Posted on 11/09/2006 12:57:57 PM PST by Leroy S. Mort
WASHINGTON (AP) - Prospects for extending John Bolton's job as U.N. ambassador essentially died Thursday as Democrats and a pivotal Republican said they would continue to oppose the nomination.
It was another blow to President Bush two days after Democrats triumphed in elections that will give them control of Congress next year. On Wednesday, Bush had announced that Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, a polarizing figure and face of the Iraq war, would step down.
On Thursday the White House resubmitted Bolton's nomination to the Senate, where the appointment has languished for more than a year. Bush appointed him to the job temporarily in August 2005 while Congress was in recess, an appointment that will expire in January.
Sen. Lincoln Chafee, R-R.I., who was defeated by Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse on Tuesday, told reporters in Rhode Island on Thursday that he would continue opposing Bolton. That would deny Republicans the votes they would need to move Bolton's nomination from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to the full Senate.
Democrats indicated that even should the Senate try debating Bolton's nomination when lawmakers reconvene next week - still under Republican control - they would stretch out debate on Bolton with the aim of killing it.
``I see no point in considering Mr. Bolton's nomination again in the Foreign Relations Committee because regardless of what happens there, he is unlikely to be considered by the full Senate,'' said Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee.
................and then over in the House Pelousey wants to work with the President?????????.......didn't take long did it?............
you are right - Chafee has proven he has the (lack of) integrity that Jumpin Jim Jeffords did & if there was even further doubt his final comments (before the election) that he might / would change parties - just proved what a pathetic excuse he was.
Here is a candidate.
Joe Lieberman and I are going to caucus with the socialists, thus assuring them of a majority in the senate.
"What are the Dems' real complaints about Bolton? The only thing I can figure is that he doesn't have his nose up Annan's backside and the Dems want someone who will sell out the US's interests in favor of the UN's."
Answered the selfsame question very well indeed!
But, Harry Reid told us that they were going to work together with the President and the Senate Republicans!
Chaffee's exterior reflects his interior... he is so weasly looking and just a dweeb of the 1st order.
Good riddance you cockroach.
Well, at least I feel good about the gloating email I sent to Chaffee after hearing he lost. :-)
Only because he knows what he talks about! Only because he wants change! And maybe because he knows too much.
I'm glad that ba$tard lost (sorry, not very lady-like of me but I'm really sick of these namby-pamby RINOs),
"For once in this stinking Congress, show some backbone!"
Do you think they ever had any? What I have learned in the last 14 years is that Dems are nasty and conniving and that the Reps are gutless and compromising. Which method, do you think, is more successful in American politics?
Thank god Chafee lost. What a POS.
He couldn't get Senate approval when the Republicans had control, so I doubt he will now. Senator Dodd in particular hates Bolton. Yes, HATES!
"Thank god Chafee lost. What a POS."
I agree. We had to kiss this guy's rear end and campaign for him to boot and he does this. He can go to Hades as far as I am concerned. Having someone this unreliable as a swing vote on something this important is just ridiculous. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Bush should get Bolton in there or leave the post empty for the next two years if necessary. Send a clear message that he wants his man speaking for the administration. Not some two faced bureaucrat. This is one deal I would cut no deals nor give an inch. Draw the line and the hell with it. The U.N., as currently constructed, is less than worthless anyway.
Reading that last sentence makes me want to puke!!!!! Will he be the chairman come January?
And I am THRILLED Chafee is gone.
Thank you Senator Dole for expending so much effort on his behalf.
Dodd supposedly hates him for his role in the defense of some of the Iran-Contra figures.....
I believe the Clinton administration did it.
You can thank Voinivich and Frist for that. A crybaby and a gutless leader gives you this mess everytime. If I had been Bush I would have thrown down the gauntlet on this. Either get him confirmed or they would be cast into outer darkeness with great weeping and gnashing of teeth.
At least that bozo Jeffords (aka The Vermont Dairy Queen) is out too. Unfortunately the trail-mix nuts in Vermont replaced him with a declared Socialist!
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