The Daily Show with Jon Stewart reported last night on the confirmation hearings aimed at installing Condoleezza Rice as Secretary of State in the second Bush Administration.

The committee voted 16-2 in favor of confirming Rice's appointment; the only dissenting votes came from John Kerry (D-Mass) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif). Reportedly, Joseph Biden (D-Del) and other democrats voiced their reluctance to vote for Rice, but gave her their votes anyway.

But the most interesting — and, in our opinion, to the point — remarks were made by Boxer, as she attacked Rice's behavior as National Security Advisor in Bush's first term:

"I personally believe ... that your loyalty to the mission you were given, to sell this war, overwhelmed your respect for the truth," Boxer told Rice, citing [Rice's] statements about how fast former dictator Saddam Hussein might acquire a nuclear weapon.

Rice responded: "I have never, ever, lost respect for the truth in the service of anything."

Her voice appearing to quaver with emotion as she looked directly at Boxer, she repeatedly asked the senator not to question her integrity.

Don't "question her integrity"? Condi, wake up — the whole purpose of this confirmation hearing is to determine if the qualities you've exhibited have lived up to what is required of you should you be put in place as Secretary of State. The committee must question your integrity — along with any other attributes that might affect your use or abuse of office — in order to ascertain your qualifications. And, frankly, you are required to answer such charges in a manner that effectively confirms, denies or justifies the actions and behavior attributed to you.

So what is Condi's response? "Don't question my integrity." Once again, members of the Bush Administration are insulating themselves from any questions, criticism, or other challenges from those who don't agree with them. This claimed inerrancy is on par with any human being (Papal Infallibility, anyone?) insisting that they are above reproach.

Some people admire Bush and his cohorts for their "determination"; but determination, when completely unsupported by the facts, and entirely prohibiting any dissenting views, is a mindless thing. It inevitably goes forward blindly, lashing out at anyone — friend or foe — that gets in its way.

Sadly, the committee — with the exception of Boxer — seemed, for the most part, to go along with the Bush Administration's fantasy of infallibility. The scene was reminiscent of Charles Van Doren's confession on November 2, 1959, as depicted in the film Quiz Show: after four years of participating in lies and manipulation of the public, Condoleezza Rice was praised by the majority of the committee; with Boxer playing the role of Congressman Derounian, being the only member of the committee to actually call Rice on her bullshit. It wasn't long ago when Rice was being questioned by the 9-11 Commission, and being chewed out for her deception and twisting of the truth.

Condoleezza Rice is a stooge, obsequiously obeying the Bush Administration's mandatory writ of infallibility. Even if she does disagree with any or all of the administration's policies or actions, the fact that she covers their asses anyway makes her behavior even more reprehensible. She does indeed, as Barbara Boxer suggests, place her loyalty before her integrity. Sure, that will get her far in this administration, but when the shit hits the fan — Condi, you're out of luck.

[Update: There has been a slew of articles and blogs criticizing Barbara Boxer's words and behavior towards Condoleezza Rice during the confirmation hearing. A lot of people think she's stark raving mad.

Was Boxer over the top? Certainly.

However, we still believe what we said previously — that if you're going to bother to hold such a hearing in the first place, it should be for the purpose of challenging the candidate to defend his or her past decisions and actions. While Boxer may have gone pretty far (and we're not supporting all of her statements), it wasn't even close to far enough to balance out the fawning and praise being directed at Rice from most of the other committee members.

Like any of the people in the current administration, Condi is trying to avoid accountability. She — and apparently many others — figured the hearing would just be a formality. As it turns out, it was — but it shouldn't have been.]