Thursday, May 26, 2005

So Many Straightlines!

In the spirit of Mystery Science Theater 3000, I offer my collected thoughts from CNN's coverage of John Bolton's non-confirmation in the Senate today.

"It does disappoint me," Frist said after the vote. "It looks like we have, once again, another filibuster."

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid took issue with Frist's comment.

"This is the first filibuster of the year,...

True that, Senator, thanks to the Republican cave in.
... and maybe the last. [I] hope so," the Nevada Democrat said.

Ooh, and Reid strikes out, going 1 for 2.
Sen. Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat, pointed to negative comments Bolton has made about the United Nations.

Bolton said during a Federalist Society forum in 1994: "If the U.N. secretary building in New York lost 10 stories, it wouldn't make a bit of difference."

Boxer asked: "What kind of credibility does he have walking onto the floor of the United Nations?"

He might have a good deal of credibility on the floor if people believe he was talking about the top ten stories.
Sen. Ted Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, added: "The United Nations is the one and only organization where the nations of the world can link their unique strengths in a realistic hope of building a peaceful future for all humanity.

Its also the one and only organization where a person can monitor human rights without ever leaving the comfort of their four-star resort. Its also the one and only organization where the nations of the world can link their unique strengths to keep those pesky human rights monitors off each other's backs.

On the serious side, Sen. Kennedy's line continued:
"We need a representative at the United Nations who supports that vision and is committed to that future for us all," he said. "John Bolton is not that person for that job."

The UN, as it currently is, may stand for that vision, but it acts in the opposite. I don't think that Bolton is the man for the job of straightening up the UN. There might have been such a man once, but he would have been representing Greece.

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