Posted on 06/24/2005 9:06:58 AM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
In a column in today's New York Post, Deborah Orin wonders what has stopped the White House from standing on the roof tops and bragging about ambassadorial nominee John Bolton's great victory at the U.N., when he led the successful fight to get the U.N. to reverse its notorious "Zionism is racism" resolution?
Orin, the Post's Bureau Chief, contends that Bolton's success in this case proves that he is anything but too abrasive to represent the U.S. at the U.N.
She argues that would rebut Democrat worries about Bolton. Their main complaint is he is simply not diplomatic enough.
She cites as the kind of ammunition the White House could use, a letter from the the Anti-Defamation League, which praised Bolton when he accomplished what was deemed to be impossible in 1991.
Wrote ADL chief Abe Foxman in a letter backing his stalled nomination as U.N.:
"We will long remember him as a man of principle and integrity who, as assistant secretary of state for international organizations, played a leading role in the successful U.S. effort to repeal the infamous 'Zionism is racism' resolution."
Yet the White House has hardly exploited this huge Bolton victory during their so-far unsuccessful battle to stop the Democrat filibuster blocking a vote on his nomination - a vote which if it occurred, all agree, will surely result in Bolton's confirmation.
Orin attributes the White House's obvious reluctance to exploit what could be a decisive ace in the hole to their fear it might make Bolton appear to be too pro-Israel in a body noted for its anti-Israel sentiments. Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol calls it incompetence and an inability to play hardball.
"They've let the Democrats demonize (Bolton) and done nothing about it," he told Orin. "He has a record at the U.N. and it's a very good record, but no one knows it. They've let the Democrats block him without paying a price." Kristol says.
Kristol wonders why the GOP hasn't run ads in Florida demanding to know why Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, up for re-election in 2006, is opposing a U.N. nominee who wants to get tough on Fidel Castro, and who reversed the U.N.'s appalling "Zionism is racism," policy. That, he says, would be bound to get Nelson's attention, given the clout of Cuban-American and Jewish voters in the state.
So too would ads in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut metropolitan area grab the attention of such vocal Bolton opponents as Democratic Senators Chuck Schumer, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Joe Lieberman.
Orin suggests that if the President gives Bolton a recess appointment, which would keep him at the U.N. until January, 2007, his being sent directly to the U.N. by the President himself would give him more clout in the upcoming fight to reform the scandal-plagued international body.
It is a waste of time to apply logic to THE LOGIC-FREE ZONE (Washington, DC).
That's a good question about the White House. Maybe they're distracted by other things or maybe they figure the media won't give it any play anyway. The Democraps aren't basing their decisions on what is thoughtful or reasonable, so logic won't sway them or their lapdog media. Still, I think it would be better to get the message out and if the media spins it, that's their doing. GW should light a fire under his press people because they don't seem to be doing a good job getting the right messages out.
The press people have been one of the biggest problems all along. W is just not getting the message out.
This White House fights fair. The RATs do not. That is why the last six months have been so discouraging. George W. Bush is a good man with a strong center. I can only pray that he comes out for the next round SWINGING. No more Mr Nice Guy. Search and destroy.
No doubt. The media keeps reporting on the "insurgency" in Iraq, implying that the local people hate the American "occupiers". The locals are not the problem, it's the imported terrorists that are being sent across the borders because middle eastern leaders are scared to death of what would happen if the war in Iraq were to be successful (which it already is, it has been 90% won).
The Bush Admin. has been adept at leaving their nominees twisting in the wind.
Give the Democrats a choice: Allow confirmation vote on Bolton or be prepared to see a recess appointment of Michael Savage. ; > )
Dang! You made me forget what I was going to post!
Welcome to Free Republic.[Maybe not for long though.]
Anyone have that image of Bolton superimposed on the UN flag?
Thax--appreciated!
We have short memories and mine is worse than most but I do remember during the Senate Foreign Relations Committee charade, that several Republicans brought that fact out. That helped get the Democrats off that tactic and onto demanding the release of classified information they know they will never get. Naturally the MSM ignored that and it would have been stupid for the WH to make a big deal of it in light of the ongoing struggle with the obstructing Demcrats. Logic is meaningless to them so it would have been ignored again.
Well, if Lieberman was willing to set aside his pesky pro-life stand to be Gore's VEEP mate, then why would a betrayal against his own faith be any surprise? I like Lieberman. There is some good in him. Just not enough, unfortunately.
"This White House fights fair."
Ha. Fair doesn't begin to describe the White House strategy. Most of the time, they 'fight' like girly men. I'm hoping that Rove's latest remark represents a change. FRegards....
I seem to recall that this little piece of work was attributed to Daniel Patrick Moynahan. Or have I dropped into an alternate universe again?
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