John Bolton Round II
The Senate has another chance to stand up to an appointment of the Bush administration. Republican candidates are trying to distance themselves from poor poll numbers. Now would be a great time to show voters that they are not in lock step with the administration.
A year ago John Bolton was nominated for U.N. ambassador. His record was so inconsistent and undiplomatic that Democrats and key Republican leaders joined together to block the appointment. Bolton’s history of temper tantrums and verbal abuse of those that worked for him prompt Arlen Specter to call him “the poster child of what someone in the diplomatic corps should not be.” By the end of the confirmation process it was clear that the Republican held Senate would not put John Bolton anywhere near representatives of our allies or our enemies. The present international situation demands that we put the most qualified people in place to navigate us through these difficult times.
The President felt that his own will was more important than the consensus of the elected body of the Senate. He waited until they went on summer recess. A Constitutional provision allows him to make emergency appointments if the congress is unavailable. The emergency of course being he wasn’t going to get his way if the Senate were to vote. The recess appointment provision was designed to give the President latitude in times of immediate crisis to put people in key positions while congress was riding back to their home states by horse back. This Constitutional provision the President used was written before the invention of what we now call, the telephone. What immediate crisis Bolton was installed to handle is not known. The same intelligence that was used to justify the invasion of Iraq was likely used to put Bolton on the front lines of our diplomatic efforts.
The Constitution is wise in its structure. Not only does it give Presidents the opportunity to short circuit the democratic process in times of crisis but it also gives opportunities for us to restore the rule of law. Without the advice and consent of the Senate, John Bolton‘s appointment was only temporary. His emergency year is now over. Once again the Senate has a chance to determine if Bush’s choice is the best America has to offer. Republican Senators will be asking tough questions of the man installed behind their backs. It will be a very public opportunity to show their loyalty to the nation and their dedication to the responsibility of balance to presidential power.
A year in the post of U.N. Ambassador has not strengthened Bolton’s position. He was recently caught berating representatives from third world countries. When commenting on negotiations with Iran over their nuclear programs Bolton said, “I don’t do carrots.” The worst fears of Senators have been realized in the performance of John Bolton. Now, for the sake of their country, their party, and the world they must take action. We haven’t seen the excellence in the Bush administration the country would have liked in large part because we have not demanded it. It is time that Senators demand excellence from the appointees the White House sends to the hill. We’ve wasted another year with the administrations stubborn disregard for the seriousness of the moment in history we live. The nation deserves a serious nominee to represent our diplomatic efforts around the world.
A year ago John Bolton was nominated for U.N. ambassador. His record was so inconsistent and undiplomatic that Democrats and key Republican leaders joined together to block the appointment. Bolton’s history of temper tantrums and verbal abuse of those that worked for him prompt Arlen Specter to call him “the poster child of what someone in the diplomatic corps should not be.” By the end of the confirmation process it was clear that the Republican held Senate would not put John Bolton anywhere near representatives of our allies or our enemies. The present international situation demands that we put the most qualified people in place to navigate us through these difficult times.
The President felt that his own will was more important than the consensus of the elected body of the Senate. He waited until they went on summer recess. A Constitutional provision allows him to make emergency appointments if the congress is unavailable. The emergency of course being he wasn’t going to get his way if the Senate were to vote. The recess appointment provision was designed to give the President latitude in times of immediate crisis to put people in key positions while congress was riding back to their home states by horse back. This Constitutional provision the President used was written before the invention of what we now call, the telephone. What immediate crisis Bolton was installed to handle is not known. The same intelligence that was used to justify the invasion of Iraq was likely used to put Bolton on the front lines of our diplomatic efforts.
The Constitution is wise in its structure. Not only does it give Presidents the opportunity to short circuit the democratic process in times of crisis but it also gives opportunities for us to restore the rule of law. Without the advice and consent of the Senate, John Bolton‘s appointment was only temporary. His emergency year is now over. Once again the Senate has a chance to determine if Bush’s choice is the best America has to offer. Republican Senators will be asking tough questions of the man installed behind their backs. It will be a very public opportunity to show their loyalty to the nation and their dedication to the responsibility of balance to presidential power.
A year in the post of U.N. Ambassador has not strengthened Bolton’s position. He was recently caught berating representatives from third world countries. When commenting on negotiations with Iran over their nuclear programs Bolton said, “I don’t do carrots.” The worst fears of Senators have been realized in the performance of John Bolton. Now, for the sake of their country, their party, and the world they must take action. We haven’t seen the excellence in the Bush administration the country would have liked in large part because we have not demanded it. It is time that Senators demand excellence from the appointees the White House sends to the hill. We’ve wasted another year with the administrations stubborn disregard for the seriousness of the moment in history we live. The nation deserves a serious nominee to represent our diplomatic efforts around the world.
posted by kamuizot at 9:32 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home