Does John Bolton Owe President Bush An Apology?
Does John Bolton Owe President Bush An Apology?
In the current issue of Foreign Affairs, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee criticized the Bush administration’s unilateral foreign policy, arguing the “Bush administration’s arrogant bunker mentality has been counterproductive at home and abroad” and has pit “us against the world.”
In response, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney rushed to defend Bush, stating, “we ought to be saying thank you to the president for keeping us safe these last six years.” Romney even said that “Huckabee owes the President an apology.”
The right wing joined Romney in attacking Huckabee. Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said Huckabee would serve conservatism better “if he focused his criticisms on the Democrats” and that Bush “has kept us safe.” The National Review and neconservative Victor David Hanson also slammed him.
But Huckabee wasn’t the only one criticizing Bush’s foreign policy this weekend. Former U.N. ambassador John Bolton ripped President Bush in an interview with Der Spiegel. Bolton said Bush is excessively “moderate,” subsequently “putting US national security at risk“:
“His foreign policy is in free fall. The president is acting against his own judgement and instincts [and is] under the influence of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice,” he told the magazine. Mr Bolton said Ms Rice was the dominant voice on foreign policy and that she was a channel for the views of liberal career bureaucrats in the foreign ministry.
“[Bush] does not supervise her enough. That is a mistake.” “North Korea will, for example, now keep its nuclear weapons. And the Iranians have got a signal from our own intelligence services that they can do whatever they want. “I am not as confident as the intelligence services that Iran has stopped its nuclear weapons programme.”
So far, Romney and the right wing have been completely silent on Bolton, despite their criticisms of Huckabee. Although Bolton and Huckabee’s attacks on Bush come from different perspectives — Huckabee says Bush is too arrogant and Bolton says he is not arrogant enough — they both agree that the President’s foreign policy has made America less safe.
Will Romney — who thinks Bush has been “keeping us safe these last six years” — also demand an apology from John Bolton?
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Bolt-on has completely lost it.
December 17th, 2007 at 2:05 pmAs far as I’m concerned, they can all buddy up to Bush all they want. Let all the Republicans be Bush’s BFF!
It’ll just make them that much easier to beat next year.
Have at it, Republicans.
December 17th, 2007 at 2:06 pmRU:
Did Bolton ever “have it”?
December 17th, 2007 at 2:06 pmapparently, just about everyone does. i hope he’s holding his breath until he gets them.
December 17th, 2007 at 2:07 pmBolton owes Bush a blow job.
December 17th, 2007 at 2:08 pmI’ll be working on a Progressive Party platform. Will post this evening.
In the meantime, let’s tell the Dem leadership we’re jumping off their neocon-light bandwagon.
December 17th, 2007 at 2:11 pm“So far, Romney and the right wing have been completely silent on Bolton, despite their criticisms of Huckabee.”
Well, DUH — Romney is running against Huckabee for the Repub nomination. Bolton isn’t in that race. Furthermore, Romney is actually getting a little worried about Huckabee, and his desperation is showing. Huck’s even “out-Godding” Romney these days.
December 17th, 2007 at 2:11 pmSo, you owe Bush a blow job, too?
December 17th, 2007 at 2:12 pmApology? Until recently, Republicans didn’t even know the meaning of the word.
December 17th, 2007 at 2:14 pmDid Bolton ever “have it�
Comment by Frosty Cupcake — December 17, 2007 @ 2:06 pm
If by ‘it’ you mean a bolted on moustachio that must have been frightened white by this moron’s frightful lack of intellect, yes.
December 17th, 2007 at 2:19 pmMittens spent an hour rebuking fact for Tim Russert on MTP yesterday.
Mittens is worried.
Mittens thought he could buy the election, just like everything else in his life. Russert pointed out that Mormons didn’t allow Blacks in the church until 1978. That was due to a ‘new revelation from God’.
Wow! Now Romney, Huckabee & Bush all take calls from God. In my line of work that’s called schizophrenic affective disorder.
In Neotrud’s minds it’s called ‘faith’. In other words, believing every lies sputtered from these joker’s mouths.
If one had a direct line from God, wouldn’t that person be a prophet?
Yes, I realize they all worship the God Profit, but saying you get calls from God is absolutely insane.
Got Votes?
