State Dept. Implying Bolton Needs Confirmation to Continue?
State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack spoke with reporters this morning. You be the judge:
And we have been very well represented by John Bolton in the year that he's been up there. And the President and Secretary Rice fully support his continuing as Perm. Rep. at the United Nations. Now of course, that would require a vote by the Senate and I understand that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee decided to defer until possibly next week a discussion and action on reporting John out to the full Senate if, in fact, that's what they decide to do. We would call upon them to do so, and we would call upon senators to give John a fair up-and-down vote on the floor of the Senate.
(emphasis mine)
Two things. First, based on McCormack's statement, it sounds like the Administration is desperate just to get movement in committee. It sounds like defense. Second, maybe I'm reading too much into this, but McCormack says plainly that "his continuing as Perm. Rep...would require a vote by the Senate."
Unless that's simply a slip of the tongue, that's means no second recess appointment. That would be huge.
More soon. I'm listening to Bolton deliver a VERY un-Chuck-Hagel speech in Hagel's home state of Nebraska.
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