« Another Old Media meltdown | Main | FEC to decide who is a journalist? »
June 28, 2005
Senate Democrats in quagmire on Bolton nomination
The White House has Senate Democrats over a barrel with the nomination of John Bolton to be Ambassador to the United Nations. Last week, Harry Reid & Co. thought it had a win when Majority Leader Bill Frist announced that there would be no more attempts at cloture after the most recent effort to get an up-or-down vote failed. But following a lunch meeting at the White House, the Republican leader awkwardly reversed course. Clearly, a plan was underway to not only make sure Bolton would be dispatched to New York, but that Democrats would suffer a political price for their partisan opposition.
The Senate minority leadership has tried to “Bork” President Bush’s choice for the UN in order to assert its relevance in the governing process that voters have withdrawn from them in ever greater proportions in the last three elections. It blathers on about principled opposition, but the case barely passes the laugh test. The first objection was that Bolton abused subordinates. If that were sufficient to disqualify someone from public service, then the emasculating, lamp-throwing former First Lady should forget about her presidential aspirations.
There was a charge that Bolton “unfairly” tried to get an analyst reassigned, but that was a non-starter. Democrats finally decided to hold out for the names of intelligence personnel contained in various “intercepts.” It began with 7 names then expanded to 36. Both the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Intelligence Committee reviewed the documents and said that there is no basis for the allegations of misconduct.
The White House is refusing to release the information to the full Senate and is claiming Democrats are “moving the goalposts.” It continues to call for a confirmation vote, but won’t be disappointed if cloture fails once again. The minority faces a dilemma: It can stand fast with the filibuster after which the President would make a recess appointment during the Independence Day holiday or capitulate and give the up-or-down vote. Either way, Bolton will represent the United States at the UN. Democrats have to decide how they want to lose.
If they cave in and allow an up-or-down vote, the last vestige of their perceived influence in the Senate would evaporate. It would also inflame the Democratic base that keeps pressing for greater resistance to the Republican majority. That’s why it won’t happen.
Instead, the next cloture vote will be great political drama. Both sides will take to the floor, Republicans appealing for fairness and Democrats wailing about “minority rights” and “advise and consent.” With every single senator casting a vote, cloture will be defeated, and the President will make a recess appointment. The Democrats will have another round of wailing after Bush gives Bolton the job, but public opinion on this one will come down on the side of majority rule, despite the bleating of the liberal media.
Moreover, the Democrats will have given Karl Rove all that he needs moving toward the 2006 mid-term elections. His remarks last week had Democrats scrambling to deny that they are weak on security issues, but the debacle they created with the Bolton nomination has put them in precisely that spot. Democrats will have put partisan politics above national security by keeping the UN post vacant during a critical point in the global war on terror.
The Democrats have painted themselves into a corner on this one and the ramifications are even more profound when observed a broader context. The chastened minority will have little desire to suffer the same humiliation on a larger scale when a Supreme Court vacancy occurs. An agitated base will turn on the impotent leadership, a spectacle worth watching.
It’s “game over” before the coin-toss, the evil genius has done it again.
Posted by jeffgannon at June 28, 2005 08:03 AM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.jeffgannon.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/78
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Senate Democrats in quagmire on Bolton nomination:
» The Impending Supreme Court Vacancies from The Fargus Report
I'd like to see justices passed through who would agree with what I would want. Who wouldn't? I'd like to see justices passed through who would view bans on gay marriage as unconstitutional. I'd like to see justices passed through who wouldn't overtu... [Read More]
Tracked on June 29, 2005 08:29 AM
» lexapro compare prozac from lexapro versus zoloft
celexa lexapro dosage comparison lexapro memory forum taking lexapro at 5 mg lexapro side effects when will my withdrawl from lexapro end lexapro 5 millagram lexapro withdrawal symptoms lexapro and menstrual cycle lexapro safe for adolecents lexapro we... [Read More]
Tracked on August 2, 2005 01:08 PM
» naked black women from
black babes black stockings naked black women black rose black hole black tight virgin pussy [Read More]
Tracked on August 21, 2005 07:57 AM
» prescription medicine from prescription medicine
prescription medicine [Read More]
Tracked on August 24, 2005 12:39 PM
» mature pussy from
hairy men gay guys the true voyeur latin sex voyeur see through lingeri... [Read More]
Tracked on September 5, 2005 06:30 AM
» mature moms from
milf rider black milf mature lesbians milf seekers milf seekers mature pussy [Read More]
Tracked on September 17, 2005 09:24 PM
» dog sex from
blowing a horse cock men having sex with animals sex with animals horse blowjobs sex with animals... [Read More]
