Bush Standing Behind Bolton For U.N. Post

Despite Bipartisan Opposition, White House Continues To Push For Controversial U.N. Ambassador To Remain

(CBS/AP)  President Bush will not relent in his defense of John Bolton, his nominee for U.N. ambassador, despite unwavering opposition from Democrats who view Bolton as too combative for international diplomacy, aides said Sunday.

Two of President Bush's top advisers said the White House is not backing down from a fight to win Senate approval for Bolton to continue in the job. Mr. Bush gave Bolton the job temporarily in August 2005 while Congress was in recess. That appointment will expire when Congress adjourns, no later than January.

White House counselor Dan Bartlett said Bolton has done a remarkable job. "He's proven the critics wrong on all the charges they've leveled against him," Bartlett said. "So let's have a conversation about it. We'll see."

The White House resubmitted Bolton's nomination on Thursday, though it has languished in the Senate for more than a year. Finding a replacement for Bolton would come at a sensitive time for the Bush administration. It is counting heavily on U.N. diplomacy to help confront North Korea and Iran over their nuclear programs and to end fighting in Sudan's Darfur region.

With Democrats capturing control of the next Congress, Bolton's chances of winning confirmation appear slim at best. In fact, last week the incoming chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), said he saw "no point in considering Mr. Bolton's nomination again."

Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was more succinct: "Forget about John Bolton," he
told CBS chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer on Face the Nation. "The Republicans didn't have enough votes to get the guy out of committee [before the Democrats take control]. So I think we should go to things that we can work together on."

In spite of the lack of committee votes, White House chief of staff Josh Bolten said Sunday that "We're putting him up for confirmation.

"I think if he actually was able to get a vote in the full Senate, he would succeed," he said.

Yet Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.), who lost on Election Day, said he would not end his opposition to Bolton. That probably would deny Republicans the votes needed to move the nomination from committee to the full Senate. Republicans now lack the 60 votes needed to force a vote.

Democrats say Bush should alter course now and nominate someone less hard-charging, with greater finesse in handling sensitive diplomatic matters.

"There's a lot of competent people. Send someone new up, Mr. President," Biden said Sunday.

"He doesn't even have the votes in the committee. He doesn't even have the votes of a Republican-controlled committee today," Biden said. "We're going to have a hearing on him. There is going to be a vote on him. He's going to lose."

Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), who is in line to head the Armed Services Committee, agreed. "We would rely very heavily upon the Foreign Relations Committee, and they have not decided that he is the appropriate person for that job," Levin said.

In the president's view, however, Bolton "has turned out to be a very effective representative at the U.N. and, in fact, has turned out to be something his critics expected him not to be," Bolten said. "He's turned out to be a good consensus builder, and it's been reflected on resolutions on North Korea, in Lebanon, in other ways."

Bush's chief of staff played down speculation the administration might go around the Senate and allow Bolton to somehow continue to represent the U.S. at the United Nations by finding an alternative means of paying his salary or appointing him to serve as an acting or deputy U.N. representative.

"I don't know about that," Bolten said. "Our effort is going to be to try to get him confirmed in the ordinary course."

Bolten, Biden and Levin appeared on ABC's "This Week." Bartlett was on "Fox News Sunday."

[pakaal]

Gotta say it.

Aww, snap!

[pakaal]

Bolton was appointed by Bush when the Republican Congress was in recess - Bush didn't even have confidence that "his" Congress would accept the nomination back then, it was pretty clear he couldn't expect to get approval now. Thanks to senator Chaffee for helping get a UN-basher out of the UN ambassador seat. This might help to regain world trust in US policy.

[grazinggoat]

What an arrogant person representing an arrogant government. He had the KuKuxKlany approach. Good Riddance.
It's a good opportunity for America to repair the cowboyish (go it alone) approach. Bullying every nation on Earth to join in. If you are not with us, then you are against us. No neutrality was allowed with the GWalking-LiarBush's administration and its representatives.

America is better off now without this robotic, heartless server.

[r_harbison]

janem4, It must be very difficult to drive when your car will only turn right! Lincoln Chaffee would probably make a great UN ambassador; what can you say negative about him?

[pakaal]

Yeah, John Bolton is a UN basher! The country's representative in the United Nations says "If the U.N. secretary building in New York lost 10 stories, it wouldn't make a bit of difference." When someone makes hugely overgeneralized insulting statements like that it's called "bashing."

