WP: GOP Senator Wavers on Bolton (Chafee)

[Pirate Smile]

GOP Senator Wavers on Bolton
Yes Vote Less Likely, Chafee Signals; White House Defends U.N. Nominee

By Charles Babington and Jim VandeHei
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, April 21, 2005; Page A02

A key Republican senator signaled yesterday he is less likely to support the embattled nomination of John R. Bolton to be United Nations ambassador after a dramatic meeting Tuesday, and said he would discuss with GOP colleagues whether President Bush should withdraw Bolton's name.

The White House, meanwhile, launched an aggressive campaign to salvage the nomination. Spokesman Scott McClellan accused Democrats of manufacturing charges to discredit Bolton and "score political points."

Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee (R-R.I.), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee that is weighing the nomination, "is less likely right now" to vote to confirm Bolton, his spokesman Stephen Hourahan said in an interview. The senator, he said, "wants to get to the bottom" of new allegations about Bolton's dealings with subordinates and classified information. Until Tuesday, when committee Democrats attacked Bolton's record and won a three-week extension to investigate it, Chafee repeatedly had said he was reluctantly inclined to vote for Bolton.

A negative vote by Chafee could deeply wound the nomination because it would prevent the committee -- which Republicans control 10 to 8 -- from recommending Bolton to the full Senate. With all eight committee Democrats opposed to Bolton, a Chafee defection would lead to a 9 to 9 tie at best. The nomination then could reach the Senate floor only with "no recommendation" from the committee, a dubious status that might make it easier for unenthusiastic Republicans to vote against it.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6101-2005Apr20.html

[Straight Shooter]

1. Democrats don't have to "manufacture" charges. Bolton is a creep.

His record speaks for itself. McClellan wishes there were a shredder that could take care of Bolton's history of intimidation, and Gawd knows what else the man has done that hasn't come to light.

Come on, Chafee, don't be a wimp. Vote your conscience.

[w4rma]

11. Chafee's "conscience" is to vote for Bolton. He is just trying to fool the

folks back home that he isn't a rubber-stamp Republican. I predict that Chafee will vote for Bolton if Chafee is the deciding vote and against Bolton if his vote doesn't matter because Voinovich was the deciding vote.

[BrendaStarr]

26. Or maybe he read some polls.

I can't even think that anyone who considers voting for Bolton has a conscience.

That cricket on his shoulder called Karl Rove should be called something else.

The word "conscience" usually means something good.

[maddezmom]

2. oh boy, this is getting interesting

must be lots of stuff at State.

[Voltaire99]

13. It's really a pleasure to see our masters even inconvenienced for a bit...

...if not halted.

Delay in extremis; Bolton on hold; Bush's SS dreams floundering...

April showers bring May flowers! ;-)

[nine30]

3. Rush hollered about it for a full hour today..

..

[salin]

5. While I didn't hear him... sounds ironic

given his often wrong diatribes against democrats over the years... sounds like a case of projection... because I always lie spin and get false stories into circulation - I KNOW that these allegations must be exactly life the fake stories and spew I have thrown out into the air waves for the past 15 years...

[Nothing Without Hope]

4. Did you see Boxer's letter to Bush asking him to nominate someone else?

Another wonderful letter from Boxer to Condi Rice written on the same day - she was warning Condi that telling subordinates to block any bad info about Bolton from the committee was unconsitutional! (and it is)

See them both in this thread, one in the OP and another in the replies:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1735671#1735694
Thread title: Barbara Boxer to * : Nominate a new UN Ambassador!

[kysrsoze]

6. Well, now that pussy says something after Voinovich speaks up

Hey, nice spine, Chafee.

[WhiteTara]

8. You know, I take umbrage at the slur "Pussy"

To denigrate the female form for the sake of an epitaph is
IMHO rude.  Please find some other way to say how disgusting
something is...like maybe "republican".  Thanks for
thinking about this.

[Toots]

27. Ever heard of a little pussy cat

Not every thing has to do with women....

[Mr.Soul]

7. Amazing

Wow, how quickly the vocal Republicans denounce these guys for not "dancing with the one who brought them".

They still live by that good ol' boy creed.

[calimary]

31. Welcome to DU, Mr. Soul!

Glad you're here - we NEED you! Now get to work!

[Erika]

9. Bolton is a nut

Even the GOP administration should see this.

