We Need John Bolton

There's no question about it.

John Bolton is the right individual to represent the United States at the United Nations.

However, a battle is looming. John Bolton's recess appointment is set to expire in January 2007.

Flash back to a little over a year ago. During confirmation hearings for John Bolton, President Bush's choice to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, the Democrats brutally attacked him. They threw everything they had at him. And, they did manage to temporarily derail his nomination. President Bush, of course, responded by doing the right thing by appointing the right man to represent the U.S. at the UN.

Naturally, the Dems were horrified. What arrogance! Certain disaster awaited.

Poor Republican George Voinovich was in tears.

What a difference a year makes!

George Voinovich has managed to dry his tears and actually commend Bolton for a job well done at the UN.

It's clear that Bolton is a stellar ambassador. At this critical time in history, with turmoil in the Middle East, with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Iran defying the international community, and Kim Jong Il conducting missile tests, Bolton has represented the interests of the United States with skill and integrity.

In short, we need him at the UN.

Dems, of course, think otherwise.

At a hearing on July 27, 2006, Dems showed their intentions to obstruct Bolton's nomination again.

While Kerry was questioning Bolton on North Korea, this exchange took place:

KERRY: Well, the most that you seem to want is to go back to a six-party talk that isn't in existence.

BOLTON: No, no, quite the contrary. We said expressly...

KERRY: Are you prepared to go to bilateral talks?

BOLTON: Quite the contrary. We said expressly that what we wanted from North Korea was not simply a return to the six-party talks, but an implementation of the September 2005 joint statement from the six-party talks which would mean their dismantlement of their nuclear weapons program.

KERRY: But this has been going on for five years, Mr. Ambassador.

BOLTON: It's the nature of multilateral negotiations, Senator.

KERRY: Why not engage in a bilateral one and get the job done? That's what the Clinton administration did.

BOLTON: Very poorly, since the North Koreans violated the agreed framework almost from the time it was signed. And I would also say, Senator, that we do have the opportunity for bilateral negotiations with North Korea in the context of the six-party talks, if North Korea would come back to them.

How perfect, and how true!

Kerry held the Clinton administration up as the model for successful diplomacy and Bolton completely destroyed him by pointing out what a dismal failure the Clinton administration proved to be on North Korea.

Russ Feingold was equally clueless at that hearing.

Dana Milbank writes:

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) appeared to be particularly agitated about Bolton. As he prepared to question the nominee, Feingold furiously scratched out items on a 24-point list, which he had scribbled on wrinkled yellow legal paper in black, red and blue ink. The list, which the senator later discarded, was entirely illegible.

But Feingold, too, was in the strange position of scolding Bolton for being insufficiently tough on Iran, North Korea and the U.N. Human Rights Council.

How funny that Feingold's multi-colored 24-point list was utterly pointless!

Apparently, Feingold thinks that pretending to have deep thoughts is just as good as actually having deep thoughts.

What's not funny is that the Dems are serious about derailing Bolton's nomination.

We cannot let that happen.

Majority Leader Senator Bill Frist wants to enlist the power of the blogosphere to help in the effort to assure the confirmation of John Bolton and prevent the Dem obstructionists from engaging in more recklessness and irresponsible antics.

You can help by calling the offices of Democratic Senators to voice your support for John Bolton.

You can join the campaign by going to Blogging for Bolton.