UPDATE: Fellow Maryland Blogger Alliance member, The Baltimore Reporter shares his thoughts: Bolton Out
UPDATE: It is only fair to call to your attention that Crablaw and Joisting for Justice disagree with me about Senator-elect James Webb… I really respect their opinions and they articulate their views compellingly, colorfully and persuasively and it is only appropriate that you should also read their posts, for balance. Especially since I don’t feel really balanced at the moment over the John Bolton matter. It only makes my colleagues more human and likable when they are like - - soooo wrong on the “James Webb matter.” I’ll feel better in the morning. Some spiced walnuts would help.
Fox News wrote a story on the resignation of U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton’s resignation that simply puts an exclamation mark on this whole sad and sorry Kabuki Morals Play.
As much as the resignation caught many of us by surprise - - it was to be expected. Much of the conversation by the Democrats about bi-partisanship is just that – cheap and empty talk; so that they may get the sycophant mainstream media writing cheery, sugarcoated stories about how wonderful and magnanimous they are going to be after the last election.
Virginia Senator-elect James Webb only served as iconography for the personal animus many of the Democrats feel for President George W. Bush, when he was rude to the president, as reported by Michael D. Shear, a Washington Post Staff Writer on Wednesday, November 29, 2006. George Will said it best: “Jim Webb is not what Washington needs more of.”
We are all entitled to our feelings; however respect for the office requires folks to at least be cold and professional.
Former Marine James Webb is certainly entitled to his disagreement with the president and there are few folks who have earned as wide a berth as Senator-elect Webb, as a result of his courageous service in Vietnam and by way of the fact that his son is currently serving in Iraq.
Parleyed carefully, Senator-elect could have been extraordinarily compelling and persuasive in helping develop and fashion a very necessary course correction in Iraq.
He squandered that opportunity by acting-out on his personally feelings. It was behavior unbecoming an officer and a Marine.
The Bolton resignation just throws salt in a wound started by Senator-elect Webb that many of us were willing to overlook, including this writer, because of the circumstances.
Unfortunately, there will be more slings and arrows and insults to come and once again, a self perpetuating and vicious cycle of attacks and reprisals will be rekindled in a city where they eat their young and look longingly for someone innocent for desert, just for pleasure of watching someone suffer.
If Ambassador Bolton’s nomination were to have made it out of the committee, the Senate would’ve confirmed. He is eminently qualified for the job and has performed admirably since his recess appointment a year ago.
In the Fox news story, “Bolton Submits Notice Ending Service When Recess Appointment Expires,” White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said it well:
"You know, 58 senators have been on record as being for this guy and he can't get a vote. He has been incredibly successful as our U.N. ambassador, he has a record that everybody ought to be proud of, and instead he can't get a vote. And that is just ridiculous."
The president’s remarks as quoted in the Fox News article also resonated:
"It is with deep regret that I accept John Bolton's decision to end his service in the administration as Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations when his commission expires… "I am deeply disappointed that a handful of United States senators prevented Ambassador Bolton from receiving the up-or-down vote he deserved in the Senate. They chose to obstruct his confirmation, even though he enjoys majority support in the Senate, and even though their tactics will disrupt our diplomatic work at a sensitive and important time. This stubborn obstructionism ill-serves our country and discourages men and women of talent from serving their nation."
Not to be overlooked was Sen. George Voinovich’s commentary:
Bolton supporters, even some late to the game, also expressed disappointment. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, had objected to Bolton when he was up for consideration in the Senate panel. But after Bolton served for a year in the recess appointment, Voinovich said he was impressed by how effective Bolton had been.
"I am very disappointed that John Bolton will not continue in his role as ambassador to the United Nations," Voinovich said Monday. "Given the fragile nature of the world situation and the critical task of reforming the U.N., he should have been given an up-or-down vote on the Senate floor.
"I'm extremely concerned with him leaving since he's been so deeply involved with the situations in Iran, Syria, Lebanon and North Korea and has been working in concert with fellow ambassadors toward true U.N. reform," Voinovich said.
But Senator John McCain really has the final word:
Other Republicans, including Arizona Sen. John McCain, said Bolton's departure is a loss for the United States and a terrible commentary about the state of politics in Washington.
Bolton's "resignation today is less a commentary on Mr. Bolton than on the state of affairs in the U.S. Senate. For over a year, Democrats blocked his nomination in the Foreign Relations Committee, preventing an up or down vote on the Senate floor. In so doing, they have deprived America of the right man at the right time at the U.N.," McCain said.
