Refresher Course on Recess Appointments

I guess that it wasn’t much of a surprise that President Bush didn’t waste any time giving John Bolton a recess appointment as US Ambassador to the United Nations today—the first day of the Senate’s “summer recess.”

Likewise, it also wasn’t much of a surprise that the Democrats wasted no time criticizing the appointment:

"At a time when we need to reassert our diplomatic power in the world, President Bush has decided to send a seriously flawed and weakened candidate to the United Nations. It's an unnecessary result, and the latest abuse of power by the Bush White House. ... Bolton arrives at the United Nations with a cloud hanging over his head." — Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev."

"The abuse of power and the cloak of secrecy from the White House continues. ... It's a devious maneuver that evades the constitutional requirement of Senate consent and only further darkens the cloud over Mr. Bolton's credibility at the U.N." — Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass."

"It's sad that even while the president preaches democracy around the world, he bends the rules and circumvents the will of Congress in appointing our representative to the United Nations." — Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, D-N.J."

For your reference, Article II, Section 2, Clauses 2 and 3 of the US Constitution expressedly gives the president the power to appoint Ambassadors with the advice and consent of THE MAJORITY (not 66% or even 60%) of the senate:

“Clause 2: He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

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."

If the Senate Democrats had done their job and allowed Bolton an up or down vote, he would have been approved in February by a 54-46 margin, at worst 51-49. Instead they chose to filibuster the process, demanding 60 votes to end debate, although the constitution expressedly says a simple majority of 51 votes should end debate.

Kennedy and Reid, along with Pelosi, Kerry, and most of the Democratic leadership still refuse to accept that the American voters have chosen President Bush twice as president and elected a Republican House and Senate…

The Democrats lost, and they just can’t get it through their stupid thick heads.