Posted on 05/26/2005 7:04:08 AM PDT by veronica
(CNSNews.com) - The thought that John Bolton might be confirmed as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations brought one Republican senator to the brink of tears on Wednesday.
Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) choked up on the Senate floor, as he urged his colleagues to vote against Bolton's nomination on Thursday:
''I'm afraid that when we go to the [Senate] well, that too many of my colleagues -- (voice breaking) -- that too many of my colleagues are not going to understand that this appointment is very, very important to our country," Voinovich said.
"At a strategic time, when we need friends all over the world, we need somebody up there that's going to be able to get the job done.
"I know some of my friends say, 'Let it go, George, it's going to work out.' I don't want to take the risk," Voinovich said. "I came back here [to the Senate] and ran for a second term because I'm worried about my kids and my grandchildren. And I just hope my colleagues will take the time (pause) and before they get to this well, do some serious thinking about whether or not we should send John Bolton to the United Nations. I yield the floor."
Voinovich's emotional moment came one day after he sent a letter to his fellow senators, telling them, "In these dangerous times, we cannot afford to put at risk our nation's ability to successfully wage and win the war on terror with a controversial and ineffective ambassador to the United Nations."
Voinovich did not attend Bolton's confirmation hearings; and he surprised Republicans by raising last-minute objections to Bolton on April 19, just as the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was preparing to vote on Bolton's nomination.
Voinovich's objections prompted one group to run radio ads against him in Ohio, and it put him under intense pressure from Republicans in Congress and at the White House.
Because of Voinovich's objections, the committee postponed a vote on Bolton for several weeks. The nomination finally went to the full Senate on May 12 - but without a committee recommendation.
On May 12, before the committee vote, Voinovich said he would vote to send Bolton's nomination to the full Senate Voinovich because "we owe it to the president to give Mr. Bolton an up-or-down vote on the floor."
But Voinovich said he would vote against Bolton on the Senate floor. "I really don't believe he's the best man we can send to the United Nations," he said.
Voinovich said he'd met with Bolton and liked him. He called Bolton a "decent man" and described their conversations as "candid and cordial."
Most of Voinovich's Republican colleagues say Bolton, with his blunt, no-nonsense attitude, is the right man to represent U.S. interests at the United Nations, and he's expected to be confirmed.
This was the most pitiful performance I've seen since dingy harry the other day begging senator Frist to stop talking about filibusters.
Perhaps the RINO's ought to look at Voinovich as an example of what one is reduced to when they sell out their base, and the Democrats no longer have a use for you.
I watched that pathetic display on tv.If he is honestly that upset over this issue(Bolton)then he needs his head examined.Somethings definitely wrong with that man/sarcasm not intended.
Do you know what it reminded me of? It kept ringing a bell but I couldn't remember what it was. But suddenly it hit me... the Checkers Speech. If he had said "My Little Dog Checkers", it would have been perfect.
Oh, we'll have friends all right. And the list of terrorists that want to blow us... well you know what they say about the arab, at your throat or at your feet.
I am with you. Ken Blackwell will be the next Governor. I am ashamed of Ohio's Big Three of WUSS RHINOs - Dewiner, Voinabitch, and Gov. Shaft.
May they all Rot in Cleveland.
Good gravy! I wonder exactly what the Dems/Chinese/Russian Mafia/Cubans/North Koreans/al Quaida have on this guy?
This performance by Voinovich is a disgrace.
Incredible that Ohio had John Glenn and Howard Metzenbaum for Senators for the first 20 years that I lived in this state. Then we WON and got DeWine and Voinovich! Our Great RINO Senators!
These guys are a total embarrassment to the State of Ohio and to the National Republican Party!
To think that we worked to get a Republican President and majorities in both houses only to get this type of performance!!!
RamS
Can someone send him a Midol?
Are you thinking what I'm thinking? That someone is blackmailing Voinovich? What else could cause this craziness?
While it stinks to have the RINOs undermining the conservative agenda, if we didn't have them we'd be the minority party in the Senate and that truly would be worse.
What a worthless a-hole!
Reword that a touch: "Has this guys nuts gone?"
Man, I can see someone getting weepy with the families of our slain soldiers. I can see someone getting weepy over a bunch of things, and not think less. Patton himself was known to shed tears.
But to waste tears on THIS????? Boy, that is PATHETIC. Anyone who has not come to the conclusion that not only does the UN not have the best interests of the USA at heart, they don't give a flying eff about the world either. They are interested in having a job sitting on their butts and skimming money. Period.
Exactly - Shall we send tissue to all the Senators for their next Crying Jag?
I am finding this hissy fit from Voinovich entirely unbelieveable -- unless someone has his nuts in a vise. What was in those FBI files pilfered by Clinton's enforcer, Craig Livingston?
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