Bush may re-submit Bolton for confirmation

[karynnj]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1683129

[TayTay]

1. Makes sense. Voinovich endorsed Bolton in the WaPo today

It just makes sense that Bush (or Rove) would sense an opening in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and try and make Bolton legit.

[whometense]

2. You've got to be kidding.

Voinovich is impressed with his performance so far?

Has he even been watching????

[TayTay]

3. Yeah, Voinovich drank the Kool-aid

He did a 'for the good of the nation in these hard international times' thing wherein he uses the current international crises to say that we need to close ranks and give Bolton a deep thumbs up.

Sigh! You have to admit thought, that if you were Rove, you would re-submit. This might be the last 'victory' of Bush's year.

[whometense]

4. Man, I'm so pissed off as to be

beyond reason.

Bolton's been every iota as horrendous as Kerry predicted he would be. You can see why Bush wanted him though - he's Bush's behavior double, stomping around smashing things, insulting everyone who crosses his path, and in every way embodying the role of the Ugly American. I'm sure Bush is thrilled with his performance.

[whometense]

5. Bolton Battle Officially Underway

http://boltonwatch.tpmcafe.com/blog/boltonwatch/2006/jul/20/bolton_battle_officially_underway

A hearing on the Bolton nomination will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, a week from tomorrow. Check back here - lots more info coming on Bolton Watch over the course of the next week.

I have a post up on Bolton too: http://toughenough.org/2006/07/voinovich-drops-opposition-to-john.html

I sure as hell hope the gloves will be off.

[TayTay]

6. That could be interesting.

Does Bolton have to go through the whole she-bang again, appearing in front of the committee and answering questions? That could be really, really interesting.

I am actually glad this is happening.

[whometense]

7. Are you?

It looks like they have to start from ground zero. I'm certain JK will come armed for bear, but it will be interesting to see how the squishy types (Chafee, Biden) handle it.

Did you see this piece? http://www.tcf.org/list.asp?type=NC&pubid=1357

Pretty scathing. And correct.

[TayTay]

8. Yes, I am glad

These people have laid all their cards on the table. The American people have seen them and are, increasingly, rejecting them.

The Dems don't control the Senate. It was nearly a miracle last time that Bolton didn't get confirmed. Bush showed his contempt for representative democracy when he appointed Acting US Ambassador Bolton via the recess appointment route.

Bolton is going to get in. The Rethugs think this is another chance to paint the Dems as weak on matters pertaining to national security and foreign policy. I don't think so. I think that ship has sailed. I think the exposure is a chance for the Dems to again separate themselves from the insane Bush Admin over core issues. I welcome this. It is a long term good.

[frogmarch]

9. What?

From the article: Without embarrassment, Senator Voinovich has laid out “the deteriorating situation in the Middle East” as the rationale for his reversal. So much does Hezbollah fear Mr. Bolton that “I cannot imagine a worse message to send to the terrorists than to drag out a possible renomination process.”

That is absurd. Whenever I read tripe like that, I feel as if my head might explode.

[TayTay]

10. It is consistent Rethug junk, that's for sure.

The Rethugs have no choice but to take this line. (Not with the mid-terms coming up and all.) They have no choice now but to stand with Bush and with his disasterous policies in the Middle East. Voinovich has fallen in line with this. This Rovian point of view says that all of Rethuglia has to stand with Bush and be 'tough on terrorism' in order to hold the line this fall in the elections.

It wouldn't make sense for Voinovich to not cave in to Rove and back Bush's boy in the UN spot. I think they are all wrong and are fleeing from reality, but I understand where they are coming from. I hope they do 'stay the course' on this because it will give the American people a clear choice on where the two parties stand.

I also hope that Sen. Reid is able to get another debate on Iraq in the Senate in ten days. That would be really an interesting way to send the Senate off to August recess. Did you guys see the memo from Reid that went out to all Dem Sens? Reid asked them to hold Town Hall meetings in their home states in early August on 'America's New Direction' and to hold rallies on LAbor Day in priase of, well, labor. Gee, I hope that happens. That would be way cool. I can't wait to see my Senator speak, maybe in Worcester or Springfield on this. He is really something when he gets all wound up. Yes sir, I can't wait to see Uncle Ted take this one on in his re-eelction year. (My other Sen has been all around the state this year and owes nothing to nobody. I think he has been speaking his mind pretty clearly, so I wouldn't mind if he went elsewhere to help other Dems.)

