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August 1, 2005
Is Bolton Nomination a Gain or Loss?
I don't think that Bush scored any points with his recess appointment of John Bolton to the United Nations. Given the problems he has had over the past month or two it seems that this is only going to inflame tensions with his critics and push a few more fence sitters to the opposing camp. The recent revelations that Bolton forgot about testifying before the State Department Inspector General did not help his cause, either with the public or Congress. How do you forget an interview with the Inspector General of the State Department? Especially just a couple or years ago. I don't want to be partisan, but that is not credible.
Bush got what he wanted with the appointment, but one certainly has to consider the additional damage to his political standing with the public. Will it matter? Is this conjecture? Republicans probably think that it is just a case of political posturing by the Democrats. They would be against any Bush appointment. But what about all the people in the middle? Forgetting that interview isn't good. When this is added to the distrust regarding the start of the Iraq war, Plamegate, the refusal to release documents for John Roberts, and the sizeable giveaways in the recent Energy bill, it just might make a significant difference.
Posted by Chip Spear at August 1, 2005 1:49 PM
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