WP: Panel Delays Vote on Bolton Nomination to U.N. ("stunning")

[Pirate Smile]

Panel Delays Vote on Bolton Nomination to U.N.
Senators Unexpectedly Decide to Spend More Time Investigating Allegations on Record

By Charles Babington and Dafna Linzer
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, April 20, 2005; Page A01

John R. Bolton's nomination to be ambassador to the United Nations suffered a setback yesterday when the Senate Foreign Relations Committee unexpectedly decided to spend three more weeks investigating allegations that he mistreated subordinates, threatened a female government contractor and misled the committee about his handling of classified materials.

The panel's decision -- spurred by Ohio Republican Sen. George V. Voinovich's change of heart during an emotional meeting -- came after Democrats passionately argued that senators and their aides need more time to check out new accusations against Bolton, now the undersecretary of state for arms control. Panel members said they may ask Bolton, who spent a full day testifying last week, to return for more questioning.

The action was a blow to President Bush, who nominated Bolton, and to Senate GOP leaders who had hoped to move the nomination to the full Senate before new allegations -- some of them vague and unsubstantiated thus far -- could result in greater opposition. Bolton's combative criticisms of the United Nations have endeared him to many conservatives, but liberals and some moderate Republicans say he lacks the temperament for the U.N. job.

The developments, which some aides called stunning, complicate matters for Bolton's backers. "The dynamic has changed," said Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee (R-R.I.), who before yesterday's session had said he was reluctantly inclined to vote for Bolton. "A lot of reservations surfaced today. It's a new day."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1691-2005Apr19.html

[Erika]

1. Bolton is a GOP elitest and a poor nominee

Where does Bush get off in nominating an ambassador to the U.N. who badmouthed the U.N.? How many days do we have left with Bush as president (barf & gag)? Remember when he said he would reach out to world communities?

[pfitz59]

3. Daddy Bush was UN Ambassador......

Role model?

[rodeodance]

15. bush likes to shove things in peoples face-that is why!

.....Where does Bush get off in nominating an ambassador to the U.N. who badmouthed the U.N.?

[annabanana]

20. B*sh gets off on nominating a U,N, badmouther....

It's all a power thing... It's political rape.

[Hekate]

22. Amy Goodman covered the reasons for Dubya's loyalty to Bolton

Among other things, Bolton went to Florida after the 2000 election to kick serious butt. He burst into counting rooms screaming that he was from the Bush-Cheney campaign and that they had to stop what they were doing immediately. Naturally he had no more authority to do that than the dog on the street corner does, but that's never stopped a Bushite.

There was a good deal more from other venues in the same colorful vein in Amy's program, but suffice it to say that Bush (who prizes loyalty) has cause to be loyal to this schmuck.

And all the time I thought he got the nomination solely because he'd be a wrecking ball in the halls and parlays of the UN.

Watching the Senate committee meeting really was pleasurable, wasn't it?

Hekate

[Number_6]

41. Bolton nominated for something else

Incarceration. I know the Supreme Court long ago voted on our behalf
for President of the US in 2000. But is it too late to press charges
on Bolton for demanding a stop to recounts in Florida counties when
he had no authorization to do so? This has got to be illegal, even in Florida.

[acmejack]

27. 1370 days, 16 hours, 39 minutes!

Then we ae rid of *

[calimary]

34. Maybe it won't be quite that horrifically long.

We NEED to focus on getting the House and hopefully also the Senate BACK in 2006. WHATEVER it takes. That is PRIORITY ONE. THEN, we can proceed with impeachment.

[Mr.Soul]

2. I am showing no class, but....

ha.

[notadmblnd]

4. It was high drama in the Senate foreign Relations Committee

today.. Better than soap operas, I swear.. it's repeating on CSPAN now tune in and watch.

[yardwork]

44. The rats are starting to abandon the ship of state

Voinovich and other rethugs are starting to remember that they have to get reelected, and what has little george done for them lately?

[huckleberry]

5. Condi tells her staff to STFU about Bolton!

from the article --

On Monday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told her senior staff she was disappointed about the stream of allegations and said she did not want any information coming out of the department that could adversely affect the nomination, said officials speaking on the condition of anonymity.

