John Kerry's statement on the Bolton recess appointment

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

First response: Kerry says Bolton move 'wrong decision'

Statement by John Kerry on Recess Appointment of John Bolton as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, as sent to RAW STORY.

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/First_response_Kerry_says_Bolton_move_wrong_decis_0801.html

"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."

[Lerkfish]

1. that and a dollar will buy you a gumball.

and not much else.

[blm]

7. And yet some still show concern for the historic record. Go figure.

.

[Lerkfish]

11. pardon?

My point is, that his faint objections at this point accomplishes nothing.
Or perhaps you know differently?

do tell.

(edited to characterize the objection)

[Mass]

12. Of course, it does not - so what

They have objected before again and again. What more could they have done on this subject?

[Lerkfish]

14. So, you agree with me, then.

there's nothing they can or will do.

yep. That's what I'm saying.

perhaps they could have refused to compromise on filibuster?

maybe that would have at least been a right thing to do?

[Mass]

15. Well, they did not

This is why we have a recess appointment. Because they refused to compromise on filibustering Bolton.

2 filibusters on Bolton were won in the Senate. Frist refused to try a third time and Bush decided for a recess appointment.

[Lerkfish]

18. thanks for the info.

[blm]

16. And my point is obvious - historic record ALWAYS matters, even when it

might not produce the immediate gratification we all want.

It's important to get objections on the congressional and historic record for future generations studying these times.

[Lerkfish]

17. well, then, simply make your point, no need to be snarky.

if you had made that point, we could have discussed it.

now, not so much.

[Catrina]

2. I disagree

that the 'president has the right' to make such an appointment. He has been given the trust of the American people to make appointments and the tools to make appointments that are in their best interests. He has NO right to appoint a person whose very character is in question and whose possible involvement in a crime raises questions that have yet to be answered. Those questions could have been answered had the president or his SOS released the documents requested by the Senate Committee.

No president has the right to appoint anyone who may be a detriment to the best interests of the people of the US. He has MEANS to do so, but not the RIGHT! I really hate the way they mince words!

[Mass]

9. He has the right - He is just wrong doing it.

You are mincing words as much as they do.

[Catrina]

26. You're saying

a president has the right to make an appointment that is potentially detrimental to the American people? I disagree.

Some things go without saying, you would think? The president's right to appoint people may not have attached to it a proviso that says 'unless that appointment may harm the US'. Perhaps it does need to be spelled out.

However, since it isn't, imo, it is then the duty of those who represent the people to strongly point out that it is the obligation of a president not to abuse the powers he has been given. There is no right to 'abuse of power' which this nomination clearly is.

The rightwing will point to Kerry's statement when defending Bush's appointment, and say 'see even Kerry admits his right to appoint whoever he wishes'. I expect to hear it from my rightwing acquaintances before the day is over. I guess I like the people's representatives to speak forcefull, especially when dealing with these thugs.

Dean called it an 'abuse of power'. That's calling it what it is. Strong condemnation was in order, imo ~ but maybe you don't think so.

[Mass]

28. Forget it.

I think what I want and do not like being second-guessed.

BTW, he has the right. It is too bad that the constitution says so. He should use this right with intelligence and wisdom, or course, but...

Anyway, Bolton's appointment should be condemned on the merits even more than on the notion of recess appointment (except of course if you believe he was qualified). Sadly, few have done that.

[shifting_sands]

3. Bolton

Legally and Constitutionally a President has the right to by pass Congress and make a recess appointments. Most Presidents don't because of the potential political fall out but Bush has no potential political fall out coming his way. The GOP has the all the "political fronts" sown up, including media and judicial. They do what they want now including defying the courts and democrats in Congress. We will have to count on enough people in the US to began to understand what is happening and stop listening to Fox, Limbaugh, O'Rilley etc and hit them where it hurts, in the pocketbook. WE have to keep demanding honest elections and back that up with action or we will not get out of this mess.

Anyway, Kerry is saying Bush has the legal and constitutional authority to make this appointment or any recess appointment.

[Southsideirish]

4. "Wrong decision????" Yikes!! Them's powerful words!! (sarcasm)

[napi21]

5. Well, the Senate & House could have stopped this!

They didn't HAVE to go on vacation now, did they?

