Bush Circumvents Senate, Appoints Bolton

AP on Yahoo ^ | 8/1/05 | Terence Hunt - AP

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON - President Bush sidestepped the Senate and installed embattled nominee John Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations on Monday, ending a five-month impasse with Democrats who accused Bolton of abusing subordinates and twisting intelligence to fit his conservative ideology.

"This post is too important to leave vacant any longer, especially during a war and a vital debate about UN reform," Bush said. He said Bolton had his complete confidence.

Bush put Bolton on the job in a recess appointment — an avenue available to the president when the Congress is in recess. Under the Constitution, a recess appointment during the lawmakers' August break would last until the next session of Congress, which begins in January 2007.

Bolton joined Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the announcement ceremony and said he was honored and humbled by the president's appointment. "It will be a distinct privilege to be an advocate for America's values and interests at the U.N. and, in the words of the U.N. charter, to help maintain international peace and security," he said.

Bush said that Bolton's nomination had been supported by a majority of the Senate but that "partisan delaying tactics by a handful of senators" had denied the nominee the job.

Bush had refused to give up on Bolton even though the Senate had voted twice to sustain a filibuster against his nominee. Democrats and some Republicans had raised questions about Bolton's fitness for the job, particularly in view of his harsh criticism of the United Nations.

[NormsRevenge]

Kofi seemed so somber to me,, so vey somber

There's a new marshall in town. This should make for some fun fireworks.

[longtermmemmory]

FNC had weasely clerk on. He was using the same language of the DNC.

The media is DESPERATE to conceal the fact this was 100% constitutional.

They magically forgot how many times clinton "circumvented"

[cousair]

Here Here, Wil H...you hit it right on the head. Gasbag Kennedy was the first one out of the bag to throw cold water on the Ambassador's appointment. I hope all of the do nothing abstructionists DNC libs eat crow a dozen different ways when Bolton starts taking names and kicking A..!!

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

President George W. Bush visits with people outside Lambeau Field in Green Bay on Saturday Oct. 30, 2004.

[AGreatPer]

The look on Bush's face was priceless as he made the announcement. He should have said, "Take that you obstructionists".

[NormsRevenge]

This is hilarious,,

the dem leadership and critics are spouting a lot of bluster but don't have a legal leg to stand on, much less a moral one.

[oldbill]

Can't happen - Constitution requires ticket to be from different states. But Hillary is skilled at running in places where she wasn't a resident.

[NormsRevenge]

LOL. The media obstructionist partisan wing of the dems is deeply saddened. :)

-------

New title for article on AP (at Yahoo)


Bush Appoints Bolton As U.N. Ambassador

[oldbill]

"Uh, when does the Senate decide to vote to sustain a filibuster??"

When they vote to not invoke cloture.

[oldbill]

"When they vote to not invoke cloture."

Sorry, I spilt an infinitive there. I promise to not do that again.

[day10]

Is Voinovich crying again?

[deport]

I think you are right. At least he came up for a vote, which Bolton did not.

---

Lee never received an up/down vote in the Senate.... Hatch kept him bottled up in Committee but it made little difference as Lee served in the position with the title of 'acting' Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. He was first nominated on July 21, 1997 and Clinton recess appointed him on Aug. 3, 2000 which in effect removed the 'acting' from his title for the remained of his tenure which ended in Jan. 2001 with the new Congress.

[Clock King]

She has that cult of personality (or is that cult of lack of personality, I don't know which) thing going on. Vast mobs of useful idiots who think she can usher in sort of feminist utopia.

[rod1]

Exactly, Clinton used recess appointment so often they probably lost count. I feel certain they never used such a inherently derogatory headline when Bubba made them.

[NormsRevenge]

Text of Remarks at Bolton's Appointment By The Associated Press


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050801/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_bolton_text;_ylt=Ajubza.ZgiJcUVxMRAD3ScuyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl



President Bush's remarks Monday in naming John Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations through a recess appointment, as transcribed by the White House:

__

BUSH: Nearly five months ago, I nominated John Bolton to be America's Ambassador to the United Nations. I chose John because of his vast experience in foreign policy, his integrity and his willingness to confront difficult problems head-on. I told the nation that John Bolton would provide clear American leadership for reform at the United Nations. I told them that he would insist upon results.

