Chaffe and the Bolton Imbroglio

[housewolf]

From Steve Clemons "The Washington Note"


For Chafee: Bolton Vote Was and Is One of Consequence

This morning's Providence Journal has an excellent political column looking forward to the next Senate race in Rhode Island and assessing the impact of Lincoln Chafee's decision not to stand by John Bolton -- but rather to stand by Bush's decision -- on John Bolton.

<snip>

In proceeding to join his fellow Republicans in a 10-to-8 party-line vote to send the unpopular nomination to the full Senate, Chafee played directly into the hands of Democratic opponents who charge he'd rather knuckle under to a right-wing GOP president than use his brain and represent the interests of Rhode Islanders.

<snip>

... but in something I learned years ago from one of my political science professors, Hans Baerwald, one can never really know the real norms of a political system unless observed under stress.

In this case, if the centrist Senator Chafee is "centrist" only when things are calm, what does that matter? It's only in times of stress that Senator Chafee's real tendencies will appear -- and those seem to be that in the end he'll choose to keep Vice President Cheney happy over the concerns of his constituents. The party over citizens' interests; Another superpower in America's not so distant past used to operate that way.

<snip>

If Chafee is going to develop a political profile anything along the lines that his father used to display, then the notion of giving "reluctant support" to anything needs to be purged from his DNA. When he votes in favor or against something, he needs to know why -- and needs to articulate those reasons.

<snip>

http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/000624.html

[Rowdyboy]

1. Lincoln Chaffee is a pale, pathetic shadow of his father....John Chaffee

was pretty conservative, but maintained his independence and integrity. Lincoln has kept neither.

[Spinzonner]

2. That's what happens when you 'inherit' things

instead of earning them on your own

[Rowdyboy]

6. The only exception to that is someone like Jay Rockefeller....

He inherited great wealth, but moved to West Virginia after college to serve in the Peace Corps. After his term, he stayed, working in the state, earned and served ably and made it to the senate. I respect him greatly.

However, other politicians children/grandchildren have almost always been less impressive. Absolutely nothing I've heard of Patrick Kennedy has given me confidence that he is the man his uncles John and Robert were. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend couldn't win the governors race in MARYLAND for God's sake! Andrew Cuomo has shown himself to be overly ambitious and arrogant, Evan Bayh's dad Birch was my hero as a teenager, Evan leaves me limp and Jesse Jackson Jr has shown me little so far. Hubert Humphrey's son was a good state attorney general but a poor candidate for higher office.

And don't get me started on the Republicans...Lincoln Chaffee and Lisa Murkowski and the Bush family in general are the epitome of what is wrong with America.

Now Russ Carnahan (son of Mel and Jean) is in the House-I wish him luck and hope he does his parents proud.

By and large political dynasties are not a positive thing

[0007]

3. A pathetic little man that is afraid of his own shadow.

I hope he wakes up in time to do what's right.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

4. Once upon a time I respected

chafee. Can't remember why. Oh, yes. He seemed willing to take an independent, moderate stance & seemed genuinely appalled by the uber conservatives. Oh well.

One good thing, I hope the Dems beat him over with this vote. I hate to see that ass bolton get in, but every cloud has a silver lining. Waiting to see what my ass of a senator, gordo puke puke smith does. Hope he ties himself in knots.

best

[dbeach]

5. chafee supports bush...

so sad but not surprised..

he is my sen.

another repuke not as bad as most but still wears their ribbon

When will blue staters realize that havin repukes for sen. or wanna be repukes like liberloser is ruining the middle class??

[housewolf]

9. I hope that you will contact his office this week

and let them know how opposed to the Bolton nomination you are, as well as the "nuclear option".

A senator's constituents have much more impact than out-of-staters when it comes to these matters because you are the folks who vote them into or out of office.

He's one of the senators being heavily pressured by the right-wing organizations, it would be great if you can provide some counter to their efforts.

[damntexdem]

7. Chafee is only one of ten who need to suffer for this vote.

And don't forget that Hagel has presidential hopes, so has to worry about more than a Nebraskan electorate.

[cyr330]

8. Good point

And it doesn't amount to a mountain of shit whether his vote is "reluctant" or not. What counts is that he voted-- a vote is a fact, and his motivations for voting are completely irrelevant. He voted the way the extremists in his party wanted him to, so he can no longer hide under that absurd "centrist" definition again. Fuck him.