Democratic Senators Force Due Diligence Delay on Bolton UN Nomination

At this moment, I am watching Republican leadership of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee try to muzzle democracy by ramming through the nomination of the abrasive John Bolton as UN ambassador. It's both fascinating and ghastly to watch US Senators attempt to ignore and circumvent their due diligence and Constitutional responsibilities.

Democratic Senators Biden, Kerry, Boxer, Dodd, Sarbanes and Obama stood up this afternoon and adamantly objected that all relevant information on Mr. Bolton has not been gathered and investigated, and the Senate has not been given prudent time review this crucial nomination.

And there's apparently a lot to investigate. From the Center for American Progress, headed by John Podesta, former chief of staff for President Clinton:

"Bolton's questionable diplomatic skills, shoddy record on security and overall temperament clearly indicate that he is not the right person to represent the United States at the world's leading institution.

Bolton's inability to accept facts when they challenge his agenda has caused serious harm to American security. Bolton sought to replace two CIA analysts who would not support his agenda on Cuba and has blocked intelligence which didn't conform to his personal policy views in other areas. On multiple occasions, Bolton refused to forward information vital to U.S. strategies on Iran to Secretary Powell, delaying intelligence from getting through for weeks or, in some instances, not at all.

Bolton's management style and temperament are highly suspect for the world's leading deliberative body. As Senator Chuck Hagel, a leading Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , stated this weekend: 'I have been troubled with more and more allegations, revelations, coming about his style, his method of operation,' adding, 'to intimidate or bully people is something that is not what we want in our government, especially at the very senior, responsible, high-level positions.' Lawrence Wilkerson, the chief of staff for Bolton's previous boss, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, weighed in on Bolton's qualifications: 'Do I think John Bolton would make a good ambassador to the United Nations? Absolutely not…He is incapable of listening to people and taking into account their views. He would be an abysmal ambassador.'

Bolton has shown a disdain for diplomacy throughout his career. As Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, Bolton heightened existing tensions with Iran and North Korea and failed to stop their their attempts to develop nuclear weapons programs. In both cases, Bolton preferred to insult and degrade rather than finding real solutions to genuine proliferation concerns. His inability to function as true diplomat has hindered America's security efforts."

I am once again proud to be a Democrat in this intransparent Bushian age, and to witness our Democratic Senators decisively insist on full and fair public hearings for all crucial governmental nominations, regardless of extreme Presidential pressure to do otherwise.