Posted on 05/13/2005 7:00:06 AM PDT by areafiftyone
Democrats in the US Senate have made a fresh bid to derail the appointment of John Bolton, the embattled White House pick for UN ambassador, after a Senate panel declined to back him ahead of a floor vote.
Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer "put a hold on the nomination" of Bolton as US ambassador to the United Nations, her spokeswoman Natalie Ravitz said without indicating how the process could be delayed.
The move is intended to either force further negotiations or ultimately to prevent his nomination from reaching the Senate floor.
A Senate panel took the rare step Thursday of refusing to endorse President George W. Bush's choice for UN ambassador, although it did send the nomination to the full Senate for confirmation.
The White House had hoped that Bolton would receive the seal of approval of the committee's 10 Republicans, whose backing would have improved his odds for success in the Senate vote.
Instead, Bolton barely squeaked out of the polarized Senate committee.
His nomination was apparently saved after several Republicans agreed to forward his nomination for the UN post, without giving him explicit support.
Despite the lack of a congressional endorsement, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she was "pleased" by the outcome, and expressed hope for Bolton's quick confirmation.
Rice argued that Bolton, currently undersecretary for arms control and international security at the US State Department, would bring the "skill and dedication necessary to advance the president's reform agenda" at the UN.
A date has not been set for the vote in the Senate where Republicans hold a 55 to 45 majority. But Democrats promised they would continue to fight tooth and nail against the nomination as it moves to the chamber.
"If this comes to the floor, we're going to have a fight," Senator Barbara Boxer said during the committee meeting.
Democrats have been united in opposition to Bolton, while four of the committee's 10 Republicans expressed serious reservations.
Chief among Bolton's Republican critics was Senator George Voinovich, who expressed grave reservations about allegations Bolton mistreated staff during his long Washington carreer and shaped intelligence to fit his views.
He also issued a scathing denunciation of the nominee, saying the president could have chosen any one of a number of equally qualified, less controversial, candidates.
Nevertheless, the Ohio senator said he would approve sending Bolton's nomination to a vote before the full Senate, in deference to the White House.
The debate in the divided committee was the latest showdown between Senate Democrats and Republicans, after weeks of bitter wrangling over Bush's nominee.
Bolton's Republican supporters acknowledge that he has at times been "blunt," but they say his direct manner is just what is needed to help whip the scandal-plagued UN into shape.
"I think the American people want someone at the United Nations who pushes strongly for reform," said Senator George Allen. "We are not electing 'Mr. Congeniality.' We do not need 'Mr. Milquetoast' in the United Nations," he said.
The panel has spent weeks examining allegations that Bolton misused or hyped flawed intelligence on issues including China, Iran, North Korea and Syria.
Even his ex-boss, former secretary of state Colin Powell, reportedly told lawmakers that Bolton had been a problematic official. Powell's former chief of staff was quoted by the US press as saying that Bolton would make an "abysmal ambassador."
If confirmed by the Senate, Bolton would have to fight the US case on vital foreign policy issues, ranging from nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea to the future of the world body itself.
If anyone an do both, it's Keyes. That man's mind is a national treasure IMO.
That's it! They don't care what they're called, and Republicans could not care more. That is the essential difference in the parties and it HAS to change.
I'm liking this option more and more!
43 just ought to defund the UN.
If the senate won't take it up, time to make a recess appointment and force them to vote later.
Fortunately, this is a lie by the MSM. I heard this morning that at least 3 DIMs will be voting for Bolton, Leiberman included. Can we trade Leiberman for Voinsonofabitch?
What would Boxer and the other Dims think if Jeanne Kirkpatrick were sent back to the UN?
Why don't they just rename the Dims to be the NO party.
Yes it's called "double secret probation". It was used on the Delta house to get them booted out of Faber College long ago...... Ha.....
??
I'm a Bushbot and I always thought Powell was lame.
Which Nelson?
The fact that the dems are so hell bent on derailing the Bolton nomination has convinced me he is perfect for the job!
He he. All of the corrupt ones are pooping in their pants. This is the third thread I've mentioned it on, but it bears repeating. Today Senator Norm Coleman stated on a Mpls/St Paul radio station that Koffi will not finish out his term. News about Russia and oil for food will be forthcoming.
You got that right! This is a big one, and they will try their best to derail it.
According to the Senate Daily Journal Page D476 he was reported out....
NOMINATION
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee ordered reported, without recommendation, the nominations of John Robert Bolton , of Maryland, to be the U.S. Representative to the United Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador, and the U.S. Representative in the Security Council of the United Nations, and to be U.S. Representative to the Sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations during his tenure of service as U.S. Representative to the United Nations.
Yesterday during the hearing, John Kerry was saying that Kirkpatrick was against Bolton, and went on an on about what a bad nominee Bolton was....
One of the Republicans, Coleman, I think had to "remind" Kerry that Jeanne Kirpatrick ENDORSED Bolton's nomination!!!
Kerry is such a joke!
Unfortunately, Norm Coleman is scheduled to have a "showdown" next week with George Galloway from England during a hearing next week about the OFF scandal....
It would have been more effective, IMHO, if Coleman could have referenced Bolton during that hearing in respect to "cleaning up the mess" that Galloway, Annen, and all has made of the UN....
Without a UN Ambassador from the US in place right now, it kinda makes any "threats" seem hollow if it looks like we can't even get our "own house in order".
Is that why the judges thing is just skirmishing and the battle lines have not marched out for the main event? They keep pushing it back on the calendar because somebody has a hold on it?
Democrat's litmus test for every Bush appointee: "Good for America= bad for democrats and their allied enemies of America, therefore unfit to serve."
We have met the enemy and he is RINOS and liberal democrats.
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