Is John Bolton Going Down? By Fred Kaplan

[jbfam4]

Is John Bolton Going Down?
An amazing afternoon at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
By Fred Kaplan
Posted Tuesday, April 19, 2005, at 3:46 PM PT

http://slate.msn.com/id/2117028/


A vote was scheduled for this afternoon. The panel's Democrats advanced some delaying maneuvers. The Republican chairman, Richard Lugar of Indiana, swiftly put them down. The vote looked imminent.

Then, at about 4:30 p.m., out of nowhere, George Voinovich, a first-term Republican from Ohio, said that he hasn't attended any of the hearings on Bolton (he claimed to be busy with something or other) but, based on charges that he had just heard today, he would not "feel comfortable" voting Bolton out of committee.


The new allegations (click here for some details) are terrible in two senses. First, they make Bolton look like a thin-skinned creep who tolerates no disagreement from anyone around him. This is not an ideal quality for a diplomat, but, by itself, it probably wouldn't be enough to put off Bush. Everyone who knows Bolton has known this about him from the beginning.

The second factor is the key. An extended investigation can only make things worse. Every time there's been a delay, more and more bad stuff has come out about this guy; more and more officials, present and former, have mustered the courage to come forth and tell more. Beyond that, Bolton faces possible charges of perjury. In his day of hearings earlier this month, he made statements to the committee—under oath—that, given what has been learned since, can only be called lies. If he goes back to the committee two weeks from now, he will be asked about those statements; they will be contrasted with statements, also made under oath, by a half-dozen other people. How do you reconcile these contradictions, Mr. Secretary? The thing is, he can't.

[Spinzonner]

1. He lied under oath ?

Who could be more perfect for the Bush Administration

He's a natural.

[wakeme2008]

2. This

Biden asked Bolton whether he personally drove out to CIA headquarters to pressure one high-ranking official to fire the national intelligence officer for Latin American affairs, Bolton said that he'd gone there mainly to ask about intelligence procedures and that he drove there on his way home from work—it was no special trip. Biden said today that he'd since received Bolton's logs for that day. It turned out he made the trip in the morning, then came back to the State Department for a full day's work.

http://slate.msn.com/id/2117028/sidebar/2117080/

[chaumont58]

4. A bushie lie? I'm shocked!

Next, you'll tell there is gambling in Casablanca!

[housewolf]

3. And the telling line is...

"It's a good guess that one of two things is going to happen in the coming days and weeks: Either Bolton goes down—or we start learning a lot of unpleasant things about Sen. George Voinovich."

Good article, thanks for posting

[coloradodem2005]

5. Let's hope Bolton goes the way of Kerik, only worse.