VIDEO: Dodd Says Bolton Has ‘Endangered Our National Security’ and Should Be Filibustered
VIDEO: Dodd Says Bolton Has ‘Endangered Our National Security’ and Should Be Filibustered
Today in the Senate, Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT) delivered a fiery speech calling for the Senate to filibuster U.N. Ambassador John Bolton.
Dodd said Bolton had earned a “failing grade” for his work as ambassador and had already “largely burned his bridges with his colleagues” at the United Nations. Moreover, he said Bolton’s effort to have two intelligence analysts fired after they refused to support his conclusions had “endangered our national security” and were “so outrageous that they show that Mr. Bolton does not even deserve a vote.” Watch it:
According to BoltonWatch, Bolton’s opponents may already have enough votes to block him.
Full transcript:
DODD: When the tally is taken on how effective Mr. Bolton has been at the UN, in my view he gets a failing grade overall. Mr. President, these are key positions that help to strengthen the United States, and yet in case after case, from reform to Darfur to North Korea to the U.N. Human Rights Council, critical issues to strengthen the United States, our ambassador failed to get the kind of results that are critically important.
But Mr. President there’s more.
On the basis of those issues, I would urge my colleagues to vote against Mr. Bolton. But I’m going to go a step further, Mr. President, because I believe that other actions taken by Mr. Bolton are so outrageous that they show that Mr. Bolton does not even deserve a vote, in my view.
There’s Mr. Bolton’s well documented attempts to manipulate intelligence to suit his world view and to seek the removal of at least two intelligence analysts who wouldn’t play ball. When these analysts refused to support intelligence conclusions not supported by available intelligence, Mr. Bolton mounted a concerted effort to have them fired. The fact that they weren’t removed doesn’t excuse his actions. Now, Mr. President, I don’t mind a heated debate. I don’t mind people having serious disagreements with conclusions of people. But when you attempt to fire lower-level employees who are responsible for gathering intelligence for the United States because you don’t like the results, that is dangerous business indeed.
His behavior endangered our national security because it goes to the very heart of what we depend on to protect that security — unbiased and professional intelligence collection and analysis. Mr. Bolton stepped way over the line and committed an offense so grievous in my view that it warrants that this Senate deny him an up or down vote on the nomination.
In concluding, Mr. President, I would return to a point that I made earlier, namely that Mr. Bolton has largely burned his bridges with his colleagues in New York and isn’t likely to be an effective diplomat when diplomacy is increasingly becoming the coin of the realm in protecting and advancing US interests at this very unstable moment in history.
Fifty nine former US ambassadors and diplomats who have served in five administrations agree — yesterday they sent a letter to the Foreign Relations Committee in opposition to the nomination.
They recognized as I do that at this critical moment in our nation’s future, the President should put the nation’s interest first and nominate an individual with strong diplomatic skills who believes in diplomacy, rather than placating his conservative base by continuing to push for confirmation of an unsuitable nominee. I believe that it is time for the Senate to send that message loudly and clearly to the President by rejecting efforts to ramrod this nomination through in the closing days of the session.
I urge my colleagues to join me in strongly opposing this nomination.
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Dodd is an asshole….Who really cares what this senile old goat has to say?
September 6th, 2006 at 3:15 pmGame on! Love it when people on the Hill wake up and remember they have a pair of balls.
Come on out swinging then, Dodd!
September 6th, 2006 at 3:15 pmRight on, Dodd!
September 6th, 2006 at 3:22 pmGee, does that mean that the carte blanche days are over for Junior’s Junta?
September 6th, 2006 at 3:22 pmWell he has a strong point: when you attempt to fire lower level employees who are responsible for gathering intelligence for the US because you don’t like their results, that is dangerous business indeed. And I don’t care in which administration you may serve
Note he’s not made it a partisan issue, as he’s also mentioned there are both Republicans and Democrats who think this is a nutty idea (including a large number of former Ambassadors)
September 6th, 2006 at 3:22 pmChris Dodd is passionate and articulate in his views.
