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November 2006
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EssaysOrwell’s “Politics and the English Language” Hayek’s “The Use of Knowledge in Society” |
November 9, 2006 6:10 PM
Joltin' BoltonIf Congress is absolutely determined to reject the best UN ambassador the world has seen in about a quarter of a century — John Bolton — then the only alternative if President Bush wants to keep him is another recess appointment. For that, Bolton would have to work without pay. It’s enough to make a person want to suggest that if you really care about trying to do some good in the world via the UN, stop sending your kids out to collect for UNICEF, and start sending them out to collect donations to keep John Bolton in office. Bolton, from everything I have seen, is far more honest and competent on every level than UNICEF, any of the other UN agencies, or most of the senior staff walking the halls of the UN, let alone many of the UN ambassadors whose limos cruise the streets of New York. I would normally be against any such private meddling in U.S. foreign policy, or in matters relating to the public institution that is the UN. But the State Department in 2001 blithely accepted a $31 million check from left-leaning Ted Turner to fill a gap in U.S. dues to the UN (and thus free up much larger sums of U.S. taxpayer money to flood Turtle Bay). And the UN itself has been trumpeting its joy over its ever-expanding agenda of “public-private partnerships.” These set-ups are all very bad ideas, and someone needs to be asking why on earth both the U.S. and the UN should be franchising out public policy matters (and financing) to private players with their own agendas. But without John Bolton there, no one at the UN is going to be asking about anything very much…we will see the dawn of a new era of even greater UN impunity, moral bankruptcy and financial corruption. Why should only the left wing of U.S. politics have a private hand in UN affairs? So, in the interest of fighting fire with fire, I wonder if anyone will start a campaign to scrap the UNICEF cans (they are not all about feedling wide-eyed children; they double-billed and padded their budgets in Iraq), and start collecting for Bolton. (There is plenty more to say on all this, and more seriously, of course… Roger Simon asked for a comment, and these are quick thoughts on the way out the door to give a talk on the UN. It is staggering that in a time of real world crisis, our legislators, of whatever stripe, could turn down a man who is honest enough to talk straight to the American public, skilled enough to navigate the UN swamps, and sane enough to manage both without going out of his mind. Congress is throwing away the best we’ve got — and somewhere down the line, we will all pay for it). Comments (85)Don Fattig :Brian :Tragically, I see Mr. Bolton going the way of Mr. Rumsfeld -- as in, driven from office. Senator Biden, I heard tonight, evidently sees no point in even considering Mr. Bolton for a permanent position, and I doubt Mr. Bush would be inclined to fight a battle he could not win for Mr. Bolton's confirmation, or would be willing to accept the heat for resorting to a second recess appointment to keep Mr. Bolton, salary issues aside. Which leaves me with this: sorry Claudia, but you've just become even more important than you were. You're "it," so to speak. Brian Brian :I may have been overly pessimistic: a Powerline post references a Reuters story telling us that Bush will try to have Bolton confirmed before the new year. As I reflect on this, I think Mr. Bush should try: if Mr. Biden stands firm, or the Dems otherwise oppose Mr. Bolton's nomination, it might provide a great opportunity for the administration and Mr. Bolton to showcase UN deficiencies and Democratic fecklessness in a very public forum. Brian AskMom :We only need 9,999 more pledges to get 1M yearly for Bolton. I volunteer to coordinate the campaign. It would be an honor given that I admire Bolton as much as I detest Pelosi, and that is a very great deal indeed. kiwikit :Just tell me where to send a few bucks. . . at my email address. I assume that 'comity' to the Democrats means only the GOP giving in to them, they NEVER support the GOP! Michael :Let's have him setup a PO Box. Everyone can send checks directly to the PO Box. I think for tax purposes, these payments would be gifts, and JB wouldn't have to pay any tax on the money. A 37% raise! My 2 Cents :I'll go one step further. It is widely feared that the Democratic-controlled congress will attempt to block funding for even day-to-day operations of our military in Iraq, or in other vital fronts of our fight against Islamofascism. If there is any way to do it, I would be willing to send money to a fund that is set up to pay for both our soldiers and the supplies they need to keep fighting the