The Redhunter

Of much more importance than the emotional distress of Voinovich are Republican defections from the Bolton nomination. Now John Thune, who replaced Tom Dashle as Senator from South Dakota, has announced that he will vote against Bolton.

What's odd is the reason he gave. From the AP (hat tip Michelle Malkin):

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said Thursday that he would vote against the nomination of John Bolton to be ambassador to the United Nations, hinting his vote is a protest against the Pentagon's recommendation to close Ellsworth Air Force Base.

But he did support his party on the vote that mattered most Thursday.

Republicans needed 60 votes to end the Democratic procedural delays and move to an immediate final vote on Bolton's confirmation. Fifty-six senators - including Thune - voted to end the stalling, four shy of that threshold. Now the final Bolton vote will probably not take place until June.

Thune said Thursday that saving Ellsworth is "inseparable from my work" in the Senate.

"It is part of the fabric of every day of our agenda and the things we are trying to accomplish here," Thune said Thursday. "It's something that has become a great preoccupation of mine now."

Asked whether his opposition to Bolton was because of his qualifications or the base-closing plan, Thune said dryly: "I'm concerned about our diplomatic posture as a nation, and I'm concerned about our defensive posture. These issues are not unrelated."

Thune otherwise would not say why he would vote against Bolton's nomination.

"Everyone has to come to their own decision about it, and that's the decision I have come to," Thune said. "John Bolton is not the best man for this job."

Before the base-closure list was released, in April, Thune said on the MSNBC program "Hardball" that Bolton could be good for the United Nations.

"Folks on our side I don't think have problems with where he is on policy or ideology or the fact that he is taking an approach and a style to the U.N.," Thune said. "That is much needed at the U.N."

If Ellsworth closes, about 3,800 military and civilian jobs will be lost in the Rapid City area.

From what I can figure he's voting against Bolton because Ellis Air Force Base is scheduled for closing? I keep rereading the article but can come to no other conclusion.

I checked his web site and can find no information on the matter. As of this writing his last press release was on May 25 and makes no reference to John Bolton. He doesn't want any bases closed, which is unfortunate but predictable.

Ok he're goes: We don't have military bases to serve the economic needs of communities. Many are no doubt obsolete and need to be closed or moved, and doing so would save us much money that we could reinvest elsewhere. Yes I know that Senators have to look after their constituents and no doubt he's received a thousand phone calls begging him to oppose the closings. And yes I know that people will be thrown out of work and all that. And I don't even know the specifics of the situation so can't really say if any one base should or should not be closed. I just wish that these Senators and Representatives would be a little less knee-jerk about these things once in a while.

Bottom Line: If Thune is trying to send a "message" to the administration he's choosing the worst possible way to do it. Well, he's better than Daschle so I should count my blessings. |