Bolton nomination began as an embarrassment and is ending as a disgrace

[NAO]

Deja vu - who was that corrupt guy that Bush nominated for Homeland Security Director that was forced to step down when reporters scratched the surface of his seedy, shady past?

Bolton Should Step Aside

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-bolton20apr20,0,1738794.story

excerpt:

President Bush's nomination of John Bolton to become United Nations ambassador began as an embarrassment and is ending as a disgrace. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee was right to delay a scheduled vote and resist being railroaded by the administration into approving him.

Bolton's infantile crack that it would make no difference if the U.N. lost its top 10 floors already testified to his unfitness to serve as the United States' diplomat to the world. It may have been Bush's right to appoint someone provocative yet capable. But the revelations that have emerged over the past weeks in the Senate call into question Bolton's basic ability to do the job.

On issue after issue, whether North Korea or Iraq, Bolton has wielded a wrecking ball. It might be possible to wave off one allegation of the misuse of intelligence — infighting always takes place in the government bureaucracy — but Bolton appears to have willfully and systematically suppressed and misused classified information, including bullying civil service officials who dared to challenge his apocalyptic assessments of North Korean, Iraqi and Cuban weapons programs. Former CIA Deputy Director John McLaughlin apparently had to intervene to protect a Latin American analyst from Bolton's wrath; Carl W. Ford Jr., the State Department's former assistant secretary of intelligence and research — the only government bureau to get it right on Iraq — describes him as a "serial abuser." And Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) is rightly inquiring about Bolton's unusual request to look at National Security Administration intercepts and why he asked for the identities of analysts. Why indeed?

The best case that can be made for Bolton is that he's no worse than other neoconservative officials in the Pentagon who manipulated intelligence about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. But Bolton also appears to have a mean streak, a pattern of arrogant recklessness that bodes ill for this assignment. If there is anyone in the U.S. government who needs to be infinitely patient, it's the ambassador at the U.N., who must constantly engage representatives of dozens of nations — diplomats Bolton would no doubt find infinitely annoying. Not only does he lack the temperament for the job, it's hard to imagine why he'd want it.

full article:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-bolton20apr20,0,1738794.story

[Tweed]

1. I believe you are reffering to Kerik

He wanted to get the chauvistic Staten Islanders to come out for Republicans even more than they do now.

[Erika]

2. Bolton is a necon nut with a hard case of arrogance

and snobbishness to those under him. Just another indicator that Bush doesn't have the slightest idea of the reality of the world around him.

[saltpoint]

3. Thanks for posting this.

Strongly-worded & totally right-on editorial.

Bolton is bad news. I hope he's persuaded to bail out while the gittin's good.

[doublethink]

4. Why do I get an odd feeling .......

that somehow, someway Bolton is still going to get this job. As sinister as it sounds, why do I picture the Bush cronies strong-arming the reluctant Republican Senators on this. And with this bunch about to pull the 'nuclear option' in about a week or so ........ seems the facist dictatorship would be kinda complete. Hope I am wrong. Peace.

[Joebert]

5. I think they are doing this on purpose.

The people being nominated are creepier and creepier.

It's an ego thing. What will it take for the congress to actually say no?

And as soon as they finally say no, they'll be attacked for not supporting the president.

Back when the Shiavo thing really started picking up, I told my dad that this was being done just so they'd lose. That way they could attack the judges again.

When Gonzales was up for nomination, the questions weren't asked. "Mr. Gonzales, is it ok to torture these people because they're not American?" "Should we have used identical techniques on Timothy McVeigh, Terry Nichols, Eric Rudolf, Richard Krar..."

I mean, one of these days, we're going to see a Klan leader up there soon as a judicial nominee. I don't think the obvious questions will come up.

Everybody is getting an easy ride.

