Not worth the trouble

CNN is reporting that President Bush will make John Bolton UN ambassador by using a recess appointment.

Monday, August 1, 2005; Posted: 9:29 a.m. EDT (13:29 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush will use a recess appointment to install John Bolton temporarily as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, White House officials said Monday.

Such a move would thwart Senate Democrats who have blocked Bolton's nomination in a dispute over documents amid accusations that Bolton doesn't have the temperament for the nation's top U.N. post.

Bush plans to make the announcement at the White House at 10 a.m. ET.

Under the Constitution, the president has the power to make appointments without Senate confirmation when Congress goes into recess. Lawmakers began their current break on Friday.

A recess appointment would put Bolton at the United Nations until at least January 2007.

I agree with James Joyner over at OTB, nominating Bolton in this way is only going to anger Senate Democrats over a position that isn't worth this expenditure of political capital. President Bush's loyalty sometimes overrides common sense, and I think this is a perfect example.