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Posted on 08/01/2005 5:55:40 AM PDT by Chuck54
Edited on 08/03/2005 5:44:46 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
THE PRESIDENT: Nearly five months ago, I nominated John Bolton to be America's Ambassador to the United Nations. I chose John because of his vast experience in foreign policy, his integrity and his willingness to confront difficult problems head-on. I told the nation that John Bolton would provide clear American leadership for reform at the United Nations. I told them that he would insist upon results.
The United States Senate held thorough confirmation hearings, and a majority of United States senators agree that he is the right man for the job. Yet, because of partisan delaying tactics by a handful of senators, John was unfairly denied the up or down vote that he deserves.
As a result, America has now gone more than six months without a permanent ambassador to the United Nations. This post is too important to leave vacant any longer, especially during a war and a vital debate about U.N. reform. So today I've used my constitutional authority to appoint John Bolton to serve as America's Ambassador to the United Nations. John Bolton will be an important member of my State Department team, led by Condoleezza Rice.
I'm sending Ambassador Bolton to New York with my complete confidence. Ambassador Bolton believes passionately in the goals of the United Nations Charter, to advance peace and liberty and human rights. His mission is now to help the U.N. reform itself to renew its founding promises for the 21st century. He will speak for me on critical issues facing the international community. And he'll make it clear that America values the potential of the United Nations to be a source of hope and dignity and peace.
As he embarks on his new assignment, Ambassador Bolton will bring tremendous wisdom and expertise. Over the past two decades, John Bolton has been one of America's most talented and successful diplomats. He's been a tireless defender of our nation's values, and a persuasive advocate for freedom and peace. As a senior leader at the State Department in the 1980s and 1990s, he brought people together to achieve meaningful results at the United Nations -- from resolving payment issues, to helping rally the coalition in the Persian Gulf War, to repealing a shameful resolution that equated Zionism with racism. And over the past four years as Undersecretary of State, he's shown valuable leadership on one of the most urgent challenges of our time: preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction.
Ambassador Bolton takes up his duties at a time of opportunity for the United States and the United Nations. America and the U.N. are working to spread democracy, relieve hunger, and assist the victims of disaster. We've delivered hope to millions suffering from HIV/AIDS and other deadly diseases. We've helped to lay the groundwork for two landmark events in the history of liberty: the free elections of Afghanistan and Iraq. Ambassador Bolton will work to build on that progress by helping the U.N. continue to find effective new ways to match its good intentions with good results.
As the newest member of America's diplomatic corps, Ambassador Bolton will defend our nation's interests with character and resolve that were instilled early in life. John's father was a firefighter; his mother was a homemaker who took her son to the public library to show him the value of education. I know that Jack and Virginia Bolton would be proud today to see the boy they raised in Baltimore appointed to serve as our permanent representative to the United Nations.
I'm grateful to John's wife, Gretchen, for being here with us and to the entire Bolton family for their service and sacrifice.
Mr. Ambassador, thank you for agreeing to serve your nation once again, and congratulations.
AMBASSADOR BOLTON: Mr. President; Madam Secretary; my wife, Gretchen; our daughter, J.S, in absentia. I'm profoundly honored, indeed, humbled by the confidence that you have shown by appointing me to serve as the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations. You have made your directions for U.S. policy at the United Nations clear, and I am prepared to work tirelessly to carry out the agenda and initiatives that you and Secretary Rice direct.
We seek a stronger, more effective organization, true to the ideals of its founders and agile enough to act in the 21st century. It will be a distinct privilege to be an advocate for America's values and interests at the U.N., and, in the words of the U.N. Charter, to help maintain international peace and security.
My deepest thanks to you both for the opportunity to continue to serve America.
THE PRESIDENT: Thanks, John, appreciate you.
All right, thank you all.
”This administration is really really good of brushing everything under the rug and stamping it flat.”
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Over at DU, they have a picture of Frist up. They are praising him on his switch concerning stem cell.
Well said!
It was a glorious moment in time. I truly think he may have won the election with that quip.
(The picture is from "Earth Day" in 2001..........making it even funnier...........carrying around an axe in the woods of New England. He's always had a flair for making the left look like a bunch of fools!)
You think Frist understands yet how utterly stupid and spineless his decision to go over to the dark side was?
I can officially retire this tag line now.
Thanks Mr. President, now I need a new tag line before I can post again...
I don't understand why he felt compelled to do this RIGHT NOW, as opposed to after the break. And if this has always been his position, why choose to make a point of his disagreement with the President? It makes absolutely no sense to me.
I just hope that Bolton is able to go to the UN and clean up that cesspool. He's got 17 months.
....make mine a double and make it with Gin and I'll join you!
Thank you President Bush!
I have the feeling that Bolton is going in swinging. I think he'll get a lot done in the next 17 months.
How could he say first that human embryos are life, and to be valued, and then in the second half of the speech say, let's experiment on them and have the taxpayer fund it?
It's nuts!
And, as you said........why NOW? And why did he tell the NYTimes before he told the President??
My respect for the man dropped through the floor with this move.
Looks that way to me.
Probably trying to divert attention from the huge Downing Street Memo and KKKarl Rove scandals. I agree with you, the timing of this speech is very odd with all that is going on. But Frist's position is to the right of the House bill, and is right of what the Liberals want. So, maybe he is taking a leadership position on this, getting the MSM to embrace his stand as a repudiation of Bush, and the bill ends up better than if he didn't take the stand.
Maybe it's about veto politics? Bush has threatened to veto these bills, making the House bill move to the right makes it less likely to override a veto?
If Bsuh vetoes this (which I believe he will) and there is no override, the Rats will scream about how there need to be more democrats in the House and Senate.
If he vetoes but there IS an override, many Republicans will lose the support of the pro-life voters, even those who did not support it.
Oh, wait, I thought of something: if Frist demands all of these changes and the House doesn't agree, perhaps it can be tied up in conference until Congress adjourns! Just like happened for several years with the Energy Bill!
I hope he continues the momentum. Otherwise, the RATS will control the agenda.
I would like to see the following:
1. Border, Borders, Borders,
2. Increased Arrests and Pressure on Terrorism
3. Spending control for pork projects.
Maybe he'll make the connection when elections come around. I, for one, am astonished that he would flip like that...well, maybe not too. :-)
FOR:
"I accept and understand why the president had to do this. I think it's unfortunate that he had to use this option because John Bolton was denied the fairness of an up-or-down vote. I think John Bolton is well qualified. He is principled. And he will advocate for the U.S. taxpayers." — Sen. George Allen R-Va.
AGAINST:
"Erra, the abuse of power and the cloak of secrecy (Mary Jo Kopechne, anyone?) from the White House continues. Erra, It's a devious maneuver (driving off a bridge in the middle of the night, while sauced) that evades the constitutional requirement of Senate consent and only further darkens the cloud over Mr. Bolton's credibility at the U.N."(Credibility questions from the Senior balloon from MASS?) — Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass.
I don't think they can craft a bill that pass both the Hosue and Senate, as well as override a veto. Nor can the House and Senate pass a bill that the President will sign.
Is Frist doing the President a favor by keeping him from having to veto a "popular" bill?
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