Too bad he doesn’t get it.
Bush appointed Bolton to the position of U.N. Ambassador precisely because of the characteristics derided by Dodd.
If a person is trying to put out a fire, the use of gasoline would be a poor choice. But if a person is trying to make a fire rage completely out of control, the use of gasoline is sensible.
Dodd, this administration knows full well what Bolton’s qualifications are, and chose him for the position based on those qualifications. You don’t try to convince an arsonist that gasoline is a bad choice for extinguishing the flames, you grab the can out of his hand before he has a chance to pitch it into the fire.
Don’t threaten a filibuster, Dodd…all you’re doing is giving them advance warning. Do what you need to do to keep this psychotic Muppet out of the U.N. seat.
September 6th, 2006 at 3:23 pm#6 I think most probably do get it. Bolton’s views on the UN aren’t exactly a secret.
September 6th, 2006 at 3:25 pmBolton is h-i-s-t-o-r-y…
September 6th, 2006 at 3:26 pmI am the Walrus!
Koo koo ka choo!
September 6th, 2006 at 3:26 pmIf a person is trying to put out a fire, the use of gasoline would be a poor choice. But if a person is trying to make a fire rage completely out of control, the use of gasoline is sensible.
September 6th, 2006 at 3:28 pm==
Say we should start mailing Bolton shoes so he can start beating them on the desk and ranting like the other Despots…
People who love their country and understand what it really stands for.
September 6th, 2006 at 3:28 pmOut I say.
Out with you Mr. Walrus.
Out right now.
Let us pray.
September 6th, 2006 at 3:31 pmSenator Dodd. The soon-to-be Senior Senator of Connecticut acting like a leader. Good to see.
September 6th, 2006 at 3:35 pmDems are starting to show some leadership. It’s about time, too!
September 6th, 2006 at 3:45 pmIben Hakenluggi is an asshole. Who cares what that worthless little fascist toad has to say?
September 6th, 2006 at 3:46 pm#6 Bolton is not history, Bush will simply renominate him and if rejected again Bush will simply put him in the post permanently by using his imagined chief executive infallability powers he feels is grante to him in a time of war.
September 6th, 2006 at 3:54 pmThank you Christopher Dodd! I heartedly agree that John Bolton is the exact opposite of what kind of person should represent America in the United Nations! If we needed a real reason to filibuster, this is it. And if they don’t filibuster as a part of that stupid agreement, then we might as well fold up the tent and go home. What use is the filibuster if the Republicans take it away? We need to call them out on this one.
September 6th, 2006 at 3:54 pmgoodbye pringles man… we hate to see you go!
September 6th, 2006 at 3:58 pmBut Senate sources said that Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) is considering a plan to bring the legislation to the floor next week under a special rule, bypassing the normal requirement for prior approval by a committee. The Senate is rushing to complete essential pre-election work by the end of this month.
The three Republicans have circulated their draft to Republican and Democratic colleagues on the Armed Services Committee, and two congressional sources said yesterday that there is significant consensus on its major provisions. The language of some parts is still being negotiated, they said, but the section on defendants’ access to the evidence against them is settled.
————————————————————-
President Bush and his attorney general agree that under existing laws and treaties Bush is a war criminal together with many members of his government. To make his war crimes legal after the fact, Bush has instructed the Justice (sic) Department to draft changes to the War Crimes Act and to U.S. treaty obligations under the Geneva Conventions.
One of Bush’s changes would deny protection of the Geneva Conventions to anyone in any American court.
Eugene Fidell, president of the National Institute of Military Justice, says that Bush’s changes “immunize past crimes.”