Put Baker in. Or R_Harbison's choice of Chaffee, not a bad idea at all.

[pakaal]

janem4 said "Evidently you are a member of the America is awful and everything is our fault club."

heh. I actually quite love America. That's why I'm so happy we're getting rid of folks like Bolton, who give our great country such a bad reputation.

[grazinggoat]

janem4, get the heck out of your cocoon, honey. See the world evolving, holly sh*t. You still think the way those 1920sh landlords used to. Hey we are in the 21st century. The world is one village now. You cannot take an action by yourself without taking in account the impact on other nations, and that is exactly what the Bolton-like people do. The GWalking-LiarBush is not giving to Bolton a chance to behave courtuously with other nations. It's the all for me attitude and f**k the rest of the world...

In a way we are criticizing the Islamists in Afghanistan and Iran, but we do the same, worth...

And if you don't see anyone in the whole USA being able to replace this heartless technocrat at the UN, then what is going with us as THE NATION of the world, really not very inspiring as a model for other nations. It's a real pity.

You know how many ambassadors have been serving the USA in other countries. Pretty sure those would be excellent candidates.

[exusmcsgt]

This moronic nomination was typical of Bush and his cadre's arrogance which led to their downfall last Tuesday. They think diplomacy means dictating to the world how it is going to be.

Now if we can just get rid of Condy Rice as well we may see a return to real diplomacy......

[pendragon679]

janem, dear, it's people like you that have made us one of the most despised nations on the face of the planet. Bolton needs to go; King Dubya couldn't even FORCE his appointment on the rubber-stamp Congress he had. The lame duck Congress isn't going to be able to confirm his appointment; and the incoming Congress will almost certainly send him packing. As for who else might be suitable, one name comes to mind immediately, George Mitchell. He managed to settle the troubles in Northern Ireland; he should be equal to the task of regaining our respect in the world community. Though, if I were him, I'd turn the job down...

[pendragon679]

BTW, janem, how DO you manage to drive with your head planted so far up your butt?

[bellal-2009]

Well, I totally don't understand the posts on this site. Who was it that made a complete *** of themselves at the UN last month? It wasn't John Bolton, in fact, he and Madam Secty.Rice have conducted themselves quite well.

[alphaa10-2009]

"Bolton confirmation dies in committee" is the only fit epitaph for somebody nominated in utter contempt for what the UN should be.

Bolton personifies the same contempt for world opinion Bush displayed in his unilateral attack on a country which posed no security threat to this country whatsoever. Both Bolton and Bush are needless burdens to the well-being of this country, and we can start by dumping Bolton.

[kcstan11]

Let's see!

#1 - Rumsfeld gone.

#2 - Bolton gone - he never had a chance anyway. Are French fries back on the menu yet George, and do we now recognize the top 10 floors of the UN Building?

#3 - Is Condi Rice next? Aluminum tube fiasco and "Israel has the right to defend itself" (while they are destroying billions of #'s of the Lebonese infrastructure and 1000's of civilian lives).

That's only a start George, but it's the only way that the US can even begin to reclaim some of the respect that we had on this planet, in the 6 years that you have been in office.

[monvonma]

We live in a democracy don't we?
If the congress elected BY THE PEOPLE would not approve of Bolton then he should not be the UN Ambassador.

I think that there is no further argument there. Really.

[janeymcgreev]

Yep, get rid of Bolton because he was the best US Ambassador to the UN since Jeane Kirkpatrick and Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Someone who would speak up for America's interests rather than be an apologist like Andy Young or a Pig like Albright.

That's right, get someone either like a John Kerry, who no doubt would be the Democrats choice, or a "centrist" Republican, an Israel-bashing clone of Jim Baker's - after all, Bush will now have to turn to the Baker-Scowcroft Country Club wing of the Republican Party. He's already done so with the appointment of Gates.

So the Dems will cut defense spending, get us out of Iraq, while like in Vietnam thousands of Iraquis who hoped democracy would triumph will lie dead in the streets. Soon, they will also make an excuse to get out of Afghanistan too.

We'll become "fortress America" except that under the Dems our military will be sliced and diced, all the while Iran will be developing its own nukes. Israel will go first, then Britain - and on one sunny morning a nuke will explode over San Francisco - probably Clinton's North Korean friends, followed by one over Boston or Philly courtesy of Osama and the Iranians. By then it might be just a little too late, feckless voters. You chose Pelosi and Reid - I hope they'll be more realistic, but I highly doubt that.