December 17th, 2007 at 2:21 pmFleischer and Romney BOTH say that Bush deserves our thanks for “keeping us safe”? Has Bush eradicated drunk driving? Cured cancer? Eliminated street gang wars?
Under Bush’s watch, we have seen relaxing of both the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. We see lead in toys imported from China. Industrial and manufacturing safety laws are being gutted. If anything, it’s more hazardous to be an American now than it was under our last president.
Oh wait — by “safe”, they mean “not attacked by scary brown people”? Yes, if we ignore the anthrax attacks, if we ignore the Washington/Maryland/Virginia car trunk snipers, and if we ignore all violent criminal acts not actually carried out by card carrying members of Al-Qaeda, I suppose Fleischer and Romney have a convoluted, overly qualifed point. However, considering how Bush has managed to ratchet up anti-American sentiment around the world to unprecedented levels, I wouldn’t always count on this “safety”.
December 17th, 2007 at 2:24 pmJason M. Hendler = cold_hard_left
December 17th, 2007 at 2:27 pmBolton forgot to take his meds. It’s time for Captain Crunch Bolton to take anger management classes.
December 17th, 2007 at 2:28 pmMitt is looking for votes and he can’t get any from Bolton so he’s not interested in speaking about that issue. Now Huckabuck is using the Karl Rove plan of using God and Jesus to get the Bush base. Look how the so called Religious Christian Bush Administration have done more crimes and sins then there are in the bible. Satan’s followers were liars and crooks sounds more like the Bush Administration. So Huckabuck is looking for the Bush Base to be as stupid as they have been for the past 7 years and just follow Satan for another 4 years. This is so much like when God had to put Isreal in the desert for 40 years because of their sin.
Huckabuck does except gifts as pay offs as he’s done in the pass. Good news for big business as if Huckabuck gets in they will have another idiot puppet to control. Maybe Fingers Foley, Libby, Gonzales, Cummingham and DeLay can get their jobs back. Look for Kenny boy to come out of hiding as he faked his death and got the charges dropped. Larry Craig will be back in business with his men’s room pick ups.
December 17th, 2007 at 2:32 pmAs the Republican Wacko send immigrants packing off to Canada we’ll see how Canada’s economy increases and they become leaders. Like the Roman Empire fell so do all who think they can control the World. Look for the dollar to drop lower and the EU start pulling away for the US. South Korea has already made a big business deal with Iran.
john bolton owes the WORLD – and his MOTHER – an apology…
…
attention:
sam seder will be your host this week on randi’s show…
check it out… listen live, 3pm eastern… in 30 minutes …
December 17th, 2007 at 2:33 pmhttp://www.airamerica.com/
Russert pointed out that Mormons didn’t allow Blacks in the church until 1978. That was due to a ‘new revelation from God’.
Wow! Now Romney, Huckabee & Bush all take calls from God. In my line of work that’s called schizophrenic affective disorder.
Comment by Zimzone — December 17, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
I agree with you on Huckabee and Bush, but let’s be fair to Romney. He hasn’t claimed to take any calls from God personally — at least not on this issue.
First, blacks weren’t barred from membership in the church, but black men were barred from the priesthood (all women are still barred from the priesthood, regardless of color).
It was the president of the Mormon church (specifically Spencer Kimball, the church president at the time) who got the call from God regarding black members of the Mormon church. This revelation from God indicated that all Mormon males were eligible for priesthood.
The Mormon church president is generally regarded as a prophet by the Mormon faithful, in that he is the one to whom God reveals matters impacting church policy and doctrine. Many of these revelations come at convenient times for political and social expediency (such as the revelation that polygamy was no longer acceptable — it came about the time Utah was wishing to become a state).
December 17th, 2007 at 2:36 pmralph the wonder llama = republicans hate facts
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 17, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
Good one, Jason. Did you think of that all by yourself?
December 17th, 2007 at 2:40 pmBolton is restless these days because he wanted a war with Iran yesterday,and can’t get it.
December 17th, 2007 at 2:41 pmAs days go by and no war yet …he started attacking eveybody including his ex bosses.
He wants that war with Iran badly…
He even criticised the intellignece community for their latest report on Iran..
criticed head of IAEA Al Bardaei..
criticed England for withdrawing from Iraq…
He is a warmonger that goes by the PANC book word by word.
