There were two sets of high-fives going around Tuesday, first as the Dodgers
came back from 0-6 against the Brewers to win in the 10th, and then when that
most elusive of creatures, a Republican conscience, sent the John Bolton hearings
into extra innings. Surprising everyone, Senator George V. Voinovich of Ohio,
a conservative not known to be wavering, announced that he wasn’t sure about
sending the man who infamously remarked about diplomacy, “I don’t do carrots,”
to be our ambassador to the United Nations, and the vote was postponed. Now
that we have at least another two weeks with Bolton, here’s his spotted CV in
words.
“Diplomacy is not an end in itself if it does not advance U.S. interests.”
“If the U.N. secretary building in New York lost 10 stories, it wouldn’t make
a bit of difference.”
“There is no such thing as the United Nations.”
“Many Republicans in Congress — and perhaps a majority — not only do not care
about losing the General Assembly vote [on going to war with Iraq] but actually
see it as a ‘make my day’ outcome. Indeed . . . this will simply provide further
evidence to many why nothing more should be paid to the U.N. system.”
On Bolton’s certainty about Iraq’s WMDs:
“We estimate that once Iraq acquires fissile material — whether from a foreign
source or by securing the materials to build an indigenous fissile-material
capability — it could fabricate a nuclear weapon within one year.”
On the discovered lack of Iraq’s WMDs:
“Unquestionably, the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq has
led some people to question our good will and our credibility.”
Bolton by his peers:
“Do I think John Bolton would make a good ambassador to the United Nations?
Absolutely not . . . He is incapable of listening to people and taking into
account their views. He would be an abysmal ambassador.” —Lawrence Wilkerson,
chief of staff for Colin Powell, Bolton’s previous boss
“He’s a quintessential kiss-up, kick-down sort of guy.” —Carl W. Ford Jr., conservative
Republican and former assistant secretary of state for intelligence and research,
on Bolton’s role as a “serial abuser” who tried to fire/intimidate an intelligence
analyst who disagreed with him (and was right) about Cuba’s nonexistent “germ
warfare” program.
“I have been troubled with more and more allegations, revelations, coming about
his style, his method of operation . . . We cannot have that at the United Nations
. . . We need a uniter. We need a builder. We need someone who will reach out
to our friends and our allies at the United Nations.” —Chuck Hagel, Republican
senator, about the Bolton nomination
“My conscience got me.” —Senator George V. Voinovich of Ohio, on his defection
from a party-line vote on Bolton.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen, in a setting like this, a senator changing
his mind as a result of what other senators said. The process worked. It’s kind
of refreshing.” —Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee, a moderate, on the delayed
vote.

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