[janeymcgreev]

Pendragon, grazingjack*ss, pakaal,

not one of you is even fit to shine John Bolton's shoes. It's a shame the United States will lose a fine diplomat and a courageous, honest voice at the UN.

But hey, Hitlerism won, didn't it? Don't forget to seek out the ashes of the fuhrer (you might check with your Russian friends) and display them prominently in Howie Dean's office.

One thing though, two years from now...if you screw up this country and emasculate our military as you did during the Carter and Pervert years, and we are on the receiving end of an attack much worse than 9/11 ever could be, look out. I wouldn't want to be a Neo-Fascist Democrat then.

Govern responsibly, and not like the Nazis you seem to emulate - or the payback will be much, much worse.

[bmanther]

JaneyMcGreev you are obviously a bigoted deranged republican. Settle down and realize that your party screwed up and the Democrats need to clean up your mess and get this great country back on track. The republicans in office were and are morally corrupt and that is why your party is going down in flames. Now shut up and watch how the job should be done.

[bmanther]

kcstan11 THANK YOU for your comments. This country needs more people who think like you. I guess Americans like us showed up at the polls and are putting America back on track.

[janeymcgreev]

bmanther,

let's see what your moveon.org controlled dems will do. I'll give them a chance, BUT if they choose to take America back to the days of the hand-wringing coward Carter or the perverted Clinton, who was more interested a cupping a feel on a woman than in destroying Bin Laden, then you had better expect payback.

We will now see what a Jim Webb - admittedly ONCE a Reagan Republican will become. If he goes the route of Joe Lieberman, he will be savaged by the likes of idiots such as your friends who post their daily kostroite and air anti America crapola here. If he s*cks up to Howie Dean and Hanoi John, and turns on the very military than he profuses to respect, then he will be toast.

And by the way, so will you. Especially if the Left Fascists of Reid-Pelosi sit idly by while Iran and North Korea honed their nuclear arsenals.

It is time that the Democrats went back to the Humphreys, the Scoop Jacksons, and the Moynihans, and not the Kerrys, the KKK Byrds, the Carters and the high taxes, pro-ILLEGAL, blame America crowd. If they don't - well, you will soon find out.

JaneyMcGreev:

Why the anger? It sounds like you need a hug.

I think it's time you let go of the past and start concentrating on the future.

Making critical assumptions about what might or might not happen in the future will get you nowhere.

Get over it.

As for Bolton, it's about time he went.

Do you happen to remember what he wrote in his Yale 25th reunion book?

"I confess I had no desire to die in a Southeast Asian rice paddy. I considered the war in Vietnam already lost."

The funny thing is that he was a supporter of the Vietnam War - just as long as it was others and not him that were dying in the rice paddys of Vietnam.

He even joined the National Guard so he didn't have to serve in Vietnam.

Another Republican coward.

I wonder what he would think of soldiers who didn't want to die in the streets of Baghdad?

Oh yeah, and John Bolton looks like a cat dragged him in, chewed him for a while, and then spat him out.

[nothappyatall]

"Democrats said Bolton was a bully who lacked the diplomatic skills necessary to broker international deals. "

You bet! this guy has the lousiest, condescending, abrasive attitude and demeanor of any "diplomat" I have ever seen, just the fact that Bush tried so hard against the will of the people to push this moron through into office over objections and protests ~ANYWAY~ tells me there was some other hidden agenda we don't know about.
Cronies always get their cronie buddies in with them.

[nothappyatall]

DUMP condosleazy Rice too, I like the idea of draining the swamp. Rice is probably the worst choice for the position she has- black, female and dealing with ambassadors and officials of countries that not only look down on females as inferior, but consider blacks on the lowest of the low and will not deal with a "mere woman" - that totally cripples things.

The Republicans need to clean up their house - get rid of all the crud I say.

Rumsfeld - should have fired him earlier.
Bolton - a pathetic coward.
Rice - is there anything good about her?
Cheney - loves money more than the United States.
Bush - need I say more?

All of them - pathetic pieces of cr*p, all traitors to the United States.

