Having known @AmbJohnBolton for nearly two decades, it’s amazing to see him suddenly portrayed as a “Democratic witness” or part of a left-wing cabal. There are few more conservative people in Washington. From personal experience, here are some basic facts about Bolton:
@AmbJohnBolton Bolton is not a “neoconservative,” as many portray him. He’s a national conservative, a realist dedicated to projecting U.S. power. (No starry-eyed promotion of democracy for him.) He’s smart and a very skilled lawyer, especially in the field of international law.
@AmbJohnBolton What’s most important to Bolton is the policy, not political patrons. He served George W. Bush for six years at senior levels but did not minch words when he thought Bush’s North Korea policy was going off course.
@AmbJohnBolton Bolton’s public criticism —which correctly anticipated the failure of Bush’s efforts — infuriated Bush. He thought he deserved loyalty for taking political heat by giving Bolton a recess appointment as UN ambassador. But it didn’t matter to Bolton.
@AmbJohnBolton As a reporter, I appreciated Bolton’s attention to detail, his prodigious memory and his willingness to say what he knew and didn’t know, in contrast to officials who tried to BS you. It was clear he kept careful track of who said what in meetings.
@AmbJohnBolton Bolton had his own perspective, which he readily acknowledged, so as a reporter you had to double-check with other officials in the policy debate. But you always knew where he stood.
@AmbJohnBolton No one really knows what Bolton would say if he were called to testify in the Senate. He has very low regard for Democrats. He cares about promoting his policy objectives — and calling out policies that he thinks are wrong. Whatever he says will certainly be interesting.
