sotto voce USA

With Friends Like That...

"Secretary Bolton’s actions were not always exemplary. On several occasions, he made incorrect assumptions about the behavior and motivations of subordinates. At other times, he failed to use proper managerial channels or unnecessarily personalized internal disputes. The picture is one of an aggressive policymaker who pressed his missions at every opportunity and argued vociferously for his point of view. In the process, his blunt style alienated some colleagues. But there is no evidence that he has broken laws or engaged in serious ethical misconduct."

-- Sen. Richard (Dick) Lugar (R-IN)

He hasn't broken any laws, so I guess that makes him the man for the job.

And then there was Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH):

"John Bolton is the poster child of what someone in the diplomatic corps should not be...He is an ideologue and fosters an atmosphere of intimidation. He does not tolerate disagreement, does not tolerate dissent...John Bolton would have been fired - fired - had he worked for a major corporation."

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in a straight party-line vote, voted 10-8 to send Bolton's nomination to the full Senate "without recommendation."

posted by fdtate @ 4:07 PM