Bolton and Bipartisanship

Wall Street Journal ^ | 13 November 2006 | staff

[shrinkermd]

So let's see. Democrats retake the Senate, and their first act of "bipartisanship" is to declare that they'll deny a confirmation vote to U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton. And now, say the arbiters of Washington manners, President Bush is supposed to show his willingness to compromise by withdrawing Mr. Bolton's nomination.

If Mr. Bush obliges, he'll be taking a big step toward turning last week's GOP defeat into a rout. Mr. Bolton has performed in exemplary fashion as a recess appointee these last two years, winning plaudits from everyone except those who admire Kofi Annan and Hugo Chavez. He has followed State Department orders and argued forcefully for U.S. policy...

..Mr. Chafee is a mystery wrapped in a muddle even to himself. Democrats Chris Dodd and Joe Biden are trying to show that any political appointee who refuses to bend to their wishes can't be confirmed. They know other Democrats would vote to confirm Mr. Bolton if he made it to the Senate floor.... .

[shrinkermd]

"...Having had one recess appointment, Mr. Bolton can't get another one and be paid. But he could retain his position and be paid if Mr. Bush names him to a non-confirmable post at State and then assigns him to the U.N. Ambassador's duties. Now, that's a compromise...

I like that compromise!

[Sgt_Schultze]

That is brilliant, and so non-confrontational.

[Moose4]

And it's a major poke in the eye to not only the Democrats but the outgoing allegedly-GOP Senator from Rhode Island, Lincoln "Ungrateful Bastard" Chafee.

}:-)4

[Rummyfan]

Democrat's idea of nonpartisanship: what's ours is ours, and what's yours is negotiable!

[Bean Counter]

That is what it's going to take to keep Bolton at the UN. I think that the White House has already signaled that they will not withdraw Bolton's nomination, nor will they compromise National Security by allowing his service at the UN to be thwarted or diminished in any way; especially by the likes of Joe Biden.

[rightinthemiddle]

Bi-partisan: Giving Democrats what they want without a fight.


It's always been that way.

[italianquaker]

Lets not lose sight of the fact that the real shame is not that the democrat controlled congress will not confirm him but that the REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED CONGRESS FAILED TO CONFIRM HIM

[SMM48]

In the spirit of bipartisanship, why doesn't some Pub Senator grow a pair and tell Biden to stick it where the sun don't shine?

[Bean Counter]

Absolutely right! All of you people who are thinking that Bill Frist will make such a great candidate fro the Presidency in 2008 need to keep Bolton in mind. He should have been confirmed a long time ago, and responsibility for this debacle lies directly at Frist's feet.

[milwguy]

I challenge ANY democrat to give SPECIFIC instances when AMB BOLTON has not MORE than adquately represented the country in a professional and admirable fashion during his tenure at the UN. This is an issue where I think the President can use his bully pulpit to regain his presidency.

The RATS will be show for what they are, weak on national security, and more interested in politics than the countries interest.

[clintonh8r]

At least the RATs are predictable. God only knows how the RINOs will behave.

[TRY ONE]

As a non-confirmable post at State who is assigned the U.N. Ambassador's duties he could refuse any oversight and questioning by the Rats. When the Rat Congressional Committee calls him to testify, he could simply say: "I ain't the real Ambassador".

He could also refuse to offer any help to the RATS when they want something done at the UN.

[CoolPapaBoze]

Great idea, but it will never happen. There have been so many instances over the last six years where fellow freepers have made suggestions about what the president or the R led Congress could have done to make changes or forward their agenda. The reality is, they have done almost none of them. They didn't use the nuclear option for judicial confirmations, etc. We need to face up to the fact that virtually no one on the R side of the aisle, or in the White House has any stones or any vision to get a conservative agenda moved forward.

[jackieaxe]

The republicans should make it loud and clear that there will be no more 98-2 votes for Moonbats like Ruth Buzzy Ginsburg and socialists like Steven Breyer. The president gets to appoint who he wants. What is the dis qualifier for John Bolton? That he yelled at an underling once? At least he's not on probation for stealing national security secrets in his pants.

[Richard Axtell]

Bolton was the last chance for the UN, THE very LAST chance. Now, the UN will become Tyrants INC, with Hugo Chavez declaring Fidel Castro Day be celebrated as a global holiday. It will reach a point where the UN is so absurdly accommodating to terrorist monsters and bloody dictators, passing resolutions for the destruction of the United States and Israel, etc., that even Nancy Pelosi will stop returning their calls, maybe. John Kerry or Carl Levin will do it.