Will Bolton get his backdoor nomination?

[win_in_06]

Poll question: Will Bolton get his backdoor nomination?

In other words, did the WH strategy pay off when Bush put this guy in office through a recess appointment last summer? Has our anger simmered? Have we moved on to other battles? Has the public forgot? Is the mideast crisis having an affect?

Have they done it to us yet again?

[Monkeyman]

1. They have done to us again

Not enough votes to stop. Replugs who stop it last time won't this time

[panader0]

2. Who was it said "The wrong man at the wrong time for the wrong job'?

Especially at a time when the UN needs to play an important role in future negociations.

[unhappycamper]

3. IIRC, Kerry n/t

[win_in_06]

4. I can barely stand to see him get in, but with dem votes?

It's like we're endorsing the guy's performance over the past year and during this current crisis.

[AtomicKitten]

5. I don't see how anyone would consider

his bombastic demeanor anything but a minus particularly with the status quo. It is imperative now more than ever that he be rejected. If Junior does a recess appointment again, let it be on his head. Bolton is an awful creature.

[Nutmegger]

6. He'll get it.

I jus don't see the outrage this time around.

[theanarch]

7. were it not for the crisis in Lebanon...

...i wouldn't predict the outcome, except to say it would be 2-3 votes either way. However, as Israel's biggest cheerleader (and enabler) in the UN, this skewers the dynamics heavily in his favor, what with all the Dem's pissing themselves to rubberstamp Israel's aggression. The line will be, in this time of Israel's greatest need, it is imperative to send the right message by confirming Bonkers Bolton, blah, blah, blah. The only Repub. who might vote against him is Chaffee (seems Voinovich has returned to the PNAC reservation on this one). At this point it's very difficult to see Hillary or Joe-nertia voting against him...Bolton by no less than 14 (57-43), and perhaps as many as 36 (68-32).

[karynnj]

10. They would likely have a cloture vote

So, the 57-43 is actually a win becuase they need 60 to end the filibuster. I have heard nothing except rw sources saying Hillary would vote for him. Chaffee is in an awful position - as he has a RW primary challange and a blue state general election.

[theanarch]

12. i don't share your optimism...

...about there being a filibuster; we're heard these squeeks before (on judicial appointments) but we haven't seen one yet. And let's not underestimate the power of the Israeli lobby to instill the fear of god (as in, "get 0 donations" from us) in the, ahem, rabidly pro-Israeli Dem's. My prediction of a 14 vote margin is about as optimistic as i can get; my visceral feeling it's going to be a whole lot worse. Sorry, i jes' calls 'em as i sees 'em. BTW: by your screen name, the presumption is you're a Jersey girl--care to make a side bet on how our two senators will vote? Wouldn't surprise me one damn bit if both vote to confirm: Lautenberg because he's Jewish and a security hawk; Menendez because he's in a tight race (and advised by the DLC).

[karynnj]

13. I am not optimistic

I was trying to correct the other post because the first vote would be a cloture vote and only 40 would be needed. Your first point is very well taken - our leadership could opt not to "filibuster" having sufficient people vote "yes" on cloture and then "no" on confirm. (as the weasils did on Alito - which they really should have fought.)

I haven't seen the media accounts of yesterday's testimony - but if the past is a guide, I doubt they will include much of Kerry's focused questioning - that shows:

-When asked, Bolton could not (or chose not to) articulate his view of the UN.
-Sees the UN as "an sdjunct" to US policy
-Sees reform of the UN as his most important job, although he said it had nothing to do with how the UN deals with Iran, NK, or Hezbollah

All of these show he completely (and possibly intentionally) misses the whole point of the UN.

-He also makes the US the odd man out on many things. I seriously don't get why he continued lying on NK rather than concede Kerry's very precise (and accurate) point.
-Bolton, the diplomat, doesn't talk to several countries - which is what a diplomat does.

The scary thing is that much of our media likely sees the world as Bush & co does and really does agree with Bolton's arrogant comment from a few years ago that there should be only one member of the Security Council - the world's only super power - us. The hubris is frightening.

As to our Senators - I am cautiously optimistic. They did both vote against Alito, though he was from NJ and they voted for Kerry/Feingold. Lautenberg, as a Jew, is likely aware that the Jewish community (I'm Jewish) is NOT predominantly neo-con, though some leaders are. He also is not likely to stand for election again, given his age. I think Bush and the neo-cons are making Israel less safe, not more. I know AIPAC has given Lautenberg a lot of money, but I don't think they control him.

I think Menendez will vote against him - he had the guts to vote for the Kerry/Feingold amendment, instead of just the more wishy washy "let's get a plan" Levin amendment. That has to be a more high profile vote. Most people couldn't name the UN ambassador even if given multiple choice. Also the "People Magazine" ization of the media that reduces issues to personalites works in our favor here. Bolton is an intensely obnoxious person. I really don't see it hurting Menendez.

