The Daily Background

One of the things that I’m wondering about right now (as I suspect many other people are as well), is what the President’s agenda is for the rest of the year with regard to Congress?

The session after elections before a new Congress assumes power in January of the next year is often referred to as the “lame duck” session, because very little traditionally happens. Lawmakers leave for the holidays, leave early, and don’t come back. Often times they also take trips and stuff like that, so schedules make things very difficult to actually get any legislation through.

However, with an outgoing Republican majority, the question is: will the White House and the Republicans try to drive through some last-minute legislation and wrap up a few things before Democrats assume power in January?

All signs point to yes. The only question is, how much will get done? There is word that the White House wants to get some loose ends with regards to the warrant-less wiretapping program worked out (Glenn Greenwald has some more on this aspect), and Tony Snow said today that the President is keen on getting United States Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton officially nominated.

John Bolton (not to be confused with Josh Bolten, White House Chief of Staff), has been an absolute failure with regard to diplomacy. He doesn’t believe the United Nations is an useful organization, and basically despises it and much of the diplomatic principles which it represents.

President Bush made steps to nominate him a year ago, but when it became clear that he would not make it through Senate confirmation hearings (partially due to his strong-anti-UN rhetoric, such as “There is no such thing as the United Nations”) Bush made a recess appointment (essentially giving Bolton the job for 1 year bypassing the Senate). Well, his one-year is up and the question is what will happen to him?

President Bush loves him, and will try to re-re-nominate him again it appears (he was re-nominated earlier this year but it stalled due to Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee’s lack of support). He won’t make it through however, and it seems Bolton is doomed to taking a weaker position next year if the President insists on keeping him without Senate approval. He will likely be unpaid or serve as a lesser position and the US will not have an official UN representative.

It’s unclear, but this appears to be one of the President’s priorities before Democrats take the reigns in January. As I said before, Bolton’s re-re-nomination appears to be dead already, however, as Chafee will still not be supporting him (despite losing his Senate race).

Filed under: Z-TDB Blog