Botching Bolton (Republicans unclear on the concept)

The Weekly Standard ^ | April 21, 2005 | 'The Prowler'

[quidnunc]

The White House was scrambling Tuesday night after the disastrous Senate Foreign Relations Committee meeting held Tuesday afternoon to discuss voting out the U.N. ambassador nomination of John Bolton. Ultimately, Democrats prevailed, having the vote delayed for at least three weeks.

And the aftermath, says a Foreign Relations Committee staffer, is that committee chairman Richard Lugar on Wednesday morning broached the subject of pulling back the nomination with White House officials and the State Department.

"We don't have Voinovich, we don't have Hagel, and in the end we probably don't have Chafee if the other two give him cover," says a Senate leadership staffer. "I don't see how we bring that vote up. We're in for a bumpy ride."

"We're going to be seeing leaks for the next three weeks from Democrats on the committee and their various advocates just beating on Bolton at every turn," says the Foreign Relations Committee staffer. "We just don't have anything to combat it, and Lugar is furious that the White House is letting this happen without any vocal defense from administration people. They are making the chairman look weak and indecisive."

Lugar has been doing that pretty much on his own, without anyone's help, for the past month on the Bolton nomination. On Tuesday, Lugar sat stone-faced at the table, rarely attempting to push back against the Democratic onslaught on Bolton's character.

Lugar's inaction is in part due to his anger over Bolton's written responses, or lack there of, to questions submitted by Democrats. In some cases, according to the staffer, Bolton simply ignored the questions or wrote responses that did not address specific points the Democrats were seeking

-snip-

[quidnunc]

Quote:

On Wednesday morning, White House congressional liaisons attempted to reach out to Ohio Republican Sen. George Voinovich, who had previously met with Bolton privately and had told White House and State Department handlers that he was supportive of the nomination. But Voinovich wouldn't make himself available, a bad sign.

It looks to me as though the White House and the congressional leadership have completely lost control over the course of events.

[Ann Archy]

Sen. Lugar as to be the DUMBEST bag of rocks that the Pubbies have....at least until I saw Voinovich and Hagel.

[68skylark]

"They are making the chairman look weak and indecisive."

Oh Lord give me strength. I don't think my honorable senator, the Chairman Richard Lugar, needs help from anyone to look weak and indecisive.

[68skylark]

Sen. Lugar as to be the DUMBEST bag of rocks that the Pubbies have.

Yeah, my opinion of The Honorable Richard Lugar has been on a downward glide slope for 20 years now. I don't think he's dumb, exactly -- I think there's something else at work here.

[CyberAnt]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1387642/posts

Check out this link!! Lady from MOB was lying. Her boss ratted on her.

[Howlin]

And the aftermath, says a Foreign Relations Committee staffer, is that committee chairman Richard Lugar on Wednesday morning broached the subject of pulling back the nomination with White House officials and the State Department.

DAMNIT!!!!

[Mo1]

"We just don't have anything to combat it, and Lugar is furious that the White House is letting this happen without any vocal defense from administration people. They are making the chairman look weak and indecisive."

OH HERE IS A SUGGESTION MR. STAFFER

GOOGLE ... I DID IT AND FOUND LOADS OF STUFF

GET OFF YOU FAT REAR END ... DO YOUR JOB AND PROVE THESE BOGUS CHARGES TO BE FALSE

OH .. AND STOP BLAMING THE PRESIDENT BECAUSE THE SENATE CAN"T GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER!!!!

ok ... off my rant ... for now

[Howlin]

Come on over here and "DON'T say something ugly about a Republican!"

[Howlin]

Look at this crap?

[Howlin]

(We're yelling)

[Ann Archy]

OK.....Lugar is getting Senile....is that kinder than me calling him Stupid? There's no "There" there.

[68skylark]

There's no "There" there.

Yeah, unfortunately I think you've hit the nail right on the head.

Indiana is a pretty conservative state -- I don't know what we've done to deserve senators who are so left-leaning or ineffectual.

[Mo1]

Sorry ... I'm a tad stressed out :0)

[Howlin]

Huh....I was here screaming before you were.

I cannot believe Lugar folded that fast; MORE calls tomorrow.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

These idiots are going to cost the GOP big time. Voinosonofabitch is a gutless coward.

[Ann Archy]

Amen!!!!! we just canit fight it...whine, whine. Do we only have GIRLY MEN in this committee?

Lugar needs a long vacation....he always has that idiot blank look with the start of a weird smile....he's starting to creep me out.

[MJY1288]

Watch what happens when Condi gets back, After all... Bolton is her personal recommendation for this position. It is Lugar's job to rally his members on the Committee, not the POTUS. Can you imagine the whining we would here if Dubya was to pressure the Foreign Relation Committee members? They left would cry foul and claim Dubya was violating the Separation of Powers clause in the Constitution and demand DUBYA be impeached.

I'll bet you anything Bolton will be voted out of Committee and get 60 votes on the Floor

[Mo1]

Lugar needs a long vacation

I admit that Lugar got blind sided by Voinovich yesterday

And who does this MORONIC IDIOT Staffer blame??

The President??

I DON'T THINK SO!!!

[Eagle of Liberty]

Just heard on Brit Hume:

Voinovich said that the Holy Spirit moved him to vote down Bolton yesterday.

[TomGuy]

This is turning out to be the weakest majority party in history. They can't even keep their own membership on the same page, much less try to counter the opposition party.