THE BULLIES' CLUB

New York Post ^ | 5/14/05 | JOHN PODHORETZ

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ALL eyes are now on the United States Senate, which has unexpectedly become the epicenter of American politics. The question of the year is whether a change in a specific Senate rule — the one that creates the condition for the never-ending debate called a "filibuster" — would represent a shocking breach of American tradition.

The Senate, we're told, is an institution that exists to slow down the mad rush of politics and allow issues to percolate and stew.

But as yesterday's debate in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the nomination of John Bolton demonstrated yet again, at moments of great partisan strife the Senate doesn't debate issues.

The Senate does not allow important topics to get a full hearing. Rather, it allows senators to abuse those who come before them in a process mandated by the U.S. Constitution. ...snip...

In the midst of controversy, the Senate frequently uses its authority in appalling ways — by engaging in unanswerable character assassination. The assassination is unanswerable by definition because those whose characters are being assassinated are required by the dynamic of the Senate to behave respectfully toward those who are dragging their names through the mud.

There is something profoundly immoral about all this. Increasingly, it seems, strong-willed people with strong views must submit themselves to the humiliation of standing mute while they are excoriated for their life's work — and while senators and their staffs go hunting for personal dirt on them.

It's not a fair fight. It's a proxy fight. The nominees are often stand-ins for the administration whom the senators wish to bloody — as is the case with John Bolton and the Democrats. ...snip...

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