**Scroll for Update**
You know, if the president is so desperate to make the Dems happy, why doesn’t he just resign and then apply to be Pelosi’s personal interior decorator?
Initially, I chose to ignore the buzz going around because John Bolton is one of the very few people in the Bush administration who understand the enemy, the war, and the problems with the UN.
I now have to face the possibility that Bolton may be tossed overboard because the president did not mention him in his press conference just a moment ago. President Bush issued a list of things he wants the current congress to pass before the changeover at the end of the year. Confirming Bolton was not among them.
Remember, Bolton was a recess appointment which will expire in December, the end of the current congress. The reason Bolton had to be a recess appointment is because the Republicans in the Senate couldn’t manage enough support for the nom (despite being the majority), forcing the recess appointment.
This has been my point at least about the past Senate Republican “majority”–even when it came to Bolton, an imperative appointment, they wouldn’t do it.
One of the last Republican senators to put the kabosh on Bolton was Lincoln Chaffee who also got the boot Tuesday. Is the president not insisting on Bolton’s confirmation because he still thinks he doesn’t have the Republican support? Now with nothing to lose, one would think those in the Senate on their way out might find some cajones to do the right thing for once. Apparently not.
The only other possibility is that Bush is planning even more cabinet shakeups and wants Bolton for something other than the UN.
If not, then the next headline you will read here will be BOLTON FOR PRESIDENT IN 08.
UPDATE: 11:30am PT:
A Reader Anthony has posted this in Comments:
Over at The Corner, Byron York quotes a WH press release stating that Bolton’s nomination will be resubmitted.
As Byron notes, this will be interesting. If accurate, it indicates Bolton wants to stay, which was one of my considerations–maybe he wanted out. It also says that the president thinks the fired Republicans, like Lincoln Chaffeee, may now be able to do the right thing since they have nothing to lose. Another good reason why someone like him was fired.
Or, worse case scenario, the president doesn’t have the courage to pull the nom, so he’s putting the Senate Repubs on the spot. Maybe this is just me, but I don’t think he’d resubmit Bolton unless he knows what would happen.
I agree that it would have been nice if the Republican “majority” would have acted like one. Maybe Bush should just save us the anguish and recall Bolton and nominate Bill Clinton to the UN.
There is a lesson here for the Republicans. Watch how the Democrats use their majority, I’ll bet they don’t have any concerns about wielding the power of the majority (espescially when the President veto record is so weak).
I think Bush might be scared about the supposed impeachment over the war, if the Dems gained majority, which they now have. I think Bush is bending over backward (or forward?) to appease the Dems. Too bad, and I hope I am wrong.
I like Bolton at the UN, (but I wouldn’t mind if he got put in a bigger position by Bush).
In my state of Ohio, I don’t mind that Senator DeWine (“R”) lost, though it did surprise me. With his “Gang of Fourteen” siding AGAINST the Republicans’ judicial nominees, DeWine selfishly courted the media at the expense of sapping Republican power while we had the majority and the chance to actually get things done–now squandered. And look where it got DeWine on Election Day–unemployed! DeWine was one of the worst examples of a nominal Republican who would consistently side AGAINST the GOP conservatives.
My prayer is for a strong conservative Republican to displace Sherrod Brown (D), in six years. Only then will the DeWine (“R”) ousting have been worth it.
Tammy mentioned Lincoln Chafee as a Bolton backstabber. But I thinkGeorge Voinovich is even worse. He could have helped Bolton, and even admitted later that Bolton was a good choice. He’s more culpable than Chaffee.
Here’s Voinovich’s ignorance on display
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/07/25/voinovich-bolton/
Tammy … I love you, but lay off Ed Bradley. The media is slobbering over him, and we understand that it’s over the top. But please … he’s still a guy with a family and he died.
You’re better than that.
Thanks
What I had feared seems to have come upon us. I’m sorry to say I think Bush will cave to the Dems. I really think he is more comfortable with them than he ever was with conservative Repubs.
Bolton is probably a goner… crimeny!
I LOVE John Bolton. I think he has done a great job in the U.N.(much to the dismay of the Dems I’m sure). When he speaks it rings true to me. He’s not flashy, doesn’t spout the usual catch phrases and isn’t trying to pretend he is something that he’s not. Smart, tough, fair and genuine. I will be extremely disappointed if the President abandons Bolton. For the next 2 years I want the President to throw caution to the wind, be bold, listen to Tammy Bruce regularly 🙂 and do what is truly best for this country. What does he have to lose?
Over at The Corner, Byron York quotes a WH press release stating that Bolton’s nomination will be resubmitted.
Hold on. According to Reuters (via Drudge) Bush will renominate Bolton. http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyid=2006-11-09T175735Z_01_N09197072_RTRUKOC_0_US-USA-UN-BOLTON.xml&src=rss&rpc=22
I understand being upset by the loss of Donald Rumsfeld but lets not get carried away. He is still the President who values loyalty. We may not like everything he does but we should still have some confidence in him to do the right thing, especially when it comes to those loyal to him.
Like I’ve said before,President Bush is now a LAME DUCK president,so he will have to work with the Dems in ways he would rather not. I truly believe that he would have let Rumsfeld stay on for two more years,IF his party had retained the majority in at least the Senate. But now,with the balance of power being what it is,Bolton would have a rough time being confirmed.
He’d be lucky just making it out of committee! And as I have said before,the not-so-far-fetched possibility of impeachment has to play on his mind. And even though it would be difficult for the Dems to pull it off because of their relatively small margins in both chambers,if they can convince enough moderate Republicans that the President is ignoring the American people by continuing in his old ways(i.e staying in Iraq,keeping Bolton and Rumsfeld in his administration,refusing to cave in to the Dems,etc.),well let’s just say that I wouldn’t bet my house on anything involving our government,at this moment.
As Republicans we must face reality. The reality is that Bush is now a lame duck President (with heavy emphasis on lame). The best we can hope for, as Republicans, is complete gridlock and shutdown of government. Does anyone really care who gets nominated to the UN? For all I care Bush can nominate Katie Couric to the UN. It’s a meaningless organization that should be kicked out of New York anyway. If the Democrats don’t want Bolton (I believe they will block the nomination) then nominate someone who will go there and warm a chair, duh. Who cares? The Bolton nomination is a review of coming attractions for Bush, there will be no more conservative Judges approved by the Senate for the next two years and you can take that to the bank and draw interest.