[houser123]

Judging by the posts presnted by Ms. McGreevy, it would appear she is deeply rooted in the Republican party strategies or she is heavily invested in the compnaies profiteering from this war. In either case, I defend her right to do so, however I disagree with her posts. The 110th congress has not even met yet and already some are slamming their efforts. Let's see what happens in January before we pass judgement. It's time to meet in the middle and seek common grounds. If we dont, our great nation will continue to be deeply divided and that will lead to collapse.

[dj0114]

Hooray for the Dems! They first take over both the House and Senate from the Reichpublicans. But now within two days they have caused Donny Rumsfailure to be booted and now John Lighting Bolton will be gone soon.

The Dems are paying dividends already and have yet to be sworn in.

Resident Bush- welcome to the revenge of the true American Voter Majority. Enjoy!

[heetseeker]

jh6379

Bye bye Bolton has to be the best line of the day... wish I had thought of it... has a catchy ring to it.. don't you think?

Seriously... looks like the entire neo-con project is collapsing like a house of cards... recriminations, finger-pointing and resignations... The Republicans have themselves to blame & have sown the seeds of their own desctruction...

The arrogance of this administration (on foreign affairs).. has been all consuming and brought humilitation and disgrace... It has tarnished the reputation of our nation abroad and made us less safe - not more... for the sake of a little openness, humility & contrition things could have been so, so different...

Well Mr Bush... like the budget surplus you acquired, on assuming office, you have now spent your political capital... correction... you have squandered it...

[rochest]

I think going to stop reading the comments that come on later post because they really do not discuss these issues in the form civility but rather some like little children calling each other names like a giant testosterone fueled, hosing of the decks

janem4 wrote:

"Love the name calling and insults. I see the tolerant left wing is alive and well...Now, let's get some good insults going, shall we."

Pot Kettle Black.

Name calling, insults, tolerance etc are not traits that belong to just one political party.

Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans have sole ownership of those traits.

It is hypocritical to have a go at supporters of one political party while excusing the behaviour of supporters of the other for doing exactly the same.

[radiob-2009]

Everyone here should do two things (1)come together and be civil for the future of America(2)read AGAINST ALL ENEMIES.When you all have done that then a intelligent discourse can be begin.Name calling and demeaning people by party affilation will not help America.Finally a list of ideas (after compromises amongst us)should be presented to this congress and the next.

Janem, you are delusional.

Everything is about you it seems...

Take us to task??? LOL. Maybe take some of these fanatical left wingers, with your fanatical right wing knowledge.

Can anyone else notice the extremes polarize these message boards daily. It's kind of rediculous that people only care about the selfish desires of "their team" and not the well being of their own country.

I'm not American, but I can safely say that your country is screwed unless you pull together, and stop acting like children.

[drudge2]

My hat is off for Sen. Lincoln Chafee, who has shown himself to be a true statesman.

[bob_burd]

Bolton did his job the best he was allowed to. Is there something wrong with trying to expose North Korean nukes and shut down their nuclear capability? Apparently Democrats think so. Look to incoming president Hillary Clinton to travel to North Korea and Iran to welcome them into the nuclear club and try to make nice in a "new approach" to the nuclear crisis.

Selah

[peterbaldwin-2009]

In decapitating the the most vile, arrogant, and evil administration in the history of this great republic, the body politic now hovers over both political parties giving menacing glances to its elected officials from both parties with great effect. Fist Rumsfelds's head on a platter and now Bolton's.

A collective sigh of relief resonates across the planet as the American people take back their country.

[heetseeker]

janem4

You do yourself a disservice... you infer that everyone who posts on these issues is name calling... you fail to acknowledge the many serious points that are made... You tell me... why is it that there has been such an overwhelming repudiation of the Republicans in the mid-terms?

I am on record here as saying that I support a number of domestic policy initiatives of this President.... but on the issue of foreign policy (and Iraq in particular)... he has been grossly incompetent, less than truthful, out of touch & inept... those are not insults those are facts supported by evidence... don't get precious about it... accept it & appreciate that lack of transparency & truthfulness has consequences... whether you are Republican, Democrat or indifferent...

Debate the facts if you must... perhaps you know something that many millions who voted on Tuesday do not...

[neitherone]

Those who bash Bolton (or anyone else, really) only show their weak side. We need to pull together here. Lets hope the new government does better then the last one.

[processor2]

So, George Allen of Virginia and Conrad Burns of Montana both conceded their Senate race. But that's what Republicans do.....they lose, they concede.

If Allen & Burns had been Democrats, here's what would have happened:

They would have demanded recounts, gotten lawyers, claimed the electronic voting machines were rigged, and CBS posters would have claimed the elections were stolen.