[grytpype]

6. The stonewalling begins (from the article)

On Monday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told her senior staff she was disappointed about the stream of allegations and said she did not want any information coming out of the department that could adversely affect the nomination, said officials speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Typical. Wonder if he's connected to the Plame Affair in any way? He did push the Niger Connection story...

[maddezmom]

26. if she had to make that statement

there must be something there to hide. More abuse of power by the * administration.

[spooky3]

30. that's the most disturbing paragraph in the article...

why was it buried near the end?

Her staff should be ENCOURAGED to come forward with any truthful information that the committee should consider.

[StaggerLee]

31. Someone wanna tell these knuckleheads

that they are supposed to be serving the American people and not their warped ideology??!?!?

Fucking insane. :banghead:

[wildflower]

36. Hence the reason the Republicans wanted to force open session

(and the Democrats wanted a closed session).

-wildflower

[cascadiance]

32. I wouldn't be surprised

"On Monday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told her senior staff she was disappointed about the stream of allegations and said she did not want any information coming out of the department that could adversely affect the nomination, said officials speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Typical. Wonder if he's connected to the Plame Affair in any way? He did push the Niger Connection story..."

But I would be far less surprised to find out that Condi was hugely responsible in the coverup of the Plame affair! That's just naturally her style. Shows here too!

[northzax]

35. closing the barn door

Condi is not a Bolton fan, that's obvious. I think this is her telling her staff "now boys, I don't want to hear anything ELSE the migth damage this guy. You've already sunk his nomination, so you can stop already, will you?"

Bolton has, as far as anyone can tell, only one big fan in the administration, guy named Dick.

[patcox2]

39. The attempt at stonewalling, you mean.

Notice that the information that Rice has prohibited leaking came from a leaker? Thats an in-your-face move, Rice calls in staff and bellows "no more leaks," and the next day sees that the meeting has been leaked. State Department is maybe rebelling against the neocons, I think.

[DesEtoiles]

7. I am so freakin' glad I was able to see the whole thing on TV today.

It WAS amazing.

[swag]

8. Dems made me so proud again.

It's been a while. But those fellow citizens of ours on the Senate floor and on the committee stood up for reason and justice. They are just beginning. We need to stand with them.

[mikelgb]

9. ditto

i saw the re-run

[freedom_to_read]

12. just watched the rerun on CSPAN

good stuff

[d_b]

16. Wasn't that great?

I hope that we see more of this fervor.

[Liberty Belle]

10. Video posted at Crooks and Liars:

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/04/19.html#a2537

[kansasblue]

11. Thanks

for the vid link!

[paineinthearse]

13. LBN is nice, but behind the times. Read the real-time DU account at

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1733481

[maddezmom]

23. LBN behind the times...

:)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1406418&mesg_id=1406418

[Guckert]

14. Biden was great!! I cant wait for the "Bernard Kerik" Moment..

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :spank: :spank: :spank:

[pazarus]

18. yeah biden really gets going

when he knows he's right. He steamrolled over Lugar at least once. Being in the minority opens up some doors, even small victories are more appreciated.

But it was a small victory. The Republicans have not starting thinking independently quite yet, despite a brief delay and a glimmer of conscience. Three additional weeks just gives more time for Rove and DeLay to threaten their families or embiggen their campaign funds. Remember, they raised record amounts last quarter and they will need to show results at any cost.

[YusefHawkins]

17. Finally the momentum slows n/t

[radfringe]

19. watched it yesterday

Lugar kept pushing for a vote, but it wasn't until Voinovich spoke up that Lugar realized he wouldn't have the votes

They were about 15 minutes into the meeting when Lugar started pushing for a vote -- Sarbanes pointed out that they had until 5pm and why rush the vote. This pretty much continued until they decided to postpone the vote.

There seemed to be some weak "chastising" from Lugar regarding committee members attendance for the hearings and such absences should not be a reason to delay a vote... It was pretty much ignored by the rest of the committee.

And there was some intimation about "partisanship" and "politics" coming into play -- but when Voinovich said he wanted more time/investigation into the allegations, and Hagel said he would vote to move Bolton out of committee but couldn't guarantee he would vote for him on the Senate floor -- Lugar conceded to more hearings/investigations.

