Voinovich to the Rescue!

Just when it looked as though John Bolton would sail through the nomination process on his road to UN Ambassador despite teasers of opposition from Senators Lincoln Chafee (RI) and Chuck Hagel (Neb), high-drama occurred on the Senate seas. Yesterday at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, after several impassioned pleas from across the aisle from Joe Biden (DE), Chris Dodd (CT) and others, Chairman Richard Lugar (R-Ind) aggressively pressed for a vote. Out of nowhere, in true Superhero fashion, out stepped Sen. George Voinovich (OH) to save the day. Full of non-partisan bravado and missing only the cape, Voinovich informed his peers, "I have heard enough today that it gives me some concern about Mr. Bolton." With that, he said he would not vote until more information could be had, and more questions answered. Pressing still for a vote, Lugar persisted, albeit unsuccessfully, and the session eventually came to a halt, with several Republicans, including Lugar, hopping on the "let's further investigate" bandwagon. Whoa! Kudos to Voinovich! An objective politician able to listen to logical debate and have the courage to speak his mind despite heavy partisan pressure. The system does work. So what's the end result? A delay of about two weeks or so, at which time several things can happen. Bush can feel the rising heat and withdraw Bolton's nomination; opposition can increase from Republicans who sense defeat and don't want to be on record as supporting a loser; and most likely, the delay will allow more Bolton dirt to surface and he'll self-destruct. In any case, the Left has cause for celebration. Time's running out on Bolton. Andy