I guess that's the difference between Republicans and Democrats

[peterbaldwin-2009]

Lincoln Chafee was there for our soldiers and the American people when he was the sole Republican senator to vote against cloture on the war debate.
For his trouble, the New York Times skewered him in an article in their Sunday magazine at the behest of a vindictive administration: Chafee was a dumb oddball, while Bush was a boy wonder.

Yesterday he dug in his heels again saying that his actions would be guided by the will of the American people, which became manifestly clear at the polls: stop the red Republican menace!

Bush tried to pull the wool over the Democrats eyes by playing nicey-nice with Pelosi at lunch, and then stealthily trying to pull a fast on in the afternoon with Bolton.

Chafee came through again in the clutch, while Bush exposed himself as an insincere, sneaky phoney.

With both parties seeking some type of meaningful rapproachement, Chafee would be the perfect choice for a bipartison Ambassator to the UN.

[jumkey]

"name calling" janem4? Seriously, you're the biggest name caller on this forum. And your side lost the election because of name-callers like YOU.

The vitriol and anger and name calling that you make your stock-in-trade and which substitutes for reason and common sense finally caused the moderates to sit up and take notice. Your side lost because Americans are tired of Republican bumbling and lying and endless scapegoating and fingerpointing.

Some advice from a winner to a loser: if you want respect then give it. You will be treated as you treat others, and on these comments you have treated others very, very poorly.

[rsoxfan1123]

Your party won, congrats, now, where's this new direction and change?
Posted by janem4 at 10:33 AM : Nov 10, 2006

look at the article above for starters.

[rsoxfan1123]

Bolton has been insulting and derogatory to the UN. his appointment was a direct affront to the nations we insulted by ignoring them and marching into Iraq, insisting that they were wrong about WMD and we were right. after ignoring the UN directive to wait until the inspectors were finished before attacking the country (which violates the Geneva convention's rules on pre-emptive strikes), we had the nerve to go back to the UN for financial help when it turned out to be a disaster. Idiots like Bolton were right in the middle of this from the start.

[rsoxfan1123]

ozilot-bolton failing to get reappointed is another positive change. rumsfeld ran away rather than face what he knew was coming; another scapegoat for the Great Decider.

[rsoxfan1123]

ozilot-actually those nations had a trade agreement with Iraq concerning oil exports. the US was excluded form the deal. arms sales would not have caused these countries to ask us to wait. all they asked was that they wait, not that we never go in. when Hussein "attacked his own people" it was the Kurdish rebellion he was stamping out, albeit in a brutal fashion. he "attacked his own people" when he was our ally and buddy as well and it was ok with us then because Iran was our enemy, and my enemy's enemy is my friend.

[rsoxfan1123]

ozilot-you should start getting suspicious when your posts are earning the praise of vitriolic right wingers...

[rsoxfan1123]

ozilot-don't forget, these same neo-co0ns that now want "unity and togetherness" are the ones who sent our young people to die and told us to get screwed when we tried to talk about it. we don't want to be vengeful, which would solve nothing, but we need to start cleaning up this GOP mess. if rumsfeld wasn't running away he shouldn't have made it look so much like he was.

[rsoxfan1123]

neo-cons I meant

[Syndicate]

I think I would just let the position remain empty. If I were president I would apoint one person to each position. Congress could aprove or let the post sit empty. Its just the UN anyway.

[planotiger]

good post ozilot, the dems need to make good on the opportunity that has been given them thru this election, and i certainly hope and pray that we do!

[rsoxfan1123]

janem4-nothing today, but I recognize you from days past.

[radiob-2009]

I see a new direction in the post more civil that is good.That is what we need.Issues from Iraq to campaign finace reform need to be addressed in a civil manner.As far as Bolton is concerned I will abstain from commenting until everyone has taken the time to read AGAINST ALL ENEMIES.It provides a unique insight and some critisism of various adminstrations.The buck truly does not stop on one adminstration.It is time to move past party loyalties or pre conceived notions of parties.America needs leadership from the center because the far left and the far right does not represent the majority.

[rsoxfan1123]

janem4-johnny damon! ouch! we do need to work together, that much is true, but I am still a bit suspicious because this new republican look still has the wrapper on it and only appeared after the balance of power shifted. pardon me if I am just a wee bit cynical.