The American Spectator

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Bolton's Army

4.22.05 @ 12:01AM

REPUBLICAN REVOLT
Re: The Prowler's Botching Bolton:

I don't get the Republicans lately. They win another election and they are running scared. Why do so many Republicans find it necessary to be nice to Democrats and the media? Don't they ever learn that no matter what they are still going to get shellacked? It's time Republicans went on the offensive and point out every little flaw, contradiction, lie, etc., coming from the Democrats. It's time the Republican Party started taking its talking points from Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, The American Spectator and National Review. Clearly, they are unable to do the job themselves!!
-- John Dyslin
Streamwood, Illinois

It's simultaneously amusing and appalling to see the Republicans' bumbling behavior about and management of everything they've touched since the inauguration. It's becoming more apparent as they unravel -- and they are surely and quickly -- that they lack the grit and loyalty to speak with one voice and govern. As much as I hate to say this, I think the Democrats outmatch them.

Don't the elephants understand that conservatives, as well as some of their own, are very disappointed in the majority's to-date performance? If GOP botches Social Security and doesn't handle immigration favorably, 2006 and 2008 elections could be nightmarish for the party, regardless of what transpires in Iraq and with the economy.
-- C. Kenna Amos Jr.
Princeton, West Virginia

Whoever is "The Prowler" seems more concerned with what is happening to people in the Republican Party and what a failure of the Bolton nomination will mean to Bush and his minions than they are about how such a distasteful and wrongful attempt to appoint such a man who would affect the UN and world conditions. If it is true that the UN needs a remake, Bolton is not the man to do it. There are too many accusations that ring true, especially those of Mr. Ford. The Democrats on the committee and those Republicans who have doubts seem to be thoughtful and concerned about the UN and its future. The rest of this motley bunch just wants someone at the UN who will throw around American power, threaten, bully, insult, and act like he is God.
-- MPM

I watch the Republican Party with unabashed amazement. What the heck is going on in Congress? The Republican Party is in control of the White House and both the House and Senate. And they seem to be unable to advance any of their agenda.

Look at the leadership, or lack of it, in Congress. First they grant Arlen Specter the Chairmanship of the Senate Judiciary Committee even after his remarks concerning judicial appointments and his appointment of a Democratic operative to the majority staff. Senators Lugar and Hagel seem unable to control the Republican members of their committee and have possibly lost the confirmation of John Bolton. Senator Frist seems to be a marginal leader at best. The most effective Republican in a leadership role is Representative Tom Delay, which, considering the baggage he is carrying, is kind of scary when you think about it.

This party has just come off of a major victory at the polls and have done virtually nothing but shoot themselves in the foot since. If they don't get their act together soon, there is likely to be a Democratic majority in Congress again and a Democratic White House as well. And if the Republicans think that a Democratic majority is going to be as kind, gentle and compassionate as the Republicans are, then they haven't studied recent history.

It is high time for the Republican leadership in this country to start kicking some membership butt and start presenting a unified front. They should also lose the attitude that they are going to be in the minority again or they surely will be.

A winner wins even when he loses, but a loser is always a loser.
-- Michael Tobias
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

I heard Biden's peroration on John Bolton on the radio today.

It may concern Joe Biden that bureaucrats were upset when Mr. Bolton was -- allegedly -- getting in their "back yards." What I am concerned about is that the bureaucrats were clueless when the bad guys were coming into OUR back yard.

I do not favor an abusive style, but if I have to choose, I choose the person who is committed to the mission over the one who is committed to the norms of bureaucratic procedure. And what is all this whining anyway? As Harry Truman said, if you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

We -- the public -- have been polite about 9/11 because we all want to pull together. But, we don't forget that the bureaucracy FAILED the country on 9/11 -- the State Department failed; the intelligence community failed; the policy formulators failed. They laid us open to attack. Our friends, family, lovers, countrymen were offered the choice of jumping to their deaths or roasting alive. It is only due to the courage of the passengers on Flight 93 that the Capitol itself is not a smoking ruin.

Biden thinks the preeminent quality in a nominee is to go along to get along. But that has lead to tremendous, historic failure. I want someone who will NOT observe the procedures of failure -- will NOT "stay out of bureaucratic "back yards" -- but instead will pursue the mission ferociously.

Letter to the Editor

topics:
John McCain, Joe Biden, Business, Social Security, Religion, Catholicism, Law, Military, Iraq, Russia, NATO, Communism, Conservatism, Immigration