Republicans Press Bush to Turn Over Bolton Memos

Republican Senators are starting to realize that the White House is being to obstinate in refusing to turn over documents that may prove that Bolton was illegally acquiring confidential information and spying on his colleagues. Democrats have pledged to hold an up or down vote on Bolton as soon as the President turns over the documents, but Bush continues to filibuster his own nomination. The information can't be good if he has been obstructing his own nomination from being confirmed for so long. I am betting he will withdraw the nomination before he would ever release the papers. But, the best bet is that Bush will completely whimp out and do a recess appointment.

Senate Republicans press Bush to turn over Bolton documents

By James Kuhnhenn, Knight Ridder Newspapers
Wed Jun 22, 6:39 PM ET

WASHINGTON - A growing number of Senate Republicans say John Bolton won't be confirmed as United Nations ambassador unless the White House turns over documents that Democrats say they need to assess Bolton's fitness for the post.

Though the White House continued Wednesday to demand an up-or-down vote on Bolton, these Republican senators say the Senate is in a standoff that only President Bush can resolve.

"I hope the president will take a very hard look at the documents," Sen. Lamar Alexander (news, bio, voting record), R-Tenn., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in an interview with Knight Ridder. "Unless we resolve this dilemma quickly, Mr. Bolton is not going to be the U.N. ambassador. ... The president should understand that we're at an impasse. It may be more important to preserve the doctrine of separation of powers than to have John Bolton in the U.N."

Alexander's comments came after Sen. Trent Lott (news, bio, voting record), R-Miss., the former Senate majority leader, urged the White House to turn over documents to Bolton's two leading Democratic foes, Sens. Joseph Biden of Delaware and Christopher Dodd of Connecticut. Another Republican, Sen. Lincoln Chafee (news, bio, voting record) of Rhode Island, also called for the White House to relent.

The shifting Republican views came after Democrats blocked Bolton's confirmation Monday for a second time. The Senate voted 54-38 to end debate on his nomination and move to a conclusive vote, but under Senate rules 60 of 100 votes are needed to end debate.

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