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Democrats say have votes to delay Bolton vote(AGAIN!!!
Yahooooooooooooooo ^

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.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 109th; bolton; obstructionistdems
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1 posted on 06/07/2005 5:14:35 PM PDT by hipaatwo
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To: hipaatwo

Bad career move, Thune, and a big disappointment, especially to those who sent money to help you win.


2 posted on 06/07/2005 5:17:45 PM PDT by Bahbah (Something wicked this way comes)
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To: hipaatwo

recess appoint him and be done with it.


3 posted on 06/07/2005 5:18:48 PM PDT by oceanview
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To: Bahbah

Recess appt, slap dems in the face and it's OVER.


4 posted on 06/07/2005 5:19:42 PM PDT by hipaatwo (When you're in trouble you want all your friends around you...preferably armed!)
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To: oceanview

LOL you beat me by a minute.


5 posted on 06/07/2005 5:20:28 PM PDT by hipaatwo (When you're in trouble you want all your friends around you...preferably armed!)
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To: hipaatwo

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.


6 posted on 06/07/2005 5:21:55 PM PDT by oceanview
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To: hipaatwo

Sounds like it's time for a recess appointment.


7 posted on 06/07/2005 5:23:32 PM PDT by Arkie2 (No, I never voted for Bill Clinton. I don't plan on voting Republican again!)
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To: oceanview

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.


8 posted on 06/07/2005 5:24:45 PM PDT by hipaatwo (When you're in trouble you want all your friends around you...preferably armed!)
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To: hipaatwo
"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

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.

9 posted on 06/07/2005 5:26:32 PM PDT by WoodstockCat (W2 !!! Four more Years!!)
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To: hipaatwo

Time for Sen Frist to call for the Costitutional Option.


10 posted on 06/07/2005 5:27:07 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: Bahbah

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.


11 posted on 06/07/2005 5:27:26 PM PDT by ChildOfThe60s (If you can remember the 60s......you weren't really there.)
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To: hipaatwo
Too fast on the post trigger.

Should be: Time for Sen Frist to call for the Constitutional Option.
12 posted on 06/07/2005 5:28:14 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: hipaatwo

We should just suspend giving the UN another dime, or participating in a single initiative, until our ambassador is confirmed.


13 posted on 06/07/2005 5:30:13 PM PDT by kcar (theUNsucks.com)
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To: hipaatwo
Well, let's call the vote and find out. The constitutional option applies to Bolton as well as the judges and it wasn't part of the RINO agreement.

Plus, once it passed, it would apply to judges as well. Bring it on.

14 posted on 06/07/2005 5:31:04 PM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: SandRat

with what votes? we don't have them.


15 posted on 06/07/2005 5:31:08 PM PDT by oceanview
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To: Dog Gone

we'll lose it. McCain and his gang will not alow the senate rules to be changed for any reason. so then what happens?


16 posted on 06/07/2005 5:32:20 PM PDT by oceanview
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To: ChildOfThe60s
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.

I agree. They are despicable.

Now – if Bolton has any grapes, he’ll have a good heart-to-heart with Bush.

He’ll tell Bush that he is not impressed with his leadership and that this administration (and country) is not worthy of his service.

That’d raise Bolton about twenty positions in my book – way above Bush or any current republican.

17 posted on 06/07/2005 5:32:30 PM PDT by Who dat?
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To: SandRat

Time for Sen Frist to call for the Constitutional Option.



Will that work for Bolton too? I thought it was only for judges.


18 posted on 06/07/2005 5:32:35 PM PDT by hipaatwo (When you're in trouble you want all your friends around you...preferably armed!)
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To: hipaatwo
You can't trust Democrats with such highly confidential information.

Recess appointment.

19 posted on 06/07/2005 5:33:19 PM PDT by Zechariah11
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To: Mo1

Get a load of this.


20 posted on 06/07/2005 5:33:49 PM PDT by hipaatwo (When you're in trouble you want all your friends around you...preferably armed!)
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