Posted on 07/25/2006 3:54:38 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo
Sen. Mark Dayton, who voted to block the nomination of John Bolton as U.N. ambassador last year, said he's keeping an open mind on the re-nomination this time but still needs to be persuaded that Bolton is the right man for the job.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a hearing on Bolton Thursday. The committee will then decide whether to endorse the nomination before it goes to the full Senate for a possible vote.
President Bush used a recess appointment to name Bolton to the post last August after Democrats blocked a vote on the nomination. That appointment expires at the end of the year.
"I'm willing to look anew at what he's done," Dayton, D-Minn., said in a telephone interview. "I want to let the committee hearing fill the record on those pros and cons."
But Dayton said he was concerned about a recent New York Times story, which reported that foreign diplomats said that Bolton had alienated traditional allies with a combative style.
"Those descriptions echo what was said about Mr. Bolton before when he came to Senate initially," Dayton said. "Whatever the merits of his particular position, the way he conducts himself, the lack of respectful conduct backfires on him and the United States, and unfortunately reinforces the common perception that the U.S. believes that it has the right to do whatever it wants."
But Dayton said he wasn't leaning one way or the other at this point.
"I will have to be persuaded," he said. "I'll keep an open mind. I will follow with interest the hearing."
White House spokesman Alex Conant responded: "Ambassador Bolton is doing an excellent job at the U.N. during very challenging times. Senators are seeing the fruits of John Bolton's labor and so we're seeing stronger support for his nomination. We're hopeful that other senators will be open to taking a new look."
Hopes for winning Senate confirmation rose last week when Sen. George Voinovich, an Ohio Republican who voted against the nomination in committee last year, announced he no longer opposes Bolton's nomination.
Political pussyism at its best.
"He may get some votes against him but the Dems would have to be stupid to filibuster."
And what part of that statement is supposed to make us feel better? ;)
John Bolton needs to run for president. The man has balls and says what's on his mind.
>>And what part of that statement is supposed to make us feel better? ;)<<
Good point... :)
I should have said that they would lose that publicity war so badly even Harry Reid should know better....
Actually that's not that encouraging either..I think I'll be quiet now. :)
Yeah, I already had to correct that post.... :(
Just curious; why?
It's HARD to come uo with a "They wouldn't be so supid....." when your talking about Dems and lefties. :)
"But Dayton said he was concerned about a recent New York Times story, which reported that foreign diplomats said that Bolton had alienated traditional allies with a combative style."
***
More than a few of our so-called "traditional allies" should have been alienated a long time ago.
I didn't say that.
>>It's HARD to come uo with a "They wouldn't be so supid....." when your talking about Dems and lefties. :)<<
Yep, far more people identified as Dems than Republicans through the 70's and 80's and yet they managed to lose nearly every Presidential election - that said, they have shown some skill as minority obstructionists.
As a Minnesotan, I would like to apologize to the entire world for the grotesque idiocy of our senior Senator Marky Dayton.
***
I forgive you...if you'll forgive me and my fellow Pennsylvanians for Senator Arlen Sphincter.
Bolton has accomplished more since he's been at the UN than the democratic party has in decades.
LOL. What a burden to have to deliver that apology. Dayton is a piece of work.
"I'm willing to look anew at what he's done," Dayton, D-Minn., said in a telephone interview. "I want to let the committee hearing fill the record on those pros and cons."
Translation =
I have already made up my mind but want to look even more like a nebbish.
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