The Bolton hearing--still scheduled for today?

[ginnyinWI]

This is from Cspan's schedule:
02:15 PM EDT
3:15 (est.) LIVE
Senate Committee
U.N. Ambassador Nomination
Foreign Relations
Joseph R. Biden Jr., D-DE
Richard G. Lugar , R-IN

(CSPAN3)

[TayTay]

1. Sigh! Yes

It doesn't look good for truth, justice and common sense either. It looks like Hagel and Chafee are going to vote yea on the nomination. Sigh!

[whometense]

3. Ooops

guess we crossed wires. Shoot. And I was feeling encouraged.

[TayTay]

4. A miracle could happen, but

it seems that the Rethugs have called in all Repub committee members and threatened them with gawd-knows what if they fail to vote for Bolton. On the up side, Chafee will face a lot of heat for this vote in RI. He is not in good shape in the old home state and this bad vote doesn't help.

[whometense]

2. I heard that on the radio

this morning. It seems like the meeting is still on, but they're not sure about a vote.

Sounding better and better by the day - I'm starting to get hopeful. It seems Hagel and Chafee are both having second thoughts.

[TayTay]

5. Interesting aside on Bolton, could be 'held' in committee

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/TheNote/story?id=156238

ABC News' Ed O'Keefe reports that that Democrats on the Foreign Relations Committee will once again attempt to postpone the vote in order to recall Bolton as a witness for an additional round of questioning. The vote is currently scheduled for 2:15 pm ET today.

It's unlikely that Sen. Lugar will grant this request (He told the Post's Charles Babington he would not; see below for more.) which will mean Democrats can either just vote or an individual senator can put a formal "hold" on the nomination. Former presidential contender and Bush thorn Senator John Kerry (D-MA) and Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) are thought the two most likely candidates among those who might employ a "hold."

By holding the hearing, Lugar and Biden have entered into a "gentlemen's agreement" but Democrats are not bound by any rule preventing them from putting a hold on Bolton at this late stage.

The mere threat of a "hold", however, might persuade Lugar to postpone. Add to the complexity the fact that moderate Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) has yet to formally declare whether he will support Bolton. A Chafee switch would lock the committee in a tie which would derail Bolton's nomination. And Senator Hagel has not conclusively declared his fidelity.

In the last day or so, Bolton has answered some additional written questions, but some are not satisfied with his answers.

[whometense]

6. Bush thorn Senator John Kerry

hahahahahaha

I LOVE it! Thorny John - go with our blessings!!

[TayTay]

7. Yeah, I really liked that one too!

I hope he keeps on thorning the Admin as well.

[ginnyinWI]

8. haha

If past behavior is any predictor of future behavior, he certainly will!

[karynnj]

11. Couldn't believe that ABC actually said that!

I bet he loves the title - and on this it's progressively harder for anyone to really defend Bolton. Does he get to make a speech if he puts him on hold? That could be really nice.

[Firespirit]

51. Yes, bleed them.

I'm going to have to stream this tomorrow online, evidently, when I'm on the T3 network. Was he really THAT hot?? Like soak-your-pants-and-turn-red hot :D, or just standard JK hot?

[whometense]

58. Definitely

THAT hot. No question. Mmmmmmmmm hot. You will love it.

[TayTay]

9. Well something is up on this

I ws just listening to the Senate Floor vote and one Sen. (don't know who) objected to the routine request to allow committee hearings to go on while there is also action on the Senate floor. So there will be a vote at 2:15 to see if the Senate will allow the foreign relations committee to meet this afternoon.

Maybe somebody is going to place a hold on the nomination after all. I am very murky on what the hell is going on, but will listen and see if it becomes any clearer.

[whometense]

10. It seems like the news itself is murky.

I don't think it's you!

I keep hearing contradictory reports on the news.

[Pirate Smile]

12. On AAR, Al Frankin said a Senator can put a hold on a nominee

when the Senate is IN Session for at least 2 hours. Frist was going to make sure the Senate would NOT be in session for 2 hours so NO SENATOR CAN PUT A HOLD ON BOLTON.

:nuke: I heard this while driving and I had been away from my computer for a couple of hours so I don't know if that was posted here. Since I've gotten back, it has been New Pope Marathon time.

Of course, the one person I didn't want to get Pope is the Pope now. I'm sick of losing elections, even Pope elections. Now onto the Bolton vote which it appears we will lose.

Sorry for the pessimism. I'm a little bummed at the moment.