[ProSense]

11. Bush and Bolton are determined to create chaos

July 21, 2006
White House Calls on Jewish Groups to Line Up Behind John Bolton

jayzeidman.jpg

It's hard to imagine something more cynical than the White House exploiting Middle East convulsions -- in which many innocents on all sides are dying in real time -- to divide Americans at home in order to try and squeeze through the Senate confirmation of the pugnacious radicalizer and international de-stabilizer, John Bolton.

Today, several reports have come to The Washington Note that Jay Zeidman, the influential 24-year old White House liaison to the Jewish community, is putting out the call to prominent American Jewish organizations to support John Bolton -- with the arm-twisting innuendo that in this time of crisis in the Middle East, American Jews need to line up behind the guy Jesse Helms said "is the kind of man with whom I would want to stand at Armageddon, if it should be my lot to be on hand for what is forecast to be the final battle between good and evil in this world."

That's exactly the kind of unstable world that Bolton seems constantly trying to stir up.

Zeidman has sent the word out to numerous Jewish organizations asking "What can the White House expect in terms of supporting John Bolton?"

Why would Israelis here or abroad want someone whose best skill seems to be antagonism and fiery, flamboyant stridency that rarely achieves a positive outcome. One would think that Israel and members of the American Jewish community would want someone helping to steward their concerns in the UN who was actually good at achieving stabilizing results that can stand the test of time.

Bolton blows things up. And we've had enough of that in the Middle East.

Zeidman is the son of prominent Greenberg Traurig attorney Fred S. Zeidman who is actively involved in leading Republican Jewish activities in Texas and is Vice Chairman of the Republican Jewish Coalition.

Snip...

The Bolton battle will be messy. It is clear that the dynamics of a new Bolton battle are different than March-September 2005, but still -- it will be messy. It is outrageous that the White House would yet again exploit RELIGIOUS IDENTITY and the worsening Middle East crisis just before Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has gone to the Middle East to hopefully broker a diplomatic effort.

Shame on the White House -- again.

http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/001553.php

[whometense]

12. Today's NY Times:

I had to go do some deep breathing after I finished reading this article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/23/world/23bolton.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

...Six ambassadors separately offered similar accounts of an incident in June that they said captured the situation. All were from nations in Europe, the Pacific and Latin America that consider themselves close allies of the United States, and they asked to speak anonymously in commenting on a fellow envoy.

Mr. Bolton that day burst into a packed committee hall, produced a cordless microphone and began to lecture envoys from developing nations about their weakening of a proposal to tighten management of the United Nations, his chief goal.

Gaveled to silence, he threw up his hands and said, “Well, so much for trying something different.”

It was not merely rude, the ambassadors said. One recalled that moments later, his BlackBerry flashed a message from another envoy working on management change. “He just busted us apart,” it read...

...The envoys will not, of course, have any say about whether Mr. Bolton receives the full appointment to the United Nations. But their concerns over his methods extend to issues that the senators will undoubtedly have to weigh: his ability to build coalitions and reach consensus...

[babylonsister]

13. Senator Dodd Promises "Bruising" Fight Over UN Ambassador Bolton

Senator Dodd Promises "Bruising" Fight Over UN Ambassador Bolton Updated at 6:19 PM

NYT/Reuters: Dodd Promises "Bruising" Fight Over Bolton
By REUTERS
Published: July 23, 2006

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut on Sunday promised a bruising fight in the U.S. Senate against confirming John Bolton to be the country's ambassador to the United Nations.

President George W. Bush bypassed the Senate and installed Bolton into the position last year when lawmakers were on recess.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee scheduled a confirmation hearing on Bolton for Thursday after Ohio Republican Sen. George Voinovich, who previously opposed the nomination, expressed support for Bolton.

"This is going to be a bruising fight,'' Dodd said on CNN's ''Late Edition'' program....He argued that problems Democrats had raised last year were not resolved. They blocked the nomination amid accusations Bolton in his previous job as the top U.S. diplomat for arms control had bullied intelligence analysts.

"The problems still persist. Many ambassadors at the U.N. feel he hasn't done a good job there,'' said Dodd, who serves on the Foreign Relations Committee. "It's polarized the situation.''...

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washington/politics-bush...

[whometense]

14. That is

good news!! Thanks for posting it. :-)

[whometense]

15. Steve Clemons:

http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/001553.php

White House Calls on Jewish Groups to Line Up Behind John Bolton

It's hard to imagine something more cynical than the White House exploiting Middle East convulsions -- in which many innocents on all sides are dying in real time -- to divide Americans at home in order to try and squeeze through the Senate confirmation of the pugnacious radicalizer and international de-stabilizer, John Bolton.

