WH Seeks Way to Keep Bolton at UN (Chafee "holds his future in his hands")

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: White House Seeks a Way to Keep Bolton at the U.N.
By Peter Baker and Dafna Linzer
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, September 14, 2006; Page A12

President Bush's nomination of John R. Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations appears increasingly endangered in the Senate, prompting the administration to explore other ways to keep him in the job after his temporary appointment expires in January, officials said yesterday.

The situation represents a sharp turnaround from two weeks ago, when the White House was confident it could finally push through Bolton's long-stalled nomination. But last week's surprise move by Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee (R-R.I.) to delay a vote convinced Republicans on Capitol Hill that the nomination may be doomed, prompting a search for alternatives.

Administration officials said they have not given up. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Chafee yesterday to kick off a lobbying campaign that will continue today when he returns to Washington after his hard-fought Republican primary victory in Rhode Island on Tuesday.

Bush and national Republicans pulled out the stops to help Chafee win the primary, and they expect a payback. But with Chafee now preparing to face a strong Democratic challenger in a Democratic state in November, many Republicans said he has less incentive to support a firebrand figure such as Bolton.

"It's dead as far as the Senate is concerned," said one Republican official at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where Chafee holds the decisive vote. "Chafee made it a 9 to 9 vote, and that's not going to change." A Senate Republican leadership aide added: "Chafee holds Bolton's future in his hands, and people are very worried he's going to squeeze and never let go."...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/13/AR2006091302025.html

[w4rma]

1. Whatever. (nt)

[babylonsister]

2. I don't know what Chafee won on, but I do remember him

being the lone repug voice occasionally. (And I lied: I know he won on repug dollars, not for any allegiance to him).

[Purveyor]

3. Jesus Christ...have they no one else that could fill the slot...

They(neocons) claim that they despise the UN, so nominate the fucking WH janitor. Why the fight for "captain kangaroo" Bolton that the world loathes?

[annabanana]

5. Because Bolton is there to dismantle the UN from inside. . n/t

[Joe Bacon]

6. "Captain Kangaroo" Bolton, I LOVE IT

With Joe LIEberman as Mr. Green Jeans :evilgrin:

[annabanana]

4. If Chafee changes his vote now..

the quid pro quo will be loud, reverberating.. and would defeat him in November...

[formercia]

7. Right on.

and we would never let him forget it. :evilgrin:

[bdamomma]

8. if Chafee lets Bolton in, he can kiss his seat away in November

Chafee is walking a very fine line right now, maybe the RNC who gave him money to campaign will say it's payback time, can't you hear them saying you get your seat back, and we get bolton in the UN, oh, this is going to be interesting.

[Supersedeas]

9. Integrity v. Cronyism: Bush knows where his bread is buttered

[Vidar]

10. I admire Chafee for holding out thus far.

[loveandlight]

11. it won't last

As soon as the election is over in November, he'll give them what they want. It's just for show to get himself elected. I don't trust or admire anyone who is still a card-carrying Republican.