Breaking: Bolton Resigns as UN Ambassador
By docj Posted in Archived — Comments (32) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Promoted from diaries. Irritated swearing optional, and restricted strictly to offline only. - Moe Lane.
Details are sketchy, but Fox and just about everyone else is reporting that President Bush has accepted John Bolton's resignation as the US Ambassador to the UN. He plans to leave his post when his appointment expires. I can only assume that means John Bolton is out, for good - and we can chalk-up one in the "win" column for Chris Dodd. Oh, joy!
I'm sure there will be plenty more, and lots of discussion, as details unfold.
Translation: Bush surrenders. Again.
As I understand it, if Bush put him in again via a second recess appointment, Bolton couldn't be paid. I don't think we can ask anyone to do that for us.
That said, I don't understand why this fight wasn't made more public, to make the Dems use some political capital.
I have never understood the big deal made about Bolton. I mean, he was the ambasador the to UN - WHO CARES? I didn't think he was worth a dime of political capital - you lose a couple rounds in politics - I was just so annoyed that such an effort was spent to try and save this guy and he just wasn't worth it. I'm glad he's gone - he was never importaint in the first place and for sure he's the last thing we need to try waste energy to save now.
Oh yes, let's conserve our energy and not waste it on Mr. Bolton. Let's toss up soft-ball nominations for those expendable positions like the UN and the DoD. After all, keeping our capital in the bank is much more important than actually expending treasure and effort to put anyone who's not politically expedient in these jobs. We should just take a powder on this one, then we'll be all fresh and rested and ready to fight!
The only problem is that there will be nothing left for which to fight.
"I'm kind of old-fashioned. I like to engage my brain before my mouth." Donald Rumsfeld
Of course the Prez. should not give all the time - but there is such a thing as going too far the other way and needing to win 'EVERY' time. As soon as all the fuss over Bolton started to come up, they should have switched and found someone who was like minded, but without the baggage. Am I supposed to believe that Bolton was the only person who could kick ass at the UN? This wasn't the Supreme Court seat we were fighting over. Especially now that the Dems have the Seanate, the Prez needs to pick his fights more carfully - Bolton and the post he was in are just not worth it.
No president gets everyone they want - it just doesn't happen. Be glad that it's such an unimportaint position for Bush to lose on.
Having a Jim Baker-like "realist" at the UN is going to be a great help whenever the Democrat-controlled congress wants GWB to go play "Mother May I?" with this den of snakes every time he needs to take a leak.
Brilliant.
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"I don't know." -- Helen Thomas, when asked by White House spokesman Scott McClellan, "Are we at war, Helen?"
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"I don't know." -- Helen Thomas, when asked by White House spokesman Scott McClellan, "Are we at war, Helen?"
You have misunderstood me. I can't stand Jim Baker and his type. Send up another ass-kicker but one without all the baggage Bolton had. I'm sure they are out there. Clinton had to go to the well three times to get an AG - though I think we'd have done better to let one of the illegal nanny ones in rather than wind up with Janet Reno/Adolph Eichmann. But Bolton isn't worth going to the mat over and never was.
But only as to the particulars (I happen to believe Bolton's "baggage" was a fat load of nothing-burger) and not to the overall picture.
And perhaps in that I place the odds of Bush nominating a anything remotely resembling an "@ss-kicker" for this or any other post the rest of his term at slim to none - with slim well on his way out of town.
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"I don't know." -- Helen Thomas, when asked by White House spokesman Scott McClellan, "Are we at war, Helen?"
Bolton did a great job he was at the UN the past year, and he understands how to navigate that den of thieves. If he is not worth fighting for, who is? This is a big blow to the president, but Bush can redeem himself by recess-appointing Rick Santorum to the post.
that the cut and run conservatives who threw a temper tantrum on election day wanted to send. Once again, the paleocons did more damage to this country by acting like a toddler who didn't get therir juice box.
Nov 7, 2006 was a day of shame for those who sat out. You let KOS win.
