Some Final Bolton Links (for Today)

Today has been Bolton-day here at Charging RINO, and hopefully soon we'll be able to get away from that for a little while as the investigations continue. But I thought I would provide some links to some of the many stories and posts that are popping up:

- From the AP, via the Washington Post, Anne Gearan reports that a Bush spokesman said the president has no doubts about moving the nomination forward even in light of the new allegations (which really isn't any surprise).

- Douglas Jehl for the New York Times writes that Voinovich, questioned after the session about his stunning announcement, said "My conscience got me." He had been planning to support Bolton, Voinovich told the Times, but after hearing the arguments of Biden and Dodd, he changed his mind. Jehl also reports that Chafee made some comments after the hearing as well, saying that he was glad the vote was postponed, adding "I don't know if I've ever seen, in a setting like this, a senator changing his mind as a result of what other senators said. The process worked. It's kind of refreshing." Can't argue with that!

- Fred Kaplan over at Slate offers some excellent analysis of the danger to Bush and Bolton if the nomination is allowed to move forward under these circumstances.

- Steve Clemons at The Washington Note gives Hagel much more credit that I do for his behavior at the hearings today (although clearly now both Hagel and Chafee and probably Voinovich have a perfect opportunity to oppose Bolton down the road, an opportunity which I hope they will jump at). Clemons also applauds the minority members of the committee for "a herculean, magnificent job of showing what minority opposition OUGHT to look like." Agree with them or not, the Democrats did offer up a spirited series of arguments today, and in the end proved effective.

- A few video clips from the hearing, including the great moment when Voinovich speaks, are available here.

There is definitely a great deal more to come with the saga of this nomination. Stay tuned!