I intend to call our Senators and am somewhat optimistic about them. (Although I've questioned the Hillary/Schumer story, because the root source is the NY Sun, I am less confident of them. (Though I would guess it could hurt Hillary to vote for him.)

[alfredo]

8. I thought this was another Jeff Gannon thread.

[Cocoa]

9. how good were DU predictions last year?

I recall near unanimity that Bolton would be confirmed.

[win_in_06]

11. I hope Bolton isn't "emboldened" by the vote.

He'll feel he has the bipartisan approval of Congress to be an asshole at the UN.

[zanne]

14. If you think he's bad now...

I think that what alot of people aren't talking about is his "temporary" backdoor appointment by Bush and how he's "toned it down" until he can be officially appointed by congress. Yup, he's being "nice" right now. Can you imagine what he'll try to pull once he knows he's in for good?

[babylonsister]

15. Durbin claims filibuster only needs one more vote...

Richard Durbin: Bolton Filibuster Needs ONLY One More Vote Updated at 9:18 PM

Richard Durbin: Bolton Filibuster Needs ONLY One More Vote

On "The Young Turks" Radio Show, Senator Dick Durbin says the Bolton bilibuster needs only one more vote to succeed.

Frankly, this is better than I thought we had, and we have until mid-September to wrangle that vote.

The temperature around the Bolton vote is different than last March when the fight had a different kind of political significance.

But remember -- preempting the confirmation of John Bolton as US Ambassador to the United Nations was the first kick-back in a foreign policy matter that the Bush administration had handed to it.

more at:
http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/001566.php

[IndianaGreen]

16. If the Democrats stick together, they can block Bolton with filibuster

The filibuster is the only weapon in our arsenal, let's use it!

Those Democrats intending to run for President in 2008 should oppose Bolton by filibustering his nomination. Two reasons for that: Bolton will do great harm to US in the UN for the next 2 years as he has already, and the antiwar movement will never forgive a candidate that allowed Bolton to remain on his UN post.

[Totally Committed]

17. "Will Bolton get his backdoor nomination?"

You're joking, right?

I will be shocked if he isn't beatified along with getting his nomination... parades in his honor, medals for his service, PEOPLE'S "Sexiest Man Alive".... this administraion is in a full-court press to make sure his PR sways the U.S. people's sentiment in his favor. Killing the U.N. is WAY TOO IMPORTANT A JOB to give to anyone else, you see.

TC

[karynnj]

18. I so hope you're wrong and that at some time the media turns

I do agree that his job is killing the UN - which is beyond scary, especially as the US is not itself really trying to engage in diplomacy. (though the NYT is today trying to rehabilitate Rice's reputation as a diplomat. (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/28/world/middleeast/28rice.html?_r=1&ref=washington&oref=slogin You really need to read this, the NYT is a disgrace!)


It was interesting that Bolton didn't answer Kerry's first question which asked what his view of the UN was after a year was - he instead answered that he didn't learn anything new about the UN because he already knew everything.

His answer to the next question on what needed to be done at the UN was to reform the UN - even though he admitted to Kerry that reform had nothing to do with sloving the big world problems.

"KERRY: You say that to be effective it requires reform. What is the principal reform that is required for the U.N. itself to be effective with respect to Iran or with respect to North Korea or Resolution 1559 in Lebanon? What reform would make a difference to that effectiveness?

BOLTON: I'm not sure that reform as such would have a difference there. "

Also, Bolton's comments on the UN are beyond arrogant - how must this look to the rest of the world:
"That it can be an effective adjunct of American foreign policy; I think it's been demonstrated in a variety of areas that we've discussed here today in the context of Lebanon, North Korea and Iran."

[Totally Committed]

21. Christopher Dodd outright insulted him

after he was so evasive. Why aren't these bozos REQUIRED to answer the questions as asked in these confirmation hearings? And when they don't why aren't Democrats willing to vote against their nomination?

It is pissing me off!

TC

[win_in_06]

24. Nominees don't have to answer questions, but as you said, they

should pay for their refusal to answer questions with more "no" votes.

[karynnj]

25. Every Democrat voted against him last time

and it sure sounds like they are all against him this time. An early article said 6 of the 8 had already issued statements - but didn't say which ones. From the questions it would be hard to believe he will get any Dem votes on the committee.

[leesa]

19. For the sake of Israel. The timing on this AIN'T coincidental.

[gasperc]

20. and we'll all get backdoored by Bolton

funny how it fucking works out that way

[Swamp Rat]

22. The alien lizards have infiltrated both parties.

[Greyhound]

23. All the Repukes and 10 - 15 Democrats will make it overwhelming

Can't you smell it from your State?