[calimary]

10. Guys - RED ALERT! We HAVE to push this for the rest of the week.

CALL! Check www.congress.org for the directories to these people, Voinovich (so we don't lose him) and Chafee, so we push him all the way over to reason and The Light. The website www.congress.org has listings for local/regional as well as in Washington. If it's cheaper to call the local/regional office instead of DC, DO IT. JUST DO IT.

We need this for several reasons:

a) to get RID of bolton once and for all. Remember, this vermin specimen and serial abuser/terrorizer/asshole would be YOUR face and YOUR name if he goes to the UN - ostensibly to represent YOU and everyone else in our country. Is that REALLY acceptable? Is that really what you want as the face of America to the world? I didn't think so.

b) by accomplishing a), to send a message that bush does NOT get a blank check - for several reasons, not the LEAST of which is WORLD CLASS incompetence in choosing staff and representatives. If this is the way he assembled his management teams at his various companies, no wonder they all went belly-up. It would also give him a nice proverbial punch in the nose and let him know he does NOT get his way all the damned time, particularly when it's this undeserved.

c) by serving notice to the republi-CONS in the Senate that OUR DEMS WILL NOT be pushed around anymore. The spinelessness they've become accustomed to is SO last year. Been there, done that, it's OVER, guys. The republi-CONS will also be served notice that their bullying tactics and their bad decisions will all be shoved straight back into their smug-ass faces, and they'll just have to learn to eat one every so often, perhaps a little MORE often now than before. If they want OUR support, they must be taught that they'd damned well better present us with legislation AND nominees truly and objectively worthy of support. They also need to be taught that their gluttonous bully party is O-V-E-R, and that, as with unruly or nasty children, bad behavior will NOT be rewarded or reinforced.

THERE IS NOTHING MORE CRITICAL THAN MOMENTUM. STALLING IT FOR bUSH AND THE republi-CONS IS ALL IMPORTANT>

d) by giving Democrats a blueprint for success. I think it may have started with Barbara Boxer, actually. She stood up with John Conyers and his fellow House of Reps patriots. She showed that got at least some results, a lot of notice, huge gratitude and a whole lotta flowers from constituents, and the resolve and confirmation that she'd done the correct thing. Others VERY CLEARLY took notice of this. Some of them have VERY CLEARLY decided to grow some new backbone, or at least take their calcium tablets in the morning. Democrats, I hope, will take a lesson from what can happen for you when you yell back, throw a shit-fit, scream, wave your fists, raise your voice, shout somebody down, and STAND YOUR GROUND. You not only make the bad guys hesitate for a moment, but you might actually win over a few of their wavering pals to your side.

CONSIDER: The fact that George Voinovich could be presented with facts and weigh them objectively and reach the conclusions he did - that this not only wasn't passing the smell test, it was just really starting to reek, proves that the republi-CON machine is not monolithic. There are actually a few in there who have slightly less clouded vision and less rigid agendas, and may, on occasion, actually be willing to do what's really good for the country as opposed as what's merely good for the party (which is what the voters presumably HIRED THEM TO DO in the first place). THESE people are reachable, and as Maggie Thatcher once said of Mikhail Gorbachev - "we can do business with them."

AGAIN, THERE IS NOTHING SO CRITICAL AS MOMENTUM. NOT ONLY STALLING IT FOR bUSH AND THE republi-CONS, BUT BUILDING IT FOR THE DEMS. IF THE MOMENTUM STARTS TO SWING THEIR WAY, NO TELLING WHAT KINDS OF FURTHER VICTORIES THEY CAN CHALK UP. LIKE MAYBE PROTECTING THE FILIBUSTER? LIKE MAYBE DEFEATING ANOTHER ONE OF THESE RAT-ASS, STEAMING PILE NOMINEES? LIKE MAYBE GAINING MOMENTUM IN THE EYES OF THE VOTERS (who'd rather hitch their wagons to winners - or PERCEIVED winners, anyway)? 2006 is NOT that far off anymore.

The ball has landed on the green. CAN we knock it home? Sure, you're not there in the Senate to cast a vote. But you ARE in a position to weigh in, and make your voice heard, and how do you know that your urging will not make a difference? Or would you rather just sit back and hope it'll happen just anyway? Or let kkkarl rove's people get all the lobbying time?

www.congress.org - it's great. USE IT.

[Melodybe]

12. The telephone number is 202 224 3121

That give you the capital hill switchboard, just call and ask for your Senator or Congressperson.

