Joe Biden and Chris Dodd are demanding that the administration turn over documents from Syria and ten communications from the NSA before they will even consider discussing Bolton's nomination.
So far, the administration has been refusing, citing executive priviledge.
Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the documents showed no problems. "At the request of my colleagues," Roberts said, "I have directed staff to examine Undersecretary Bolton's use of intelligence and after careful review, the Senate Intelligence Committee continues to find no evidence of abuse. I am prepared to assist in any reasonable effort to examine the facts, but an examination of upwards of 40 names appears to be an effort to preserve the issue, not to resolve it."
If the Republicans want to have John Bolton confirmed, why are they afraid to turn over the documents from Syria and the 10 communications from the NSA? Only they know what's in those documents. If they're reluctant, it means that the information will doom the Bolton nomination.
The Republicans in a blanket statement say that this is spoiling the spirit of cooperation. If the Republicans refuse to cooperate, then where does that leave the Democrats?
What puzzles me is that McCain is behind the Bolton nomination. He and Frist have teamed up to support putting Bolton in the office of ambassador. McCain has talked about negotiations with Biden and Dodd, but it sounds as if he's backing the party line.
McCain said negotiations are under way with Biden and Dodd but agreed with Frist that the position must be filled. "I think it is very important that the United States is represented at the United Nations," he said. "I believe that John Bolton has proven his credentials. I also believe the president should be allowed to appoint his own team in a position as important as U.N. ambassador."
And here I was having warm and fuzzy feelings about McCain. He evidently doesn't feel that the post of ambassador requires a lot of diplomacy, and has decided that just about any asshole would do. Or he wants to take down the UN like most of his cronies, and doesn't care who gets the job of ambassador because it doesn't really matter.
Or maybe he feels that an ambassador's job is to kiss up and kick down anybody he feels like. In that case, I nominate myself as the next ambassador to the United Nations. I can kiss ass and I can be a real bitch when I want - I'm qualified! And I routinely chase people down the halls of hotels, screaming insanely - heck, I'll wave a butcher knife if it's handy.
Just kidding.
Sausage links:
Bolton's nomination
Bolton's filibuster