[TayTay]

13. Unbelievable: Bolton meeting at 4:30 today

http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/000487.html

April 19, 2005
It's All About Winning. Senate Republicans Go to DefCon4 to Stop Dems from Objecting to Bolton Hearings

This is unbelievable.

TWN just received news that in order to preempt Senate Democrats from objecting to a Senate Foreign Relations Committee vote today on John Bolton's nomination to be U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., the Republican leadership is suspending all operations of the Senate today until the Hearings -- which have now been postponed until 4:30 p.m.

Because Senator Frist's office feared that a Democratic Senator would object to the Hearings on the Floor of the Senate at 2 p.m., the Republicans -- in order to RAM THE BOLTON NOMINATION THROUGH -- have gone into recess.

Why you might ask?

The Senate would need to have been in session for two hours for a U.S. Senator to be able to object to the Foreign Relations Committee proceeding with its business.

By stopping all Senate business -- ALL business -- and planning to reconvene at 4:30 p.m., the Republican leadership has preempted an option that the minority would have had to make the administration comply with Senator Dodd's request for the National Security Agency intercepts that Bolton may have used to wage war against rival officials in the State Department.

I don't know how Senator Lugar can tolerate such abuse of the minority. This is a disdainful and cynical move by the White House and Bill Frist.

It's the ugly, dark side of winning -- and it's "tyranny of the majority" tactics.

So, stay tuned. The "business meeting" of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, at which a vote on Bolton might occur, has been moved to 4:30 p.m.

[whometense]

14. So, can a committee member still

put a "hold" on the nomination at 4:30 to stop the vote? IMHO hardball tactics ought to be answered with equal and opposite hardball tactics. No gentlemen need apply.

[TayTay]

15. I am not that up on the arcania of the Senate

I have no idea. I hope so. This should outrage the Dems on that committee and Dodd, Boxer and, of course, Kerry should let that outrage show by blocking the proceedings.

I am not a parlamentarian. I have no idea what happens next or what is allowed to happen. Sorry.

[fedupinBushcountry]

16. The Latest

April 19, 2005
Barbara Boxer Objects. . .Things Stall Momentarily for Bolton, but Only Temporarily

Senator Barbara Boxer has now objected to the Senate going into recess while other Senate Commitees meet.

That means that Boxer's action is forcing other Senators to vote on whether to go into recess or not. The Republicans will win by majority vote. And then the Senate will go into recess.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will then still be able to proceed with its scheduled business meeting at 2:15 p.m.

This is highly, highly unusual -- and demonstrates the lengths the Republican leadership seems willing to go to ram this nomination of John Bolton down the gullet of America.

What is in those NSA intercepts? I'm with Senator Chris Dodd on this.

What are they trying to hide?

More later.

-- Steve Clemons
01:35 PM

I'm so confused, have C-span 2 on waiting, have to listen to the fake Election Reform Commission.

:shrug:

[fedupinBushcountry]

17. Whew

I am glad I reread your post, I thought it would be on C-Span 2, so now I will stream C-Span 3. Thanks.

[TayTay]

18. I feel like I'm reporting on some weird boxing match

Sen. First wants the Senate to stand in recess till 4:20 so the Sente Foreign Relations Committee can meet. Sen. Boxer objects. First call for unanimous consent to recess. Sen. Boxer calls a quorum call.

:wtf: I don't know, but this is really, really weird.

[whometense]

19. Are they voting now on whether to recess?

A lot of dems voting aye. I am SO confused.

[fedupinBushcountry]

20. Me Too

JK just voted Aye.

[fedupinBushcountry]

21. But

JK and Dodd have Hagel, showing him papers. :popcorn:

[whometense]

22. It's teeny and blurry on my screen

I can't tell what's going on. I could see Kerry talking to two people, but that's it. Sounds r-e-a-l-l-y interesting...

[Pirate Smile]

23. The Bolton Hearing should start as soon as this is over and it will

pass. Hagel seems to be the only hope.

[fedupinBushcountry]

24. Kerry at hearing room

Should start momentarily, Hagel and Lugar just left the Senate floor.

:popcorn:

[Pirate Smile]

25. What are you watching that shows the Hearing room now?

I'm still on C-span2.

[fedupinBushcountry]

26. Streaming

Streaming on C-Span 3 they showed the room for a bit, and Kerry was already there. So I have C-Span 2 on my TV and listening on C-Span 3. I think they said they would show it on C-Span 2 if I heard it correctly.

