March 31, 2005

Foreign Relations Democrats Unanimously Opposed to Bolton?

Music to my ears:

Democrats are likely to vote unanimously against John R. Bolton when his nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations comes before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee next week, according to Democratic and Republican lawmakers and aides.

It would be the first time that committee Democrats unanimously opposed a Bush diplomatic selection, and it could put the nomination in peril if any Republicans defected to vote against Bolton.

I wouldn't count on Russ Feingold voting against Bolton just yet since he voted to confirm him to his current job at State (like he voted to confirm Condi Rice and John Ashcroft to their jobs). But supposedly he's rethinking his position on Bolton. And while there are no clear signs that there is a Republican vote against him on the committee, Lincoln Chafee's indecision on the matter at least gives those of us opposed to Bolton some hope.

There are 10 Republicans and eight Democrats on the Foreign Relations Committee. If Chafee switched, creating a 9-9 tie, it would probably kill the nomination, two GOP Senate aides said.

It remains unlikely that this egregious appointment can be stopped - but it's fate seems to rest in the hands of Russ Feingold, Lincoln Chafee and Richard Lugar. And given the norms of behavior in Bush & DeLay-run DC, well, having those three deciding things gives me an unusual level of (probably delusional) optimism that the right outcome might still happen - that this incompetent manager and menace to American interests doesn't become the face the US presents to the world.

Posted by armand at March 31, 2005 11:38 AM | TrackBack | Posted to Politics


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