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Politico: Democratic Staffers in Congress Think Barbara Boxer is a Dumb *****

Democrats raise concerns about Barbara Boxer

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. ...

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.

“You can’t just do this by guilting folks,” said one senior Democratic aide who, like others, would speak only on the condition of anonymity. “It has to be an orderly process where every member has their say.”

This time around, Democratic leaders have spread Boxer’s workload among six committee chairmen.

“I don’t think anyone is going to let her take the ball this year,” said one staffer at an environmental group. “Not after last year.”

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/25309.html