How to Make the Dems Pay if Bolton Goes Down - Voinovich and the Golden Rule

WSJ BEST OF THE WEB ITODAY ^ | APRIL 20, 2005 | JAMES TARANTO

[CHARLITE]

Democrats trying to sink the nomination of John Bolton as United Nations ambassador scored a big victory yesterday, when Sen. George Voinovich, an Ohio Republican who sits on the Foreign Relations Committee, declared himself unready to back the nominee. The Dems' efforts to beat Bolton on ideological grounds--that he's too pro-American and has "disdain" for the U.N.--having failed, they turned to that old standby, the politics of personal destruction.

Voinovich's concern for the Golden Rule is certainly touching, but does it apply to air traffic controllers? What prompts the question is an incident that occurred in 1995, when he was governor of Ohio. The Cincinnati Enquirer's Cliff Radel described the incident in a June 1996 column:

Gov. Short Fuse blew on Oct. 20 when federal rules delayed his plane's takeoff as the president arrived in Columbus.

When this order is in effect, no planes other than essential aircraft are cleared for takeoff. That reduces the chances of a terrorist staging a kamikaze attack on Air Force One.

The order kept the governor and his plane on the ground. And he was honked.

Gov. Voinovich called it "bull"-something and ordered his pilot to break the rules and take off. He even dared the control tower to "shoot us down." That, too, would have cost. One hour of flying time for an F-15 Eagle fighter jet runs $3,399 to $4,037.

The Federal Aviation Administration "responded by slapping the governor with a standard $1,500 fine," and Voinovich decided to fight, at taxpayer expense. "We're paying his lawyers' $95-an-hour fee," noted Radel in June 1996. "Their bill could top out at $20,000."

[tortoise]

Of course, the other half of the Golden Rule in game theory (aka IPD in the math) is the good ol' "Tit-for-Tat". What goes around comes around. It is the mathematically optimal response to defection of this type.

Voinovich puts a knife in the back of the Republicans unprovoked, the Republicans put a knife in his. The party has more staying power than any single individual, and payback in kind insures the health of the entire ecology.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

If the Bolton nomination fails, the President should next nominate someone who shows how we feel about the UN. My 1st suggestion is Carrot Top.

[MJY1288]

Voinavich is cut from the same cloth as Hagel, Lugar and McCain. They all want to adored by the MSM, They always take the Populous stand because it gives them more face time in the Press. The Left calls these Moderates of the Republican Party "Mavericks", yet elected officials like Zell Miller are described as "Fringe Democrats" or "Disgruntled" or even "Angry Democrats"

Just have a look at how many times Chuck Hagel has been on Meet the Press compared to Tom Delay or Dennis Hastert? and you will see why people like McCain and Hagel take the positions they do. They're Camera Hogs

[Mo1]

Just a quick look at the failures in foreign policy during the Clinton Administration should alarm any objective observer.

You got that right!!

[Mo1]

Check this out .. It's Bag Lady Boxer's Dairy over at the Dkos



http://www.dailykos.com/user/Barbara%20Boxer

Tell George Bush to nominate a new UN Ambassador!
by Barbara Boxer
Wed Apr 20th, 2005 at 17:34:08 PDT

As you know, on Tuesday the Senate Foreign Relations Committee met once more to consider the nomination of John Bolton as UN Ambassador. In the light of many serious allegations against Bolton that have emerged over the past few weeks, I along with the other committee Democrats urged Chairman Lugar to hold off on a final vote until these allegations could be fully explored.
Most observers expected our efforts to fail, figuring that committee Republicans would steamroll Democrats on a party line vote and ram Bolton's nomination through, sending it to the Senate floor for a final vote. But that didn't happen.

Thanks in large part to the efforts of the online community, including more than 37,000 emails you sent to your senators through my PAC website alone, Bolton's nomination was stopped in its tracks. Republican Senator George Voinovich of Ohio joined committee Democrats in urging more careful consideration of John Bolton's nomination, delaying a final vote for three weeks -- and I am so grateful for his support on this critical issue.

Now, it's time for us to do more.

Diaries :: Barbara Boxer's diary :: :: Trackback ::


Clearly, John Bolton is not qualified to be UN Ambassador -- and it's time to tell President Bush to nominate someone else.

John Bolton's nomination is dividing the country. This is a man who has shown nothing but contempt for the United Nations throughout his career. This is a man who has bullied intelligence analysts to try to get them to say what he wants, even when it's not true. This is a man who doesn't get along well with others and, if confirmed, would be entrusted with representing our nation in sensitive diplomatic negotiations at the United Nations.

Surely we can do better. Surely we can find a nominee for UN Ambassador that America can support and get behind -- not someone who divides our country and alienates our allies.