Tracked on September 17, 2005 09:24 PM
» Bugatti Veyron from Bugatti Veyron
Legendary sports car maker Bugatti is to produce the worlds fastest road car after a prototype last week exceeded 400kmh on a German test track, silencing critics who predicted the car would never achieve its ambitious goal. [Read More]
Tracked on September 23, 2005 05:40 PM
» buy phentermine cash on delivery overnight shipping cod fedex from buy phentermine cash on delivery overnight shipping cod fedex
... [Read More]
Tracked on February 21, 2006 12:42 PM
» personal dating service from personal dating service
personal dating service [Read More]
Tracked on March 19, 2006 07:17 AM
» dating tips from dating tips
dating tips [Read More]
Tracked on March 22, 2006 01:46 AM
» Women having sex free clips from Hentai movie scenes
Bi sex young free Video incest free gratis Free nude rape movies The sex girls [Read More]
Tracked on April 8, 2006 04:57 PM
» rpggames from rpggames
rpggames [Read More]
Tracked on April 9, 2006 10:54 AM
» mazda from Mazta cars
[Read More]
Tracked on April 12, 2006 01:33 PM
» Animated porn japanese from Desi storysexy
Interracial movie video free Rape and torture women pics Lesbian moms gallery Free sex movies thai girls [Read More]
Tracked on April 16, 2006 09:25 AM
» fashion merchandising degree from fashion merchandising degree
fashion merchandising degree [Read More]
Tracked on April 27, 2006 10:28 AM
» ephedra from ephedra
[Read More]
Tracked on April 30, 2006 05:17 AM
» allele specific oligonucleotide from allele specific oligonucleotide
allele specific oligonucleotide [Read More]
Tracked on May 4, 2006 03:49 PM
» hawaiian flower from hawaiian flower
hawaiian flower [Read More]
Tracked on May 17, 2006 03:18 PM
» trans union credit reporting from trans union credit reporting
trans union credit reporting [Read More]
Tracked on May 18, 2006 10:33 PM
» girl sandal from girl sandal
[Read More]
Tracked on May 24, 2006 11:36 PM
» valium online from valium online
Only if You interested: buy valium Val001Xp [Read More]
Tracked on May 30, 2006 08:03 PM
» viagra from viagra
Only if You interested for vi776001gra: generic viagra site [Read More]
Tracked on June 1, 2006 04:11 PM
» bmw boston from bmw boston
[Read More]
Tracked on June 24, 2006 07:23 PM
» best home base business opportunity from best home base business opportunity
Huv0ttakNa [Read More]
Tracked on July 14, 2006 07:48 AM
» home equity loan from home equity loan
home equity loan [Read More]
Tracked on August 5, 2006 02:04 PM
» home equity loans from home equity loans
home equity loans [Read More]
Tracked on August 27, 2006 07:11 PM
» cheap tramadol from cheap tramadol
cheap tramadol [Read More]
Tracked on September 29, 2006 07:29 AM
» forex charts from forex charts
top forex charts in the business [Read More]
Tracked on October 24, 2006 01:43 AM
» interest mortgage rate from interest mortgage rate
| mortgage calculator [Read More]
Tracked on November 4, 2006 02:38 AM
» Free movie of gay from Erotic literature rapeforce
Taboo samples Clips desi naked Forum sex links Blacks fucking indian girls Voilent s... [Read More]
Tracked on December 10, 2006 07:12 AM
» Shemale search engine from Shemale search engine
Read more about Shemale search engine [Read More]
Tracked on December 18, 2006 03:03 PM
» Hydrocodone from Hydrocodone
Read more about Hydrocodone [Read More]
Tracked on December 20, 2006 06:49 PM
» Hydrocodone from Hydrocodone
Read more about Hydrocodone [Read More]
Tracked on December 20, 2006 06:54 PM
» buy lexapro from buy lexapro
Read more about buy lexapro [Read More]
Tracked on December 26, 2006 10:27 PM
» cheap zoloft from cheap zoloft
Read more about cheap zoloft [Read More]
Tracked on December 27, 2006 08:24 PM
» Beautiful ladyboys pic from Beautiful ladyboys pic
Read more about Beautiful ladyboys pic [Read More]
Tracked on December 30, 2006 07:59 PM
» Drew gooden from Drew gooden
Read more about Drew gooden [Read More]
Tracked on December 31, 2006 09:39 PM
» asian adult dvd from asian adult dvd
Senate Democrats in quagmire on Bolton nomination [Read More]
Tracked on January 9, 2007 09:01 PM
» buy herceptin from buy herceptin
Read more about buy herceptin [Read More]
Tracked on January 10, 2007 12:38 AM
» Always will lyrics from Always will lyrics
Read more about Always will lyrics [Read More]
Tracked on January 15, 2007 10:29 AM
» Texes reviews from Texes reviews
Read more about Texes reviews [Read More]
Tracked on January 23, 2007 12:06 AM
» life from that not
not [Read More]
Tracked on January 28, 2007 01:30 PM
» ediburgh sex clubs from pre teen litttle girls nude video
pissing lesbian mpegs [Read More]
Tracked on January 28, 2007 03:21 PM
» Fanlisting inuyasha from Fanlisting inuyasha
Read more about Fanlisting inuyasha [Read More]
Tracked on January 29, 2007 03:31 PM
» dragonball z game from dragonball z game
Relevant dragonball z game [Read More]
Tracked on February 16, 2007 02:17 AM
» mr chews asian beavaers from illustrated erotic fiction
free no credit card sex [Read More]
Tracked on March 10, 2007 04:55 AM
» family incest from family incest
family incest [Read More]
Tracked on March 23, 2007 02:42 AM
» dvd extreme xxx from dvd extreme xxx
Senate Democrats in quagmire on Bolton nomination [Read More]
Tracked on April 17, 2007 06:20 AM
» free gang bang movie from free gang bang movie
Actual articles about free gang bang movie and more. [Read More]
Tracked on April 21, 2007 02:30 PM
» Incest Porn from Incest Porn
Incest Porn [Read More]
Tracked on April 22, 2007 02:44 AM
» piano song from piano song
shit-happens 452187 News about piano song. [Read More]
Tracked on June 21, 2007 05:46 AM