Posted on 04/18/2005 12:40:14 PM PDT by 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:
He has the confidence of the President and the Secretary of State and I believe he will be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
No kidding.
That would roast the RATs' nuts, wouldn't it? Our chair permanently vacant at the UN. I like it!
Let's just hope that he spends all his money on his presidential delusion so he has none to be re-elected to the senate.
You can add Lindsay Graham to that list--I saw an article that says the HE is also thinking of running for POTUS--
HE, though, is on the list of Senators that is thinking about voting AGAINST the "constitutional option" regarding the filibusters of judicial nominees---
Hagel is on THAT list, also--so you have Hagel going possible 0-2 in important votes for the GOP.
and possibly Graham going 0-1.
BTW, Hagel is best buds with Joe Biden--and Lugar.
The WH should strong arm Hagel and keep him in line. If they don't, it's blood in the water, and we'll hear the Lib. battlecry: 'Bush is a lame duck and can't get anything passed'. They'll circle for the kill and fight every single piece of legislation, they'll attack him and republicans 24/7. It'll be like the last Pres. campaign. Smear, smear, attack, attack, with the connivance of the MSM. The public will be sick of it soon enough, but some of the mud will stick.
He's a politician. He wants something.
John F. Kerry in 2004?
... Nebraska GOP Senator Chuck Hagel defended John Kerry on the issue of national
... When asked on "The Early Show" if Kerry's election would compromise ...
jfk04.blogspot.com/2004_03_01_jfk04_archive.html
Kerry Gets Boost From Surprising Sources (washingtonpost.com)
... While McCain and Hagel provided Kerry short-term cover, Clarke's comments
could prove more damaging to ... John F. Kerry. ___ More Election Coverage ___ ...
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/ articles/A16133-2004Mar22.html
Republicans for Kerry
... and Chuck Hagel (Neb.) have broken ranks and defended Kerry against ...
as an otherwise rough and uneven beginning to his general election campaign. ...
republicansforkerry.americancouncil.org/clarke.htm
It won't..sadly, you can bet that if Hagel votes NO..then Chaffee will also vote against Blton..and this gives the Dems political cover for opposing the noiminee.."see..it isn't a party-line vote.."
If they kill the Bolton nomination, Bush should put up Ashcroft or Bork.
He's a politician. He wants something.
This does not make any sense. They would still have enough votes to pass. Why would Hagel jeopardize his standing on a throwaway vote like this?
In his extremely wet dreams.
Now THAT'S an image. Snort!
Yep. Just tell the Rhinos, "No Bolton, No other nominee." Seat remains vacant.
Good idea.
Yes, just leave whatever careerist "acting secretary" we have there now. The UN is not important enough to rate an ambassador.
SO9
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