Bush installs Bolton; thumbs nose at Congress.

[Zoe]

Ponder: And let’s face it people, who better than Bolton could represent this administrations interests and attitudes to the UN?

The sad thing is that he is not supposed to represent the Administration. He is supposed to represent the interests of our country.

I wasn’t surprised to find that he had had a lapse in memory about being interrogated by the State Department. That’s the sort of thing that anyone could forget.

John Mace: But I’m pretty sure the American people, as a whole, have a low opinion of the UN.

It hasn’t always been that way. It’s been torn apart by people who have been unable to focus on the word United. Liars and manipulators and bilkers.

It makes me ill to think that this destructive bully will hold the same position once held by Andrew Young and Adlai Stevenson.

Yes, the President had a right to make the recess appointment. That Bolton was his choice reflects poorly upon him.

Bush is going to have very little, if anything, that will redeem his presidency in the history books. At least Nixon had China.

[Zoe]

Mr. Moto:
Which means that large chunk of your OP, that part about presidents listening to Congress - was just bullshit pulled out for the occasion?

You have me a bit confused here. Perhaps you can quantify a bit better how previous presidents have “listened” to Congress. I ponied up some cases and figures showing that your OP was, to my mind, just a bunch of hot air.

Can you not at least agree that it was the intent of the founders of our country that the President turn to Congress for input on weighty matters?

Naturally, a good President is in a position of leadership for a Congress too.

Both parts of the give and take play a role in the balance of power, right?

[monavis]

@rjung

John Bolton is a perfect representative for the Bush 2 presidency: a bombastic bully with the tact of a sledgehammer, appointed to office by clandestine methods without the support of the America people, a bull-headed clod who believes the world community’s only purpose is to rubber-stamp the United States’ demands and who uses “reform” as a euphemism for “destroy.”
Anyone stupid enough to believe this excuse at face val-- oh, hi, Clothahump, didn’t see you there…

I agree with you,the Bush presidency is used as a bully pulpit in many ways. It is sad, but he was elected by the people and now we suffer the consequences of that and will for a long time to come.

Monavis

[Shodan]

@An Arky

There’s a cowboy element that says “we don’t want no damn ferinners telling the By God USA what to do”.

Sure there is, just like there is an element of anti-Semitism in the anti-Israel resolutions and some desire to cscore points in the Third World by defying the US. Reforms ought to be judged on their own merits nonetheless.

@An Arky

And that probably brings cheers from the cheap seats, but the reality is we’ve had better luck reforming/influencing the UN when we’re not withholding/threatening to withhold our payment.

Maybe, although I would need some examples. It would seem to me that the only way to get the attention of some folks is to threaten their lip lock on the public tit.

Regards,
Shodan

[Beware_of_Doug]

@SteveG1

A diplomat should know when to bite his tongue as necessary. Bolton is, shall we say, far too “outspoken” and short tempered (according to the “rumor mill”).

Bolton was not selected to be a diplomat. He was selected to be payback, both to the UN and to those who think the idea of a UN isn’t totally discredited.

Honestly, even putting this guy in for nomination is a big vote of fuck-you to the whole idea of diplomacy. I’d expect no less from an administration that doesn’t want to learn, discuss, or understand about the world, merely to rule it as if ordained by God.

[rjung]

@John Mace

But if you take them seriously, here’s the FoxNews poll: What is your view of recess appointments?

A FoxNews poll that sidesteps the issue? I’d expect nothing less from them.

@Beware of Doug

Honestly, even putting this guy in for nomination is a big vote of fuck-you to the whole idea of diplomacy. I’d expect no less from an administration that doesn’t want to learn, discuss, or understand about the world, merely to rule it as if ordained by God.

To steal a quote from Terry Pratchett, “George W. Bush believes in the idea of ‘one man, one vote’ – he is the man, and he has the vote.”

[monavis]

@Beware of Doug

Bolton was not selected to be a diplomat. He was selected to be payback, both to the UN and to those who think the idea of a UN isn’t totally discredited.

Honestly, even putting this guy in for nomination is a big vote of fuck-you to the whole idea of diplomacy. I’d expect no less from an administration that doesn’t want to learn, discuss, or understand about the world, merely to rule it as if ordained by God.

I doubt that Bolton wil do much for the UN even if he cecomes more diplomatic, we criticize the UN,but a lot of our veto’s have kept it from inforcing a lot of the UN’s resolutions, the same can be said for others on the Security council.

Monavis