Here is the sickening self-important, bleeding heart rant:
Washington - Ohio Sen. George Voinovich choked back tears on the Senate floor Wednesday as he pleaded with colleagues to vote against John Bolton's nomination for United Nations ambassador.George, what do you want? Another Maddy Albright? Another person who appeases and sits on their hands while North Korea and Iran are playing with nukes? Do you want more inaction at the Useless Nobodies? You, sir, are not just an idiot. You sir, are reprehensible. You have betrayed those who worked for you to get reelected, much the same way your disciple and former Lt. Gov. Mike Dewine did. I hope you both realize now that your political careers are over, unless you pull a Jim Jeffords. Even then, the people of Ohio know your true, traitorous colors.
After delaying Bolton's passage through the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this month and sending the entire Senate a letter on Tuesday to explain his objections, Voinovich delivered a 45-minute speech that argued Bolton's abusive personality make him an inappropriate diplomat.
"This appointment is very, very important to our country," Voinovich concluded as his voice cracked with emotion. "At a strategic time when we need friends all over the world, we need somebody up there that's going to be able to get the job done.
Here is the text of Voinovich's accompanying letter to his colleagues, promoting betraying the President's right to appoint his people to office. Check out the closing paragraph of his cute little letter, printed in the NY Times:
Mr. Chairman, I am not so arrogant to think that I should impose my judgment and perspective of the U.S. position in the world community on the rest of my colleagues. We owe it to the President to give Mr. Bolton an up or down vote on the floor of the U.S. Senate. My hope is that, on a bipartisan basis, we send Mr. Bolton’s nomination to the floor without recommendation and let the Senate work its will. I would plead with my colleagues in the Senate, if this nomination gets to the floor, to consider the decision and its consequences carefully, to read all of the pertinent material, and to ask themselves several pertinent questions: Is John Bolton the best possible person to serve as the lead diplomat at the United Nations? Will he be able to pursue the needed reforms at the U.N., despite his damaged credibility? Will he share information with the right individuals and will he solicit information from the right individuals, including his subordinates, so that he can make the most informed decisions? Is he capable of advancing the President and Secretary of State’s efforts to advance our public diplomacy? Does he have the character, leadership, interpersonal skills, self discipline, common decency, and understanding of the chain of command to lead his team to victory? Will he recognize and seize opportunities to repair and strengthen relationships, promote peace, and uphold democracy -- as a team with our fellow nations?”Mr. Voinovich, you are arrogant. You care only for your perception by the media, and not for the will of your constituency. Or do you know longer read emails to your office, letters, or phone calls? Sir, if the President and Dr. Rice thought Bolton was so detrimental, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE NOMINATED HIM!!!!!!!! You sir, need to change your party affiliation immediately. You are a disgrace. Somewhere, the terrorists now know they have an ally in Ohio.
It appears Georgie got what he and Mikey wanted--the praise and honor of the Left.
Just remember, boys, it wasn't the Left that got you elected.
RadioBlogger Update
Seems that Mr. Voinovich needs to look at the plank in his own eye before crying about Bolton's temper. Again, from the Hugh Hewitt show, provided by Generalissimo Duane, the transcript of an interview between Hugh and John Podhoretz:
HH: We'll see. We'll see if there aren't others that go weak in the knees. That's what I'm afraid of, John. Now let's play George Voinovich on the floor of the Senate today for John Podhoretz.
Voinovich.mp3
HH: John Podhoretz, your reaction to that little bit of drama.
JP: Cuckoo. I hadn't heard that. I am beyond belief, except for this one thing that cannot be stated too many times. In 1995, George Voinovich, when he was governor of Ohio, he was at the Cleveland airport. The President of the United States was in Cleveland, so there was a no-fly zone declared for the airport. And he insisted that his pilot take off, his personal pilot take off, despite the fact that there was a no-fly zone declared. And he got on the phone with the air traffic controller and said, what are you going to do? Shoot me down?
HH: I didn't know that story.
JP: As a result of that, in 1995, the Federal Aviation Administration fined George Voinovich $20,000 dollars for interfering with the good agency and, you know, the good order of the American aviation system. And for that man to claim that any other human being does not have the temperament to serve in a senior job, when he behaved that way...
HH: I didn't know that.
Matt's Chat
12:00PM - The tearful performance was an embarrassment for the state and the state party. I have nothing more to add on that subject...The thing to remember about the 1995 incident is that not only did Voinovich drag out the legal proceedings over his arrogance, he tried (unsuccessfully) to pass of the cost to the Ohio taxpayer... This is not a man of courage and conviction. His history illustrates where his priorities and princples lie...
