Posted on 09/07/2006 10:50:44 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Chafee delays vote on Bolton nomination
By ANNE PLUMMER FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer (Published: September 7, 2006)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Sen. Lincoln Chafee has pulled the plug on a push by his fellow Republicans to confirm John Bolton as U.N. ambassador, saying he had more questions that needed to be answered.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee was expected to vote along party lines during a committee meeting Thursday to approve Bolton. But the panel postponed the vote after Chafee, R-R.I., expressed doubt.
"Sen. Chafee said he still had questions that were not answered," said the senator's spokesman, Stephen Hourahan.
Chafee was expected to send a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice later in the day outlining his questions about Bolton, Hourahan said.
During the hearing, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar, R-Ind., gave no reason for the delay and did not say when the vote would be held. Bolton had been opposed by many Democrats but was expected to be confirmed by the Republican-led panel.
Lugar said he removed the nomination from the agenda of Thursday's committee meeting after conferring with several senators.
Joseph Biden, the top Democrat on the panel, said he did not know what the delayed vote means for Bolton, or whether Democrats would push for a filibuster. Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., said he plans to recommend his colleagues filibuster the floor vote on Bolton to keep him from being confirmed.
Democrats have questioned Bolton's brusque style and whether he could be an effective bureaucrat who could force reform at the U.N.
Biden did say Democrats would not push for a committee vote any time soon. "I feel zero urgency with Mr. Bolton," said Biden, D-Del.
(Excerpt) Read more at pressofatlanticcity.com ...
He looks like Steve Doocey's ugly brother.
I thought Mr. Peepers was dead.
Other than trying to be a pain in the butt, I wonder Chaffee's motives are.
Anyone...?
Well it may be exactly the opposite...that is; Chafee needs liberal votes to succeed and maybe he thinks this will put him over the top on Tuesday...as I understand it R.I. is virtually all liberal the only distinction is whether you have an (R) or (D) after your name.
Of course Ann Coulter says this guy is dumber than a rock so who knows...
Completely agree. He does us damange by being "on" our side when he's not.
He's doing what he has to do to win in RI.
Assuming he loses the primary, is there any chance Chafee will run as an independent, thus giving Laffee a better chance to win the general?
Buh-bye Linc
The way I see it. If it's 50/50, he'll switch sides anyway... He needs to be taught a lesson, so this time, I'll go for principles over politics, thinking about the future (punishing outright RINOs) over pragmatism
Soooo... bye bye Lincoln is spot on, I hope.
Blackmail.
I can't wait till this jerk is out of the Senate!
Won't be too long from now Linc that the voters are going to pull the plug on you. Remember when you lose it's because of your weak, pandering RINO liberal ways.... Bye Bye
Casting a net for Democrat votes?
I totally agree that he has to go! As soon as he's gone and as long as we hold onto the Senate we can put somebody else on this committee. I just can't believe that the RNC stands by this moron.
No need to go (D). His fine fiscal conservative Republican opponent Laffey looks likely to win Sep. 12th.
...and teach others a lesson.
Chaffee is such a pitiful snivelling weasel - whenever I have seen him on C-Span babbling meaningless nothings for his lib friends I gag and change the channel. Chaffee is of the "blame America and grovel to the world" school of foreign affairs, so of course he cannot stand a robust defender of US values and policies.
Hey, RINO Chaffee, John Bolton is 1000000000000 times the man you will ever be.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.