Monday, August 01, 2005

Bolton To The UN

The President has used the rarely exercised ”recess appointment” power to install John Bolton as the United States’ Ambassador to the United Nations:

“This post is too important to leave vacant any longer, especially during a war and a vital debate about UN reform,” Bush said. He said Bolton had his complete confidence.

Under the Constitution, a recess appointment during the lawmakers’ August break would last until the next session of Congress, which begins in January 2007.

As one might expect the Democrats aren’t too happy with this news. (H/T Smash for the DK link)

Ted Kennedy, who raised himself off his favorite barstool at the local tavern, spewed forth thusly:

“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.”

Abuse of power?  Uhh, well I guess it’s too much to actually think Kennedy uses the Constitution for anything other than a drink coaster, but perhaps he should read Article II, Section 2, Clause 3, which says:

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.

I would accept the whole abuse of power scenario if, you know, an actual abuse of power occured.

And what secrecy?  Correct me if I am wrong here, but did President Bush not name John Bolton as his nominee as US Ambassador to the United Nations several months ago?  And during that time did John Bolton not have a confirmation hearing?  Also, has the White House not talked about the possibility of a recess appointment for weeks?  You know if that’s “secrecy” in Ted’s World I would really like to hear his definition of openness.

John Kerry, not wanting to be left the fuzzy end of the lollipop when it comes to making idiotic statements, had this to say (from the same link):

“The president has the right to make this recess appointment, but it’s the wrong decision. It only diminishes John Bolton’s validity and leverage to secure America’s goals at the U.N. John Bolton has been rejected twice by the Senate to serve as our Ambassador to the United Nations. This is not the way to fill our most important diplomatic jobs."(Emphasis Added)

Uh, does someone wish to point out to Senator John that being denied an up or down vote on his nomination due to obstructionist tactics by Senate Democrats, does not equate to being “rejected twice by the Senate”, or would that be considered rude?

For those who are asking

There was a freak lightning strike in Dallas a few days ago - both striking the same building.

Unfortunately, that building was where the servers for all of JimK’s sites were stored.

The first strike smoked the surge protection (which is, after all, its job), but the second one, just moments later, got to bypass all that expensive protection and fried the servers.

So, if you have been trying to get to any of the following sites:

Right-Thoughts.us
Moorewatch.com
Right-Thinking.com
Paratrooper.us
Unabrewer.com
WastingTimeWithAlex.com
SouthParkConservatives.com

That’s why you haven’t been able to get through.

However, if you want to kick a few bucks down to their “Rebuild The Server(s) fund”, or just want up-to-the-minute information, go here.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled slice of reality.

(Of course, if you want to hang out here, I’m sure no one would mind. Just clean up your messes when you’re done...)

Irony, thy name is … irony

Remember the uproarious laughter that occurred last week after Helen “Medusa” Thomas had threatened to kill herself if Vice President Dick Cheney announced that he would be running for President in 2008?

Well, she’s pissed, because no one was supposed to know about that.

But Thomas said yesterday at the White House that her comments to Eisele were for his ears only. “I’ll never talk to a reporter again!” Thomas was overheard saying.

“I’ll never talk to a reporter again”? The irony, she is dripping…

I still think Cheney should call her bluff, announce he’s gonna run, and every White House press conference after that should be met with the Press Secretary saying, “Helen? You’re still here?”

(h/t to AMCGLTD)