Posted on 06/20/2005 5:05:36 PM PDT by West Coast Conservative
Democrats blocked another attempt Monday by the Senate to confirm John Bolton to become U.N. ambassador, delivering a second-straight setback to President Bush even as he left the door open to temporarily installing Bolton on his own.
The Republican-run chamber fell six votes short of the 60 it needed to end Democratic delays that have prevented a roll call on confirming the tough-talking conservative. The vote was 54-38 in favor of ending the delays.
The tally left Bush facing stark choices most of which could leave him appearing weak at a time he is facing sagging poll numbers and fighting lame-duck status six months into his final term.
Wielding a seldom-used power, he could install Bolton during the Senate's upcoming July 4 recess without the chamber's approval. Under the Constitution, the so-called recess appointment would only last through the next one-year session of Congress in Bolton's case until January 2007.
Should Bush decide against that, he could withdraw the nomination or authorize further concessions to Democrats who are demanding access to information, some of it classified, about Bolton before they stop stalling.
Even before the vote, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., predicted the Senate would block the nomination again leaving Bush in a ticklish situation.
"The president will have to make a decision whether he wants to send this flawed candidate to the United Nations," Reid said.
Kofi, Osama, Fidel are all pleased.
Twist some arms and press the Button!
Forget Bolton. Quit the UN and tell them to pack up and leave.
Oh, AND Lil' Kim is pleased too!
GW's made recess appointments before. No normal American knows or cares.
Maybe W should now do what he should have done a long time ago with Bolton AND the judges, "recess appointment?"
I don't see the word filibuster anywhere?
In a vote of 54-38, Republican leaders fell short of the 60 votes needed to end a procedural hurdle known as a filibuster and advance the nomination to a confirmation vote.
If Frist doesn't go ahead and use the constitutional option for Bolton, which should be done so it would apply to all the president's nominees, including the judges, of course -- Bush will never get anything through Congress in his second term and it will all be Frist's fault and I am not joking.
The only thing the Dems understand is force. To them bipartisanship means doing it their way or no way. We can't let them hijack the President's agenda.
And for that very reason is not *worthy* of ever getting anything through congress and I am not joking.
For those wishing to see the results of the vote:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00142
The only thing the Dems understand is force. To them bipartisanship means doing it their way or no way. We can't let them hijack the President's agenda.
While I agree 100% with you about what Democrats understand and their definition of "bipartisanship" (meaning they get everything they want - which is also the MSM definition of bipartisanship as well) -
I don't agree that "how Bolton goes...so goes GWB second term agenda" - Nah -
GWB has got a lot accomplished in his 5 years - That is the bottom line - and he will continue to get good legislation passed over the next 3 years - (we will have private SOC SEC accounts before he leaves office....just watch).
The 2006 election need to be over the premise of the Democrat party seriously being anti-American (anti-american soldiers, anti-american success, etc, etc). - This type of premise is going to kill them in 2006 if the WH and RNC play it right).
lets all sing the LIBS theme
http://www.barbneal.com/wav/marxbros/groucho/grouch61.wav
Stupid Question Pass certificate number Ghh454llQ44.
"Instead of the nuclear option, Bush should just make a recess appointment:
THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
Article. II.
Section. 2.
Clause 3:
The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session
Now that would be something. Give the L/MSM something to really scream about. GWB has nothing to lose at this point.
Un-frisky Fisk sure as hell taint helping him out.
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