General

Bolton Continues on Hold

The Bush administration yesterday rejected Democrats’ proposal for how to release some information to end their block on John R. Bolton, President Bush’s nominee to be ambassador to the United Nations, leaving him facing a continued filibuster:

“At this point here, at least based on conversations with a number of my colleagues in here, they would like us to remain firm and to vote against cloture if it comes up again,” said Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, Connecticut Democrat, who had made the proposal last week in a letter to John D. Negroponte, director of national intelligence.
Democrats want to see a list of Americans mentioned in intercepted intelligence communications viewed by Mr. Bolton, who is undersecretary of state for arms control and international security. Democrats said they want to make sure Mr. Bolton wasn’t using that information to try to bully intelligence analysts, which they say he has a habit of doing.
Mr. Dodd had suggested that Democrats provide a list of names that concerned them, and allow intelligence officials to review the list and assure senators that none of those names was mentioned in the communications.
But Mr. Negroponte yesterday rejected that offer.

The White House understands the futility of the request.

This is another political stalling tactic by Democrats who have already voted against the nomination,” said Erin Healy, a White House spokeswoman. White House officials have said senators have all the information they need to make a decision on Mr. Bolton.
Democrats voted two weeks ago to filibuster Mr. Bolton’s nomination, arguing that the issue is no longer Mr. Bolton’s record but now is a matter of executive and legislative powers. Democrats also are seeking information about congressional testimony that Mr. Bolton was supposed to give on Syria’s weapons programs.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said yesterday that Democrats are prepared to hold firm.

Of course, the Lefties have no positive agenda for America so why not obstruct the President in anyway they can.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Tennessee Republican, said he would schedule another vote on Mr. Bolton but didn’t have a timetable. Republicans said the next time they vote to end the filibuster, they expect to succeed.
“At some point, and the sooner the better, we’ll bring him up, and I believe we’ll have the votes,” said Sen. George Allen, Virginia Republican.

Flap handicaps confirmation for Bolton as soon as the Senate Democrats think they have milked it for maximum PR mileage.