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Republicans Worry About Bolton

By TChris, Section Other Politics
Posted on Mon Apr 18, 2005 at 05:10:18 PM EST
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by TChris

While Human Events characterizes Democratic opposition to John Bolton, President Bush's choice as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, as a "smear campaign" -- apparently because Democrats have smeared the truth about Bolton's unsuitability for the job on the public record -- it reports that Republican misgivings about Bolton may doom his nomination.

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.

Human Events identifies the potential "turncoats" -- that is, the Republican Senators who might not follow the president's command -- as "[l]iberal GOP Sen. Lincoln Chafee" and "presidential hopeful Sen. Chuck Hagel." Here's the Human Events warning to Hagel:

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.

Shorter version: resistence is futile.

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    Republicans Worry About Bolton | 21 comments (21 topical)
    Re: Republicans Worry About Bolton (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 18, 2005 at 06:08:24 PM EST
    et al - "and presidential hopeful Sen. Chuck Hagel." If Hagel has any hopes at all, then he can't be dumb enough to vote against Bolton. That would be political suicide.

    Re: Republicans Worry About Bolton (none / 0) (#2)
    by jimcee on Mon Apr 18, 2005 at 06:20:20 PM EST
    I like Bolton and think he would make a good UN ambassador(sp?). He is just serious and scary enough to be an asset as was Moynihan and Kilpatrick i.e. he won't brook any sh*t from these jokers. If you think he has been too hard on the UN in the past then I guess you think that the US ought to "go along to get along" with a corrupt and cynical organisation. The UN who thinks it is OK for it's workers to sexually abuse kids in Africa and Asia, who turn a blind eye to genocide in Sudan while putting the perpetrators on the Human Rights Commission and those who's own corrupt officials stole food and medicine from the mouths of Iraqi children to line their and their families pockets. Those same folks that were willing to let the Serbs kill Bosian Muslims and bury them in mass graves and allowed Saddam to do the same with Shiites and Kurds. The UN who tried to take credit for the aid that was sent to Banda Aceh from Australia and the US while "deploying" their workers to the best accomadations well away from the scene of the Tsunami disaster. Somehow I think the UN is ripe for a real a** kicking and truth telling from Mr Bolton. So why does TL not like Mr. Bolton? Because he was mean to some sniveling sh*ts at the State Dep't? Or because he is Bush's choice? He is the right man for the job and anything less than a hard-a** ambasador would just keep this rather sh*tty organisation from straightening up. Who would be better now, any suggestions?

    Re: Republicans Worry About Bolton (none / 0) (#3)
    by soccerdad on Mon Apr 18, 2005 at 06:34:26 PM EST
    From the Nelson report via Steve Clemons
    If the fight over John Bolton's UN nomination were just about John Bolton, he'd be history already. But this isn't about Bolton, it's about the exercise of power. Same thing with House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. If this was even 5 years ago, hed be toast. We are at the point now where the Republican Leadership refuses to allow the possibility of a loss on anything, regardless of the merits. This renders "debate" meaningless, since nothing said actually matters, so truth is irrelevant
    Re: Republicans Worry About Bolton (none / 0) (#4)
    by Che's Lounge on Mon Apr 18, 2005 at 07:07:45 PM EST
    Soc, Great link. Bolton's mission, IMHO, is to render the UN as irrelevant as possible. Leave it a general relief agency.

    Re: Republicans Worry About Bolton (none / 0) (#5)
    by jimcee on Mon Apr 18, 2005 at 07:52:26 PM EST
    Che, the UN has done that job pretty well already but you knew that. They haven't been relevant since the days of Dag Hammerskjold.

    Re: Republicans Worry About Bolton (none / 0) (#6)
    by aw on Mon Apr 18, 2005 at 08:19:23 PM EST
    jimcee: tell us about the days of dag hammerskjold. Seriously. What was different then.

