Here We Go Again...It's Bolton's Turn

Another confirmation hearing, another display of Democrats foaming at the mouth.

Same old, same old on Capitol Hill.

Very unbecoming.

It will take a long time before Barbara Boxer lives down her performance at Condoleezza Rice's confirmation hearing.

When will they learn that stuff doesn't play well with reasonable Americans?

They may be pleasing their base, but that's not enough if the Democrats hope to gain ground on the Republicans.

According to AP:

The committee's top Democrat, Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, expressed his "grave concern" about Bolton's nomination, citing doubts about his "diplomatic temperament," his statements about the U.N. and international laws and treaties, and his leadership on weapons threats in places like North Korea and Iran.

"In my judgment," Biden said, "your judgment about how to deal with the emerging threats have not been particularly useful."

...Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said he had serious questions about Bolton's "commitment to the U.N."

"It is critical we have someone with respect for diplomacy, who believes in the United Nations despite its flaws," he said.

"I'm surprised the nominee wants the job he's been nominated for, given the many negative things he's had to say about the U.N.," Biden said.

..Bolton retains a go-it-alone attitude about U.S. foreign policy that is out of step with Bush's second-term pledge of international cooperation, said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.

"My overall assessment is that you have nothing but disdain for the United Nations," she said.

"You can dance around it, you can run away from it, you can put perfume on it, but the bottom line is the bottom line," Boxer said. "It's hard for me to know why you'd want to work at an institution that you said didn't even exist."

...Much of Monday's hearing focused on his record as a boss and his use of intelligence for what Democrats suggested were partisan ends. They have raised the question of alleged retaliation against an analyst who crossed him.

Bolton said the analyst, Christian Westermann, had overstepped his authority in questioning Bolton's characterization of intelligence about Cuban germ warfare.

Moreover, Bolton said, "he was not straight with me."

During a heated back-and-forth with Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., Bolton denied he tried to get Westermann fired, but said he did want the analyst transferred elsewhere in the State Department. That did not happen.

And once again a RINO, Sen. Lincoln Chafee, offers lukewarm support, his spokesman saying the Chaffee was leaning toward voting for Bolton "unless something surprising shows up" at the hearing.

These confirmation hearings have become little more than bizarre seminars in partisan grandstanding.

The spectacle is growing tiresome.

Bill Kristol offers a reasoned analysis of why Bolton is the man for the job.

He concludes:

"The case against Bolton is silly and weak. Democrats want to embrace it. Let them do so, and let Republicans make them pay a price. When Bolton is reported out of committee, Senator Frist should schedule floor debate without a time limit. Republican senators should challenge their Democratic counterparts to debate John Bolton's record, and the U.N.'s record, every day, for as long as the Democrats want. The Bush administration should put senior spokesmen on TV every night to engage in an argument over whose foreign policy is preferable for the country--George Bush's or George Soros's. Republicans should welcome a discussion of whether the U.N. is just fine as it is, or requires tough-minded reform. In stimulating such a debate, Bolton would be doing yet another service to this country."

Yes, keep up the good work Democrats!