Republican joins Bolton hearing monkey biz (Steyn comes to the plate)

Chicago Sun Times ^ | April 24, 2005 | Mark Steyn

[G.Mason]

" ... The rap against John Bolton is that he gets annoyed with do-nothing bureaucrats. If that's enough to disqualify you from government service, then 70 percent of citizens who've visited the DMV in John Kerry's Massachusetts are ineligible."

I that doesn't smack you right upside the head, nothing will.

One great article, stating exactly what I feel, but in words I could never muster.

[TheBlueMax]

"Remember Tom Daschle? Me neither."

Absolutely love it!!

[RAY]

The despicable performance of the Republicans on the committee is only exceeded by that of the Democrats!

The inability or refusal to use the majority vote by the Republicans will be their downfall.

The U.S. Senate is a club, for the most part, of ineffective and in many cases, stupid clouts. The good of the nation is the furtherest from their minds.

Next time, I will not be so timid!

[tkathy]

With all due respect, the Reps face a different problem when they are in the majority from the dims.

Every move the reps make is vilified and trashed by the MSM.

This makes it very hard for them to act in an aggressive manner. The reps must not jeopardize their senate majority and the dims know it.

[goldstategop]

LOL! I'd rather trade the lot of GOP Senators for a passel of Capuchin monkeys. All kidding aside, they'd at least get the job done.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[martin_fierro]

Maybe Bolton was in a foul mood or maybe he was in a vowel mood and, this being Kyrgyzstan, they didn't have any.

The man is good.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Wow!! I wish I could express it like this.

[goldstategop]

On the just installed Pope, my favorite Mark Steyn 2005 quote:

"I had no strong views about the new pope one way or another, but I'd have voted for him just for the pleasure of seeing him drive the U.S. media bananas."

It doesn't get any better than this. The world media was driven bananas. Gasp - a "Catholic" Pope? How dare they do that in Rome! In these times, having strong views, whether its Cardinal Joseph Ratinzger or Undersecretary John Bolton, is can get one in trouble with elite opinion. The problem is the elite in a democracy prefers not to rock the boat. Its a good thing the Church isn't run on that principle. Above all, what the world needs is not a passionless and tired status quo but shaking up. If Bolton is not confirmed by the Senate, perhaps the good news is there's no case to be made for finding someone who wants to genuinely see the UN work. It will be become even more irrelevant than the Church scorned by the Left.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[metesky]

Apparently, the New York Times was stunned that their short list of Cardinal Gloria Steinem, Cardinal Rupert Everett and Cardinal Rosie O'Donnell were defeated at the last moment by some guy who came out of left field and isn't even gay or female but instead belongs to the discredited ''Catholic'' faction of the Catholic Church.

I collect Steynisms and this is a gem.

[Soul Seeker]

Being villified by a press sinking in trust and circulation isn't the problem it was in 1989. If they find it hard to govern as a Majority because a discredited press calls them mean names, they won't be the majority for much longer.

It needs to be remembered if the American people that elected them gave a damn what the press said, they wouldn't be there. Similiarly most of these people are not in danger of losing their jobs if they govern as a strong conservative, because that's the platform on which their voters voted. They expect results. The GOP Senate needs to deliver or else.

[Quilla]

I suspect these do nothing Republicans and damn everything democrats are as aggravating to the President as they are to Steyn. Did you notice that John Negroponte was sworn in a swift 45 minutes after his confirmation?

Sadly, we read fabulous articles on the spinelessness of the Senate majority, but rarely are we offered solutions. These good ol' boys need a good talkin' to.

[RAY]

This makes it very hard for them to act in an aggressive manner. The reps must not jeopardize their senate majority and the dims know it.

No, could it be they are more concerned about their individual careers and are timid about exercising power!

The Demorats were in power for many years and didn't hesitate enacting stupid, court packing, and pork barrel legislation over the objections of Republicans. (Many Republicans, of course, are also guilty of Pork Barrel legislation.)

You must make hay while you can, and screw the MSM.

[AlaskaErik]

The rap against John Bolton is that he gets annoyed with do-nothing bureaucrats.

Beautiful one sentence summation of this situation!

[hubbubhubbub]

Steyn absolutely rocks!

[tkathy]

It's fine to make hay, but not screw the reps while mowing.

[Felicity Fahrquar]

Steyn knocks another one over the left field fence, and deep into the night. It is time for the White House to engage in some back room politics. Quietly, privately, emphatically, telling Chafee that he will face a HOTLY contested primary, and telling Voinovich and Hagel that NOTHING they want from Congress will be agreed to -- until they get back on the reservation.

Only sometimes is politics a matter of pursuasion. Sometimes it is a matter of shear force and fear of consequences. It is time from some real hardball, unlike Chrissie Matthews, who throws softballs, but throws them real fast.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "Double Crossing at the Rio Grande II."

[prairiebreeze]

well said

[prairiebreeze]

I agree with your observation, and hoping Dick Cheney can find a good woodshed-type stick very soon.

My vote for Best quote from the article:

Sinking Bolton means handing a huge psychological victory to a federal bureaucracy that so spectacularly failed America on 9/11 and to a U.N. bureaucracy eager for any distraction from its own mess.

What a sour taste in the mouth this betrayal from the Pubs leaves.