"I addressed these questions, almost the same questions, during my confirmation hearing," she said. "This is an issue that has been answered and answered and answered."

Rice noted that she had been serving as President Bush's national security adviser during the period covered by the panel's questions and stressed the administration's position that presidential aides not confirmed by the Senate cannot be forced to testify before Congress under the doctrine of executive privilege.

"This all took place in my role as national security adviser," she said. "There is a constitutional principle. There is a separation of powers and advisers to the president under that constitutional principle are not generally required to go and testify in Congress.

"So, I think we have to observe and uphold the constitutional principle, but I also observe and uphold the obligation of Congress to conduct its oversight role, I respect that. But I think I have more than answered these questions, and answered them directly to Congressman Waxman."

Thank you, Dr. Rice for your mettle, for your savvy, and for your class!  You are a credit to American womanhood, unlike Pelosi.  I hope my pal in Oslo writes to me and tells me what the news is saying about our Secretary of State. 

Meanwhile, thanks to missing Republican Senators Graham and McCain, and defections from Hagel & Smith, the senate passed the abomination they're calling the "funding" bill for the troops.  I guess an excuse for McCain and Graham is the fact they knew the President would veto the bill, but there is NO excuse for RINOs Hagel and Smith.  Okay, so I shouldn't be surprised that a RINO from Oregon...the left coast...should be a wimp.  But Hagel is from the heartland, and I am praying that our friends in Nebraska will see to it that this embarrassment to fly-over country is not re-elected.  Come on, Nebraskans, kick the bum out!  He's down 9 points in the polls, but you can do better than that, can't you?