Posted on 09/07/2006 10:50:44 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Chafee delays vote on Bolton nomination
By ANNE PLUMMER FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer (Published: September 7, 2006)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Sen. Lincoln Chafee has pulled the plug on a push by his fellow Republicans to confirm John Bolton as U.N. ambassador, saying he had more questions that needed to be answered.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee was expected to vote along party lines during a committee meeting Thursday to approve Bolton. But the panel postponed the vote after Chafee, R-R.I., expressed doubt.
"Sen. Chafee said he still had questions that were not answered," said the senator's spokesman, Stephen Hourahan.
Chafee was expected to send a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice later in the day outlining his questions about Bolton, Hourahan said.
During the hearing, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar, R-Ind., gave no reason for the delay and did not say when the vote would be held. Bolton had been opposed by many Democrats but was expected to be confirmed by the Republican-led panel.
Lugar said he removed the nomination from the agenda of Thursday's committee meeting after conferring with several senators.
Joseph Biden, the top Democrat on the panel, said he did not know what the delayed vote means for Bolton, or whether Democrats would push for a filibuster. Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., said he plans to recommend his colleagues filibuster the floor vote on Bolton to keep him from being confirmed.
Democrats have questioned Bolton's brusque style and whether he could be an effective bureaucrat who could force reform at the U.N.
Biden did say Democrats would not push for a committee vote any time soon. "I feel zero urgency with Mr. Bolton," said Biden, D-Del.
(Excerpt) Read more at pressofatlanticcity.com ...
Trying to win the general election. This is the dilemma: Pubs only hold power if their RINOs win office. RINOs win only by becoming RINier.
I can't wait till Tuesday. I have a feeling Laffey will beat this pond scum, and it will be good for the party.
Notice will be served on the RINO traitors in "the world's greatest deliberative body": Diss the base at your peril,
schmucks.
>>Vote him outta there! If Sh!tWhitehouse wins at least the Dems will have to give him a seat on their side of the aisle!
Yes, except their side will be the majority.
Pr!ck!
That's the kindest thing I can say about the Rino.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.