Posted on 11/10/2006 4:26:31 AM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
TOTAL voter turnout on Tuesday was 40%. It was pretty evenly divided which means that out of our entire party, only 20% bothered to turn out.
I understand the disenchantment, I was too, but I care enough about the cause to vote.
It says alot about our party that they deserted the cause out of spite.
Now look what we get.
If our people would have turned out we would have easily won.
Thanks a LOT, you idiotic RINO-coddlers!!
Actually, Chafee has become good news, the silver lining. The next time anyone supports a RINO like Chafee (can you say Lindsey Graham?) just to hold a Republican spot, hell will freeze over. No more of this "Specter is good for you" crapola.
That's what I've been saying all along...and all the RINO-coddlers could come back with is, "You're supporting [insert evil Democrat du jour]!!!"
Feh. If anyone's supporting Democrats, it's always the idiot RINOs and their supporters.
The economy, WOT, pro-life agenda, judges, military support...
Right there is enough reason!
This party ignored all of that and stabbed him in the back.
BURN DOWN THE BIG TENT!
Uh, I don't recall Bolton being mentioned once as an issue in the election. This guy is a loon.
Do you mean only 40% of all registered voters? I was an election judge and we had 60% of the total registration in our precinct come in to vote, and that does not include a few more percentage points for the extra large number of absentee ballots returned this year, so this low turnout elsewhere is a surprise to me.
Though, I must point out that your math is flawed. If 40% of all voters turned out and the races were close, then approx 40% of registered republicans voted - ditto independents and democrats.
"I wonder what the wasted millions on Chafee could have accomplished in VA and MT?"
Oh yeah, that crossed my mind too. And how about the campaign stops by GWBush and Laura Bush? And the negative effects of squashing a good Republican candidate so conservative values have no chance of developing? Oh yeah, there were some rocket scientists behind that one.
The Dems learned their lesson that they had to temporarily turn off the arrogance meter and run new faces with no baggage, and especially pro-gun and pro-life candidates. Why should a values voter cast for Chaffee when the Dems are giving them the candidate they want? The GOP ought to send Chaffee home.
I know we all don't like Pelosi, but the lady has ba**s! She said that anybody who helped the Republicans will not get a chairmanship regardless of seniority. When she was in the minority she ruled the Democrats with an iron fist. When will we get someone like that on the Republican side, who is not also a crook?
Until we have a Republican leader who bucks the seniority rule in assigning committee and chairmanship assignments, we will never have a long term Conservative revolution. People like Chafee justs should not be put on any committee. People like Stevens from Alaska should not be chairmen.
Now the country clubbers are returning to power and we'll probably see a quick figleaf withdrawal from Iraq, a ''comprehensive'' immigration solution, ''moderate'' judges, etc.
Indeed
I just read where Chafee might be considering becoming a Democrat. Like he wasn't already one.
Yes, I am real concerned about it too. This party showed him no respect, he owes it nothing. He may work better with the dims in an effort to accomplish something.
I think he will stick to some of his strong principles but, like you, I am worried.
He owes this party nothing.
There are those on this forum who would say it was your duty to vote for them, simply to keep the majority.
Unfortunately, RINOs and corruption associations are the undoing of that very majority.
Exactly.
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