BIG NEWS: Bolton Confirmation Is Really, Really Dead
The last pre-election loophole through which John Bolton's confirmation might have snuck through the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was at 2:15 this afternoon at a previously called "business meeting" of the Committee.
That meeting has been cancelled -- and with it even the dimmest chance of John Bolton being confirmed as US Ambassador to the United Nations.
Some have said that another effort could be mounted during a lame duck session of Congress, but there are several Republicans who will not feel bound by the White House in that circumstance; Dems as well -- who will vote against cloture on the floor of the Senate were it to get out of Committee then.
So, it's over. Wow.
John Bolton might agree to serve as the uncompensated Ambassador to the UN in a second recess appointment, or might agree to serve as a recess appointed political deputy at the UN and made "acting Ambassador and Chief of Mission" at a pay cut.
Either way, Ambassador Bolton will fill his term as the only unconfirmed Ambassador at the United Nations in American history.
For the record, I do believe that John Bolton has strengths as a public servant. Those who have opposed him should in fact know that he has done some good things for this country. I strongly disagree with his international views and his brand of diplomacy, but there are other jobs in the Bush administration that I would support John Bolton for.
It is time to say that. I hope that Ambassador Bolton, in the next few months, works at trying to leave a legacy that is constructive regarding America's engagement with the UN.
But this battle seems now to be definitively, completely at an end.
Wow. I'm amazed that those concerned about this appointment have really won -- twice.
-- Steve Clemons is Senior Fellow and Director of the American Strategy Program at the New America Foundation and publishes the popular political blog, The Washington Note
President Bush needs to shut up! The sky is always falling with this guy . He is like a woman he cant mind his own business. He has to muddy the waters. Every time he speaks he tries to create the world in his own image. The meter is always running. What will we have to pay for next. How many soldiers does he want to kill. He has started all of these conflicts with no intentions finishing anything. That is the basis of his life in general.
The Korean and Iranian problem is simple. If a nuclear weapon is discharged on American soil we will kill all of our enemies in one shot. Their will be no third party wars fought by terrorists groups like Hamas who have the same goals of countries who have nuclear weapons. If we die they die! Just like we told Russia that Castro nukes us we will nuke Russia.
Korea is not our problem. Korea is the bastard child of China. She adopted Korea when it entered the war to save her. Korea is a thief who steals our currency. They are a international crime country that deal in every form of illegal trade and transaction. They are trying to blackmail the world. I say call there bluff. All of these countries are blackmailing us or bleeding us to death with foreign aid. Let North Korea die! It wold not be our fault.
Korea believes in communism. Why do they need us. Communism is not what is destroying North Korea. It is those idiot sticks who are in charge. They would screw up in any government. Helping the only prolongs he pain for those who are starving. Let Korea die! We got our own Kim soo in Georg Bush We do not need another.
Their does not need to be any talks between Bush and Korea. It is not our fault that we kick their ass in the 50's. What is there to talk about. What has been said has been said. Nothing has change in 50 years. Who cares what N. Korea wants. That is totally China's problem. They are their sugar-daddy. Let China write their checks. N. Korea credit is no good in the west. If they don't pay. How are you going to collect.
No one is entitled to a free ride in life. You don't work-you don't eat. He that has the gold makes the rules. Its our money. We do it our way. You don't like it. Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. N. Korea had better learn that golden rule. Beggars can not be choosey. Threatening the world will give you nothing.
China's is learning the golden rule for their sins of their past. What goes around comes around. They came to N. Korea's aid during their war now N. Korea will become milestone around their necks. Maybe the N. Koreans will nuke the Chinese because they feel they were betrayed
October 14, 2006 11:43 AM | Reply | Permalink