The Quotable Bolton

What rubbish....if Bolton is so keen on honesty, how can he justify the honest opinion that he was completely unwanted as a UN ambassador by EVERYONE except Bush? Do we live in a democracy or a dictatorship? And the second he could be ejected, we was! How about a little personal honesty?? His presence diminishes the US contribution and the credibility of us all...selective honesty is the polite way to say this.

Sent by Katherine Pick | 2:15 PM ET | 05-01-2007

I would just like to know why the UN expects much of USA's military forces then turns around demanding funds. It doesn't make sense. Also, how come we hear so little of what other nations' forces are doing as UN actions?

Sent by William B | 2:27 PM ET | 05-01-2007

Funding the UN

I like Mr. Bolton's suggestion about contributing what we want to, so that we get only what we pay for. I suggest this is a great way for Americans to pay taxes. What better system is there than pay-for-what-you-want? I suggest we start with today with the funding the current Administration. I'm sure Mr. Bolton will be happy to advocate for the idea.

Sent by Brian Santo | 2:28 PM ET | 05-01-2007

Did Ambassador Bolton just mention UNICEF as a great example of how the UN's funding should be determined?? Why then, is UNICEF selling neck-ties at Denny's or Greeting cards at Pier1?
Maybe we can sell candles to support Peace-keeping operations and candy to back Tsunami relief...

Sent by Victor Tennyson | 2:30 PM ET | 05-01-2007

Wouldn't the UN be a more legitimate organization if it only represented governments which in turn represented their own people? Specifically, a United DEMOCRATIC Nations.

Whether or not you believe in a more democratic process, the UN clearly has a severe credibility gap and it's lack of progress on the dire issues of nuclear proliferation, overpopulation, global warming and such clearly indicate that some sort of change in direction is needed.

gary

Sent by gary | 2:53 PM ET | 05-01-2007

i award john bolton the chutzpah award of the year. he is quoted as saying : "we will use the un when it suits our purpose and we will not when it doesn't suit our purpose." i guess that is also called hubris.

also, usa does not live up to its obligation unde the nuclear proliferation treaty so it is a case of mr. bolton giving " misinformation" to the listening audience.

Sent by cynthia banas | 3:16 PM ET | 05-01-2007

Listening to Mr. Bolton shows how out of touch with reality he remains. He says "facts" are important, then repeats the rhetoric and propaganda of this administration that has already been discredited.

The UN can offer guidance and promote diplomacy among the members. How Bolton thinks it has some enforcement "power" over nations is his self-indulgent fantasy.

Sent by Ed | 3:41 PM ET | 05-01-2007

Fortunately for me I only heard the last few minutes of Bolton. However, I noticed that he used this tried and true NeoCon Dodge: Neal Conan states that many polls show that the United States ihas sunk precipitously in international regard and is now at one of its all time lowest points and asks Bolton "To what do you attribtute this." Bolton then begins his non response with "I don't agree that it shows the U.S. is held in the lowest esteem..."

Richard Perle and Dougie Feith also like to begin their non answers with "I don't agree with the premise."

The implication, of course, is that the stated fact is not true or least debatable even when it is clearly not.

What a sad choice for the UN.

Sent by John Eaton | 7:21 PM ET | 05-01-2007

THIS MAN BOLTON'S DEMEANOR, ON THE AIR, IS GRATING AND OBNOXIOUS, HE'S ARGUMENTATIVE AS WELL AS DEFENSIVE. THIS WAS BUSH'S CHOICE TO REPRESENT AMERICA? bummer

Sent by erik | 7:23 PM ET | 05-01-2007

Can I have my contribution to NPR back please? JOHN BOLTON has had plenty of bully pulpits in the last few years and they have proved without a doubt that he is a bully. One of his last bully acts was to delay the consideration of a cease-fire resolution in the Security Council during Israel's ill-considered invasion of Lebanon, thereby causing even more death and destruction. Please not on NPR!

Sent by Bob Yeats | 12:10 AM ET | 05-02-2007

I tried to send an email from my PDA before the show with a question for Mr. Bolton, but I'm not sure it went through, and I had only a few minutes while on break to send it.

So, here's what I wanted to know: Mr. Bolton, in November 2000, you walked in to where 3 election officials in Miami Dade Country were trying to hand-count votes efficiently and quickly -- and you announced loudly, "MY NAME IS JOHN BOLTON AND I'M HERE TO STOP THE COUNT!"

So, did this quaint historical moment affect your legitimacy in the United Nations?

Of course, on that Wednesday morning in Florida, the day before Thanksgiving, you and the other Republican operatives sent down from Washington, D.C. to Florida by Tom DeLay on Halliburton and Enron private jets did manage to stage a raucous riot that day, and you certainly frightened the officials, even using the Cuban-American radio station to threaten that mobs of angry Cubans were on the way -- and the vote count that had been ordered by the Florida Supreme Court ended, sure enough.

Yeah, that John Bolton -- he always has made sure he got what he wanted, regardless of what it took.

Such a creative appointment, recessed necessarily, of course: Just another example of George W. Bush's talent for getting the rest of the world to resent the United States for its hypocritical bullying.

Fortunately, truth is coming out all over, Bill Moyers is back on the air, emails are retrievable, and the Neo-Con is almost over - especially if we keep banging our pots and pans - like Molly Ivins said.

Sent by Barbara in Salt Lake City | 12:46 AM ET | 05-02-2007

The U.N. is an organization of nations, not a country in itself. The ideal would be that nations could work out their differences through dialogue not wars. Just listening to Mr. Bolton I hear the same "my way or the highway" attitude that prevails with the Bush administration. The Ugly American returns. I'm ashamed of us. Let's hope the next president is someone who understands the importance of talking to your enemies as well as your friends.

Sent by Joyce | 10:27 AM ET | 05-03-2007

I have to admit that I was not a very big support of Mr. Bolton, but after hearing him interviewed I have more respect for him. Although I didn't agree with his point of view, I do think that he made some good arguements about his view on international politics. I hope to hear more great interviews like this one.

Sent by Keith Walter | 2:51 PM ET | 05-03-2007

You also have to notice that none of his comments necessarily pertain to the subject matter in question. They are all just simple little quips which in all actuality mean nothing... Does the man even know what he is really talking about?

Sent by Thomas | 12:33 PM ET | 05-07-2007