Tuesday, September 26, 2006

John Bolton Confirmation Battle Really, Really Dead

Washington Note reported The last pre-election loophole through which John Bolton's confirmation might have snuck through the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was at 2:15 this afternoon at a previously called "business meeting" of the Committee. That meeting has been cancelled -- and with it even the dimmest chance of John Bolton being confirmed as US Ambassador to the United Nations. Some have said that another effort could be mounted during a lame duck session of Congress, but there are several Republicans who will not feel bound by the White House in that circumstance; Dems as well -- who will vote against cloture on the floor of the Senate were it to get out of Committee then.

That depends on what Bolton does between now and then. The politicians might not fear immediate recall by the voters, but if the voters make it clear they like what he is doing, the politicians would be running a risk to oppose him
So, it's over. Wow. John Bolton might agree to serve as the uncompensated Ambassador to the UN in a second recess appointment, or might agree to serve as a recess appointed political deputy at the UN and made "acting Ambassador and Chief of Mission" at a pay cut.
I wonder if a conservative think tank could hire him as a consultant and still let him serve as Ambassador.
Either way, Ambassador Bolton will fill his term as the only unconfirmed Ambassador at the United Nations in American history.
And yet the best one we have ever had.

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