AP breaks down Bush's unappetizing smorgasbord of options on John "The Bully-Boy Moustache" Bolton:
Bush could bow to Democratic demands and turn over more material on Bolton. But that would be seen as a stinging concession by the president -- and there's no guarantee Democrats would drop their delaying tactics.
Or Bush could circumvent the process and give Bolton a short-term recess appointment to the post -- as early as the approaching Fourth of July congressional break. This could be the path of least resistance. But while it would let Bush seat
Bolton at the United Nations with the stroke of a pen, he could serve only to January 2007, when the current Congress adjourns.
Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Delaware, a leading Bolton opponent, said Wednesday the president would be making a mistake if he installed Bolton as a recess appointment.
"I think that would be a mistake, but we couldn't stop them," Biden said on NBC's "Today" show. Labeled up front as a short-timer and lacking the backing of the Senate could hamstring Bolton in the eyes of the international community and further polarize Congress.
"You want to send someone there that has the confidence not only of the president but also the Senate," said Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Connecticut, a leading Bolton critic.
Republicans are mindful of this. That's one reason the administration and its allies on Capitol Hill are not mentioning recess appointments -- just yet. Bush and his advisers are taking pains to make sure they don't signal such an intention and further fan partisan fires.
In the tag-team of Biden and Dodd, which one would you say is Batman and which is Robin? Hm... |
