Posted on 06/07/2005 5:14:35 PM PDT by hipaatwo
By Vicki Allen1 hour, 40 minutes ago
Senate Democrats back from a weeklong recess said on Tuesday they were holding firm against allowing a vote to confirm John Bolton as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations until the Bush administration turns over more information on him.
"I think the support is just as strong as it was," Richard Durbin of Illinois, the Senate minority whip, said after a meeting of Democratic senators.
In the Senate's last act before leaving for its Memorial Day break, Democrats mustered enough support to block a final vote on Bolton, who they said tried to misuse U.S. intelligence and intimidated or tried to remove intelligence analysts who did not conform to his hard-line views.
Democrats demand the administration turn over more classified material on Bolton, but the White House has refused and accused Democrats of using partisan delaying tactics.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican, said he expected to proceed with Bolton's nomination "very soon," but could not say "with certainty" when that would be. He has accused Democrats of using a procedural hurdle called a filibuster to block the confirmation vote.
"I would hope that the Bolton situation is not a standoff," said Senate Minority leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat. "I hope the president recognizes that he has an obligation" to provide the material, he said.
Republicans who hold a 55-45 majority in the Senate, need to pick up two more Democrats to vote to end the debate on Bolton and go to the confirmation vote. A simple majority was needed to confirm him, which Republicans expected to get.
One of the Democrats the White House is trying to enlist, Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, said he was sticking with his colleagues' demands for the information.
"I remain undecided on how I would vote on the Bolton nomination itself but I do think this is a point of principle for the Senate and the public's right to know," he said.
Lieberman and Ben Nelson of Nebraska were the only Democrats considering supporting Bolton for confirmation. George Voinovich of Ohio and John Thune of South Dakota were the only Republicans who said they intended to vote against him.
Democrats insist the administration turn over e-mails and other internal communications leading up to testimony Bolton gave Congress on Syria's weapons. They also want some access to classified National Security Agency intercepts sought by Bolton that contain the names of Americans.
"This is now beyond Mr. Bolton. It's about whether the Senate should have a right to certain information pertaining to a nominee," said Sen. Christopher Dodd (news, bio, voting record), a Connecticut Democrat.
Dodd offered a compromise in which the administration would confirm whether certain names were on the NSA intercepts Bolton asked to see. Democrats said they were trying to determine whether Bolton requested the classified intercepts to exact retribution on his opponents.
Dodd said the administration rejected the offer.
Bad career move, Thune, and a big disappointment, especially to those who sent money to help you win.
recess appoint him and be done with it.
Recess appt, slap dems in the face and it's OVER.
LOL you beat me by a minute.
what is the alternative now? if we try and change the cloture rules, the same McCain led team will undermine us (add Thune to that now). either recess appoint him, or name someone else.
Sounds like it's time for a recess appointment.
I really feel he's going to have to recess appoint him.I hope if the President does,Bolton does as good a job as Condi, who they also trashed.
The President of the United States has no such obligation. It's called seperation of powers Harry. They are outlined in the U.S. Constitution. Read it sometime while you're perusing the opinions of Justice Thomas. Borrow a copy from your Grand Wizard resident, Mr. Sheets.
Time for Sen Frist to call for the Costitutional Option.
Bad for the pubs. Because the longer they permit the Dims to do this, the more of the base they are alienating.
For me, even if they finally get Bolton through, I have lost any hope that the pubs will act like a majority party-ever.
I can't help but believe that this timidity is going to come back and bite the pubs when it's time for the grass roots efforts needed to win the next elections.
We should just suspend giving the UN another dime, or participating in a single initiative, until our ambassador is confirmed.
Plus, once it passed, it would apply to judges as well. Bring it on.
with what votes? we don't have them.
we'll lose it. McCain and his gang will not alow the senate rules to be changed for any reason. so then what happens?
I agree. They are despicable.
Now if Bolton has any grapes, hell have a good heart-to-heart with Bush.
Hell tell Bush that he is not impressed with his leadership and that this administration (and country) is not worthy of his service.
Thatd raise Bolton about twenty positions in my book way above Bush or any current republican.
Time for Sen Frist to call for the Constitutional Option.
Will that work for Bolton too? I thought it was only for judges.
Recess appointment.
Get a load of this.
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