Tell President Bush to send the Senate a new UN nominee -- please sign my petition to the White House now:

http://ga4.org/campaign/new_nominee

Every President has the right to choose senior members of his Administration. But every President also has an obligation to the American people that those nominees are well qualified for the positions they seek.

Clearly, with the nomination of John Bolton, George Bush has failed us. America deserves so much better from our United Nations Ambassador.

If you agree, please join me and tell President Bush to send us a new nominee today!

http://ga4.org/campaign/new_nominee

Thanks so much to all of you in the Daily Kos community for your continued support -- and all of your hard work. I can't do it without you.

In Friendship,

Barbara

[Mo1]

this was nothing by a PR stunt to get the online liberals to go after the Rino's

[Peach]

This entire story is fascinating.

The Democrats have done nothing but complain about the CIA and our intelligence services for 4 years. Bolton has actually challenged some of the intelligence information and agents and he's condemned.

The Democrats haven't had a harsh word for the UN which employs people who rape children, steal money and medicine from women and children, and generally mismanages everything it touches. And Bolton would like to see those problems fixed, which seems to vex the Democrats.

What am I missing here? The guy sounds perfect.

[Cboldt]

Yep .. did you read the article where Harry Reid said the Dems would Filibuster Bolton if his nomination came to the floor for a vote?

I haven't seen that article yet, but the possible use of cloture to deny a confirmation vote on the Senate floor is 100% predictable.

Getting Bolton out of committee will not make him our UN Ambassador. He needs to be confirmed by the Senate. I don't recall whether the proposed modification of Senate Rule 22 (voting/cloture) is focused on judicial nominees, or if it would cover all nominees.

<sigh> It is discouraging to see a Constitutional principle languish. It is wrong to politicize the "advise and consent" role of the Senate to the extent of using a Senate rule to stifle taking a vote.

[Brilliant]

If anyone of the Dems had done the same, it would have come to the floor.

[SMARTY]

Ha! Great!

[johnb838]

the deathrats are just being deathrats. Voinovich is breaking his contract with the republicans who put him in office. RINO behavior sould not be tolerated. If he can be "corrected" without being run out of town covered in hot tar and feathers, then so much the better. I say publish it. Knock the little two-face down a peg or two.

[Cboldt]

Cboldt: I don't recall whether the proposed modification of Senate Rule 22 (voting/cloture) is focused on judicial nominees, or if it would cover all nominees.

I found it. The Senate Rule change proposed in 2003 would have covered all nominees.

`3. (a) The provisions of this paragraph shall apply to the considerations of nominations requiring the advice and consent of the Senate.

`(b)(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of rule II or rule IV or any other rule of the Senate and after a nomination requiring the advice and consent of the Senate has been pending before the Senate for at least 12 hours ...

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c108:2:./temp/~c1089QAD4n::
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:S.RES.138:

Bolton's nomination might present a more effective lever for restoring the "normal" Senate role of advice and consent, than would a judicial nominee. As a political matter, the timing of forcing a Senate rule change depends on which nominee resonates more with the public.

Resources for Senate Rules relating to Confirmation <-- Good reference

[Rudder]

Voinovich calls humself a republican, when actually he's nothing more than a traitor who betrays his constituency and backstabs his President. Being from Ohio, I am ashamed of him.

[Brilliant]

Maybe so, but instead of blaming this on RINOs, who divert attention from the sins of the Dems, we need to place the blame on the Dems. It isn't going to stop until the Dems realize that they are paying a price for their obstruction, and that is not going to happen if we allow them to blame this on Voinovich.

[prairiebreeze]

Maybe Voinovich needs some of Bab's anger management therapy.

[prairiebreeze]

If the RINO's are swayed by on-line form letters and petitions, we're in serious trouble.

[Rudder]

Hell, nothing says we can't blame both the dems and Voinovich. I've been following Voinovich for years since he was mayor of Cleveland and Governor of MY state...he's an opportunistic traitor.

[colonialhk]

Strength and leadership are in short supply. Ego in abundance. They need to act like a majority not a cowed minority party.

[BluH2o]

Vaguely remember this incident ... many Republicans got a chuckle out of it at the time ... after all the Nations worse excuse for a president in decades "Slick Willie" was probably getting his knob polished by some bimbo 22 year old intern while circling Columbus on Air Force One.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Can't we just use this opportunity to tell the UN to f-off? Can't we just NOT fill that position, withdraw our funding and kick the UN out of the USA once and for all?

Nah...that would only happen in my perfect little world where the sky is always blue and butterflies and blue birds land on my shoulders. *Rolleyes*

One other thought: Are the Dems somehow orchestrating this to position themselve to install Slick Willie in that position? Come on...you KNOW he wants it, and the Klintoons are so good at swooping in and saving America time and time again! (Blech!)