Obama asked what the procedure for reviewing/investigating new info if Bolton's nomination went to the floor today -- Lugar said that staffers would continue to look into things and pass info along to Senators.

[muchacho]

21. good for them

for all the other nominations the Dems decided to roll-over for I think this one is the most important in our standing in the eyes of the world.

Of course in the eyes of the neo-con what the rest of the world thinks shouldn't concern me a wit. Of course they will have to complete their militarization and emasculation of the globe for that strategy to work...and even then it wouldn't.

[hue]

24. Finally someone is putting the brakes on!! n/t

[ClintonTyree]

25. That's what these hearings are for!

To review the qualifications and make sure the candidate is suitable for the position. Bolton, quite obviously, is not. Why would he even WANT to be the ambassador to an organization that he has constantly derided? It seems bush could find some other position for this man if he thinks he "owes him" for his disquieting allegiance to him.

I'm glad to see that SOME Republicans can see past the completely partisan activities of the bush administration and question the qualifications of this madman. Accepting Bolton just because he was nominated is pure lunacy. pResident bush HAS been known to make mistakes before. :eyes:

As always, bush continues to make the absolute WORST decisions for political appointments. He's trying to choose the most polarizing people available in order to thumb his nose at the rest of the world.

To the rabid right, what's the harm of investigating Bolton longer if he has nothing to hide? Let the Republican controlled Senate do their job. If Bolton can't pass the smell test within your own party, it's quite obvious that he's is not the best person for the job.

[hector459]

28. This will give Bolton time to step down for the "good of the admin."

LOLOLOLOLOL

[johnlal]

29. So, are they waffling or flip-flopping? Just wondering.

Not that I mind that they're pretending to think it over.

[mistertrickster]

33. Note the WaPo gratuitous editorializing: "allegations--some vague and

unsubstantiated so far."

Uhm . . . what about the majority that are specific as hell?

Chasing people through hotel corridors screaming threats doesn't sound all that vague to me.

[TOhioLiberal]

37. Here's to...

My Senator, George Voinovich. This is one of the few repubs with a conscience. :toast: to you, George.

Honestly, this is one of the few times I'm glad he's a Senator.

[UCLA Dem]

38. Chafee is such a hack. Absolutely no backbone. eom.

[UpInArms]

40. related: W.House: Democrats Trumping Up Charges on Bolton

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=8239457

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House accused Senate Democrats on Wednesday of trumping up "unsubstantiated accusations" against John Bolton in a bid to derail his nomination to become U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

In a setback to President Bush, Republicans on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday were forced to delay a vote on the nomination to examine new allegations against Bolton of abusive conduct.

"I think what you have are Democratic members of the committee who continue to bring up unsubstantiated accusations. These allegations are unfounded," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.

McClellan singled out Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, the committee's top Democrat, for bringing up the allegations, which he said Bolton had already answered in hours of congressional testimony.

...more...

[antigone382]

43. An outstanding ambassador!

Asked if the White House had fully vetted the accusations and determined they were not true, McClellan said: "I think these issues have been addressed by John Bolton himself."

He said Bolton "will make an outstanding ambassador to the United Nations, particularly during this time when they are working to move forward on reforms."


Wow, I didn't know "outstanding ambassador" meant ignorant, self-righteous, bullying thug! :sarcasm:

[winga222]

42. Well, good for them!

I'm increasingly heartened to see the Dems showing some backbone. The Bushies have thought for a very long time (rightly) that they can shove anyone down our throats. At least there are a few Repugs with some remnants of common decency - Voinovich being one of them.

Great to see Reid keeping the heat on. What a difference better leadership makes.:party:

[ginnyinWI]

45. Bolton and Kerry go back to the 80s

On opposite sides, naturally. In the 1980s, under Reagan, Bolton tried to suppress information that John Kerry had found during his Iran-Contra investigations.

[dlb]

46. Bolton's responses to FR Comm Questions

In the WA Post:
The committee released 25 pages of responses yesterday to follow-up questions Bolton had been asked concerning allegations he was abusive to other officials in and out of the State Department, overreached on policy issues and mishandled intelligence. In several instances, Bolton did not directly respond to the questions or left them unaddressed.

Where can I read the released pages? Are they posted anywhere?

Donna