I know I've had to cancel mine on several occasions when some important thing came up at work!

No recess, NO APPOINTMENT!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

6. Oh come on, they deserve a vacation

When else are they going to spend the raises they give themselves?

[Mass]

10. Sure, Delay and Frist would have done that!

Reid and Pelosi have NO power to decide an extraordinary session. Did you really expect Frist and Delay/Hastert to do so?

[Totally Committed]

8. This is said completely putting aside my personal feelings

about Kerry. I promise you I would say this about this statement, no matter who said it. I promise.

What the f*ck keeps Democrats from just telling it like it is FORCEFULLY, and "politeness", be damned? Why isn't this a statement railing against the President's leap-frogging his right to advise and consent? Why isn't this a statement with some force, some strength, some moral courage behing it?

And I am not saying that because it's Kerry. I think this is how about 75% od all Democrats would have responded. And, I am left sitting here and asking myself WHY.

Something needs to change or we will continue to be nothing but a joke as a Party. WHY ARE WE SUCH WUSSES???????????

Weak as dishwater!

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

19. Skull & Bones? Taking one for the team? Who the hell knows.

I don't know. I've stopped trying to figure it out. To say that "he has the right to do it but it's wrong" doesn't exactly move us forward in leaps and bounds.

My personal feeling about this (also putting aside any personal feelings for Kerry) is that he probably would have accomplished just as much by saying nothing at all.

[Mass]

23. Bye.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

25. Oh, Dear God...I've been put on someone's "ignore" filter...

...because they didn't like what I said. Say it isn't so! DEAR GOD, PLEASE...SAY that I won't be ignored! It would be too much for me to handle.

I don't know how I'll carry on from this point, but somehow...some way...I WILL find a way.

:patriot:

PS: I was asking a question, not making a definitive statement. But that doesn't really matter, does it? We've had our dramatic moment, so it's time to move on. Nothing to see here, folks.

BYE to you too, Mass!

:toast:

[emulatorloo]

24. uh huh huh huh, he said "Boner. . . ."

[Mass]

22. This is less than overwhelming, but this is still better than nothing...

Even strong statements like Kennedy's will accomplish nothing.

He tried hard when it was time to do something, before the hearings. It went nowhere. These statements are just a way to make a statement of opposition, nothing else. They are essentially not important.

[Catrina]

29. I couldn't agree more

He could have said 'this president has just made another disastrous decision for this country'. It could have been a sort of 'there he goes again' Reagan moment.

I don't know either why they feel the need to be polite to this bunch of thugs. The right still hates them anyway ~ and they miss the opportunity to use the face time to let the public know, in this case, that Bolton lied to Congress and that he has some serious questions to answer regarding his role in a leak that has compromised our national security.

There was no need to even mention 'his right' to make appointments.

Since I don't believe he was elected, I reject the notion that he has any presidential 'rights' at all. I thought Kerry had questions about his legitimacy also.

[ginnyinWI]

13. * is holding to his own standard of incompetence

Another day, another screw-up. Every Democrat in gov't. needs to stand up and get on record calling him on it.

The world is watching and knows that * is responsible for our policies. They follow our politics closely, and are rightly blaming * for it all. They know about and believe we had election fraud in our last election. The rest of the world is 85% blue and is waiting along with us to see the end of this administration.
Bolton is going to be the lamest ambassador ever, given the recess appointment and *'s unpopularity. I don't think he's going to be able to do much with them--they'll be laughing behind his back. There will be foot-dragging and obfuscation, waiting for the day that all of us here are--the end of bush-rule. The chimp is just doing this because he hates to be told "no", America be damned.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

20. Wouldn't it be great if every Democrat who was interviewed

today would just make that one statement..."Another day, another screwup." Instead of all the miscellaneous blah, blah, blah, this line would carry to the ears of all of the american public and maybe become a mantra.

[jean]

21. casts a different take on Kofi Annan saying he looks forward to working

with Bolton. Hopefully Annan means he's going to use his status to screw Bolton over at every opportunity.

[Imagevision]

27. Let us observe Bolton assist in raising Bush's sinking numbers

I say great! now let's just get on with the work of Bolton playing UN. Ambassador, I wonder who the first few to be "replaced" will be before another attack is made good in the US.