Bolton May Accept Recess Appointment

[dogday]

John R. Bolton's nomination to be ambassador to the United Nations was the hottest issue in Congress a few months ago. But it has virtually evaporated this summer, eclipsed by speculation over a Supreme Court nominee and the fate of the president's top political adviser.

With neither the White House nor Senate Democrats showing any sign of yielding in their long-running dispute over documents related to Bolton's State Department work, speculation is rife that Bolton is prepared to accept a recess appointment good through the end of 2006, despite warnings from some GOP senators that it would weaken his influence and effectiveness.

Although the Senate has twice voted to sustain a filibuster against his nominee, President Bush has refused to surrender the fight over Bolton. "The president continues to believe that John Bolton should receive an up-or-down vote, and he encourages the Senate to move forward on his nomination," spokeswoman Erin Healy said yesterday.

But an administration source who is close to Bolton said that Bolton is prepared to accept a recess appointment next month unless the administration and Senate Democrats can resolve differences that have held up the confirmation for four months.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/12/AR2005071201319_pf.html

[im10ashus]

1. Frightening! n/t

[LizW]

2. Bush has to settle for a lame recess appointment

because he absolutely cannot afford to release the Bolton documents now.

"Stonewall here, stonewall there, stonewall, stonewall, everywhere a stonewall..."

[dogday]

3. Bolton's name keeps popping up with Scooter Libby

in the VP case. It might be interesting to see what will unfold..

[Double T]

4. bush is going to provide Bolton with on the job training.....

then bush will say "look at the great job Bolton has done for the past two months, let's make this appointment permanent". Back door acceptance for bush's ambassador to the UN nomination.

[housewolf]

5. There is some interesting speculation that this came from the Bolton Camp.

Interesting speculation that this article is coming from the Bolton camp, which is scrambling VERY hard to keep his nomination alive.

See Steve Clemons articles on Bolton today -
http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/

excerpt:

<snip>

Republican voices close to this battle think that Bolton's nomination is withering badly and in critical condition, barely surviving on life support.

It is interesting to note that the administration source cited by Babington and Linzer is reportedly "close to Bolton" and "familiar with Bolton's thinking." However, there is no mention of this person's involvement in White House deliberations or agenda setting.

This may very well be an effort by Bolton advocates to keep the dying flame of the Bolton nomination still flickering.

On a related front, another source has shared with TWN the following in response to a TWN post below regarding Bolton trying to expand the size and capacity of the Washington-based U.S. United Nations operation at State:

<snip>

What is important about the Bolton nomination at this point is not the battle between Senators Biden, Dodd, Voinovich, Boxer, and others with the White House. That has played out.

What is interesting now are Bolton's efforts to keep his nomination alive within the administration. So far, they seem to be slamming him down -- and Karl Rove is not available to offer "expressions of confidence" in Mr. Bolton as he has in the past.

[sinkingfeeling]

6. Thought Bush ordered Frist to have another vote to stop debate.

[xxqqqzme]

7. have 2 have bolton in the UN

B4 US moves on Iran - bolton is the key 2 the next invasion.