Counselor to the President Dan Bartlett has reported that the White House intends to power on and doesn’t consider Voinovich’s stand a “no vote” yet. Just in case anyone at the White House is reading (and I’ve been informed that they are), no problem.

While I am planting sod out in front of my house today, some of you might enjoy reading the transcripts of Senate Foreign Relations Committee staff interviews regarding John Bolton. They are fascinating. Some novelist out there is going to be able to draw some great material from these interviews.

Chris Nelson sent this out yesterday as part of his 19 April Nelson Report: Bolton. . .it may be that Republican Senators George Voinovich and Chuck Hagel have taken a stand which will empower a Republican center to emerge and hold on other issues.

This may sound odd because I feel that it is the public’s right and responsibility to communicate criticism and praise regarding the positions our elected leaders take. However, word has been reached here that Senator Voinovich can be negatively influenced by a mountain of phone calls from some organized campaign.

No good deed goes unpunished. Reports have just come in that Senator Voinovich is receiving lots of calls from “out-of-staters” protesting his comments during today’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearings. Most of these calls have been orchestrated by the “Evict the U.N. from U.S. Soil/Pro-John Bolton” campaigners at Move America Forward.

Reuters reports on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s delay in voting on John Bolton’s nomination. George Voinovich gets the “Conscience of a Conservative Award” as far as TWN is concerned. Reuters reports: The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee delayed a vote on the nomination of John Bolton as U.N.

I have been on the phone non-stop with media during the roller-coaster issue of whether or not the Senate Foreign Relations Committee would meet and when. And this was followed up by dramatic, explosive, unbelievable commentary that has thrown the nomination of John Bolton into serious jeapordy. It is not over.

Senator Barbara Boxer has now objected to the Senate going into recess while other Senate Commitees meet. That means that Boxer’s action is forcing other Senators to vote on whether to go into recess or not. The Republicans will win by majority vote. And then the Senate will go into recess.

Senators Reid and Frist sparred on the Senate floor shortly ago — with Frist asking for “unanimous consent” that Senate Committees meet while the Senate was in Session. Senator Reid objected to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee meeting. . .and all hell broke loose, for just a bit.

This is unbelievable. TWN just received news that in order to preempt Senate Democrats from objecting to a Senate Foreign Relations Committee vote today on John Bolton’s nomination to be U.S. Ambassador to the U.N.