Where is Colin Powell?

John Bolton is a bit worse than simply the latest asshole nominated by the Bush White House to represent us. In fact, he's only worked to make the world a more dangerous place. He deliberately antagonized the North Korean delegation at the beginning of our recent efforts to slow their progress toward nuclear weaponization, working against the other members of his team. Seriously, who is this guy to depart from established protocol to get his own way on our time?

So we have to suspect his interests, and we have to assume the Bush camp knows them better than we do. He was interested in changing the intelligence on Iraq from : "Can't go to war, there's no grounds" to "Blow 'em up, so Cheney's boys can rebuild the country a few times." He has been interested in browbeating and demeaning professionals with real experience- everyone who's ever had a job has to be full of hate for this dick. Imagine your boss's boss calling you into his office for a spanking.

Since the State Department can't let him speak for himself, how can we expect him to speak for Us? The guy's an idiot. A mean idiot bent on conflict. We raise our children to act differently than he acts- in fact, he's Goofus.

Voinavich (sp) said he owed a nomination approval it to President Bush. He's another idiot. You Republicans sure can pick 'em. The Senate owes nothing to the Executive, but owes the country careful criticism of this partisan President's every move. Unless he actually does owe Bush a favor.

Finally, the appropriately named Dick Lugar, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committe said it best at the close of the Bolton hearing yesterday: "Thank you for your call. We appreciate your interest in representative democracy. Please call back during regular business hours."

Arlen Specter hasn't done his job yet, and time is running out. McCain tested the poll waters to see how witholding his support would play. There's nobody left with any credibility on the other side. Where is Colin Powell, in this moment when his duty is apparent? Surely he owes the President nothing, after being manipulated by Bolton and his elves into humiliating himself at the UN Bush wants Bolton to destroy.