He wants to see blood and dead bodies all over the Middle East
He has an endless lust for blood and wars.
An advocate of clash of civilizations and WWIII.
Comment by missmolly — December 17, 2007 @ 2:36 pm
The revelation to allow blacks to be priests also came around the time the BYU basketball team was being handed its ass because it was all white.
December 17th, 2007 at 2:43 pmIn heaven, the hoops are really high. Nobody dunks on god.
December 17th, 2007 at 2:44 pmPlease note, Bolton can say anything he wants to a German paper. Real Americans don’t read German papers. One final note, Bush has kept us safe except for that one time on 9/11/01. Oopsie.
December 17th, 2007 at 2:49 pmMost Americans don’t read newspapers.
December 17th, 2007 at 2:50 pm“ There is no such thing as the United Nations. There is only the international community, which can only be led by the only remaining superpower, which is the United States.”[38] He also stated that “The Secretariat building in New York has 38 stories. If you lost ten stories today, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference. ”
- John Bolton.
The Neo-con’s are out in force still but their cries of war are being drowned out by their obviously flawed logic. Thank goodness the world is now seeing through their plans.
December 17th, 2007 at 2:52 pmComment by missmolly — December 17, 2007 @ 2:36 pm
Back in the 60s, I witnessed an exchange between two of my fellow high school students, one a Mormon the other a Jew. She was explaining to him that if he led a good life, God would let him switch over so that he could get into heaven. I don’t remember him taking that very well, but by her lights she was being incredible generous. I mean, sheesh, let a Jew into heaven?
December 17th, 2007 at 2:54 pmNo.
All those a-holes owe US an apology for the last 7 years of their bungling, cronyism, warmongering and ineptitude.
December 17th, 2007 at 2:58 pmComment by katy — December 17, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
Thanks for the info katy. I’m a fan of Sam Seder. But I can’t listen from where I am now – can you throw us a juicy tidbit or two?
December 17th, 2007 at 2:59 pmI’m a bit surprised that John Bolton is traveling the world slamming the current administration’s foreign policy approach. I certainly realize that he and his fellow neocons aren’t happy unless we’re invading someone but it’s almost as though he’s trying to effect a coup from Europe these days!
December 17th, 2007 at 3:02 pmwo’s hill’reh? I don’t see any such person in the news. is this another imaginary enemy of the right, like Saddam? The right needs to make up enemies, or they will be completely ignored by normal Americans.
December 17th, 2007 at 3:03 pmmissmolly,
As always, your voice has reason. Thanks.
It wasn’t fair to imply Mitt talked to God himself.
In fact, I don’t think Mitt has God’s number. It just astounded me that less than 30 years back Mormon’s didn’t allow Blacks in their church.
As another poster suggested, Statehood & losing basketball teams may have also played into this ‘revelation’.
Be that as it may, I don’t believe religion has a reserved seat in American government.
December 17th, 2007 at 3:06 pmwo’s hill’reh?
Comment by Lefty Patriot — December 17, 2007 @ 3:03 pm
Hmmm, Jason Hendler always calls her that. I think he thinks it annoys us.
CHL = Jason Hendler? They’re both as misguided and bitter after all.
December 17th, 2007 at 3:22 pmAND CHL and Jason Hendler are both obsessed with the Clintons.
December 17th, 2007 at 3:23 pmWill Romney — who thinks Bush has been “keeping us safe these last six years†— also demand an apology from John Bolton?
Not unless he wants to get clocked upside the head with a stapler.
December 17th, 2007 at 3:25 pmseriously, how the hell do people like john bolton and tom delay get airtime? they were both complete failures and left their posts either in disgrace or with the knowledge that they’d never have their job if they were such Bush sycophants. yet people like them always seem to pop up in the media with their idiotic and disproved opinions. can we please ask educated and reasonable people for their opinions on such important topics?
December 17th, 2007 at 3:26 pmJohn Bolton owes the entire Planet an apology.
And that’s just the first step…
December 17th, 2007 at 3:38 pm39 hmm, a “phony accent”….. who else do we know who sports one of those…..hmmmm, i seem to recall it is the scion of a New England blue-blood clan of politicans, who went to private prep school and was a cheerleader, then went on to elitist private colleges….dang! i just can’t remember his name….sure talks like a hick though.
