White House Fears GOP Senator Will Kill Bolton Nomination

Human Events Online ^ | April 18, 2005 | Chris Field

[hinterlander]

Hagel May Jump Ship on Bush's Pick for UN Ambassodor -- Human Events has learned that the White House has become increasingly nervous about the confirmation of John Bolton to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

As a new week begins on Capitol Hill, conservatives are beginning to worry that the Democrats' smear campaign against John Bolton might be working.

With the Senate Foreign Relations Committee set to vote on the nomination on Tuesday, Republicans now fear that they might not have the votes to get Bolton out of committee and onto the Senate floor.

Liberal GOP Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R.I.) has long been a question mark for the Senate leadership. Now Majority Leader Frist must add fellow presidential hopeful Sen. Chuck Hagel (R.-Neb.) to his list of possible turncoats.

Sources say that the White House is taking seriously reports that Hagel is considering a vote against the President's pick to represent the U.S. at the United Nations in committee.

The Los Angeles Times today reported that Hagel "suggested" he might oppose the Bolton nomination because he is "troubled" by the nominee's "method of operation" and that he is "concerned about a series of accusations questioning Bolton's temperament and wondered if he was the right man for the job."

Conservatives in Washington believe that, in effect, a vote against Bolton would put an end to any hopes for higher political office that Sen. Hagel may harbor. What he now says stands in stark contrast to his March 14 statement on the Bolton nomination just over a month ago:

I intend to support John Bolton’s nomination to be Ambassador to the United Nations. His experience and knowledge will serve him well as he represents America’s interests in the U.N. at a critically important time. Mr. Bolton’s commitment to consult with members of Congress on a regular basis will be essential in helping him strengthen the U.N. and moving it toward reform.

He has the confidence of the President and the Secretary of State and I believe he will be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

As of this posting, Sen. Hagel's office had not yet responded to phone or email messages.

[Brilliant]

If they kill the Bolton nomintation, then my suggestion is that we just leave the post vacant.

[OXENinFLA]

[BJClinton]

Whoa. Politicians playing politics, who'd a thunk it?

[EagleUSA]

I hope the GOP has the berries to throw out these turn-coat, leftist RINOs and replace them. What a miserable group of limp-wristed, weaklings these dirtbags have turned out to be...every day the Repubs become more of a disappointment.

[OXENinFLA]

fellow presidential hopeful Sen. Chuck Hagel

WTF?!?!?

[tioga]

hagel is a wuss.

[Sthitch]

must add fellow presidential hopeful Sen. Chuck Hagel (R.-Neb.) to his list of possible turncoats.

This is one of the funniest lines I have seen all day. I know that some people banter about the name of this ass, but does he really think that anyone who votes in a primary (outside of New England and likely Nebraska) is going to vote for him?

[Waywardson]

If you want to send notice to the Senator:

Washington, D.C. Office 248 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Tel: (202) 224-4224 Fax: (202) 224-5213

Omaha Office 11301 Davenport Street, Suite 2 Omaha, NE 68154 Tel: (402) 758-8981 Fax: (402) 758-9165

Lincoln Office 294 Federal Building 100 Centennial Mall North Lincoln, NE 68508 Tel: (402) 476-1400 Fax: (402) 476-0605

Kearney Office 4111 Fourth Avenue, Suite 26 Kearney, NE 68845 Tel: (308) 236-7602 Fax: (308) 236-7473

Scottsbluff Office 115 Railway Street, Suite C102 Scottsbluff, NE 69361 Tel: (308) 632-6032 Fax: (308) 632-6295

[OK]

That is exactly what I was thinking. Just send the UN a note saying we vote no on everything.

[lugsoul]

"I hope the GOP has the berries to throw out these turn-coat, leftist RINOs and replace them."

One would hope that this decision will be in the hands of the voters who put these Senators there in the first place.

Just so I'm clear - is it your contention that someone who was elected as a Republican Senator has an obligation to vote for every nominee of a GOP President, upon pain of being a "turncoat"?

[Guillermo]

And McCain now saying he will go full speed ahead on "Global Warming."

It's time to get these rats outta there.

[clintonh8r]

If Hagel sabotages this nomination he can kiss the nomination goodbye, and my ass simultaneously....

[Califelephant]

Sen. Chuck Hagel (R.-Neb.)

Alex, I'll take "Senators Who Want to Be President, But Have No Hope in Hell" for $1,000, please.

[RexBeach]

I will be elected president before Mr. Hagel.

Don't worry. He hasn't got a chance...and you CAN take that one to the bank.

[End Times Sentinel]

fellow presidential hopeful Sen. Chuck Hagel (R.-Neb.) to his list of possible turncoats.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!  That's RICH!!!  He couldn't win the nomination if he ran unopposed!

Owl_Eagle

(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,

 it was probably sarcasm)

[Humidston]

Wow.... I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I sure am glad Nebraska elected Hagel for senate instead of a leftist Rat!!

/sarcasm

[KarlInOhio]

If the Senate screws up the Bolton nomination, the next UN Ambassador should be one of these dunking birds. All it will have to do will be continually tap the veto button at the security council.

[wayoverontheright]

If they kill the Bolton nomination, then my suggestion is that we just leave the post vacant.

Exactly. The UN is constantly in opposition to US interests, what better way to get them to come around than to ignore them. If there is any downside whatsoever to not having an ambassador, we can blame it on the Democrats in general, and this committee in particular.

This may even help us with judges, as Dem obstructionism will be exposed as having detrimental consequences.

[Dilbert56]

BTW, Senator, did we mention the latest round of Base Realignment and Closure work is starting soon?