Today, several reports have come to The Washington Note that Jay Zeidman, the influential 24-year old White House liaison to the Jewish community, is putting out the call to prominent American Jewish organizations to support John Bolton -- with the arm-twisting innuendo that in this time of crisis in the Middle East, American Jews need to line up behind the guy Jesse Helms said "is the kind of man with whom I would want to stand at Armageddon, if it should be my lot to be on hand for what is forecast to be the final battle between good and evil in this world."

That's exactly the kind of unstable world that Bolton seems constantly trying to stir up...

...The Bolton battle will be messy. It is clear that the dynamics of a new Bolton battle are different than March-September 2005, but still -- it will be messy. It is outrageous that the White House would yet again exploit RELIGIOUS IDENTITY and the worsening Middle East crisis just before Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has gone to the Middle East to hopefully broker a diplomatic effort.

Shame on the White House -- again.

More here as well. In fact, if the Bolton issue stirs your blood, just keep an eye on the Washington Note over the next week or so. Steve Clemons is the best there is at tracking this info. And on Bolton Watch too.

On edit: One more: Stop Bolton, which is under condtruction, but should be up any minute.

Upshot: Assuming the committee vote is put off till after the August break, they're looking to create a loud but dignified grassroots opposition.

[whometense]

16. Raw Story: Frist lacks votes to overcome Bolton filibuster

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Frist_lacks_votes_to_overcome_Bolton_0725.html

The Republican leadership in the Senate may lack the votes it needs to overcome a filibuster of a confirmation vote for controversial US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton, RAW STORY has learned.

A report in today's Roll Call quotes senate aides on both sides of the aisle who believe that the Bolton vote may be difficult for the Republicans. While the declaration of support for the Bush pick by Republican Senator George Voinovich of Ohio means that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is likely to pass the vote onto the Senate floor, Republican Majority leader Bill Frist may not be able to persuade enough Democrats to invoke cloture and bring Bolton's nomination to a vote over a possible filibuter by other Democrats. By some counts, Frist is at least two votes short of 60.

The final vote on Bolton's nomination is also likely to be delayed until September when the Senate returns from its summer recess.

An excerpt from the subscribers-only story is included below.
#

Last year, Sens. Ben Nelson (Neb.), Mary Landrieu (La.) and Mark Pryor (Ark.) broke ranks with their fellow Democrats and supported an end to the filibuster of the nomination. But with Bush’s popularity sagging — in large part because of his foreign policy decisions — and with Democrats making a credible push to retake the Senate in November, Republicans said it would be premature to count those three votes for Bolton at this point.

An aide to Nelson said he would again support a cloture motion to end the Democratic filibuster. A spokesman for Landrieu would not commit either way until the Senator revisits the issue following Bolton’s confirmation hearing. A spokeswoman for Pryor did not return a request for comment.

Even if all three vote with the GOP again, Frist would still be two votes short of the 60 votes needed to end a filibuster.

[TayTay]

17. Thanks Whome!

Damn that felt good to read. I really hate that bastard. I know he is going to stay UN Ambassador (Acting and unapproved and therefore, unpaid) but it is still good to see him denied this prestigious vote.

Hehehehehehe!

[whometense]

18. I admit that I'm vindictive enough

to enjoy the idea of him not being paid to destroy the UN. At least he'll have to do it on his own dime and not the public's.}(

Don't you think someone will be channeling illicit funds to him through some back channel??

[TayTay]

19. Gee, maybe they will sell arms to Iran

and give him the proceeds. On second thought, nah, it's been done.

[whometense]

20. STOP BOLTON website is up and running.

http://www.stopbolton.org/action.html

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[whometense]

21. NewsMax (consider the source)

is reporting that Hillary and Schumer might be wavering in their opposition to Bolton. Raw Story has a teaser on the story, but they probably got it through NewsMax, so who knows?? It sounds like it might be more like wishful thinking from right wing pressure groups.

Might be worth a phone call or two if you live in NY.

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/7/26/102300.shtml

Wednesday, July 26, 2006 10:16 a.m. EDT

Hillary Clinton, Charles Schumer May Back John Bolton

New York Senators Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer are "seriously reconsidering” their opposition to the nomination of John Bolton as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

The reason: With war raging in the Middle East, the two are facing increasing pressure from pro-Israel groups to forgo another Democratic filibuster against Bolton...

[whometense]

22. Raw Story links to

this article in the New York Sun.
http://www.nysun.com/article/36756

It says they're being pressured; that doesn't mean they'll capitulate.