Recess post unlikely for Bolton

[radfringe]

Recess post unlikely for Bolton
BY TIMOTHY M. PHELPS
WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF
June 22, 2005


WASHINGTON -- At midday yesterday, it seemed that John Bolton's nomination to become United Nations ambassador was doomed in the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist told the Associated Press there was nothing more he could do after the Senate failed to cut off debate on the nomination Monday.

At that point, speculation was intense here that President George W. Bush would flout the Senate by giving Bolton a temporary recess appointment that does not require confirmation.

An hour later, after lunching with Bush, an apparently embarrassed majority leader reversed himself, saying, "The president made it very clear that he expects an up or down vote." He said there was no talk at the lunch of a recess appointment."

-----snip----

Scott McClellan, the White House press secretary, refused to address the possibility of a recess appointment yesterday, saying "we will continue to work with the Senate leadership" to confirm Bolton.

=============

with the White House denying the possibility of a recess appointment - it looks like Bolton will be a recess appointment. Past patterns indicate that the more the bushies deny something, the more likely they are lying.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

1. Yep. That confirms (pardon the pun) it.

And probably will see a Supreme Court nominee during recess too. They will have some sort of "emergency" which will require it, no doubt.

[political_aware]

8. Supreme Court?

Can it be done? If so, it will be a "supreme" show of weakness.

[northzax]

16. technically, yes

but it's considered an 'emergency' job and any president who threw up a SC nominee in recess would never get anything through the senate ever again. Denying al the senators in his own party the limelight for a couple of weeks? guaranteed to piss them off.

Also, there is no opening on the Court right now (god forbid) and since the court is not in session over the holiday weekend, no need for a recess (and the court can operate with 8, in fact it probably should)

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Watch the flip flop

they need him there, it is part of PNAC

[amber dog democrat]

3. Its going to be a recess appointment

This denial verified it. What did they expect?

[Kahuna]

5. Jeez. How clueless is that reporter...er I mean stenographer..

:wow:

[liberal N proud]

4. Always expect the opposite

it is the only strategy they know outside of smear

[magellan]

6. I can't resist

An hour later, after lunching with Bush, an apparently embarrassed majority leader reversed himself, saying, "The president made it very clear that he expects an up or down vote." He said there was no talk at the lunch of a recess appointment.

This is only what Tim Phelps claims Frist told him about what Bush** said. How do we know this is accurate? Maybe it's just Frist's opinion!

PROVE there wasn't any talk about a recess appointment. Cough up the video of Frist and Bush**'s lunch chat. And I want it analyzed for authenticity. Otherwise this is just hearsay.

[LynneSin]

7. If Bush does a Recess Appt. on Bolton, the US should be kicked off...

...of the UN Permament council. A recess appointment will be obvious that Bolton is a partisan hack that does not represent all of the United States. If the US doesn't fully support this guy then we should be removed from the permament council and let someone else have it.

[Skittles]

11. I would actually love to see that arrogant bastard try it

LOL what a joke he is

[getmeouttahere]

12. Amen to that...

we don't pay our fu**ing dues anyway!

as a country, we've become the annoying neighbor that plays music way too loud and takes his dog to shit on your lawn, when it comes to the UN especially

[LizW]

9. This is getting good

Reid taunted Bush yesterday by saying he should probably go ahead with the recess appointment. Smart move, I think, because Bush can be painted as weak, petulant, hiding something AND a flip flopper if he does it (Up or down vote! Up or down vote!)

I would be willing to bet Reid's taunt is what is behind the Frist Flip-Flop yesterday.

Bush is weak, and he knows it, and he's flogging Frist to get this nomination done for him.

I hope Reid and the Dems hang tough. I think they've got this thing won.

[Window]

10. Yeah, then they can blame it on those bad, disruptive Dems.

.

[ckramer]

13. United democrats fought a good fight

Congratulations!

[JerseygirlCT]

14. Hope they get the idea now

stick together or be taken apart.

[gratuitous]

15. Let's not lose sight of THAT fact

Just a few weeks ago, the conventional wisdom was that Bolton's nomination was an all but sure thing. Another walkover for the Chimp, and a calculated thumb in the eye to the Senate Democrats AND the UN.

Today, it looks like the only way Bush is going to salvage this nomination is to install Bolton in a recess appointment, which means that he has no credibility, no standing, and the rest of the UN knows it can pretty much ignore him. China and Russia will be positively slavering over the chance to use their Security Council veto on any US "reform" proposals (the ostensible reason for Bush's stubbornness in getting Bolton to the UN), knowing that the US can't do a thing about it.

We need another nominee, Mr. Bush. Try to do a little better this time. It shouldn't be difficult.

[rocktivity]

17. If only Bush's priorities weren't so screwed up

I can understand why he'd rather not sneak Bolton in through the UN's back door--he'd not only be circumventing his own Congress, he'd look like he no longer had control of it. But though coming up with another candidate would make him look more leader-like and flexible to both Congress and the public, he would consider that an admission of defeat, too...

:dilemma:
rocknation

[jazzjunkysue]

18. Wonder if the general public would react badly to a recess appointment?

They might, after everything else they're sneaking around about.