[Pirate Smile]

28. Ok - thanks.

[TayTay]

27. I'm on C-Span 3

and they have a tag line that says the hering will start shortly.

[Pirate Smile]

29. Is it showing Baker now?- Nevermind, It is on cspan2 now

[whometense]

30. WHOA

Kerry: "This place has lost every bit of...stunning."

[TayTay]

31. Can I pick 'em or what.

I told this would be a 'goodie.' Now is as good a time as ever to blow up the Senate.

[whometense]

32. He is PO'D.

Wow. You can pick 'em. It's time for me to go home, but I'm riveted.

[whometense]

33. Good lord.

Have you EVER seen Lugar this testy??

Kerry: "You're voting in the blind. And you WANT to vote in the blind."

[WildEyedLiberal]

34. That was awesome

He looks and sounds HOT BTW.

:loveya: :loveya:

[TayTay]

Ahm, I get the trasncript on this tomorrow.

But I bet the Times won't be publishing it.

Pm for a reserved in advance copy of this one.

[whometense]

36. Can you imagine

what kind of f'ing pressure the white house is applying to these people? Chafee and Hagel sure are quiet, aren't they?

[WildEyedLiberal]

37. I am so proud of our Dems

Even Biden.

They are kicking ass.

[whometense]

39. Me too.

They are not only sticking to their guns and sticking together, but they are all really angry.

[whometense]

35. I must say,

:loveya: fury becomes him. :loveya:

[TayTay]

38. Oh lord, I agree

I am besotted! :loveya: :popcorn: :loveya:

[whometense]

40. Thread in GD-Politics

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1733337#1733346

[whometense]

41. Even SARBANES

is angry. Holy shit.

[TayTay]

42. I called my son and he is taping this for me

on TIVO. I will probably miss the actual vote and will rewind when I get home.

[Pirate Smile]

49. I had to go pick up my kids at school and missed the middle part.

I hope they replay it. That was exiting. It didn't end like I thought it would, thank God!

[ginnyinWI]

50. Replay will be tonight, 8 p.m. Eastern, Cspan2 n/t

[WildEyedLiberal]

43. He sounds so cool

His voice is so dawdling and bored-sounding, which makes his criticism all that much cooler.

[whometense]

44. VOINOVICH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Support from an unexpected quarter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[WildEyedLiberal]

45. I KNOW

HEY HAGEL AND CHAFEE - BORROW SOME OF HIS INTEGRITY PLEASE.

Isn't Voinovich usually standard Admin-line Repub? WOW!

[Withywindle]

46. YES!

But he's more flexible and independent than some. (I know that's not saying much, but there it is).

[Firespirit]

54. Now let's hope he sticks to that.

And actually votes against the scum when the vote occurs, or that some other Repub does.

I'm glad he did this but I'm afraid I can't fawn over Voinovich, not after the snotty remarks he made on 1/6 about the bullshit that went down in his state.

But if our Dems rocked, and demonstrated unity, well, GO DEMS!!
:loveya: :loveya:

[elshiva]

55. heheheh The wrath of Sarbanes! Yay!

[WildEyedLiberal]

47. DELAYED

THANK YOU KERRY, DODD, BIDEN, BOXER, SARBANES, ETC

AND THANK YOU VOINOVICH!!

[ginnyinWI]

48. They were all so great!

I wasn't posting because I was glued to the TV. Our Dems did us proud, every one of them who spoke. Kerry made a great point about not setting any precidents for future Foreign Relations committees. And the point about not wanting to ruin anyone's career was pure Kerry, wasn't it. Thinking about the human cost to any action they might take. Our Dems were just as good as could be today. And their efforts rewarded by the Voinovich surprise--my how quickly the Repubs changed their desire for a quick vote. It would have been 9-9, and Bolton would've been out, as I understand it.

[JI7]

52. i missed everything

just got back a while ago.

will this be rerun and when ?

[ginnyinWI]

53. tonight, 8 pm Eastern, cspan 2 n/t

[elshiva]

56. I missed it too, but

I saw clips on Lehrer News Hour:
Kerry to Lugar: "You're voting blind!"
Also heard the "stunning." Stunning, indeed. :loveya:

[TayTay]

57. And the angry

'Ah, Shove it." Believe it or not, that sounded like John Kerry. I backed it up and replayed it multiple times on TIVO. It sounded like Kerry. Hehehehehehehehe

[politicasista]

59. Kerry and all the Dems rocked today!

:bounce: :kick: :applause:

[Pirate Smile]

60. I didn't hear that. Who was he saying it to or in response to?