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| Voinovich Has 'New Outlook' on Bolton Nomination | |
| 2005-04-27 | |
(CNSNews.com) - "We've received reassurances from very reliable sources that Senator [George] Voinovich has obtained a new and fair outlook on the Bolton nomination." So says Move America Forward, a group that strongly supports Bolton's nomination to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Voinovich, an Ohio Republican, joined Democrats in expressing concern about Bolton's dealings with co-workers and underlings. That forced the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to postpone a vote that would have sent Bolton's nomination to the full Senate for anticipated confirmation. "At this point in time we believe John Bolton's nomination will progress from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Mr. Bolton will be able to receive an up-or-down vote from the full U.S. Senate - which is the way it should be," said Howard Kaloogian, co-chairman of Move America Forward. Move America Forward said it spent tens of thousands of dollars airing radio ads throughout the state of Ohio on more than a dozen news/talk radio stations. The ads ran from April 21-25, and the pressure tactic apparently worked. "On Thursday, the day the ads began running, Voinovich's office phones were jammed with callers and computer e-mail in-baskets were clogged with messages related to the Bolton confirmation. It was no better Friday," Move America Forward said in an email message. Move America Forward says the attacks on John Bolton stem not from his qualifications, but from a "smear campaign" by anti-Bush Democrats. "The U.N. has its lowest approval ratings in the history of the organization, and John Bolton is exactly the kind of strong, pro-American ambassador we need to take on the corruption and anti-Americanism that is becoming a dominant presence at the U.N., Move America Forward said. Move America Forward board members are now mulling an "effort to persuade" Democrats Sens. Russ Feingold (Wis.) and Bill Nelson (Fla.) into voting for Bolton. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is expected to vote on Bolton's nomination on May 12. So far, all eight Democrats on the committee have opposed Bolton's nomination; and a tie vote would result if even one of the committee's 10 Republicans were to vote against him. It's still not clear what Republican Sens. Lincoln Chafee (R.I.) and Chuck Hagel (Neb.) will do on May 12. | |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #17 Sometimes all you have to do is show the dog the stick you're going to beat him with before he slinks away. Frist needs to start using the stick on the Dems who are blocking congress from doing its job (voting constitutionally on the nominees). Salzar from Colorado showed his true colors - basically lied during the campaign about wanting a straight up or down vote on all the nominees. If he had made that stand during the campaign, he would not have been elected. I wonder how many more lies and broken promises he will try to get away with? |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2005-04-27 10:58:46 PM |
| #16 Mellow that day Frank? :?> |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-04-27 7:32:19 PM |
| #15 well - you all assume you know what I put in my email...I truly regret calling him a "pig-faced lying asshole....." and that was just the start... :-) |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-04-27 12:41:55 PM |
| #14 I third that nomination! Way to go, AP! |
| Posted by: BA 2005-04-27 12:37:40 PM |
| #13 That, I can agree with. Way to rant, Paul! 'Course, you know that the tradition is for the winner to buy drinks for the rest of us . . . . |
| Posted by: Mike 2005-04-27 12:35:07 PM |
| #12 I nominate Alaska Paul for today's "Putting the rant back into Rantburg" award. |
| Posted by: Classical_Liberal 2005-04-27 12:24:50 PM |
| #11 Mike - I'm with Robert on this one. I will always remember the look of abject horror on Mrs. V's face as she ran into the emergency room after their daughter was struck (and killed) by a drunk driver. My heart still breaks for them as I also have lost a child and know the feeling. BUT - we elected George to act like a Republican and fight for the values we hold. Getting Bolton in is part of this, but a very important part. If he won't represent my interests in the Senate, I'll vote for someone who will. |
| Posted by: Doc8404 2005-04-27 11:46:11 AM |
| #10 I am ready to reward $$$ the GOP after they confirm the Judicial nominees that deserve it. On the flip side they won't see another dime if the falter and give in to the Demoncraps demands. I already gave $25 to the guy who is running to replace Jeffords (I will send more each month). But so far that is the only political contribution I am willing to fund. I know I am small potatoes, but a lot of us potatoes can feed a big organization. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2005-04-27 11:45:10 AM |
| #9 I am sick and tired of our senators and representatives shirking their duty and waffling out on basic issues. I said as much in my letter last Sunday to Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska (warning hat tip to Seafarious!). She has seemed to find the light in a timely fashion. Voinovich was elected by his district to represent them in Congress. He was absent from one of the most important hearings affecting our relationship with the UN. Excuses are no excuse. He is acting like Senator Kerry acted for decades. A couple of sacrificial lamb senators and representatives that feel the WRATH of the citizen voters will straighten up the rest. We are in a culural war with our enemies at home as intense as our dealings with terrorists on foreign soil. The battle for the soul of these United States, as well as for its very existance is in our hands for the next generations. Our so-called allies in Europe hope that we fail. The responsibility falls on our shoulders. Voinovich needs to feel the outrage of the citizens. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2005-04-27 11:29:00 AM |
| #8 Mike -- nope. Sorry. Voinovich didn't bother showing up for the hearings, then plays the "grow in office" card to curry favor with the press. He may be a wonderful guy, but he wasn't elected to be a wonderful guy. He was elected to be a senator, and a Republican senator at that. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2005-04-27 11:01:29 AM |
| #7 Not if Bolton's not confirmed. Sorry, but this is huge. If Bolton goes down, Don Kofi wins, and his mafia circus will continue as before. |
| Posted by: thibaud (aka lex) 2005-04-27 10:56:39 AM |
| #6 Robert: Do reconsider. I know the Senator in a distant way, and he's done some things to help out a charitable organization I'm associated with. He's one of the good guys. He may have stumbled here (I wonder if the MSM didn't spin his words to make it look worse than it was, but that's another issue for another thread), but he recovered, and Bolton's going to be confirmed. Cut 'im some slack. |
| Posted by: Mike 2005-04-27 10:54:42 AM |
| #5 Where the hell is Sen McConnell? LBJ never would have tolerated this nonsense from his troops when he was whip. Bush needs to recognize that he won in 2004 because of national security Dems who crossed over to vote for him and that it's precisely these voters who loathe Kofi's Circus the most. If he doesn't get Bolton over the hump, then his party will be back to where it was in 2000. Can't win national elections on religious/moral issues alone, folks. Turn up the heat and get Bolton over to Turtle Bay asap. |
| Posted by: thibaud (aka lex) 2005-04-27 10:41:05 AM |
| #4 Frank: I can't agree. I told Voinovich I'll never vote for him again, and I meant it. He may have come around, but if he had done his job, Bolton would already be confirmed. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2005-04-27 10:35:44 AM |
| #3 "Hallelujah! I have SEEN the LIGHT!" |
| Posted by: mojo 2005-04-27 10:22:31 AM |
| #2 ok, George, about that email I sent last week: nevermind /emily littella |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-04-27 9:50:07 AM |
| #1 If Voinovich had actually made the hearings, I think I'd have been less outraged. But for him to come in and say "Sorry--no, really: sorry--that I missed the hearings..." |
| Posted by: eLarson 2005-04-27 9:14:54 AM |