Senate Postpones Vote On Bolton Nomination

[kpete]

WASHINGTON A Senate panel postponed a vote scheduled for Thursday on the nomination of John Bolton as U.N. ambassador.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar, a Republican, gave no reason for the delay and did not say when the vote would be held. Bolton, nominated by President George. W. Bush, had been opposed by many Democrats, but he was expected to be confirmed by the Republican-led panel.

Lugar said he removed the nomination from the agenda of Thursday's committee meeting after conferring with several senators.

Bush temporarily installed Bolton as U.N. ambassador on Aug. 1, 2005, while Congress was in recess. The U.S. constitution allows presidents to bypass the Senate by making appointments during a recess. The recess appointment expires in January.

more at:
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/07/america/NA_GEN_US_Bolton_Nomination.php

[bryant69]

1. Hmmmmm

Could be that they are holding him for a special place in the "Republicans want to protect you" pageant they seem to be running this year.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Coexist]

2. not enough votes to pass?

Did they not want to major failure this close to November?

[blm]

4. I think they don't want the Cspan televised DEBATE right now. They have

the votes with Voinovich's capitulation.

They're denying the debate for those Dems most strongly opposing Bolton.

[Coexist]

10. apparently, they DON'T have the votes,

see my post below - WE may actually have the votes for a filibuster!

[whistle]

3. No article at the link

[kpete]

6. ???

comes in fine for me - 2 seconds

[saltpoint]

5. Lugar usually does the president's bidding but maybe some of the

other Republicans told him their vote wasn't to be taken for granted.

Lugar is still in line for a Cabinet spot as Sec. of State if Condi is dumped by behind-the-scenes PNAC-types who are said to be furious with her, or Cheney could "resign for health reasons" as an October surprise, thus positioning Lugar for the Vice Presidency.

So I don't think he wants to buck Bush on this one, but the other Republicans on that panel may feel a good deal less investment in Bolton.

Foreign policy is what has taken the wheels off the Bush administration's approval ratings, possibly more than the combined damage from its also-horrific domestic policies. Katrina would be the lone contender on the domestic side, I guess.

Bolton is opposable because Iraq is a mess. They aren't the same issue but in the public perception, they're close.

[Coexist]

7. UPDATE on this from FDL: it may have been Chafee

http://firedoglake.com/

UPDATE #2: Just spoke with Sen. Dodd’s press secretary about the change in the schedule on the Bolton nomination in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Thus far, there is no rescheduling of the Bolton nomination hearing at all at this point. Sen. Lugar, the chair of the Committee, said today that it was concerns that he heard from a Republican on the committee that caused the delay — in other words, likely Chaffee had issues and his vote is key as to whether Bolton gets out of committee or not. (If you live in Rhode Island, call Sen. Chaffee’s office and voice your opposition to Bolton. It’s also possible that late objections surfaced from Chuck Hagel, but I think Chaffee is the likely pivot point. In fact, just call your Senators and voice your opposition to Bolton, period. You can do so via the Capitol switchboard at 888-355-3588.)

[kpete]

8. Thanks FLDem5

I just saw that - calling now...

[Coexist]

9. but wait - there's more - Enough D votes for a FILIBUSTER??!

http://boltonwatch.tpmcafe.com/blog/boltonwatch/2006/sep/05/calling_their_bluff_bolton_will_not_be_confirmed

<snip>
"Republicans need 60 Senators to win a cloture motion and end debate. Without tipping my hand completely, I can say that the Republican leadership has 53 votes it can count on, and another 4 who are leaning in its direction but uncertain. On a sunny day, that makes 57. Even if they capture the 2 truly undecided votes, that still leaves them a vote short of the 60 they need. It’s simply not going to happen.

Democrats need to wake up and realize they have the votes to defeat the Bolton nomination. They’ve been lulled to sleep by the August recess and psyched out by the Republicans' phony show of confidence in Bolton's confirmation chances."

kpete - this is BIG!

[kpete]

11. LETS WAKE THEM UP

Geeeeeezzzzzz!!!!

[Coexist]

12. From Dodd:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/09/07/bolton.nomination.ap/

<snip>
"Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., said he plans to recommend that his Democratic colleagues filibuster the floor vote on Bolton to keep him from being confirmed."

[Coexist]

13. Dodd's speech against Bolton:

Dodd rallies against Bolton

Brian Beutler
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Dodd_rallies_against_Bolton_0906.html

Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) issued a scathing critique of John Bolton, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, on the Senate floor Wednesday.

In his remarks, Dodd highlighted ambassador Bolton’s professional failings, including reports of negligence and corruption, and read aloud quotes from foreign diplomats who contend that Bolton’s actions have alienated them entirely.

One of Bolton’s colleagues told The New York Times, “He’s lost me as an ally now, and that’s what many other ambassadors who consider themselves friends of the US are saying.”

<snip>
During that trip, Dodd noted, “Mr. Bolton thought it more important to travel to London to deliver a UN bashing speech to a private think tank,” instead.

Beyond that, though, Dodd criticized “Mr. Bolton’s well documented attempts to manipulate intelligence to suit his world view,” adding that, “his behavior endangered our national security…and committed an offense so grievous in my view that it warrants that this Senate deny him an up or down vote on the nomination.”

[MallRat]

14. Weird about Chafee...

The RI primary is next week, and Chafee is being outflanked on his right by Laffey. One would think that if Chafee were planning to vote YES on Bolton, he'd want to be on the record BEFORE primary day.

If he's planning to vote NO on Bolton, and if you're the GOP leadership, don't you force Chafee to vote this week? Either he'd have to vote YES right now, or vote NO and lose his primary. Why do Chafee any favors?

-MR