Memo to incoming chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware and Senator John Kerry - - just shove it.
On this one, coupled with how the president’s two Supreme Court nominees were treated; at some point in the future, if some Republican members of Congress want to get in touch with their feelings on a future critical issue brought forth by the Dems, that is really important to them; I will be more than willing to turn a blind eye.
Something this egregious must have consequences.
Kevin
As much as the resignation caught many of us by surprise - - it was to be expected. Much of the conversation by the Democrats about bi-partisanship is just that – cheap and empty talk; so that they may get the sycophant mainstream media writing cheery, sugarcoated stories about how wonderful and magnanimous they are going to be after the last election.
Virginia Senator-elect James Webb only served as iconography for the personal animus many of the Democrats feel for President George W. Bush, when he was rude to the president, as reported by Michael D. Shear, a Washington Post Staff Writer on Wednesday, November 29, 2006. George Will said it best: “Jim Webb is not what Washington needs more of.”
We are all entitled to our feelings; however respect for the office requires folks to at least be cold and professional.
Former Marine James Webb is certainly entitled to his disagreement with the president and there are few folks who have earned as wide a berth as Senator-elect Webb, as a result of his courageous service in Vietnam and by way of the fact that his son is currently serving in Iraq.
Parleyed carefully, Senator-elect could have been extraordinarily compelling and persuasive in helping develop and fashion a very necessary course correction in Iraq.
He squandered that opportunity by acting-out on his personally feelings. It was behavior unbecoming an officer and a Marine.
The Bolton resignation just throws salt in a wound started by Senator-elect Webb that many of us were willing to overlook, including this writer, because of the circumstances.
Unfortunately, there will be more slings and arrows and insults to come and once again, a self perpetuating and vicious cycle of attacks and reprisals will be rekindled in a city where they eat their young and look longingly for someone innocent for desert, just for pleasure of watching someone suffer.
If Ambassador Bolton’s nomination were to have made it out of the committee, the Senate would’ve confirmed. He is eminently qualified for the job and has performed admirably since his recess appointment a year ago.
In the Fox news story, “Bolton Submits Notice Ending Service When Recess Appointment Expires,” White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said it well:
"You know, 58 senators have been on record as being for this guy and he can't get a vote. He has been incredibly successful as our U.N. ambassador, he has a record that everybody ought to be proud of, and instead he can't get a vote. And that is just ridiculous."
The president’s remarks as quoted in the Fox News article also resonated:
"It is with deep regret that I accept John Bolton's decision to end his service in the administration as Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations when his commission expires… "I am deeply disappointed that a handful of United States senators prevented Ambassador Bolton from receiving the up-or-down vote he deserved in the Senate. They chose to obstruct his confirmation, even though he enjoys majority support in the Senate, and even though their tactics will disrupt our diplomatic work at a sensitive and important time. This stubborn obstructionism ill-serves our country and discourages men and women of talent from serving their nation."
Not to be overlooked was Sen. George Voinovich’s commentary:
Bolton supporters, even some late to the game, also expressed disappointment. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, had objected to Bolton when he was up for consideration in the Senate panel. But after Bolton served for a year in the recess appointment, Voinovich said he was impressed by how effective Bolton had been.
"I am very disappointed that John Bolton will not continue in his role as ambassador to the United Nations," Voinovich said Monday. "Given the fragile nature of the world situation and the critical task of reforming the U.N., he should have been given an up-or-down vote on the Senate floor.
"I'm extremely concerned with him leaving since he's been so deeply involved with the situations in Iran, Syria, Lebanon and North Korea and has been working in concert with fellow ambassadors toward true U.N. reform," Voinovich said.
But Senator John McCain really has the final word:
Other Republicans, including Arizona Sen. John McCain, said Bolton's departure is a loss for the United States and a terrible commentary about the state of politics in Washington.
Bolton's "resignation today is less a commentary on Mr. Bolton than on the state of affairs in the U.S. Senate. For over a year, Democrats blocked his nomination in the Foreign Relations Committee, preventing an up or down vote on the Senate floor. In so doing, they have deprived America of the right man at the right time at the U.N.," McCain said.
Memo to incoming chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware and Senator John Kerry - - just shove it.
On this one, coupled with how the president’s two Supreme Court nominees were treated; at some point in the future, if some Republican members of Congress want to get in touch with their feelings on a future critical issue brought forth by the Dems, that is really important to them; I will be more than willing to turn a blind eye.
Something this egregious must have consequences.
Kevin
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