[calimary]

28. Good one. Might be a good idea, too, if you're going to try Voinovich's

office - to call his local number. The DC one is busy-busy-busy.

Here's for Cincinatti:

Cincinnati Office of Senator George V. Voinovich
36 E. 7th Street
Room 2615
Cincinnati, OH 45202
[phone]
fax: [phone]

Here is a link to his other regional offices around Ohio:

http://voinovich.senate.gov/state_office/index.htm

Here's Cleveland:

Cleveland Office of Senator George V. Voinovich
1240 East 9th Street
Room 2955
Cleveland, OH 44199
[phone] fax: [phone]

Columbus:

Central Ohio Office of Senator George V. Voinovich
37 West Broad Street
Room 310
Columbus, Ohio 43215
[phone] fax: [phone]

Toledo:

Toledo Office of Senator George V. Voinovich
420 Madison Avenue
Room 1210
Toledo, Ohio 43604
[phone] fax: [phone]



I have also tried www.congress.org and it's on the blink just now (!?)

But www.senate.gov is good.

[Judi Lynn]

14. Bolton confirmation prospects sinking

April 20, 2005, 11:25PM

Bolton confirmation prospects sinking
Support from GOP senators continues to cool
By DOUGLAS JEHL and SHERYL GAY STOLBERG
New York Times

WASHINGTON - After an unexpected erosion of Republican support for John R. Bolton, senators and their aides from both parties said Wednesday that his nomination as ambassador to the United Nations now appeared to be in some peril.

Sen. Lincoln Chafee, the Rhode Island Republican who had earlier said he was inclined to support Bolton, said Wednesday that he wanted to consult with his colleagues in the wake of the stormy meeting of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday at which Democrats forced the postponement of a vote until next month. Among the 10 Republicans on the committee, Chafee and two others have now voiced significant doubts about whether Bolton has the temperament and credibility to win confirmation.

Asked Wednesday if he was now less inclined to support the nomination, Chafee said, "That would be accurate."
(snip)

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3145631

[Skidmore]

15. If Bolton goes down, wonder who and how that

vindictive psychopath will go about exacting revenge on if retained by the administration.

[leftchick]

18. I only hope he slinks away silently

and that he is so tainted he can't be used anywhere else.

[Tace]

16. Good News

I saw the video clip on Bolton over at truthout.org. What a monster.

[leftchick]

17. it is about time he snapped out of it!

I wonder who got phone calls from dickie before that session? Chaffee and Hagel certainly acted like they were playing a part promised.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

19. what I think you are seeing

is "enough is enough" on the part of some Republicans. The GOP's unity is cracking-some are realizing that just because Bush wants someone doesn't make that person a good choice for the job. They are realizing that being a rubber stamp, especially for poor nominations, reflect badly on them and on the party. Let's hope that more Republicans wake up to the danger of supporting Bush no matter what, because it will take a handful of courageous Republicans siding with Democrats to stop the insanity which is the Bush Administration.

[dbt]

20. PLEASE let that be true!

If the unity is indeed cracking, the approach of the 06 election season should bear out your theory. I would look for the "pocketbook" issues to suddenly flare up. Fingers crossed!

[truthisfreedom]

21. these frightened thugs are shying away from bolton only now because they

have been given a chance to establish stories and plausible denial, enough to protect them from bushco's long arm... they were being pressured before, but can develop excuses now that there's a couple of weeks window.

[Mend]

22. they could re-watch the Anita Hill/clarence thomas hearings

for ideas. There is always "erotomania, a little bitchy, etc." They need to call orrin hatch and arlen spector for lessons in smearing.

[Skidmore]

23. The Republican from the Ethics Committe who

presented that side yesterday was basically saying that they had heard that the Dems inteneded to use this issue in the 2006 elections. They are trying to pull their tushes out of the fire. * doesn't have anything to lose, and they do.

[dryan]

24. What exactly...

happened to the woman at the hotel in Moscow, Russia? It happened in 1994 when Clinton was president. What was Bolton doing there? Is a career state department employee? Sorry but I have been too busy to really follow this issue.

[never_get_over_it]

25. Bolton was an attorney

representing a contractor that this woman had said wasn't doing a good job.

[calimary]

30. Kick!

[calimary]

29. KICK!

CALL YOUR REPS, GUYS!

www.senate.gov