enemies of America. Yes, I'd prefer that my tax money do that (since it is THE most fundamental job of the Government!) but if not, then an Army funded by donations is better than no Army at all! lurker :I will contribute. I would love to see that Bolton is not subjected to the Congressional hearings. This will tell Chafee and the democrats something. Please let us know the details. lurker :I will contribute. I would also love to see that Bolton does not have to endure those Congressional hearings. Please let us know. Thanks!! JM Hanes :I have no doubt that Democrats want to discourage the Prez from re-upping Bolton, because considering all the connections between the professionals who opposed which have been uncovered in the course of observing the Plame investigation, the most telling questions he'd be asked this time around might very well be coming from the Republican Senators! I'd be willing to contribute in a serious way to a fund for Bolton, myself. I'd also be willing to bet that the money is there, I just wouldn't know how to go about setting such a foundation up or generate enough publicity to let folks know it's there. john :I think this is a great idea, but I thought that there was some law that public servants couldn't work for free (which he would be doing, technically)? onlineanalyst :On what basis--thatis, what excuse/reason does Biden give for this rejection? Doesn't an opposition require some justification and shouldn't that explanation be placed on record? Dick Mansuetto :Making UNICEF a part of "The Bolton Story" just mucks up the opportunity. Make funds available to a common place with full protection that would allow Mr. Bush to make the appointment. Much would be served. A unified Conservative initiative would focus on, first, the man who is doing a good job and, second; the system that embarrasses the Liberals. (Maybe that should be first.) One of the PJ Media Icons should take the lead. 1) $500.00 maximum donation per person. 2) $1,000,000.00 raised for Bolton. 3) $50,000.00 administration fee for security, staff, attorney, accounting, return postage, etc. 4) first come, first served. (All donations after goal is reached are returned). 5) All contributions are anonymous. That's the plan now somebody put it in motion. Doug :I'm in...just let me know where to send the money. By the way, if you want to send your money to support the troops, go adopt one and support his/her entire platoon. Doug :Dick: Good idea. I'm not a PJ person, but I'll set up a lockbox at the bank, all deposits recorded by and delivered directly to the bank, receipts sent to all contributors. Contact me at policeandfire@gmail.com. Doug Mike Wellington :Eric :Sign me up, too. Bill Irving :Great idea, Claudia. Count me in at $500/yr. Jennifer :My family and I would love to Charles Tapio :I will contribute. After 11/7, I am at wit's end at what I can do to help. Petrit :I completely agree with your UNICEF-bashing, but I was more interested to read that public-private partnerships "are all very bad ideas, and someone needs to be asking why on earth both the U.S. and the UN should be franchising out public policy matters (and financing) to private players with their own agendas." This is interesting mainly because the entire US military effort is supported by public-private partnerships (in the form of contracting agreements), where the private partners clearly have their own agendas, particularly in the field of post-conflict reconstruction and security. Can we take this to mean that you'll be lobbying for an end to these corrupt partnerships? Julia :Count me in. Just let me know where to send the money. Bolton is the best we've had for a very long time in that corrupt UN. Richard Avery :$100.00 a year. What a bargain. Sign me up as soon as the recess appointment is made. Larry Bailey :I'll contribute $100/year. What a great idea. Dave L. :Mike O'Kane :Count me in for $200. This will be easy. Where should the money be sent to ensure absolute accountability of the contributions. Peggy :Count me in...I believe the Dems don't want Bolton because he is to evective and also, if the Dems get rid of Bolton, they can put SillyWilly on the job... Jacqui :I think this is a great idea but to push the envelope why not begin the process now to signal to JB, the President and the Congress that we are serious about it. RedWireNut :Great idea! Please, someone who knows how, get this story to Power Line, Captains Quarters, Little Green Footballs, et. al. Much help at those sites, I'm sure. I'm RALOSS, (retired and living on social security) but will contribute what I can. Jerry Martinez :Phil :Give New York a break by moving the UN to San Francisco or Sacramento.I'm sure they will be welcomed . Hire Bolton to arrange the whole affair. Whichever city gets the UN, they will pick up the tab and give the U.S.taxpayers a break. nancee chambers :set it up