Under the U.S. Constitution and U.S. legal tradition, retroactive law is impermissible. What do Americans think of their president’s attempts to immunize himself, his government, CIA operatives, military personnel, and civilian contractors from war crimes?————————————————————-
The US War Crimes Act of 1996 makes it a felony to commit grave violations of the Geneva Conventions. The Washington Post recently reported that the Bush administration is quietly circulating draft legislation to eliminate crucial parts of the War Crimes Act. Observers on The Hill say the Administration plans to slip it through Congress this fall while there still is a guaranteed Republican majority–perhaps as part of the military appropriations bill, the proposals for Guantánamo tribunals or a new catch-all “anti-terrorism” package. Why are they doing it, and how can they be stopped?
September 6th, 2006 at 3:59 pmI don’t like Bolton. On the flip side, the democrats better not block the vote though. I want Bolton to get a vote and I want to see him voted down. Filibusters are for pussies.
September 6th, 2006 at 4:00 pmAfter November, we won’t even need to filibuster.
We’ll just give Bush what he wanted all along. A yes or no vote.
Payback’s bitch…..
September 6th, 2006 at 4:06 pm#18 – Roger_Roger,
I guess you’re calling the Republicans “pussies” as they have engaged in fillibuster more often than the Democrats.
26 of the listed fillibusters were enacted by the Republicans.
http://media.pfaw.org/filibusters.pdf
September 6th, 2006 at 4:08 pmSorry, I meant an up or down vote.
60 Dems vote No, 36 repugs vote yes, 4 republican senators who know what an idiot Bolton is, abstain.
Bolton out
September 6th, 2006 at 4:09 pmMr. Bolton,
September 6th, 2006 at 4:14 pmI think E.D. Hill is ripe for a moustache ride.
Check with Bill O’Reilly for her scehdule.
#6 Bolton is not history, Bush will simply renominate him and if rejected again Bush will simply put him in the post permanently by using his imagined chief executive infallability powers he feels is grante to him in a time of war.
Comment by Mark
If he is not confirmed, the most Bush can do is another recess appointment, but if he appointed that way again, he does not get paid according to law.
September 6th, 2006 at 4:18 pmI am sure he is altruistic enough to work for free /snark
Interesting that you think the Founding Fathers are pussies.
September 6th, 2006 at 4:22 pmThe filibustering of Bolton will appease the embolden the Al-Qaeda types.
Just remember, if you don’t agree with the president in a “time of war”, the terrorists win.
September 6th, 2006 at 4:30 pmnice speech Sen. Dodd!
September 6th, 2006 at 4:37 pmBush is trying to keep Bolton, because he is the only member of PNAC that is not already in his cabinet , similar position of power or facing trial.
Well there is Bill Kristol, chairman of PNAC, but they want him still working on keeping the media on their side. He is an employee of Murdock, owner of Fox, btw
Look at the PNAC members and compare them to the current administration.
September 6th, 2006 at 4:39 pmCan’t believe the “liberal media” hasnt made PNAC known to everyone. Their plan is for a pax americana empire and for the government to become a fascist state, a merger of government and corporations.
I wish he felt that strongly about the illegal spying.
Roger? The basis of his proposed filibuster/block is that Bolton is flattly accross the board hated by everyone but Bush, Cheney and Kristol. I’ll bet there are many happy Republicans out there who now no longer have to vote for this piece of shit.
Wake up Roger-roger.
September 6th, 2006 at 4:41 pmUnfortunately Think Progress needs to rename itself to “THINK PROPER” (or get out) and has turned into a joke. I am apparently BANNED now, and this will likely be deleted to. I was banned for merely supporting the Fareed Zakaria thread. I posted on topic, no profanity and they were solid decent posts. And for that they tried to trick me by making my posts appear ONLY TO ME.
Let me repeat that. They made the posts appear ONLY TO ME. NO ONE ELSE CAN SEE THEM. You think you’re posting, but your NOT.
I tried to post earlier from my home but they have blocked my home IP. I am only getting this in as I am at work.
I was finished posting last night after discovering this, but I am writing this because so many people responded to my final post.
