” he said.
No, but it’s not indicative of a serious process that will explore Rice’s qualifications and background, either.
It’s bad enough that someone Lugar’s stature has so little interest in administrative oversight that he’d give her the questions in advance, but it’s worse for Rice, who looks ridiculous for agreeing (requesting?) to this arrangement. Isn’t Rice billed as one of the more competent members of the Bush gang?