[doublethink]

7. Yea creepier and creepier .......

like you said, I mean Rumsfield still has his job with all the crap that came out on his ass, then there is Rice promoted to secretary of state with all her mis-information B.S. on the 911 investigations bla bla bla. Cheaney? Haliburton ....... Ashcroft, Gonzales the torture guy who thinks it's 'quaint' why does the Bolton nomination not seem so far fetched ....... what's the truth mean to any of these criminals. Seems Evil runs rampant in these quarters. Anyway welcome to The Democratic Underground Jobert !!! And keep the faith ...... well try anyway :)

[Joebert]

8. You want weird?

It's amazing what a couple of election cycles will do for you.

1996, Clinton you dirtbag, look what they're saying on TV. Screw him.

2000, Tipper "PMRC" Gore's husband is running for office. Screw him. The environment thing is good, but HE might censor stuff.

2001, Hmm, we're doing some weird things. 9/11.

2002, Wow, there goes my brother into the Army. What? There is useful info on the net besides tech news? Wait, that wasn't on TV...

2003, Hmm, why are we in Iraq? More specifically, why is my brother in Iraq? Man, there is a LOT of stuff going on. I wonder why it's not on the news...

2004, Bush blew it, he'll be out of office, let's see who the Dems are going to run. He can't say anything without tripping over the words. What happened to looking out for people? HOLY SHIT this is a mess. I can't stand EITHER party. Well, maybe if I vote 3rd party I can get another person to the table during the debates.

2005, Well, that didn't go so well. How do I run for office?


I was working hard back in 96, and 2000. I kept hearing the mantra that liberal Democrats were going to take my money. It took until 2003 to start wondering why liberal was a bad word.

I was a pain in the ass to be around during the election cycle. I got extremly angry about it all, and voted 3rd party just to try and get another voice at the debates and on TV. I was stuck in Canada on voting day, and was up there with a staunch Republican. So I had his elation, and the Canadian confusion to try and wade through. It's not very comfortable trying to explain why America voted the way they did.

I couldn't support Kerry. Now that the election is over, I am going to get active here. I've already contacted my Democratic party office in my county to see where I can help. I'm not going to call myself a Democrat until I see somebody running that actually acts like one. But I will sure help out now where I can.

Thanks for the welcome. :-)

[fudge stripe cookays]

11. Welcome joebert!

You've been enlightened, and that's good to see.

For all of our sakes, I hope that we can all do more in the coming dark days to wake more people up as to how they're being screwed and don't even know it.

Hope you enjoy your time here with us.
FSC

[ronnykmarshall]

16. Welcome!

Any w/ Godziller as an avatar is cool with me.

[Cugel the Clever]

15. Jr's second term is a crossroad

The tide is turning against the Republicans. Bolton, DeLay, Iraq, Social Security- all defeats in the making. The question is, what will the R's do? Will they force their agenda, no matter what the cost to the nation? Will moderation and respect for our nation trump the religious right?
These are dangerous times. The path to peace and the path to war are both just before us. Dangerous times.

Oh my God, don't get me started on Peak Oil!

[CoffeeCat]

6. It is becoming apparent...

...that the Bush administration WANTS its rosters filled with the most inhuman, sociopathic, dysfunctional band of narcissistic, evil, consciousless thugs that ever lived.

These people are sick. Really sick!!

While we sit here, bantering about Social Security and arguing about health-care reform--the Bushistas are laughing their asses off. They could CARE LESS about this country or any domestic issues.

They want power because they want to be evil and in power. They get off on it. Tending to domestic issues in our country is just a hoop they must jump through, every so often, to keep up appearances.

[DulceDecorum]

9. King Solomon's ring

gave him the power to dominate demons
and his arrogance towards one caused him to lose it.
King Solomon spent the latter part of his life unable to sleep unless guarded by 60 strong men armed to the teeth.

Gollum Dubya Bush and his precious ring of neocons are cruising for a bruising.

Blessed are they who look for trouble.
They shall surely receive it.
Yea, and most abundantly.

[FreedomAngel82]

10. You said it

All they care about is getting more money for their oil buddies. The only reason why they ran Bush is all the oil connections. Why else do you think people in his administration has ties to Texas and/or Bush41? Why else do you think they have the WORST policies any president's ever had? Why else do you think they make NIXON look good? Everything they do is backwards. They fire the people who tell the truth and promote people who lie. They're getting Bolton because they KNOW they could get him through because he'll get through anyways and because his goal is to destroy the UN and their credibility. That's why they had the whole "oil-for-food" scandal because it was the beginning. I was reading how someone involved in it was from Texas. How much you wanna bet they were brought on by Bush or Bush41?

