Kerry statement on Bolton appointment

[whometense]

I'd love to know what he's saying off the record.

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/First_response_Kerry_says_Bolton_move_wrong_decis_0801.html

Statement by John Kerry on Recess Appointment of John Bolton as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, as sent to RAW STORY.

"The president has the right to make this recess appointment, but it's the wrong decision. It only diminishes John Bolton's validity and leverage to secure America's goals at the U.N.

"John Bolton has been rejected twice by the Senate to serve as our Ambassador to the United Nations. This is not the way to fill our most important diplomatic jobs."

[Mass]

1. I sometimes wished he used stronger language, like Kennedy

But I guess this is not Kerry's style.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8758621

But Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., sharply criticized the move. “The abuse of power and the cloak of secrecy from the White House continues,” Kennedy said. “It’s bad enough that the administration stonewalled the Senate by refusing to disclose documents highly relevant to the Bolton nomination. It’s even worse for the administration to abuse the recess appointment power by making the appointment while Congress is in this five-week recess.”

[ginnyinWI]

2. well he does know how to use strong language

when it suits him. Kennedy covered the outrage angle, and Kerry covered the viewpoint of the patriot by pointing out how this weakens America.

This is one of my favorite things about JK--his unfailing love of country throughout his lifetime, and unfailing courage to fight on its behalf.

Uh-oh, catnip time! :loveya:

[Mass]

3. One drawback of his answer is that he is going to be ignored

and people who played a much smaller role in fighting against Bolton are going to be played. See where Kerry is in this AP release, while he was one of the first one to have a release out.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/01/AR2005080100663.html

The media are not exactly friendly to Kerry spontaneously. If he does not help, they are too happy to ignore him.

[karynnj]

4. But because he was the 2004 candidate

some of the other statements would be flung back at him as "elections have consequences". I loved Kennedy's comment, but was the appointment really an abuse of the recess appointment? I think the downside for Bush would be if the country as a whole really agreed that Bolton was a disaster. At this point, I think the majority of people don't even know who he is. I hope that something comes up, maybe in the Plame case, that makes him step down.

I do agree that a major problem is that the media is not only not friendly, but even some dependably liberal reporters/ columnists seem to have an inexplicable impluse to make snarky comments about him.

I'm not sure it's the colorfulness or strength of the coments, as Kerry had the strongest and first comments when Bolton was named and at least in the NYT, he was in the first on-line stories, but his comments were replaced by Reid's in the print edition- though oddly, Kerry's Bolton quotes about the UN remained in the article as Bolton comments. (Pretty dishonest of the reporter or editor)

[ginnyinWI]

5. it's a real pet peeve of mine

Since defeated presidential candidates are usually out of politics afterward, the media and others treat Kerry the same way. They dropped him down the "memory hole" and act like he doesn't exist.

The other day someone was talking about the Democrats, and said something like "we need a Democrat who will stand up and say _____", and I thought,you idiot-- we already HAVE one of those in John Kerry, who you guys seem to have gotten a case of instant amnesia about!

He just doesn't seem to count with them, anymore. They assume that all 58 million of us are all finished with Kerry, too. Maybe some are (like those in GD) but what about everybody else.

[rox63]

7. Kerry and Kennedy

sometimes play good-cop/bad-cop. Kennedy gave up his presidential ambitions back in 1980, long before Kerry was even elected to the Senate. Kennedy's Senate seat is one of the safest in the country, so he's got nothing to lose by playing the bad cop, and giving voice to his (and our) outrage. Kerry still has presidential ambitions, and is trying to keep his appeal to a wide spectrum of voters. So he is the good cop. He is still doing his job, standing up for what's right, and standing against what's wrong. But he does it in a less openly aggressive manner.

[rox63]

6. I doubt they could print what Kerry's saying off the record

It probably includes language unsuitable for a family publication. ;-)

[karynnj]

8. But as he's on vacation, I bet

all those who can hear his comments are in agreement.

[LittleClarkie]

10. Swearin' like a sailor

'cause he is.

[ginnyinWI]

9. Steve Cobble at Huff Post has some encouraging words

about Bolton. Last four paragraphs:

He's loyal. And in the faith-based world of Bush & Cheney & Rove, that's all that matters.

But that's okay. Because Bolton is going to flop at the U.N. He's damaged goods, and he can't even act like Bolton because everyone will be watching.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Bushies lost this skirmish. Thanks to the coalition that gathered together to oppose this outrageous and insulting appointment, the truth about John Bolton became known around the world. Thanks to the toughness of Senator Dodd and, for once, Senator Biden -- and the conscience of Senator Voinovich -- this is truly a pyrrhic victory for Bush & Co. And particularly thanks to the brilliant, mold-breaking clearinghouse role played by Steve Clemons' blog, www.thewashingtonnote.com, this coalition not only pushed out the truth about Bolton, we broke new ground in grassroots/netroots coalition strategy.

So Bolton got his recess appointment, but we didn't lose. The Liars' Club lost, even though they fixed the game.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theblog/archive/steve-cobble/cobblestones-mad-dog-at-_4975.html

[jillan]

11. the sad truth is

It doesn't matter what anyone said. Now or even in the hearings.,
It doesn't matter that Voinovich was moved to tears over this nomination.

Nope - in the long run, it just doesn't matter:thumbsdown:
This is the man * wanted.