WOULD YOU LIKE A LITTLE WHINE WITH THAT? Sen. Barbara Boxer claims to be the real victim of last week's confirmation hearing for Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice. In my opinion, she confuses the word "loser" with the word "victim". Boxer said "She turned and attacked me." This person is, sadly, in the United States Senate. The only consolation is she is a California Democrat.

Boxer can dish it out, but not take it. She attacked Dr. Rice by saying "I personally believe — this is my personal view — that your loyalty to the mission you were given, to sell this war, overwhelmed your respect for the truth." In other words, I think you are a sell out to your boss and you lied to protect your position. This is the Aunt Jemima accusation without the overt racial slur.

Rice shot back with "I never, ever lost respect for the truth in the service of anything. It is not my nature. It is not my character...And I would hope that we can have this conversation and discuss what happened before and what went on before and what I said without impugning my credibility or my integrity." In other words, she simply denied the accusation and asked to keep the conversation on the issues without the personal attacks.

Boxer is trying to cover up for a clumsy insult and a big loss in the debate column. So she needs a little California Whine with her cheese.