and count me in!!!!! Art :Count me in. Where do I send the money? It would show the Dems that we're not dead. Jim Thiem :Bolton effectively represents America solving problems. For only $500/yr we get integrity, candor, principle, intelligence Let's give Bolton a chance to make a difference. Count me in. Darek :Count me in. Steve I :I will match any contribution that Mr. O'Kane makes and raise him $50. Just tell me where to send the check. Cat :I'm in. Tell me when, tell me where. Margaret :I would support a donation for Bolton's salary (heck, Dick Cheney and Rumsfeld together could provide him with a generous salary from their wealth and not even notice it!). Once I know that he is appointed and I have a secure place to donate, I'm in! I will keep watching your website for details. It can be a Christmas present to myself. Bye the way, I just got off the phone to the White House and to my representative objecting to Martinez as head of the RNC -- and I warned them that if a Conservative Party is formed, I will join it. Steve :If the President appoints him I'm in. But I remember the Ms. Myers supreme court pick that galvanized the conservatives. I dream of a march on washington by the right. Maybe JB will be the straw.... Frank Vergara :It makes one sick to know the fate of our soldier at the U.N. It's times like these that I wish conservatives were more activist. I write in my blog about what this means for us in light of the new majority in the Senate. Is there any high profile American willing to call for a mass demonstration at the U.N.? It's time we conservatives advocate for ourselves! Katherine Rauch :Dear Claudia, If my name sounds familiar, it's because you met my husband, Walt Rauch, at a training class for the media in North jersey several years ago. (In the clubhouse classroom, you were seated on the left side halfway back, aisle seat, if this helps refresh your memory.) My suggestion, which I floated last week with a legislative assistant to the best Senator in that august body that the folks of Pennsylvania threw out of office on Nov 7, was to have a conservative think tank hire John Bolton as a Senior Fellow, pay him a substantial salary, stipend, whatever you want to call it, and off he could go to the UN as a recess appointment. I'm just afraid that President Bush does not have the backbone left to make the recess appointment. (I don't know why he thinks he can cooperate with the Democrats and they'll suddenly like him. That's just not going to happen!) If such an arrangement is not legal, I, too, would be quite willing to contribute to a fund to send John Bolton back to the UN. But the conservative think tank solution makes more sense to me than trying to solicit $ on an individual basis. We're running out of time and this is too important to our country to fool around! Katherine Rich Turco :Count me in great idea. Jordan :i would also happily contribute to john bolton's salary. the west needs him in this dark hour. Sarah P :Count me in for $100 per family member = $500 p.a. Dee :Count me in too -- it would be my privilege to do so. And thanks go out to Claudia for her vision and insight into so many of the crtical issues of the day. brenda :I would support John Bolton any way possible.But i would like to see John Bolton run for President. Betty Van Order :I'd be honored to contribute $200 per year towards Mr. Bolton's salary.Need to know when fund is arranged and administered by whom. Allen :Bolton's options are work for free or withdraw. It would be illegal for him to accept his salary from a non-governement source. See the URL. Mary Linda Hunter :I will definately pledge $100.00 a year............. Nancy Seaman :I'm in! How, when, where? Rightmom :I will donate if this is what it takes to keep a watch on the UN-American hellhole that we continue to support with tax dollars anyway. Rightroots got 250,000 dollars in a short period of time for Conservative's I know that you can do the same. I believe there are a multitude of Americans of all stripes who would be willing to support this effort. pagar :Count me in for $100 for salary for John Bolton. One of the few great Americans in the political spotlight Alan Vengersky :The report ought to shock, but given the UN and Congress it does not. Keith :Bucks for Bolton? I'm in! Jessaminit :I'm in as well, let me know. Bill Wine :Put me down for $100 If it is illegal there should be a smart lawyer around to figure out how to do it. Periwinkel :Just read the article. I think this is a splendid idea! Count me in for $100.00 per year. Now, he's really my guy at the UN. Tim barlow :While your at it why dont you neocons take up a collection and pay for this unjustifiable iraq war that you traitors got us into. Peter :Bush doesn't have the political capital to make another recess appointment for Bolton. Unless he plays nicey nice with Speaker Pelosi he might as well