Big Lizards:Blog:Entry “Bolton For the Aisles”

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July 21, 2006

Bolton For the Aisles

Hatched by Dafydd

And speaking of the great John Bolton -- who is our ambassador to the U.N. only via recess appointment, after the Democrats pulled another puerile tantrum and refused to allow a vote on him last summer -- he is about to be resubmitted to the Senate for another go at confirming him, thus restoring a bit of the lost honor of that tatterdemalion organization. The Democrats were joined in that caper by the lovely and talented Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH, 68%):

The White House moved again for a Senate endorsement after Ohio Republican Sen. George Voinovich, who joined Democrats in blocking Bolton last year, said on Thursday he now backs him.

Senate Republicans and the administration expressed confidence Bolton would be approved this time, particularly with the need for an experienced hand at the United Nations during the Middle East crisis.

A spokesman for Sen. Richard Lugar, the Indiana Republican who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee, said the Senate would probably vote on Bolton in September, after its summer recess.

However, a big obstacle to Bolton's confirmation remains: he served in the National Guard. As we have learned, Democrats consider the National Guard to be nothing but a disreputable and dishonorable way to dodge the draft by poltroons who haven't the courage to run away to Canada and become counterculture hippie-heroes. It's not clear whether the "Guard hurdle" can be o'erleapt.

In the last cloture vote on Bolton's nomination, June 20th, 2005, 54 senators supported bringing it to an up-or-down vote. Assuming Sen. Voinovich makes good his threat to return to the fold (all is forgiven! well, maybe not all), that would still leave the Republicans five votes short.

They will have to pick up support among Democrats and some very, very liberal Republicans on the basis of Bolton's performance the last year in the U.N. On its face, this should be easy; much of the Democratic emesis was (they claimed) due to angst about whether he could comport himself publicwise. Over the last year, Bolton has avoided actually striking anyone at Turtle Bay or even setting fire to the Syrian ambassador's beard, and not a single New York eatery has chucked him out for boorish table manners... so perhaps the naysayers can find the courage to admit they were wrong about him: he cleans up nice.

But there's still that pesky National-Guard thing; we have to consider that.

All told, I'd give him a 50% chance of being confirmed. Much depends upon the perception of who's got the "mo" in the District these days, Bush or the Democrats. On that basis, Bolton should be confirmed in a snap. But the deplorable fact of his uneventful service in the National Guard will weigh heavily on the minds of the Democrats.

Hatched by Dafydd on this day, July 21, 2006, at the time of 2:23 PM

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Tracked on July 23, 2006 5:10 PM

Comments

The following hissed in response by: KarmiCommunist

All told, I'd give him a 50% chance of being confirmed. Much depends upon the perception of who's got the "mo" in the District these days, Bush or the Democrats. On that basis, Bolton should be confirmed in a snap. But the deplorable fact of his uneventful service in the National Guard will weigh heavily on the minds of the Democrats.

W is still in Office (which is a result of Winning Elections), so thusly, W doesn't really care what the Democrats and weak Republicans do, since W is great at doing a recess appointment. Voted in or by recess appointment, the results and title will be the same...

Permanent U.S. Representative to the United Nations

The above hissed in response by: KarmiCommunist at July 21, 2006 3:54 PM

The following hissed in response by: FredTownWard

Dafydd, you should never underestimate the capacity of Democrats to lose an election by behaving stupidly on national security issues just prior to said election. It would be utterly and completely moronic for Democrats to filibuster John Bolton's renomination at this time.

Therefore, I believe that is EXACTLY what they will do.

The above hissed in response by: FredTownWard at July 21, 2006 3:56 PM

The following hissed in response by: ShoreMark

Well FTW, one might think you may have read this excerpt that came out a scant one hour and 8 minutes before your prediction, but I doubt it, as it's so obvious that you're correct:

Biden also said Bolton's U.N. performance "confirms my conviction he is the wrong person for this job" and the administration should find someone else.

The above hissed in response by: ShoreMark at July 21, 2006 6:23 PM

The following hissed in response by: KarmiCommunist

...Bush could reappoint him, but he could not receive a salary.

Only Democrats expect a human to work for free...

The above hissed in response by: KarmiCommunist at July 21, 2006 6:42 PM

The following hissed in response by: Bill M

I think it would be political suicide for the Dems to oppose an up or down vote on John Bolton. Coming right before the election, they can't help but be seen as foolish and ignorant if they do so.

Therefore, they will almost undoubtedly oppose. They are apparently incapable of seeing the forest for the trees...

Biden also said Bolton's U.N. performance "confirms my conviction he is the wrong person for this job" and the administration should find someone else.

This from one of their "leading lights."

How does Rove manage to get them to dance on time and in step like that?

The above hissed in response by: Bill M at July 21, 2006 9:04 PM

The following hissed in response by: Rovin

How does Rove manage to get them to dance on time and in step like that?

It's not Rove, (much), it's the lostKos kiddies and DU idiots that think they are pulling the Dem strings. I thought we all knew that. :)

The above hissed in response by: Rovin at July 22, 2006 8:57 AM

The following hissed in response by: ShoreMark

You're right Rovin, they just do what they do naturally. Rove is only brought into the picture to take the blame after they lose -- because it couldn't possibly be their ideas, or lack of them, that cause the losses.

The above hissed in response by: ShoreMark at July 22, 2006 9:46 AM