The United States Senate held thorough confirmation hearings, and a majority of United States senators agree that he is the right man for the job. Yet, because of partisan delaying tactics by a handful of senators, John was unfairly denied the up or down vote that he deserves.

As a result, America has now gone more than six months without a permanent ambassador to the United Nations. This post is too important to leave vacant any longer, especially during a war and a vital debate about U.N. reform. So today I've used my constitutional authority to appoint John Bolton to serve as America's ambassador to the United Nations. John Bolton will be an important member of my State Department team, led by Condoleezza Rice.

I'm sending Ambassador Bolton to New York with my complete confidence. Ambassador Bolton believes passionately in the goals of the United Nations Charter, to advance peace and liberty and human rights. His mission is now to help the U.N. reform itself to renew its founding promises for the 21st century. He will speak for me on critical issues facing the international community. And he'll make it clear that America values the potential of the United Nations to be a source of hope and dignity and peace.

As he embarks on his new assignment, Ambassador Bolton will bring tremendous wisdom and expertise. Over the past two decades, John Bolton has been one of America's most talented and successful diplomats. He's been a tireless defender of our nation's values, and a persuasive advocate for freedom and peace. As a senior leader at the State Department in the 1980s and 1990s, he brought people together to achieve meaningful results at the United Nations — from resolving payment issues, to helping rally the coalition in the Persian Gulf War, to repealing a shameful resolution that equated Zionism with racism. And over the past four years as undersecretary of State, he's shown valuable leadership on one of the most urgent challenges of our time: preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

Ambassador Bolton takes up his duties at a time of opportunity for the United States and the United Nations. America and the U.N. are working to spread democracy, relieve hunger and assist the victims of disaster. We've delivered hope to millions suffering from HIV/ AIDS and other deadly diseases. We've helped to lay the groundwork for two landmark events in the history of liberty: the free elections of Afghanistan and Iraq. Ambassador Bolton will work to build on that progress by helping the U.N. continue to find effective new ways to match its good intentions with good results.

As the newest member of America's diplomatic corps, Ambassador Bolton will defend our nation's interests with character and resolve that were instilled early in life. John's father was a firefighter; his mother was a homemaker who took her son to the public library to show him the value of education. I know that Jack and Virginia Bolton would be proud today to see the boy they raised in Baltimore appointed to serve as our permanent representative to the United Nations.

I'm grateful to John's wife, Gretchen, for being here with us and to the entire Bolton family for their service and sacrifice.

Mr. Ambassador, thank you for agreeing to serve your nation once again, and congratulations.

___

BOLTON: Mr. President; Madam Secretary; my wife, Gretchen; our daughter, J.S, in absentia. I'm profoundly honored, indeed, humbled by the confidence that you have shown by appointing me to serve as the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations. You have made your directions for U.S. policy at the United Nations clear, and I am prepared to work tirelessly to carry out the agenda and initiatives that you and Secretary Rice direct.

We seek a stronger, more effective organization, true to the ideals of its founders and agile enough to act in the 21st century. It will be a distinct privilege to be an advocate for America's values and interests at the U.N., and, in the words of the U.N. Charter, to help maintain international peace and security.

My deepest thanks to you both for the opportunity to continue to serve America.

___

THE PRESIDENT: Thanks, John, appreciate you.

All right, thank you all.

[SwatTeam]

You're right about it being offensive.

[McGavin999]

Looks like the author of this (Terry Hunt) is definitely a keeper. Nice, balanced article, facts well presented, looks like old fashioned good reporting to me.

[ElPatriota]

Boy, you have to admire the president for having the "ball*" in the right place! [smile]- I love that he came back with a SC nominee that was not a woman (Not that I have anything against talented conservative women), and also, that was not in the mold of Mrs O'Connor. I heard a moron, someplace in the MSM, "hedging all his chips on a woman." They were so sure, I actually believed it... and guess what.... you've got the love the guy for that.... and now this! - Giving the Dems more of the same... IN THEIR FACE!... You've got it love it!!

[deport]

To put things in perspective regarding recess appointments by the last few Presidents:

Click

• President George W Bush -- 106 includes Bolton
• President Clinton -- 140 over two terms
• President George HW Bush -- 77 over one term
• President Reagan -- 243 over two terms

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

"....even though the Senate had voted twice to sustain a filibuster against his nominee"

Uh, when does the Senate decide to vote to sustain a filibuster??

When the media wants to give the impression to the less comprehending that a majority were against the nominee.