stay in Crawford and work out the details for a Presidential Library that few people will bother to visit. George Robertson :Checkbook ready, pen in hand, $100 already entered, give me the details. We need more right thinking people like John Bolton. LegendHasIt :Said it a couple of months ago when the idea first came up over at FR: I'm in. RightWingDuck :How much would we have to raise? What is the yearly salary for that position? We'd also have to raise enough to cover insurance and other perks. We can so do this. Penny Hillman :We're in for thousand - it'll be the best investment we ever made. Let's roll! jane nester :I'm in also. john bolton is someone we need at the un--I'm a big fan! Dr. T :We're in for $200, 100 each for myself and my wife. Let us know where and when to send the money. CaptAmerica :I'm good for $50 to keep Bolton on, a small investment but I gotta lot of mouths to feed at home. Still, Bolton only compares to the very best UN ambassador in my book, Jeane Kirkpatrick. sue :WHAT A TERRIFIC IDEA. I WILL DONATE! sIGN ME UP... SUE :SET IT UP AND THE MONEY WILL COME IN. JUST LET EVERYONE KNOW WHERE TO SEND FUNDS. THANK YOU FOR A TERRIFIC IDEA !!!! Sue :You are kidding, right? I need the million more than he does. Dispicable drones you are Melinda Wilson :I am absolutely for this, sign me up.....we NEED him at the un! seth swirsky :i'd be honored to send money to help keep Bolton on the job --he's a tremendous asset to our country --the fact the Democrats still don't want him after the brilliant job he's already done, shows how inane they are. where to send a check? LegendHasIt :I added a 'Confirm Bolton $$' attention getter image to my fairly well-known 'pseudo-bills' collection at http://www.az123.com/pseudobills.htm for those that want something 'physical' to send to their Senators (or other political hacks) on this topic. Mark Rohloff :The Wall Stret Journal's Monday's editorial said that President Bush could simply appoint Bolton to a non-confirmational post at the State Department and then, in effect, give him a job description identical to the position he now holds. Is that possible? I guess that also means that the ambassadorship to the U.N. would go officially unfilled. Tom :This is a Winner. Count me in! Alan Vengersky :Oh- I did not respond to the salary issue-count me in for $100, with pleasure. Samantha :BRILLIANT IDEA! arthur m. alex, p.d. :Dear Claudia: I have placed a call to Sen. "Chucky Cheese" Shumer's office in support of Ambassador Bolton. Unfortunately, he was preparing for one of his infamous Sunday press conferences. Petitions and dollars may help keep Mr. Bolton at the UN, but only with the help of our gravely wounded President, who I believe has already given up the ghost! His father's agenda of one world globalized corporate government has blind sided "W" insofar as foregoing the critical needs of the American people! In any event, to make a short story long, count the Alex's in "Dollars for Bolton"! As the previous writers to this Blog have already said-Tell us where and when!! jprrpj :This would send the Dems and the public the right message. I'm in for sure!! MPH :So when and where is this lockbox for Bolton's salary going to be setup..online, I hope...and soon? spynverzyon :What say we form a philanthropic group (say, Friends of Turtle Bay) and give Bolton an award (maybe the Diversity in Diplomacy Prize), along the lines of the $500,000 Kofi got from the enviros a while back? He could graciously decline the gift, at which point we could place the money in trust, to be awarded, no sooner than 1/15/09, to retired UN ambassadors who have a record of telling the truth. Any doubts who the candidate would be? Even a modestly paid Utah school teacher could spare $50 for the cause. Kick Bolton out. :Bolton, from everything I have seen, is far more honest and competent on every level than UNICEF, any of the other UN agencies, or most of the senior staff walking the halls of the UN, let alone many of the UN ambassadors whose limos cruise the streets of New York. Saw all that through a haze of percodan, I should imagine. *psst*...Try a little thing called "facts" I heard they make writing compelling. Every country hates Bolton. And believe me, you Americans really need better PR these days. John H. Costello :I like the idea. I don't know how much he receives now as a paid ambassador of the US government, but I suspect he might do better financially as a paid ambassador of the American people. Clearly the Pay John Bolton's Salary Fund should be set up to take in both checks and PayPal. FPB :I pledge $200/year, but can step up for more if this is the route we have to go. Steve :Put me down for $200. William B. :I'll give whatever I can. Comments have been archived for this page. |
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I'll pledge $100/yr for his salary.
Nov 9, 2006 07:28 PM