    Re: Republicans Worry About Bolton (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 19, 2005 at 12:48:01 AM EST
    And please, Jimcee, tell us how a credible alternative to UN would look like. Do you even realize what a powerful tool for US foreign policy the permanent seat in the Security Council is? You are not that delusional, are you, that you think the US has the military power to singlehandedly control the rest of the world? (John Bolton is quite an interesting fellow, though. A sort of "activist diplomat" for the Bushian America.)

    Re: Republicans Worry About Bolton (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 19, 2005 at 06:11:48 AM EST
    SD - Your comment doesn't make a lot of sense. Why would the administration nominate someone that they would want to lose? So what evil thing have they done by supporting their own nomination? mar - If the UN actually accomoplished anything, and if the average American believed anything they said, then you would be right. But that isn't the case. What would replace it? Nothing would work as well. aw - You may not remember but there was a pretty serious Cold War going on. The UN actually provided a forum for the world's powers to debate, discuss and have back channel contact on issues. Then it was opened up to the third world countries and slowly, but surely, it became a third world organization. Corrupt, powerless and useless.

    Re: Republicans Worry About Bolton (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 19, 2005 at 06:28:41 AM EST
    "So why does TL not like Mr. Bolton? Because he was mean to some sniveling sh*ts at the State Dep't? Or because he is Bush's choice?" Why choose? But those are the two least important reasons. The fact that he's crazy (as in psychotic), plays poorly with others, and doesn't know a bloody thing about the UN except what he's read in the John Birch Blue Book are the main reasons. (Note to wingnuts: One good reason why Bolton's latest accuser (of several) is a "Mother Opposed to Bush" surely is that men like John Bolton have power in the Bush administration.)

    Re: Republicans Worry About Bolton (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 19, 2005 at 06:42:33 AM EST
    Better to send Kissinger. Then we are actually represented at the World Body by a guy who actually sounds like a nazi instead of just having nazi ideals.

    Re: Republicans Worry About Bolton (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 19, 2005 at 06:43:58 AM EST
    I sincerely apologize to all nazi's who are offended by comparisons with our current government. There are just too many parallels to ignore.

    Re: Republicans Worry About Bolton (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 19, 2005 at 07:38:44 AM EST
    More Bolton abusiveness. Conscious angel: comparisons between Bolton and Nazis are uninformed. They are also counterproductive, except for the purpose of venting. But effective politics is never practiced by venting.

    Re: Republicans Worry About Bolton (none / 0) (#13)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 19, 2005 at 07:50:40 AM EST
    Didn't take long for the nazi canard to come out, did it?

    Re: Republicans Worry About Bolton (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 19, 2005 at 08:38:43 AM EST
    No troll cookies for you today, Jim (of course, it's still early). The Nazi thing does get hurled around TL a lot. It's pretty much the in house "low blow" to make Nazi comparisons. Of course, the recipient of said comparison generally doesn't slap their forehead and say "Dang! I'm acting like a Nazi! Thanks for the warning!". However it is relevant in the sense that the "Nazis" weren't a race of genetically deformed mutants that emerged from the sewers. They were a cultured, civilized country full of Aryans. The Nazi's were a political party that gained absolute authority by preying on hardship and fear. The goals of the "architects" of the facist takeover were not those of the people who supported them. And many innocents were killed while many other innocents learned of their dark sides and the power of denial. The Nazis show us our worst side. We should all remember the Holocaust (not just Jews) and the people who went back inside, shut the doors, closed the shades while the families who had been their neighbors disappeared in front of them. We should also remember those few who refused to buy the party line. Who hid children and conducted espionage at the risk of being called "race traitors". I've seen the worst of the worst of the pictures, film and stories. There is a reason we should never forget.

    Re: Republicans Worry About Bolton (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 19, 2005 at 08:46:45 AM EST
    If the jackboot fits...

    Re: Republicans Worry About Bolton (none / 0) (#16)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 19, 2005 at 10:14:58 AM EST
    Jim - Seems like the average American disagrees with you. According to a recent PIPA poll, 59% of Americans think that the UN should have MORE to say in international affairs, not less. (Link to Program on International Policy Attitudes.)

