Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Recess appointment...Bolton?

I have mentioned before the president's constitutional privilege of making recess appointments. This piece indicates that the president's esteemed candidate for UN ambassador may be appointed during the next Congressional recess.

But an administration source who is close to Bolton said that Bolton is prepared to accept a recess appointment next month unless the administration and Senate Democrats can resolve differences that have held up the confirmation for four months.
"He'll take the recess" appointment, said the administration source, who is familiar with Bolton's thinking. "The president has made his selection, and the president is asking the Senate to confirm the selection, and if the Senate refuses to do that, then most assuredly [Bush] will make a recess appointment."
The president is constitutionally empowered to fill vacancies when the Senate is in recess, and the appointments are effective through the final adjournment of the sitting Congress. The White House took no action during last week's Fourth of July break. The next recess, scheduled to last a month, starts July 30.
There is no indication that Bush has considered withdrawing the nomination and seeking another candidate.

So there we have it. If the Senate seems unwilling to consent, there is more than one way to skin a catfish. I am reminded of Twain's image of the calm confidence of a Christian with four aces.

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