Nuts and Bolton

So the title's terrible. I admit it - I'm sorry. But I think all of the controversy swarming around John Bolton deserves a little discussion from someone as out of the loop as I am. First, unless I'm forgetting something about the US Constitution, the President's allowed to pick his top advisors. Mr. Bolton is one of them. So why all the hating on the Hill? It's probably got something to do with Bolton's attitude towards the UN which can (from what I've read) be best described as negative. But you know - is that so bad for a guy who will be working at the most dysfunctional organization I think the world's ever seen? (Remember, you can't have dysfunction without UN!) It needs cleaning up, and someone who realizes that and isn't happy with the status quo is the best man for the job. So really, as regards the UN, Bush has nominated a progressive. Shocking, huh?

Why do the Dems hate him so much? Good question - it may be the moustache (I can only imagine what the French are saying about it...). But more seriously, Bolton's mess arises from that same distate for the United Nations. They also likely see him as little more than a devoted follower of the Bush - but that's the point, isn't it? I mean the president wouldn't stand to gain much in terms of having a personal representative in New York from nominating, say, Al Sharpton to the position (though the comedic value would be immense).

But there is a glimmer of hope in all of this, namely that some Republicans are showing signs of resisting the tide of party conformity, if for the wrong reasons. The best of these is Lincoln Chafee, who may vote 'no' just to placate his home state constituency and try to save his bacon - though for a variety of other reasons, it probably won't work anyways. A more principled stand, by a man I think is one of the best people in politics today, was taken by Chuck Hagel. Nevermind that he'll probably end up toeing the party line - at least he had the chutzpah to stand up and say that he wanted to take the matter under further consideration before casting his vote.

So here I am saying that the Senate is playing activist in grilling John Bolton, and praising Chuck Hagel for demanding more information. Complicated? Not really. All of my ire in this matter is reserved for the Democrats who again are trying to stymy the President. And of course, John Bolton's moustache.