Posted on 11/10/2006 4:26:31 AM PST by excludethis
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- This is probably not what President Bush had in mind when he stressed bipartisanship after the Democratic Party's midterm elections sweep.
A key Senate Republican has joined Democrats in opposing one of Bush's initiatives for the lame-duck Congress: John Bolton's nomination as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
With leaders from both parties promising a new bipartisan Washington, Bush began efforts to get two of his most controversial decisions approved before the Democrats take over.
. . . .
But Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee, who was defeated in this week's election, said he would block Bolton's nomination.
Chafee, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters that he did not believe Bolton's nomination would move forward without his support.
"The American people have spoken out against the president's agenda on a number of fronts, and presumably one of those is on foreign policy," the Rhode Island moderate told The Associated Press.
"And at this late stage in my term, I'm not going to endorse something the American people have spoke out against."
The committee, dominated 10-8 by Republicans, requires a majority vote to send the nomination to the Senate floor. A tie would be the same as a no vote.
. . .
Bolton's appointment will expire in January unless the Senate confirms him, and the probable next chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee says approval is unlikely.
"I see no point in considering Mr. Bolton's nomination again in the Foreign Relations Committee because, regardless of what happens there, he is unlikely to be considered by the full Senate," said Democratic Sen. Joe Biden, who is set to become the committee's chairman and control the agenda in January.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
He's arlready on a recess appointment. That ends when the new Congress is seated. And at that point, you have to wait until the next Congressional recess.
I stopped reading there. A "key" Senate Republican and a "lame-duck" Congress?
Lincoln Chaffee is more "lame duck" than the Republicans in Congress.
"What about a recess appointment?"
No pay for Bolton if he's a recess appt.
While he could be making millions as a top shelf DC attorney.
Bush can't recess appoint Bolton to the post again. But could he leave the position open and recess appoint him to the Asst. Sec. position? Thus leaving him in place? If this is possible, it would send a good message to those who had any doubts about who is running the show.
Given that we'll never get any kind of term limit legislation out of this "grand" body, I have another suggestion: A congressman, regardless of his or her tenure should be eligible for retirement benefits if he or she actually retires. Leaving office via the ballot bax would disqualify them for any bennies whatsoever. This might, in a few cases, give incentive for early retirement to some who are only in it for themselves to begin with. There could be an additional proviso that any former member that goes to work for a lobbying firm would first have to reimburse the taxpayers for every penny in salary they were paid during their terms. I'll not hold my breath.
I gotta' better idea that involves a one-way trip to Long Island Sound... and a joint compound bucket of concrete.
The radically liberal Republican. Hopefully the last of a dead breed.
Snowe and Collins will be difficult. Snowe just won by what 70 percent? She is here until she decides to leave. We are rid of Chaffee, Frist. Hastert will be just a part of a group with no title. McCain is another difficult person to get rid of. I think he is Senator until he decides to leave too. Just my two cents on this.
Back during the Clinton Administration, Bill Lann Lee's nomination was blocked in the Senate but Clinton left him in place as an "acting" Assistant Secretary. Conservatives fumed that this was improper, but it stood and a precedent was set.
I am a great believer in cutting off bad precedents but as a realist I know it doesn't happen unless we enforce reciprocity. If we don't, the dems are perfectly happy to run with a double standard. Perhaps President Bush should follow the Lee precedent, meanwhile sending a note to the new Democratic leadership saying "Here's tit for tat. How do you want to proceed in the future?"
What if we appoint no one to the UN post? Can't we just cut off funding as well? Eff em.
Note to the GOP: Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
He only ran as a Republican to win elections. That's what a RINO is. Once they get elected, voters forget all about them until the next election.
Geeze. Some of the new dem candidates are quite socially conservative. Maybe they're Republicans running as democrats just to win an election. That would be a real blow to the far left, wouldn't it?
Bush needs to let it be made known that if Bolton is not approved, he will pick soemone even worse from their viewpoint next time. This should be done for all positions for which Congress does not provide a reasonable and timely vote. For instance for a Supreme Court vacancy pick someone from the prior short list and if not quickly confirmed then withdraw him/her, pick another and it not quickly confirmed, then put up Bork and if he is not quickly confirmed, then some one even worse from the Dems point of view. It's time to play hardball and demonstrate how obstructionist they are.
Chafee passed despicable a long time ago.
(If I say anything more about the man...I will be banned for my choice of words.)
It's not about perfection. It's about TRUST.
'Rats. RINOs. No dang diff.
Frist.
That Missouri Senator elect said she would vote for Bolton if it comes to a vote. I was amazed by this. I think we have at least three moderate democrats in the Senate...her, Webb, and Tester.
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