Senate Back In Session; Bolton Still Unemployed

Yesterday, July 8th, marked the end of
the US Senate's July 4th recess, the first recess following the Democrats' successful filibuster of John Bolton's nomination to the UN. The recess offered Bush an opportunity to slip Bolton in, using the constitutionally protected "recess appointment" -- where Bush can place someone in office if the opening happens while the Senate is in recess, thus sidestepping their "Advise and Consent Power". While the wording of the constitution there implies that the appointment can only be made if the vacancy occurs while the Senate is not in session, this apparently has always been interpreted by both the Seante and the President to apply to any nomination which is open at all during a Senate recess -- thus, giving the President some leeway in forcing an appointment through. The appointment is effective only until the next elected congress takes their positions (January 2007 for the present group), so Bolton would have to stand down with a year to go in the Bush Presidency -- but, nonetheless, that's a good 1.5 years of uninterrupted Bolton in the UN, instead of 2.5 years. Like he couldn't get done in 1.5 years what he wants to do in 2.5?

But, Bush didn't do it. He's let Bolton's nomination languish, even through a recess. So what's the plan here, fellas? We going to put someone in at the UN, or are we going to let this nomination fiasco hang out? Seems to me keeping the wound festering only hurts the Bushies, and helps the Dems -- a constant reminder of Bush's arrogance of position, and his poor judgement in picking subordinates.