Another bully for Shrub

I've been riveted by the spectacle of the Bolton hearings the past two days. I can't remember ever seeing a nominee with so little to recommend him. In the ocean of cynical maneuvers that define the Bush administration, the nomination of John Bolton is the most cynical move of all.

The democrats on the committee know it. I was almost surprised yesterday when Bolton wasn't vaporized in his seat by the fury in John Kerry's eyes. Each democrat pummeled him in sequence. The republican support was so feeble and half-hearted that a few c-span callers asked during yesterday's lunch break why the committee was so heavily stacked with democrats. Only George Allen, idiot, attempted to mount something of a defense. With a predictably lame result.

Laura Rozen recorded this quote from Lugar's closing statment. I found his statement fascinating because of what he didn't say (anything positive about the nominee). Though he went through some extremely vapid excuses a republican might use to justify a vote for Bolton, he also said this:

Sen. Lugar: "This may be the most controversial nomination President Bush has made..." ..."They [the Bush administration] will find another ambassador in the event this one is not satisfying." ...

Doesn't quite ring, does it? Anyone who votes for Bolton has no conscience.