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Posted on Tuesday 6 January 2009


Op-Ed Contributors
Restore the Senate’s Treaty Power
By JOHN R. BOLTON and JOHN YOO
Published: January 4, 2009

blah, blah, blah…
So, here’s a New York Times op-ed by John Bolton and John Yoo warning about letting the President have too much power in Foreign Affairs. By John Bolton and John Yoo? Warning about the President having too much power? In Foreign Affairs? Advocating strong Senate Oversight?

People reporting this article all say the same thing – "you couldn’t make this stuff up!" These two self appointed A.E.I. pundits have both been advocates of a strong, almost omnipotent Executive Branch – particularly in the arena of Foreign Affairs. They’ve both been vocal antagonists of Congress. Yoo acted like an asshole in his Congressional Hearing [outdone only by Mr. Arrogance, David Addington]. Bolton got to the U.N. Ambassadorship by skirting Senate confirmation because everyone hated him [he’s hard to love]. And now they’re stumping for the Senate to have more power?

I mean I’m not dumb. I get what they’re saying. They don’t want Obama "making nice" with the rest of the world. They want us to continue to pretend that we’re Caesar and the U.S. is the Roman Empire and to continue pounding our chests and rattling our sabers like George Bush and Dick Cheney did. Maybe we could throw in a little Torture to let people know that we’re tough as nails. They each skipped the military themselves – too busy being vocal pugilists to actually fight themselves.

But for them to advocate their neoconservative  neofascism under the guise of strengthening the Senate and limiting the Executive is a remarkable bit of hubris with their shared history. They must think that either we’re dumb as goats or maybe they just like to see their names in print. One wonders why the Times would print such a thing…
  1.  
    Ray
    January 7, 2009 | 11:55 AM
     

    I wonder if it’s a smokescreen? I’m sure there’s no way for the general public to really know, but I’ve always wondered if these blatant “controversy starters” are just cover fire/concealment for the real neocon power plays…

  2.  
    Ralph Roughton
    January 7, 2009 | 1:51 PM
     

    I’m hoping that the Times printed their Op-Ed in order to expose their obvious ploy. But, then, ever since Judy Miller I don’t trust their judgment so much..

    What I think it shows is the lack of principle in these folks. They have an end in mind and shape their arguments accordingly, not according to principle. If they’re in power, then they will usurp in every way possible to get more power. If they’re out of power, they’ll argue the opposite.

    For me, this article diminished their standing as thinking people — although it was hardly possible for them to sink to a lower level.

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