But first, to the clown who deleted my posts last night deleted 5 good, thoughtful, non vicious posts that I took time to write to help support the Fareed Zakaria thread.
Just WHAT was wrong with those posts?
Here is one of those posts from last night, that you thought was too incendiary, too racy, too profane and or too off topic in a thread that was about IRAN, and Bush comparing Terrorism to Nazism.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT POST?????
I repeat, WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT COMMENT???
:|
Anyone? Anyone at all?
Buhler….
If posts like this are subject to being blocked (if I log in as me I can see it, if I don’t log in or log in as someone else then I CAN’T see them. This means they are using cookies or something to trick posters into wasting their time while they censor their comments).
Its a joke.
If anyone wants to talk to me I will be looking for my friends over at Lydia Cornell’s blog. It is liberal, progressive and she doesn’t pull crap like this. http://www.lydiacornell.com
It may not be as big as Think PROPER, but if Think Proper keeps going the way its going that might change soon.
Look for me in there, because I won’t be in here anymore.
I leave you with this.
WORFEUS
September 6th, 2006 at 4:41 pmDodd did many Republicans a favor. Bolton is toast. Bolton is a traitor.
September 6th, 2006 at 4:42 pmHow many times can one person be banned, worfeus?
September 6th, 2006 at 4:44 pmGet a hold of yourself Worfeus. Do you actually get emotional about a blog site?
September 6th, 2006 at 4:58 pmTP deleted a post I put up, I said something mean about Tony Snow. I got over it.
September 6th, 2006 at 5:11 pmWorefus,
I’ll see you there, brother. Thanks for the link.
September 6th, 2006 at 5:17 pmg
September 6th, 2006 at 5:23 pmTP deleted a post I put up, I said something mean about Tony Snow. I got over it.
Comment by For Truth — September 6, 2006 @ 5:11 pm
Well goody for you you good little proper thinker you.
They deleted ALL my posts, and banned my IP’s genius. Not one post.
I came back long enough to say goodbye to my friends, thats all. Don’t like it? Don’t worry. My final comments will likely be deleted as well.
And guess what shorty?
I’m over it too.
September 6th, 2006 at 5:32 pmDang Worfeus, sorry man.
September 6th, 2006 at 5:42 pmThey need to put Leiberman on the record on this fight… lets see him squirm on this…
September 6th, 2006 at 7:36 pmI’m sorry, Worfeus. I don’t know what the hell is going on around here. I’ll check out your link.
September 6th, 2006 at 8:51 pmSen. Dodd always talks big, but he usually acts cowardly in the end, so we will see if this is just words or action?
September 7th, 2006 at 12:15 amAgain Worfeus? I see nothing wrong with your material. The effect you are seeing is caching on your PC, not delberately malicious. The only way to know if you are blocked is that the post count does not increment at the top of the page when you add a post. TP has still blocked me from my main IP, I posted today from an office of work in Calgary with no issues, so I know for sure it is not my company, but TP that is blocking me.
September 7th, 2006 at 12:50 amMy career on Redstate lasted 9 weeks, so I am blog shopping again. The ABC work by TP is laudable and compared to Redstate, they are saints, but still the arbitrary nature of the blocking p*sses me off. Best of luck Worf, I’ll scan Lydia every now and again to read your opinion.
[...] VIDEO: Dodd Says Bolton Has ‘Endangered Our National Security’ and Should Be Filibustered [...]
September 7th, 2006 at 6:54 pmBush and his ilk have a deep abiding fearof the United Nations because he’s terrified that this world organization might be able to keep him from his domination of the middle east……or anywhere else in the world he feels he has the right to OWN. Bolton is his choice because he knows that the man will do exactly what Bush wants; and he will,….and does.
September 8th, 2006 at 7:20 amFYI: to the person who is posting from work
You can always request another IP address from your ISP by entering the following command in a cmd window:
ipconfig – renew
I recommend you do that, instead of posting from work!
October 5th, 2006 at 9:49 am