Bolton's leaving the UN will have real consequesces for America in the GWOT. Bolton was a no-nonsense guy who was unconcerned with whether or not he made the guest list at the right parties. He represented the interests of the US and not the UN and for that he will be sorely missed.
Now, if President Bush can just find someone with the same kind of grit and determination. Someone who understands the stakes in this war and who has spoken out about them. Someone who has the strength of character not to be steam-rolled into forsaking his nation's interests amidst by the diplomatic niceties and double speak of Turtle Bay.
Such a someone would have to have demonstrated the courage of his convictions recently. Say in a losing but well run campaign for...oh...maybe Senator or something. Yeah, Senator, from a northeastern liberal leaning state in which his campaign doggedly spoke on the issues of the day and declined to pander to the "public mood" in a bid to save his job. An ex-Senator like that would have a better than even chance of confirmation, no?
Are there any of these laying around in need of something to do for the next two years?
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Develop alternatives to existing policies and keep them alive and available until the politically impossible becomes the politically inevitable. Milton Friedman
Please, dear Lord, let Turd Muffin have read this marvelous piece of wisdom so we can drive Dodd putso nutso.
I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful 100 percent.
I am truly saddened by this event I don't think anyone could have been more right for a position then John Bolton in the den of the devil. He said what needed to be said and helped us to look like the America we used to be before drug-addled "progressives" forced un-civil society on us in the 60's, 70's etc. I would like to see Bush send Santorum on up to the UN, would he get through the Senate hmmm maybe.
Peace through superior fire power:)
"Bully" appears to be the Dems new pejorative. Academic Elephant just posted on Gates' nomination. Apparently Gates is also accused of bullying (he hit on other CIA analysts for their lunch money?) in a LA Times article based on National Security Archive documents. Rumsfeld, of course, is also accused of bullying it the LATimes article.
Is this the Oprahization of American security policy? Are we going to get metrosexuals making policy, even though Dean wasn't elected?
We're fighting terrorists who want to destroy our country. Have the Dems not heard of Orwell's observation (which is the slogan for the Mudville Gazette blog):
"Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence in their behalf.
I think this would be a great chance for the President to make a great bipartisan outreach by appointing Democratic Senator Lieberman to the post. Of course, Gov. Rell will appoint Nancy Johnson to the Senate and Republicans will regain control, but that's just a side point. This is an "opportunity" to "reach out" and "mend fences" with the Democrats. Hopefully, the President will take the opportunity.
I'm guessing Harry Reid would check this manuever by informing Liebermann in a public way that he would be filibustered, if not totally voted down. Then we'd find out if there is any substance to his threats to switch caucuses...
2006 is done, 2008 is another day and another fight
Sure. Like that's gonna happen.
Thanks Adam - best laugh I've had today.
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"I don't know." -- Helen Thomas, when asked by White House spokesman Scott McClellan, "Are we at war, Helen?"
There are a lot of people who expected that to happen with Secretary of Defense with Lieberman taking Sec of Defense. I don't see it being any more likely with any job that Bush could offer him with the possible exception of Vice President in the event of a Cheney resignation.
OTOH, some of the Republicans who lost bids for re-election in 2006 would be viewed as quite reasonable candidates on both sides of the aisle. If Sen. Chafee for example were nominated, I would expect the entire confirmation process to take about 3 hours and pass on a voice vote.
Lieberman would have to be an idiot to trade the most powerful position in the U.S. Senate for the UN ambassador job.
The only trade I'd make if I were him would be for a SCT job. Even a short stint at VP wouldn't be worth giving up what he has now. He is the preeminent power broker in the Senate.
And it would be pretty hard for the Connecticut governor to appoint a Republican after the Republicans got 9%-10% of the vote in that state's recent Senate election.
The Republican was actually shunned by the Republican Party - who almost expressly supported Lieberman (Rell and Shays were both pro-Lieberman). The CT GOP asked Schlessinger to drop out when his gambling issues came to light.
