They're working to
bottle John Bolton up in committee.
But the eight Democrats on the panel, all of whom are expected to oppose the nomination, denounced the choice as divisive and capable of jeopardizing Bush's attempts this year to repair diplomatic ties frayed in his first term over the Iraq war.
Ranking Democrat Sen. Joseph Biden (news, bio, voting record) of Delaware complained the hearing was being held without the committee fully investigating accusations Bolton pressed for two intelligence analysts to be fired after they appeared soft on Cuba.
Sen. Christopher Dodd (news, bio, voting record), a Connecticut Democrat, told ABC on the eve of the hearing, "There's very credible information that Mr. Bolton tried to have analysts -- intelligence analysts, in at least two cases -- removed from their jobs."
Biden also questioned Bolton's diplomatic temperament. "You have a have a habit of belittling your opposition, and even some of your friends," he said.
"Quite frankly I am surprised the nominee wants the job that he's been nominated for given the many negative things he had to say about the U.N., international institutions and international law," Biden added [...]
Democrats are trying to persuade at least one Republican on the committee to vote against Bolton in hopes of blocking the nomination, which would not go to the full Senate for a vote in the event of a tie.
This is the committee membership. The obvious target? Lincoln Chafee.