1115.org

When seven Republicans joined seven Democrats earlier this week to create a compromise on judicial nominations and filibuster use, another layer of intrigue was added to the debate over John Bolton’s nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. The nature of such compromise agreements are usually less clear than they appear on paper, owing to political repercussions and the balance of power.

Hearing the 14 Senators’ comments in the wake of the announcement made it obvious that there was more substance involved and that only time would reveal how much more. With a major push to get Bolton confirmed before the Memorial Day recess, observers were split over the deal’s effects. Even loyal Republicans are visibly uncomfortable with Bolton, so a deal throwing him over the edge wouldn’t be unheard of. Then again it’s even more likely that Democrats would let him be approved as they have already wounded him, and unlike the judicial nominations that are for life, Bolton would only serve as long as he was wanted.

Since Bolton’s hearings began in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), there have been many revelations about Bolton’s conduct, including trying to have people who didn’t share his outlook fired, giving inflammatory speeches without proper clearance from the State Department, harassment of subordinates, and the use of classified National Security Agency surveillance against other government employees. After trying for weeks to convince the administration and State Department to turn over the surveillance intercepts in order to get a better picture of what Bolton was up to, the SFRC capitulated and sent Bolton’s nomination to the full Senate without recommendation.

Some Senate Democrats attempted to hold up a vote on Bolton until they received the requested documents from the administration, but those holds were disposed of by procedural means. With the Memorial Day recess quickly approaching, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist decided to push a vote late on Thursday. He called for a cloture vote and needed 60 Senators to cut off debate and bring a vote on the nomination. In the wake of the judicial compromise on Monday, many Democrats were hesitant to be seen as filibustering Bolton, but that’s exactly what happened. The final vote saw Frist fall four votes short, 56-42.

Watching Fox News during the cloture vote was a rare pleasure. Clearly they expected cloture and then a quick approval. The whining that followed Frist’s latest failure was world class, if not exactly “fair and balanced.” But the real highlight was watching Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid speaking on the floor after the vote. He made sure to publicly thank Frist for delaying the vote, a beautiful tactic that at the same time made Frist look weak and Reid look magnanimous.

Democrats won’t get the NSA documents they seek, but they have turned an inevitable confirmation into one filled with good questions that have gone unanswered, and proven beyond a doubt that John Bolton is not the best man for the job for which he has been nominated. The Senate has a responsibility to carefully consider Bolton’s record, and to allow the administration to stall or ignore their request weakens the Senate as a whole.

With the Memorial Day recess upon us, don’t be surprised by any Bush recess appointments. Maybe Bolton, but more likely one or more of the judges not guaranteed a vote by Monday’s compromise.

Have a great holiday weekend, and we’ll be back on Tuesday.