Hillary's Disappointment

August 1, 2005

Statement of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on the Recess Appointment of John Bolton

"I am deeply disappointed by the President’s decision, particularly in light of last week’s admission by Mr. Bolton that he was not entirely truthful on a questionnaire submitted to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Even more disturbing is that this announcement comes on the heels of the Administration’s refusal to turn over documents requested by the Senate during the confirmation process. As we work to build relationships across the globe and reform and strengthen the UN, the UN Ambassador is an important position which deserves Senate confirmation. It is troubling that the President has circumvented the process on a position so critical to our national security and international reputation."

I wonder where the Bolton appointment falls on Hillary's disappointment scale.

How would she compare her currently "deeply disappointed" state with other displeasures in her life? My guess would be that this deep disappointment is really very shallow.

Her statement was crafted to attack Bush, but in a controlled manner--no shrill hysterics. Every word she speaks or writes must pass through the Hillary 2008 presidential filter. She needs to be critical of the Bush administration and Republicans without being Dr. Deanishly loony.

Recently, she has been straddling that fence pretty well. However, with this statement, she failed. Hillary chose to go the loony route rather than attempt to come across as level-headed and reasoned.

She says, "It is troubling that the President has circumvented the process on a position so critical to our national security and international reputation."

Since when is a president's use of his Constitutional authority considered to be circumventing the process?

Hillary is being intentionally misleading by suggesting that Bush has done something slippery and inappropriate by naming Bolton as the U.S. Ambassador to the UN.

She knows that the president can make recess appointments, just like her husband did--140 times!

Hillary is so brilliant. She must know that, right?