Replies

Bush could stick to his word, which was to tell the Senate leadership to give the nominee an up or down vote

He can sure ask them.

But he can't tell them.

He can sure ask them.
But he can't tell them.

Good detail point. But no matter how he phrased his request, it came off as "I'm not going to recess appoint Bolton."

Mr. REID. Mr. President, yesterday at the White House it was reported that President Bush told Republican leaders to keep fighting to get Mr. Bolton, the President's nominee to be U.N. ambassador, an up-or-down vote. Keep fighting--that was the message delivered by the President.
109th Congress - Page S6980 - June 22, 2005
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1427992/posts?page=15#15

The link to the Congressional Record is a PDF file - the FR link is HTML. Reid has a few real gems in there.