How do we know how the vote would have split if the choice were Lamont vs. Schlessinger? The GOP would probably have polled much better.
And considering that Simmons, Johnson and Shays all got over 45% of the vote each (and each came close to 50%), it's not a stretch to say that there are Republicans in CT. Plus Rell won a big victory.
Besides - it is entirely Rell's decision. The individual may not win a special election (probably not going to be held until 2008 anyway), but she's not obligated to pick the person that would win an election.
He would be a good choice, but the "side point" about Republicans regaining the Senate would probably cause Lieberman to refuse the offer. Why would Lieberman give up 6 years in the Senate for a UN post that might not last beyond two years (unless a President McCain decided to keep him on)?
Besides, a President Hillary (G*d forbid) would probably name her husband...
Whoever has the President's ear should be whispering..."San-to-rum!"
The bad news: Conservatism is hard to sell. The good news is that it works.
...like I needed another one...that this administration and President is in full blown, yellow-bellied, tail-between-the-legs retreat mode. Yeah, I guess that I'm about done defending this indefensible, dysfunctional, pathetic excuse for an administration.
I hope this is some strategy but I don't think it is. Why wouldn't there be a fight for Bolton. At least make the Dems take responsibility for his departure. I do not like where this is going. Are there names that Dems are putting out there for potential support? Do I really want to know?
I guarantee the UN will party soon. That'll just confirm we did the wrong thing.
If you most often find yourself arguing the exceptions rather than the rule you just might be on your own slippery slope to irrelevance. -CommonCents
... "Just damn?" BTW, how about Newt Gingrich? He won't be getting elected to anything anytime soon.
If you thought getting Bolton confirmed was a challenge ... Gingrich?
John
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Ethnic humor is part of human nature. The Dutch tell Belgian jokes. The Belgians tell French jokes. The French tell English jokes. The English tell Irish jokes. The Irish tell Irish jokes.
Gingrich's bigger value is reforming America directly or indirectly. I don't think he'd be best utilized at the UN.
If you always find yourself arguing the exceptions rather than the rule you just might be rapidly sliding down your own slippery slope to irrelevance. -CommonCents
Have the "second in command" of the UN delegation resign, and give Bolton a recess appointment to that position. It would obviate the consecutive appointment issue. And then just fail to nominate an actual UN Ambassador and have Bolton act in the position.
Or better yet, appoint a series of people who would be totally unacceptable to the Democrats (you can start with Rumsfeld and go from there). That would leave Bolton in the job until Bush could just give up and give Bolton another recess appointment.
And make no mistake, this is not the Dems. This nomination is not being confirmed because of Lincoln Chafee and the total lack of testicles on the part of Sen. Lugar (chair of foreign relations) and Sen. Frist, both of whom could have probably forced the issue to the floor (I presume that a 10-10 FR Comm. vote could have gone to the floor with no recommendation - at worst Frist could have forced a discharge). This all should have been done months ago. Once the lame duck session rolled around it was clear the GOP was not going to grow a spine and rile the Dems.
lawyer, or both. I must admit that my first thought was how to get somebody good in acting status or finesse another recess appointment. It's all about knowing how to work the system after all, something at which the GWB Administration has been astoundingly inadept.
In Vino Veritas
Why can't the current GOP Senate replace Chafee with some more reliable member on the committee and allow Bolton's nomination to go to the floor, where it would win confirmation? What is Chafee going to do, switch parties?
From Terrance Hunt at the AP:
Translation: Bush surrenders. Again.
And I forgot all about this:
To which I can add only the following:
1) Linc, your departure from the Senate will be entirely unlamented
2) You are not intellectually or in any other way qualified to wash John Bolton's smelly jock, you insipid punk, and
3) Thanks again to Liddy Dole for tossing well over $1M to save this wretch at the expense of Steve Laffey - great use of Republican resources, that.
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"I don't know." -- Helen Thomas, when asked by White House spokesman Scott McClellan, "Are we at war, Helen?"