Filibusters, Intelligence and Bolton
U.S. Senator Ken Salazar sent a letter to James Dobson about Focus on the Family's attacks on various senators over filibuster rules, according to the Rocky Mountain News [April 22, 2005, "Salazar lets fly"]. Money quote, "I think that the way Focus on the Family and the conservative right wing is attempting to take the country will threaten the basic cornerstone of our freedom."
The Rocky has the text of Senator Salazar's letter. He writes, "I would further encourage you to cease your unfounded attacks on the faith of my Democratic colleagues. The Senate controversy over judges is simply about whether the rules should be broken in the pursuit of power. The controversy has nothing to do with the faith of any Democratic U.S. Senator. Indeed, I would ask for your prayers that the United States Senate transcend the abuse of power at the root of this controversy, and move forward in a spirit of bipartisanship on the issue of judges, as well as the monumental challenges facing our Nation such as health care, transportation, energy, education and care for our elders. I am committed to helping find a solution to these challenges that confront us."
Here's the coverage from the Denver Post [April 22, 2005, "Salazar, Focus escalating salvos"].
Colorado Luis: "So why'd he do it? Why did Ken Salazar choose today to finally do something to make Colorado progressives actually feel like we have a voice in the Senate, by denouncing Focus on the Family and Jim Dobson head on? Well, your guess is as good as mine." Mr. Toro goes on the make several guesses including, "Whatever his reasons are, the bottom line is that this is a battle Salazar can win, and he can do a lot of good for Colorado Democrats in the process. The alliance between the religious right and the rest of the Republican party is becoming very strained, especially in the West. When Mr. Centrist goes on the attack like this, he makes it more legit for everyone else (Republicans included) to attack the religious right types as the loonies they are. Let's hope he keeps it up -- and that others pick up on this theme."
John Negroponte won Senate approval Thursday to become the nation's first National Intelligence Director, according to the Denver Post [April 22, 2005, "Intel director handily garners Senate approval"]. From the article, "He now oversees the intelligence agencies that were criticized in report after report for failures leading up to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and for prewar intelligence on Iraq. In a statement, Bush said Negroponte "will lead a unified intelligence community as it reforms and adapts to the new challenges" of this century...Yet intelligence veterans and some lawmakers still question whether the job comes with enough power to lead the competitive agencies that handle everything from recruiting spies to studying satellite imagery."
Josh Marshall: "Is Powell stepping forward to put Bolton out of his misery? Articles in Friday's NYTimes and Post describe how the former Secretary of State (and Bolton's boss in the first administration) has been doing what amounts to behind-the-scenes lobbying against Bolton's nomination."
Blogs for Bush: "Today, President Bush urged the Senate to confirm his nominee for U.N. ambassador, John Bolton."
Category: 2004 Presidential Transition
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