Foreign Relations Committe Sends Bolton Nomination to Senate without a Recommendation

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today sent to the full Senate President Bush’s controversial nomination of John R. Bolton to be ambassador to the United Nations, but the panel withheld a favorable recommendation at the urging of a key Republican member. The Huffington Post and Washington Post haved the story here.

In a straight party-line vote, the committee voted 10-8 to forward the nomination without a recommendation after more than five hours of debate.

The unusual move came at the suggestion of Sen. George V. Voinovich (R-Ohio), who voiced opposition this morning to nomination of Bolton but said he deserved an “up-or-down vote” on the Senate floor. Voinovich made it clear he would vote to send the nomination out of the committee only if the panel agreed not to recommend Bolton.

“I have come to the determination that the United States can do better than John Bolton” at the United Nations, Voinovich told the committee.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Thursday, “I have come to the determination that the United States can do better than John Bolton” for the United Nations.

Other Republicans came to Bolton’s defense, saying the case against him was overblown.

As the hearing ended, committee chairman Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) said he was taking Voinovich’s advice and that “the vote will be to report the nomination without recommendation.”

Reuters has their take on the story here:

Michelle Malkin has this piece here:

Hearing’s over. Grass-roots Republicans are itching to give Sen. Voinovich a piece of their minds. But according to many readers, he has taken his phone off the hook. I’m getting a constant busy signal.

Meantime, Beltway Buzz is printing letters from readers who need a place to vent. Here’s a sample:

From John B:

“Voinovich said Bolton ‘would be fired’ if he worked in the private sector. How on earth would Voinovich know that? He hasn’t had a non-government job since he entered the state legislature at age 31, in 1967, almost 40 years ago.”

From reader Michael P:

“As a long time supporter and constituent (even to his days of resurrecting Cleveland from the mess created by Dennis Kucinich), I had even faxed him a letter to that effect yesterday. To say that I am disappointed is an obvious and monumental understatement… More importantly, I believe that this is a sign of the unrealistic and ‘weak on principal’ behavior that all too many Republican Senators seem to be afflicted with.”

I’m hearing much the same.

Ohio reader Robert W. Smith e-mails me:

Is there anyway we can trade for one of the California Senators. At least they stand up for something and don’t look like mice doing it!

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Bloggers blogging…

File It Under dashes off an irate letter to Voinovich
Confirm Bolton: See, he’s gutless after all
Arena of ideas: It is official, Voinovich is an idiot

Someone has to remind Senator Voinovich that he is not the President and he has gone way beyond advise and consent.

It has been obvious for weeks that the Democrats wish to embarass the President. They have stalled, obstructed, back stabbed and plotted. They have succeeded with the help of this Senator from Ohio.

The President will exert some good old Republican Party discipline as soon as Bolton is confirmed. No more free passes for this RINO.