Key Republican joins Dems opposing Bolton nomination (WHY DID GOP WASTE ONE DIME ON CHAFEE?)

www.cnn.com ^ | November 10, 2006

[excludethis]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- This is probably not what President Bush had in mind when he stressed bipartisanship after the Democratic Party's midterm elections sweep.

A key Senate Republican has joined Democrats in opposing one of Bush's initiatives for the lame-duck Congress: John Bolton's nomination as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

With leaders from both parties promising a new bipartisan Washington, Bush began efforts to get two of his most controversial decisions approved before the Democrats take over.

. . . .

But Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee, who was defeated in this week's election, said he would block Bolton's nomination.

Chafee, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters that he did not believe Bolton's nomination would move forward without his support.

"The American people have spoken out against the president's agenda on a number of fronts, and presumably one of those is on foreign policy," the Rhode Island moderate told The Associated Press.

"And at this late stage in my term, I'm not going to endorse something the American people have spoke out against."

The committee, dominated 10-8 by Republicans, requires a majority vote to send the nomination to the Senate floor. A tie would be the same as a no vote.

. . .

Bolton's appointment will expire in January unless the Senate confirms him, and the probable next chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee says approval is unlikely.

"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 Democratic Sen. Joe Biden, who is set to become the committee's chairman and control the agenda in January.

[Liberty Valance]

Some say we lost the last election. In some ways that is true but losing Chafee should definitely be considered a win.

[seanmerc]

BYE BYE, LINKIE!

[brazzaville]

Good morning.

Limit their time on committees and you limit their power.

Term limits affect the voter's right to choose who represents them. Preventing the legislator from burrowing into a committee like a tick makes the Congress more like it is supposed to be, while letting us elect who we choose.

Just my two cents, too.

Michael Frazier

[brazzaville]

Good morning.
"Here's tit for tat. How do you want to proceed in the future?"

Yes, that is what is needed.

Michael Frazier

[seanmerc]

BYE BYE LINKIE!!!!

[L.N. Smithee]

What do you think that that little weasel will be doing in the real world?

He'll be a professional right-basher like David Gergen. He'll be introduced on talk shows debating key issues as the opposition to the likes of Lanny Davis and Mike McCurry because he had an "R" next to his name, and he'll always agree that even as a former Republican, conservatives went too far.

[cvq3842]

We have nothing to lose now - get rid of the RINOs!

[Carry_Okie]

WHY DID GOP WASTE ONE DIME ON CHAFEE?

Stevens.

[Howie66]

"Agree with your list, but it should start with the RINO-in-Chief Bush."


Well.....since President Bush will be term-limited out of office in 2 years, that's kind of a moot point, don'tcha think?

I still think that he stands heads and shoulders above what the alternative was in either 2000 or 2004.....or what we'll be facing in 2008 on the RAT side for that matter.

[jan in Colorado]

The ENEMY from within ping!

[popdonnelly]

What does Chafee have against Bolton? Bolton too assertive for the girly-man?

[maica]

Chaffee.....Snowe.....Collins....

New England is totally democrat in spirit if not in party designation. Chris Shays is the ONLY remaining nominal republican in all of New England.

Maybe we should think about asking those states to join Canada so they can enjoy even more of the socialist handout life.

[taildragger]

I am not tax man, but as long as a gift is bellow 11k it is not taxable (if my memory i correct), a number of people giving an amount equal to his current salary would get the attention of our adversaries (the Dem's) for sure.

[Joan Kerrey]

What about a recess appointment?

Exactly...why not? Also couldn't a strategy be to nominate someone who COULD NOT be confirmed allowing Bolton to stay on until his replacement is confirmed?

[maica]

What do you mean by 20% turnout? I have not been reading much on FR since Monday - and virtually nothing in Dem media, so I don't know what this percentage represents.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

The result of this past election is really a minimal change.

We held only token majorities.

With the Gang of 14 and all the other RINOs, we never really held a majority.

I'd rather have conservative Democrats who can think and vote outside the clutch of the party apparatchik than a bunch of RINOs.

RINOs and Rockefeller Republicans are worse because they give the opponent the ability to say, "See idiot-American voters. Even Republicans are against [Constructionist judges] [tax cuts] [border security] [national security] [US sovereignty at the UN]."

RINOs not only do not help the conservative cause and not only play the role of the obstructionist, they aid and comfort the enemy. In this regard, they are not mere protesters but traitors.

[Joan Kerrey]

you have to wait until the next Congressional recess.

I don't know the rules but can't Bolton stay on due to the fact that a new person isn't confirmed? If so, couldn't Bush drag his feet on a new nomination?

[dmartin]

From what I have seen, with 20% pathetic turnout, there is no mandate to do anything conservative. Bush doesn't owe the conservatives squat. They stayed home Tuesday. Now we all pay the price.

Does this mean he can continue being a moderate and doesn't have to pretend anymore?

From what I recall his first election and all that 'political capital' he gained in the second was directly attributed to what conservatives delivered for him. Can you please tell me what has he done to advance the ideas of Conservatism during his Presidency?

[highball]

This is his prelude to switching parties.

Something tells me Jack Reed (D-RI) will have a primary fight on his hands in 2008....