John Bolton: Whether You Want Him or Not
The AP helpfully informs us that Condoleezza Rice is suggesting that Bush may bypass Senate approval for John Bolton, his nominee for ambassador to the UN. Apparently the Democrats are stalling the nomination because the Bush administration isn't providing certain information about Bolton the Democrats think will doom his candidacy. Rice is suggesting, in response, that the administration might just go ahead and nominate Bolton during the July 4th recess, since the president can make temporary appointments during a congressional recess (since they're not in session to advise and consent). Here's what the AP says:
Under the Constitution, a president can make an appointment during a Senate recess without the chamber's approval of the nominee. That appointment lasts only through the next one-year session of Congress — which in this case would mean until January 2007.
Funny, that's not how I read the Constitution. Here's section 2, clause 3:
The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.
Dammit, Team Bush, stop trampling on the Constitution. First, this vacancy happened during a recess? How did the Senate Foreign Relations Committee already approve a nominee for a vacancy that hasn't happened yet? Or, to put it a little less snarkily, how can Bush already make plans to appoint Bolton during the fourth of July recess, when he can only make recess appointments when the vacancy opens up during the recess? This is re-cess-diculous.
Also, I'm not sure this is related, but I don't think Condoleezza Rice is human.
Comments
Did you see the last American Dad, where Karl Rove was portrayed as some sort of cross between the Emperor and Death? I imagine Rice is something like that.
Posted by: Matt | June 21, 2005 8:28 AM
I've given up on this administration caring one bit about the Constitution, our body of caselaw or anything that impedes what they want to do.
One big reason why I really don't like people who voted for and continue to unabashedly support George Bush is that they do understand what his administration is doing. They do understand that they're cherry picking legislation, they do understand that they're taking radical interpretations of everything from domestic law to international law to the Constitution and they are completely fine with it.
I used to think that folks who made comparisons between the popular enabling by German citizens of the National Socialists' policies and behavior during the 1930's and the popular enabling of equally undemocratic policies and behavior by those who support this administration were wackos.
I don't think so any longer...and that's not something I say lightly. These jackals running the show right now are one degree of separation away from the kind of hysterical behavior that killed the Weimar Republic and ushered in the Third Reich...and the people who support them are fine with that.
Posted by: Patrick | June 21, 2005 3:23 PM
One big reason why I really don't like people who voted for and continue to unabashedly support George Bush is that they do understand what his administration is doing. They do understand that they're cherry picking legislation, they do understand that they're taking radical interpretations of everything from domestic law to international law to the Constitution and they are completely fine with it.
I used to think that folks who made comparisons between the popular enabling by German citizens of the National Socialists' policies and behavior during the 1930's and the popular enabling of equally undemocratic policies and behavior by those who support this administration were wackos.
I don't think so any longer...and that's not something I say lightly. These jackals running the show right now are one degree of separation away from the kind of hysterical behavior that killed the Weimar Republic and ushered in the Third Reich...and the people who support them are fine with that.
Posted by: Patrick | June 21, 2005 3:24 PM
Me and my uneducated buddies don't like thinking about things. Thinking is hard. W doesn't make us have to think about things. He tells us what's right and wrong. Maybe if my parents had lots of money and I'd gone to college I too would be able to use rational thought and thus become liberal. Instead I've been out working for a living and ended up appreciating my family and not being blown up by terrorists more than the lessons that 1930s Germany has for us.
Posted by: Average Joe | June 21, 2005 7:33 PM