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| Senate Foreign Relations Committe. to vote May 12th on Bolton nomination |
| 2005-04-23 |
| Cheney voices support strong support Known for his own acerbic style, Vice President Dick Cheney on Friday came to the defense of John R. Bolton, who is struggling to survive blistering criticism and win confirmation as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. As the Senate Foreign Relations Committee set May 12 to vote on the nominee, Cheney tried to turn around accusations that Bolton was not fit for the sensitive diplomatic post because of his blunt — and, according to some critics, berating — style. "If being occasionally tough and aggressive and abrasive were a problem," Cheney said, "a lot of members of the United States Senate wouldn't qualify." "In this time and place, it's extraordinarily important for us to have a tough advocate at the U.N., and I think John is that advocate," Cheney said. "I've looked at all the charges that have been made. I don't think any of them stand up to scrutiny." Even so, senators' staffers held another day of interviews with critics of Bolton. Among them was Thomas Hubbard, who was President Bush's ambassador to South Korea until he retired last year. details in article Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, meanwhile, has talked to two fence-sitting Republican senators, Lincoln D. Chafee of Rhode Island and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, at their invitation. "The general considers the discussions private," said his spokeswoman, Peggy Cifrino. Powell was the only living former Republican secretary of state who did not sign a letter of support for Bolton that was sent to the Foreign Relations Committee chairman, Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., on April 5. When Powell ran the State Department his views were often at odds with Bolton's. Powell was inclined to take a moderate position on world issues while Bolton, like Bush, hewed to a hard line. The president showed no sign of wavering. "John's distinguished career and service to our nation demonstrates that he is the right man at the right time for this important assignment," Bush said. Dan Bartlett, the president's counselor, vowed to "do everything we can to get him confirmed." More details from the AP |
| Posted by: trailing wife |
| #3 Interesting angle. Powell is backstabing Bush in claiming Bolton backstab. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2005-04-23 10:02:15 PM |
| #2 Press painting this as Powell using Bolton to backstab Bush. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2005-04-23 9:44:32 PM |
| #1 i.e.: you Senators who have a wishlist and vote against Bolton can stick your wishlist where the sun don't shine. This counts |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-04-23 3:28:50 PM |