In Barbara Boxer’s quest to save the one job she cares about – her own – she has spent a lot of time recently talking about how much she enjoys working across the aisle to get things done for the people of California.

It’s a nice sentiment, indeed, but it turns out that, much like the rest of her 28-year-long career in Washington, Barbara Boxer’s record simply doesn’t support her rhetoric. In fact, Boxer is an unabashed partisan who cares less about delivering results for the people she was elected to represent than she does about standing on her soapbox. Check out what Boxer’s fellow Democrats and Washington insiders have had to say about her bitter partisanship and ineffective leadership:

Boxer’s Role “As A Partisan Flamethrower” Extended To Her Work On The Senate EPW Committee, Causing Several Experienced Staffers To Quit And Ending Hopes Of A Bipartisan Environment Reform Bill. “Boxer’s reputation as a partisan flamethrower followed her to the gavel. Several experienced staffers have quit under her command, even though they had solid credentials seen as useful in writing a bipartisan climate bill. And last year’s bid to pass cap-and-trade legislation ended badly as Republicans boycotted the markup and moderate Democrats ran for cover.” (Darren Samuelsohn, “Panel Ponders Future Without Barbara Boxer,” Politico, 9/20/10)
 

Even Fellow Democrats Have Begun To Complain About The Breakdown In The Legislative Process On Boxer’s Committee. “Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), the EPW Committee chairman in the early 1990s, said the breakdown is painful to watch. ‘It’s starting to bother me that, in the last year roughly, we don’t legislate very much,’ Baucus said at a June hearing. ‘We don’t have any markups anymore. We don’t burrow down and ask tough questions of witnesses, trying to establish proper policy, near as much as we used to. Rather, a lot of amendments and bills are more in the nature of message amendments and bills. I find it disconcerting.’” (Darren Samuelsohn, “Panel Ponders Future Without Barbara Boxer,” Politico, 9/20/10)


Electric Industry Officials Have Already Started To Look Forward To Next Congress Without Boxer Leading The Committee. “‘It’s protecting issues and playing defense. She’s [Boxer] good at that.’ ‘But with Carper, you’re going to have much more of an opportunity to seek common ground among a majority of committee members, both Democrat and Republican. He’s going to be inclined to make progress,’ the official added.” (Darren Samuelsohn, “Panel Ponders Future Without Barbara Boxer,” Politico, 9/20/10)


You know it’s bad when even the people who are supposed to be your friends are calling “Next!” in the hopes of actually having a senator in office who will get something done.