Another One Down . . .
When we're wrong, we cop to it. And we were wrong about Bolton.
A few years ago, we were at a Georgetown Party. It was a mixed generational thing, with elders from both parties mingling with earnest and ambitious young people. John Bolton's nomination was just being introduced the first time.
All these 20 somethings at various non-profits (“World Peace Through MP3 Filesharing.org”, “Birkenstocks For Multliateralism.org”, etc) were hovering over the sumptuous sushi spread boldly declaring that Evil Incarnate, John Bolton would not be allowed to destroy the Holiest of Holies, the UN.
And there was a now famous blogger and left of center media persona who was at the time a relatively obscure policy wonk with an unread blog. That night this older blogger was stoking the youngsters' flames, encouraging the most strident declarations of faith in the value of standing up to the Maximum Leader.
We smirked at them all. At the blogger for the cynicism of using opposition to Bolton to brand themselves and launch a media presence. And for encouraging the youngsters to have the romantic delusion that the Senate actually would defy the White House. Besides, all of them refused to budge from the sushi.
Just goes to show the Stiftung can blow it now and then. And how cynicism can obscure the truth that there is always hope. And how even career building can also render a public service for the Nation.
That blogger, of course, is now the envy of most colleagues, having ridden Bolton and the whole nomination saga to fame and fortune. Almost no one can remember how a few short years ago they had no idea who this person was. To that person's credit, the ride was managed with supreme skill and finesse. Luck may occur, but skill turns opportunity into success. And the youngsters? They have a real notch on their belt and a new appreciation for hardball politics and yes, actual stands on principle. Hope truly is the most precious of commodities.
Bolton in the end was done in by three forces: (i) the anti-Bush multilateralists and Dems; (ii) the Powell/Armitage clique (joined by horrified careerists at State); and (iii) Rice's clique (who wanted no part of Bolton knowing full well how Bolton spied on Powell for Cheney). We knew all that sipping drinks that night fighting for sushi. What we didn't count on was Chafee and Voinovich growing a pair. And how defeating Bolton would serve as a rallying cry to a Nation in despair of Dubya's Christian Socialist Authoritarianism.
The entire affair is a wonderful example of Imperial City drama. We sat this one out as mentioned. When we have been involved in crafting things through Congress for presidential signature, we know full well the narcotic effect of deal heat on the Hill. It truly is as intense as any Wall Street deal. But sometimes that intensity is a microcosm for those involved. The Bolton saga instead resonated with Americans generally.
Stopping Bolton represented probably one of the most self-contained and focused foreign policy issues that could offer that deal frission. Our cynicism that night in Georgetown gave way to grudging respect within weeks to full on admiration. We learned a lesson. Before November 7th and the Liberation of Congress, stopping Bolton was the first step to retaking the Nation. It was Coral Sea to November's Midway.
Congratulations to all involved. The Nation and perhaps the world are better off for your hard work. But next time don't boggart all the sushi.
Tags: Neocons, John Bolton
Comments
Comment wrote:
Monday 04 December 20:01
Comment wrote:
Crop that Bolton picture a bit closer, add some Arab script to the top. Presto, you have Bolton in a good radical cleric pose.
Monday 04 December 20:05
Comment wrote:
Meant to say Arabic script. Hey you should give Clemons credit too - he also was against Bolton , in a big way. Now he's got a great global gig - One it's Tokyo, then it's the Davos set.
Monday 04 December 20:09
Armchair wrote:
Pundit Aptitude Test (P.A.T.)
-----------------------------
Sample question from next years test found on the floor of a cable news green room.
1. What does the follwing quote refer to and with whom does it originate?
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“... best info fast ... Go massive. Sweep it all up. Things related and not.”
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A.) Pat Buchanan - Telling an intern to follow up on rumors that an illegal Mexican woman managed to hop the border into El Paso and was planning to give birth to her baby at a public hospital at public expense, creating a new subsidized Mexian-American citizen with a voting future.
B.) Steve Clemons of The Washington Note upon being told of significant mainstream and insider opposition to President Bush's UN nomineee John Bolton.
C.) Donald Rumsfeld, directing aides a few hours after the terror attack by Qaeda to look for anything resembling evidence that will help justify using the still smoldering ruins of the Pentagon as an excuse to attack Iraq instead of replying directly to those in Qaeda responsible for attacking us.
D.) Grover Norquist - Upon learning a being told of a conversation overheard between K Street lobbyists to concentrated on hiring Democrats to deal with a Pelosi House and Reid Senate.
E.) Bill Kristol being told about the Iraqi Study Group, its staff make up, and the implications that it may have for future ops and kill possibilities re Iran, Syria, and Lebanon.
Monday 04 December 22:13
Armchair wrote:
Admittedly, that samplee question needs some smoothing over, some proofreading - but we see the potential for a putting together a good test.
Monday 04 December 23:51
A Random Quote wrote:
“Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance ...”
~Isaiah
Tuesday 05 December 06:33
A Random Quote Note wrote:
Isaiah seems a good counterpoint to Elliot - small dust v. handfull.
Tuesday 05 December 14:55
DrLeoStrauss wrote:
I wonder if Gerson has a listing of dust's covert code signalling to the evangelical base.
Tuesday 05 December 15:33
Comment wrote:
Maybe not written out - but here's how it could be formulated. Bear with us, this sounds crazy - but who knows. Isiaih was the source of many allusions in Kennedy speeches. So Gearson, playing Sorenson to Bush's Kennedy, in his mind (but privately knowing there's something bogus about this comparison ) could allude to certain passages of Isaiah and as bonus it would be like stealing some Jack's promethean fire whilst draining a meme and diluting a Dem meme wellspring. Kind of like stealing the NCLB phrase from Marion Edelman and HRC, but more fun.
Tuesday 05 December 16:24
Comment wrote:
Actually - that doesn't really address your speculative query - But Isaiah dust could be coded differently - than Elliot dust in such a manner as you suugest. This is all amateur bs, but any good speech code cannot be highbrow or too recondite - Isaiah is a prophet. Bush is a prophet. Elliot, a modernist author reclining into a postmodern era, has a different 'dust'. His is the dust of decline - the reason Waugh used it for his book “Handful of Dust”- Also, while Isaiah's small dust actually points to big real unfolding revelations to come. That's Dubya Dust - Bonus: Isaiah is a lot like the red state base vision, in a certain sense. Isaiah can seem to be simulataneously condemnatory and mired in analyzing the ancient homeland - while also being a fan. The red state base voter vision is likewise - endless condemnation of everything at home, yet gleefull in going abroad to fight and plant the flag. Ok - this is a stretch, but can you see it?
Tuesday 05 December 16:35
DrLeoStrauss wrote:
It does make sense.
But only if Kate O'Beirne's husband can be the vetting officer for the provisional occupational resume-buffing-authority. It is his job to make sure that the defeat o'crats, gays and their agents of influence, abortion-mongers, secular progressives and David Cassidy fans don't contaminate the effort to inseminate the fertile soil with their decadence and hollywood values.
Tuesday 05 December 17:52
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Everyone wanted Bolton's defeated - real men want to derail Gates. Sorry - meant to say real people...