corrente

Of the Bolton affair:

In a sign of partisan tensions on the committee,

Oooh, nice balance! Read on, and see where that tension originated:

Republican staff members yesterday interviewed Thomas Hubbard, a former U.S. ambassador to South Korea, without Democratic staff members present. Hubbard has said he clashed angrily with Bolton.

Well, that will certainly make the results of their interview 100% credible!

A senior Democratic committee aide said the interview was unfortunate, because Democrats thought they had an agreement between committee Chairman Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.) and Vice Chairman Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.) for proceeding with interviews that would allow both sides to be present, along with a court reporter.

Wait a minute. Only the Republicans do the interview, and there's no record?!

"When we asked to participate, we were refused," the [Democratic] aide said. "We hope this was an aberration, and that from now on they honor the rule that we proceed jointly. The proof will be in the pudding." He added: "We found out five minutes before it happened." (via WaPo)

1. The Republicans are getting more and more abusive with each day that passes, aren't they?

2. Once again, the Republicans, even on the staff level, show the folly of trying to make deals with them; their word is simply not good—as you would expect of a party that stole election 2000 and lied its way into a war.

3. So, Dems, why wuss out? "We were refused," forsooth. Why take No for an answer? What can the Republicans do? Threaten to arrest you? That worked out real well for them the last time they tried it, didn't it?