What the Bolton review says about the Repub Party - Joe Conason

[housewolf]

Who's playing politics?
John Bolton's nomination isn't being derailed by Democrats but by dissident Republicans, who reflect even broader discomfort with Bush's choice.

- - - - - - - - - - - -
By Joe Conason

Bush administration and its allies are pretending that opposition to Bolton is strictly partisan and political. Yet what must be clear to anyone observing this process is that Democrats alone could scarcely have stalled Bolton, let alone inflicted what may be fatal damage to his nomination. If Bolton's prospects have been dimmed by "politics," however, While Bush may not read newspapers, he must be aware that dissident Republicans, not Democrats, were responsible for the dramatic postponement of a confirmation vote in the Foreign Relations Committee.

<snip>

what appeared to be an abrupt repositioning by a few moderate Republicans actually reflected broader and deeper discomfort with this nominee.

<snip>

Rudeness and tactlessness aren't exactly strong qualifications for a diplomat, but they would not be enough to forfeit support among Senate Republicans. Bolton's opponents in both parties are more concerned about his alleged distortion of intelligence material to serve his ideological agenda; his attempts to secure top-secret National Security Agency communications intercepts for an unknown purpose; and the unsettling likelihood that when all the facts finally emerge, he will prove to have been untruthful in his Senate testimony about some of those incidents.

<snip>

"Politics" may actually be driving the Republicans who oppose Bolton, both within and outside the Senate. Their reasons to reject him might be idealistic, pragmatic or even opportunistic. In every case, however, they no longer feel automatically obliged to swallow whatever the White House is serving. And their independence can only be encouraged by Bush's declining public approval ratings, currently languishing well below 50 percent, with a substantial majority of citizens worried about the country's direction.

[Nothing Without Hope]

1. This is a heartening analysis. For contrast, see VIDEO of Condi's comments

on why Bolton should be nominated immediately here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1736102&mesg_id=1736298

Condi's remarks, made while in Lithuania, constitute the middle and longest part of this video clip. They can be summed up as two main points:

1. It's ridiculous for the Senate to challenge him on the basis of his management style, which she believes is a GOOD management style. (She dismisses any possibility of there being any charges more serious than "bad management style.")
   
2. The US is without an ambassador to the UN, and this is a Bad Thing.

ed:typo

[Nothing Without Hope]

2. You need to add a link to your post

Thanks!

[housewolf]

3. Here's the link

http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2005/04/22/bolton/

So sorry for missing it in the main post!

[LatePeriduct]

4. The GOP is actually realizing these guys are nuts....

And thinking rationally, I mean really could it have even ever been possible?!???
http://www.yuricareport.com/Dominionism/CNPMeetsBeforeGOPConventionKirkpatrick.html

Oh but it was, and there is defections afoot.

[indepat]

5. By ever automatically feeling obliged to swallow whatever the WH serves

demonstrates conclusively that Congressional Repukes have abrogated their constitutional duties IMHO.