We really have some odd processes in place, don’t you think? America votes for change — completely up-ends the management team structure — and Bush decides to run one more play (CNN):
With leaders from both parties promising a new bipartisan Washington, Bush began efforts to get two of his most controversial decisions approved before the Democrats take over.
[snip]
Along with Bolton’s nomination, Bush said he would like to move forward on legislation to retroactively authorize the National Security Agency’s domestic surveillance program.
Bush said he would like to see action on both issues before year’s end. The Democratic-controlled Congress begins its term in January.
Talk about a Hail Mary pass.
I think Inez in Iowa or Nancy in North Carolina thought their votes might have an impact sooner rather than later… but hey, that’s just me. Or no — it’s not:
But Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee, who was defeated in this week’s election, said he would block Bolton’s nomination.
[snip]
“The American people have spoken out against the president’s agenda on a number of fronts, and presumably one of those is on foreign policy,” the Rhode Island moderate told The Associated Press.
“And at this late stage in my term, I’m not going to endorse something the American people have spoke out against.”
Amazing. Chafee loses, and actually hears a message in there someplace. Let’s hope he doesn’t doesn’t cash in his chips and leave the room altogether; people like this need to stick around.
Oh! And before you ask: Nope, I’m not bothered in the slightest that this interception gets credited to one of the Red “team”. Bush has tried to score on Bolton many times (WaPo):
For nearly 20 months, President Bush has tried, unsuccessfully, to get Bolton confirmed in a job he has held since August 2005. Bolton then received a recess appointment after not getting enough support in the Senate.
[snip]
Bolton’s nomination, in early spring of 2005, fell apart within weeks. The Senate committee hearings were dominated by heated testimony from former colleagues and several intelligence officials; they described Bolton as a bully who pressured analysts, cherry-picked intelligence and hid information from the secretary of state. The committee did not support the nomination but agreed to send it to the full Senate for consideration.
Several Republicans then joined with Democrats to block a vote on the nomination until the White House turned over documents relating to Bolton’s tenure as undersecretary of state for arms control during Bush’s first term. The White House refused, insisting that Bolton deserved a vote by the full Senate.
Somebody really needs to get a copy of the new playbook over to the White House…