December 17th, 2007 at 3:40 pmMichael Bolton owes the world an apology.
December 17th, 2007 at 3:40 pmJason M. Hendler = cold_hard_left
Comment by ralph the wonder llama — December 17, 2007 @ 2:27 pm
i knew that.
but frankie m? drudge said he shot himself and yet here he is!
(frankie, what up with that?)
December 17th, 2007 at 3:47 pmRight = spin + nonsense
December 17th, 2007 at 3:48 pmComment by tombaker — December 17, 2007 @ 3:40 pm
i hear tell he use to vacation in kennebunkport too!
(wherever the hell that is)
December 17th, 2007 at 3:49 pmMichael Bolton owes the world an apology. -Comment by tombaker
lol, I actually thought the same, but didn’t want to stray off topic.
Even though I wasn’t a ‘big fan’, it was sad to hear Dan Fogelberg died.
December 17th, 2007 at 3:56 pm1) I take it that Bolton is afraid of being sucked down the Shrub Whirlpool ?????
2) Shrub is excessively moderate ?
THINK ABOUT THE MIND OF SOMEONE WHO WOULD CALL SHRUB “EXCESSIVELY MODERATE” ! And he was representing us to the UN ?
What would he advocate – nukes to clear out the rush hour traffic jam ? I mean Buck-Gordon-Type Lasers, Yes. But Nukes ?
December 17th, 2007 at 3:56 pmYikes – from the look of that picture, Mittens is going way too heavy on the fake tan.
Ick.
December 17th, 2007 at 4:01 pmComment by Leftside Annie — December 17, 2007 @ 4:01 pm
shiny forehead too. we can photoshop that out.
December 17th, 2007 at 4:25 pmBolton owes Bush a teabaggin’ mustachio ride.
December 17th, 2007 at 4:53 pmI’ll bet dubbie hates Mitt, because he is taller. That photo shows dubbie forcing a smile past tightly-clenched jaws, a smile most of us reserve for the in-laws we don’t like that well.
December 17th, 2007 at 5:01 pm“Mr Bolton said Ms Rice was the dominant voice on foreign policy …”
Well, she *is* Secretary of State, isn’t she? Wouldn’t that fall into her realm?
December 17th, 2007 at 5:11 pm“I am not as confident as the intelligence services that Iran has stopped its nuclear weapons programme.â€
Hmmm… Bolton has that “gut” feeling similar to the one Bush had about Iraq WMD. We shouldn’t trust what the legitimate intelligence agencies conclude? Bush already cried “Wolf” once.
December 17th, 2007 at 6:56 pmWon’t be fooled again.
Bolton owes us all an apology . It’s taken six years to start getting back to where we were in 2000 ( w/ N. Korea & Israel/Palestine) Thankfully the CIA analysts balked at manufacturing evidence of WMD in Cuba, or we’d be there too.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:47 pmBush has been keeping us safe- safe from freedom and our Constitutional rights.
December 17th, 2007 at 11:39 pmtoo bad SHIMKUS gets to take ANY credit for the FutureGen project…
strong>Shimkus, Johnson, Costello praise choice of Mattoon for FutureGen Facility
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressmen John Shimkus (R, Illinois-19), Jerry Costello (D, Illinois-12), and Timothy Johnson (R, Illinois-15) issued the following statements after Mattoon, Illinois, was announced as the site of the FutureGen facility
…
http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2007/12/18/breaking_news/doc4767eba1c0471174958043.txt
… 30 miles north of my town…
Statement From Americans for Balanced Energy Choices Regarding FutureGen Site Selection
Posted : Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:18:58 GMT
December 18th, 2007 at 11:45 amAuthor : Americans for Balanced Energy Choices
Category : PressRelease
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — “Today’s announcement of the FutureGen site in Matoon, Illinois is one of the most important days for our nation’s energy independence future. FutureGen will help meet the world’s growing demand for clean, affordable electricity, fuel our global economy and sustain jobs,” said Joe Lucas, executive director of Americans for Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC).
[...]
A number of innovative technologies will be tested at the FutureGen site, including carbon capture and underground storage, to convert affordable, abundant coal to clean energy, which strengthens energy security and reduces dependence on higher-priced forms of energy. The technology will be shared with the international partners in the FutureGen Alliance.
[...]
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,244399.shtml
…