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My personal musings about anything that gets on my radar screen--heavily dominated by politics.

2005-05-27

What Is Wrong With The Senate?

That it turns men into blubbering, blathering fools? Honestly, if you haven't heard the tape of George Voinivich (R-OH) breaking into tears at the prospect of voting on the nomination of John Bolton, you should go out of your way to get a hold of that tape.

Short of that, here's the Cleveland Plains-Dealer account:

Ohio Sen. George Voinovich choked back tears on the Senate floor Wednesday as he pleaded with colleagues to vote against John Bolton's nomination for United Nations ambassador.

After delaying Bolton's passage through the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this month and sending the entire Senate a letter on Tuesday to explain his objections, Voinovich delivered a 45-minute speech that argued Bolton's abusive personality make him an inappropriate diplomat.

"This appointment is very, very important to our country," Voinovich concluded as his voice cracked with emotion. "At a strategic time when we need friends all over the world, we need somebody up there that's going to be able to get the job done.

"I know, some of my friends say, 'Let it go, George. It's going to work out,' " said Voinovich, currently the sole Republican to publicly oppose President Bush's appointment. "I don't want to take the risk. I came back here and ran for a second term because I'm worried about my kids and my grandchildren. And I just hope my colleagues will take the time and . . . do some serious thinking about whether or not we should send John Bolton to the United Nations."

With that, Voinovich returned to his seat and fidgeted with a yellow highlighting pen until he regained his composure.

Set aside for a moment the fact that Voiny does not make one, single, tiny argument either in support of his position or against Bolton. Just the fact that this business brings a grown man to tears while engaging in such hystrionic rhetoric is enough to make you wonder if the Senate isn't the most crippling influence on intellect in the entire country.

And, really, based on his words, what is Voiny's concern?? Is it that Bolton will go to the U.N., be mean to somebody, and then the U.N. will attack us? Cuz that's sure what the argument sounds like.

What a pompous, self-important wimp.
Posted by: Michael / 5/27/2005 06:03:00 AM

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