Posted on 06/20/2005 12:14:09 PM PDT by GPBurdell
Send Bolton to U.N. now - Bush
7 minutes ago
President Bush demanded on Monday an immediate up-or-down Senate vote on John Bolton's nomination as U.N. ambassador, and top aides would not rule out Bush bypassing the Senate by issuing a "recess appointment" giving Bolton the post for 18 months.
"It's time for the Senate to give an up-or-down vote now," Bush said at a news conference with European Union leaders. "Well, put him in. If they're interested in reforming the United Nations, they ought to approve John Bolton."
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hinted on Sunday that Bush could install Bolton to the U.N. post by appointing him during a congressional recess, which would allow him to serve through January 2007 without confirmation. "We'll see what happens this week," she told "Fox News Sunday."
Pressed on the possibility of a recess appointment, White House spokesman Scott McClellan did not rule it out, but said: "We continue to urge the Senate to let him have an up-or-down vote on the floor."
Senate Republicans have scheduled a procedural vote on Monday to try to break the deadlock over Bolton. But Democrats said they had enough votes to stall the nomination until the White House turns over information they have demanded about the nominee.
Many Democrats have criticized Bolton, the top U.S. diplomat for arms control and an outspoken critic of the United Nations, as a hard-line conservative ideologue. Bush described him as the right man to press for U.N. reforms.
"The American people know why I nominated him: because the U.N. needs reform. And I thought it made sense to send a reformer to the United Nations," Bush said.
"The U.N. is an important organization and the American people, I think, will understand how important it is when the U.N. is reformed and is held to account. And so we want more accountability and transparency and less bureaucracy. And John Bolton will help to achieve that mission," he added.
Bush has on occasion issued recess appointments to sidestep Senate opposition to his nominees. He could do so for Bolton during the upcoming Fourth of July holiday recess or during Congress' monthlong August break.
McClellan said there has been "a reasonable effort to reach a compromise" and urged Democrats in the Senate to "break with the ranks of their leadership" and agree to an up-or-down vote on Bolton's nomination.
"It's unfortunate that the Democratic leadership continues to block his nomination, particularly when he has majority support," McClellan said. "It's very clear now that the Democratic leadership is not interested in the information. They're only interested in blocking this nomination."
Thanks for the good info.
38 voted against cloiture. In reality that doesn't make Bolton weak. The same "weakened candidate" argument would have been made if Bolton was recess appointed two months ago without a cloiture vote.
As another poster pointed out, the president has made 110 recess appointments. I think the president has shown backbone on this. I suspect you're taking Pat Roberts comments out of context.
Your suggestion sounds right to me. No ambassador, no dues. Screw them. Welcome to FR, love your screenname.
"Bush should have named Bolton via recess appointment 2 months ago."
Yes. Bush should have also closed the borders 3 1/2 years ago.
If I were a Senator, even a junior one just elected in November, I'd call for a rule change on the floor and let the chips fall where they may.
Bolton a "weakened candidate" ? ? ?
As long as the USA funds the UN and does most of its military "actions" we can send a Girl Scout - just as long as she has Bolton's perspective.
Nothing quite like invoking the Golden Rule - Who has the gold, makes the rule.
Regardless of what the cowards refuse to do, your option has a solid ground to stand on.
You have an excellent tag line. i just noticed it, truer words were never spoken.
Why can't the President just send Mr. Bolton to the UN, he won a majority vote in the Senate, and they say that the Demoncrats are not fillibustering, so he won the vote, send him to the UN, go to work Mr. Bolton.
I'm hearing that the votes aren't there for cloture. Is that right, as far as you know?
F**k cloture, the man won a majority of the Senate, send him to the UN, he has passed the advise and consent of the Senate. Go to work Mr. Bolton.
It is the only way to help them that I know how. They do not question their cult, but if led in the right direction, they may find their own way to the truth.
Take cae,
BC
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.