Bolton and Iran

Michael Tomasky

July 01, 2005

Michael Tomasky is the executive editor of the American Prospect. This article appeared originally on the American Prospect Online Edition and appears by permission.

The humiliating—to George W. Bush , and to us, the citizens of the United States—prospect of John Bolton becoming ambassador to the United Nations through a recess appointment is reason enough at this point to oppose the man. Such an appointment would signal contempt for both the constitutional advise-and-consent process and for the UN. And while neither of those may matter to officials of this administration, what should matter to them is the weakness it signals about them —the biggest Republican majority in a Senate in a dog’s age and they still can’t get their man through.

But we have to work under the assumption that Bush will indeed make Bolton a recess appointment. There’s nothing in his character to suggest otherwise. Furthermore, we have to assume that, while Bolton would certainly arrive on First Avenue a damaged package under those circumstances, he will go about asserting his prerogative without timidity. There’s nothing in his character to suggest otherwise.