[piece sine]

14. interesting....

the UN has "credibility?" How so?

[ClintonTyree]

18. They have even less with this bunch...

running roughshod over it. They hate the U.N. and want to destroy it. Bolton is just the man for the job.

[JohnnyRingo]

12. "it's hard to imagine why he'd want it"

Considering his disdain for the UN, that last line speaks volumes.

I heard a pundit on Fox suggest he pass nomination and be allowed to go on to "reform the UN". Is that in the job description?

[Toots]

13. The US has to have someone Lord our Superiority over the World or

those "darkies" will get upity. The world needs some tough love and by "Gawd" Bolton is just the Stern Father figure to do that. :crazy:

[ClintonTyree]

17. Indeed, why does he even want the job?

My opinion, his ego won't allow him to step aside. He doesn't care if his name gets dragged through the mud and that everyone in the world knows what a maniacal, manipulating, bully he is. It's a matter of pride to him. He can't stand the fact that his past behavior is being used to block his future, which is why it's good to follow this rule as you go through life; "make your words soft and sweet, because you never know when you'll have to eat them".

It's all an ego trip with Bolton, and if he had one iota of class, he'd step aside. His refusal to do so accentuates his character flaws.

[Nothing Without Hope]

19. I believe there are even worse things about Bolton that we don't yet know

...and THAT is why the administration tried so hard to ram the recommendation through the committee without time for real investigation. Exposing those things would also expose the crimes of the Bush cartel, and that will not do at all. Something might get out, even with the strong control of the press.

I also believe that Sen. Boxer voted to approve Negroponte because she is choosing her battles to increase the chances of winning the ones that she sees as most important. I have to interpret her vote for Negroponte as an indication that she sees Bolton as the worse disaster. Both are monsters, but Bolton in that position would be worse for the futher of the country and the world. We would have perpetual war and cement our new image in the world as a soulless, greedy bully that must be fought.

No wonder the Cartel wants him for the job - he's the perfect monster for the role they want the UN ambassador to play. A liar, a manipulator of intelligence, a bully, a madman. He'd see to it that the planned wars are started on time - Iran is next.

Yes, I think we should pay attention to the message sent by Boxer's vote for Negroponte while she holds the line so strongly against Bolton.

[LunaC]

20. My letter to Senate Foreign Relations Committee Dems Re: Bolton

It's time for the PNAC to be EXPOSED!

This letter re: Bolton was sent to the following Dems on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee:

Senator Joseph R. Biden
Senator Barbara Boxer
Senator Christopher J. Dodd
Senator Russell D. Feingold
Senator John Forbes Kerry
Senator Bill Nelson
Senator Barack H. Obama
Senator Paul S. Sarbanes
Senator George V. Voinovich (Republican - Ohio) was also included for good measure

Dear Senator:

On January 26, 1998, John Bolton signed a letter to President Clinton issued by the Project for a New American Century (PNAC) urging an attack on Iraq to remove Saddam Hussein from power. Other signators to the PNAC letter include Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, Elliott Abrams, Richard Perle, Richard Armitage, and Zalmay Khalilzad, who were all elevated into the Bush Administration hierarchy immediately after the 2000 Election.

http://www.newamericancentury.org/iraqclintonletter.htm

Mr. Bolton has already battled allegations of exaggerating intelligence on Cuba's alleged biological weapons program but his role in helping to create the "faulty intelligence" leading to the Iraq war should also be closely scrutinized considering his earlier participation in promoting the PNAC's agenda towards the Middle East.

I encourage you to read "PNAC 101".for a broader overview to their inner workings and a clearer understanding of the danger associated with appointing Mr. Bolton :as Ambassador to the U.N.

http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/index.php?title=PNAC_101

Thank you for your time and consideration.