An embarrassing Meet the Press:

Here is some of what was said about Bush's (then likely) nomination of Bolton as United States Ambassador to the United Nations: (excerpted, emp add)

MR. RUSSERT: Kate O'Beirne, let me start with you. The president wants John Bolton to be the ambassador to the United Nations. Congress has been delaying his confirmation. Word is that tomorrow the president will make a recess appointment. What do you hear?

MS. KATE O'BEIRNE: ... ultimately he enjoys the support of both the president and vice president ...

MR. DAVID BRODER: ... it is the president's choice. He is the president's ambassador ...

MR. EUGENE ROBINSON: As David said, Mr. Bolton will be the president's representative. The president has a right to have his representative, even if he's not the one anyone else would choose.

Look, Bush certainly can make the appointment to suit himself, but that doesn't mean that it's the right thing to do. Bolton will be the United States Ambassador to the UN, not the George Bush Ambassador to the UN. For O'Beirne, Broder, and Robinson to say that all that matters is that Bolton is Bush's guy, is absurd. What, is Bush going to nominate somebody he doesn't like? And a question for Robinson: If, as you put it, "The president has a right to have his representative, even if he's not the one anyone else would choose," then why have hearings, why bother with Senate approval, and why do you think the Constitution makes provisions for such approval?

What happened here was O'Beirne set the stage by not mentioning any of Bolton's demerits and instead focused on the "support by the White House. Broder seconds the motion and Robinson actually goes further in that direction!


posted by Quiddity at 8/02/2005 04:23:00 AM