Dem Filibuster Fetish

The Democrats seem to have an abnormally obsessive preoccupation with the filibuster, in addition to suffering from a pathological degree of hypocrisy.

AP reports:

Democrats forced a delay Thursday in a confirmation vote for John R. Bolton, yet another setback for President Bush's tough-talking choice as U.N. ambassador and a renewal of intense partisanship in the Senate after a brief respite.

The vote to advance Bolton's nomination to an immediate confirmation vote was 56-42 - four short of the 60 votes that Bolton's Republican backers needed.

...Frist said the Bolton matter soured the air of cooperation the two parties' centrists forged just days ago after months of wrangling over judges.

"John Bolton, the very first issue we turned to, we got what looks to me like a filibuster," Frist said. "It certainly sounds like a filibuster ... it quacks like a filibuster."

Frist's comments were in response to Harry Reid's LIE, that it wasn't a filibuster.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the administration was pleased that Republicans would revisit the vote after the recess and criticized Democrats for the newest delay.

"Just 72 hours after all the goodwill and bipartisanship, it is a shame to see the Democratic Senate leadership resort back to such a partisan approach," McClellan said. "This is a nominee that enjoys majority support."

Sens. Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana were the only Democrats to break ranks and support the move to have an immediate final vote. Frist was the only Republican to vote against ending the delays, but he only did so because that gave him the procedural right to force the Senate to vote again on the issue.

Sens. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, and Arlen Specter, R-Pa., did not vote.

The crooks at the UN are happy tonight. The dictators and the tyrannts are celebrating the actions of the Democrats.

President Bush, his administration, and a majority of the members of Congress believe that the UN badly needs reform. The corruption of the oil-for-food program, the total impotence of the UN to deal with crises, and the incompetence and dishonesty of Secretary-General Kofi Annan are reasons for immediate and dramatic overhaul.

It is no wonder there is outrage at the sliming of John Bolton, a man the President and the Secretary of State consider perfectly suited to bring some desperately needed U.S. backbone and blunt evaluation to the depraved organization.
After the Senate denied the cloture motion on the nomination of John Bolton as United States Ambassador to the United Nations, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist made the following statement:
“Earlier today the Democratic Leader gave a speech denouncing the ‘crossfire of partisan sniping’ in Congress and pressed for comity and cooperation. But tonight, after the Democrats have launched into yet another filibuster of a presidential nomination – this time on John Bolton to serve as UN Ambassador – those words seem empty and hollow.

“Some 72 hours after hailing an agreement that sought to end partisan filibusters, the Democrats have launched yet another partisan filibuster.

“Actions speak volumes, and so does inaction. Given the chance to advance the cause of comity in the Senate, the Democrats have chosen partisan confrontation over cooperation. And rather than working to advance America’s agenda and act by voting on the floor, the Democrats keep stepping on the brake.

“This is a critical time for the United States and for the world. Because of the President’s vision and commitment, democracy is on the march around the globe. And with sensible reform, the United Nations can and should be vital in advancing these developments. But we need to get a UN ambassador in place.

“The cause of peace and international cooperation should not be held hostage to partisan sniping. I would urge my colleagues to end this partisan filibuster of John Bolton.”

Once again, the Dems obstruct.

No ideas, just obstruction.

No vision, just obstruction.
No principle and integrity, just obstruction.

The Dems have nothing on Bolton. They don't really want to see any new documents. They just want to string this out to hurt the President. To achieve their goal of handing Bush a defeat, the Dems are willing to keep mercilessly slashing away at Bolton. Meanwhile, the UN continues on its path of irrelevancy, and oppressed, brutalized people around the world suffer.

Will the Dems come back from the Memorial Day recess refreshed and ready to do business?

Will they conquer their filibuster fetish and get the legislative branch moving again?

Not a chance.