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

2005-06-21

No Vote For Bolton

The U.S. Senate, in its wisdom, has again failed to come up with the votes to decide on whether or not to vote on the nomination of John Bolton.

As an aside, does anybody else wonder if someday, in the event we have to explain ourselves to aliens, they would look at how the Senate works and just decide then and there to obliterate us?

At any rate, the vote was 54 for cloture, 38 against cloture, with eight Senators not voting.

Not voting?? On something as important and, apparently, controversial as this?!?

Yep, that's right. Here's the roll call, and here, to make it simple, is the list of Senators who did not cast a vote in this great debate:

Burns (R-MT)
Coleman (R-MN)
Feingold (D-WI)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kerry (D-MA)
Kohl (D-WI)
Levin (D-MI)
Thune (R-SD)

I know John Thune is playing politics with his vote on this one, but Connie Burns and Norm Coleman? That is surprising and disappointing (though, of course, they could have a good reason related to being in twn for the vote or something). But, even if these three hold form, that gives the GOP only 57 vote, three shy of what is needed. And, of those on the list, I don't see any likely defections, though I suppose Tim Johnson could be pressured by his constituents to change his vote. Still not enough.

At this point, I sincerely hope this President decides to hold firm and fight for this nomination. Start putting the ball back in the Dems hands--let them have what they want, but only under very controlled and very public circumstances. For the whole world, call their hand and make them show their cards. Those of us paying attention out here know that the Dems are acting in very bad faith, but it's time to just make a mockery of them and their tactics.

By the way, the Colorado delegation split its vote, Allard yea, Salazar nay.
Posted by: Michael / 6/21/2005 12:40:00 AM

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