    Re: Republicans Worry About Bolton (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 19, 2005 at 01:26:35 PM EST
    Comparing Bolton and the Administration to Nazis? Frankly, if you are so pampered, sheltered and naive to see any resemblence I would question your credibility, intelligence, and understanding. That is foolish and shows a regrettable lack of understanding about history and politics. That said, Hagel has about as much shot at the Presidency as Michael Jackson- and Mikey has name rec going for him.

    Re: Republicans Worry About Bolton (none / 0) (#18)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 19, 2005 at 07:06:21 PM EST
    What would make me think Bolton and his gang seem like Nazi's? Here's a quote for you: "This so-called ill treatment and torture in detention centers, stories of which were spread everywhere among the people, and later by the prisoners who were freed were not, as some assumed, inflicted methodically, but were excesses committed by individual prison guards, their deputies, and men who laid violent hands on the detainees." Rudolf Hess, the SS commandant at Auschwitz. Many Germans in the 1930's may have felt uncomfortable standing up to the Nazi's. Many Germans in the 1930's might have decided it wasn't worth the risk to their careers to stand up to a popular political figure like Hitler. Many Germans, Russians, Brits, Americans, French, Italians, etc were dead ten years later. You want to take a chance that war on Afghanistan and Iraq won't spread to war on Syria, war on Iran? You want to stay in line? Live safe? Go ahead. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15 Sometimes service of the Lord may require speaking uncomfortable truths to power. So be it. Bolton is a thug and a representative of a government that is running amok. I think that any challenges to their plans, appointments, policies reduce the chance that this country will get more out of control.

    Re: Republicans Worry About Bolton (none / 0) (#19)
    by jimcee on Tue Apr 19, 2005 at 11:04:35 PM EST
    I thought that this site was better than when the participants ran out of arguements against Mr Bolton they would resort to the "Nazi" analogy but I was wrong. I guess that if you oppose Bolton's nomination then you are pro Darfur genocide, want North Korea to be an atomic power as well as treat their own people so well (sarcasism alert), and you are OK with child rape and genocide as long as it is under UN auspices. You must also think that the UN has been benevolent in the "oil for food" scandal. [insult deleted] If you don't like Bolton personally that is one thing (though I doubt you do know him personally), but if you think he would be a bad thing for a corrupt organisation because he might call them out on thier corruption then you are either as corrupt as the UN or just blinded by your own political prejudices. Either way, why do you think that the UN is an honest, true to thier mission and caring about the downtrodden folks in the world? [insults deleted, commenter warned. No name calling allowed here.]

    Re: Republicans Worry About Bolton (none / 0) (#20)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Apr 20, 2005 at 02:00:31 AM EST
    Posted by jimcee: "I guess that if you oppose Bolton's nomination then you are pro Darfur genocide," Oh, yeah, Bush and Bolton are RACING to stop that. They don't need those airbases as much, apparently. "want North Korea to be an atomic power" Since Bush ally Pakistan gave them the tech they needed, why would Bush ally John Bolton be the person to turn to? Bush also like this cat Kadafi, a terrrorist. And Osama's brother was Bush's business partner. He has lots of weird friends like John Bolton. "as well as treat their own people so well (sarcasism alert), and you are OK with child rape and genocide as long as it is under UN auspices." Back when Bush sr. was blocking UN sanctions on Hussein, and was in fact SELLING HIM BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS -- what do you, on your high moral chair, call that? "You must also think that the UN has been benevolent in the "oil for food" scandal." Yeah, now they can count on the 'murder for profit' scandal that IS the Bush administration, with his INTEL-TWISTING Bolton thug.

    Re: Republicans Worry About Bolton (none / 0) (#21)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Apr 20, 2005 at 02:10:31 AM EST
    "However it is relevant in the sense that the "Nazis" weren't a race of genetically deformed mutants that emerged from the sewers." Oh, well, in that case, then Bush and Bolton are definitely not Nazis.

    Republicans Worry About Bolton | 21 comments (21 topical)