Hubris Watch

Bush Appoints Bolton as U.N. Envoy, Bypassing Senate

President Bush bypassed the Senate confirmation process today and appointed John R. Bolton as the new United States ambassador to the United Nations, an organization that Mr. Bolton has been an outspoken critic of in the past.

The appointment, while Congress is in recess, ends for now a months-long standoff between the White House and Senate Democrats who deem Mr. Bolton unfit for the job and have been holding up his confirmation. The president nominated Mr. Bolton for the post in March, saying his tough approach was just what was needed for an organization badly in need of reform.

Although this will damage Bush politically it is no surprise and just a further sign that hubris is what drives the White House. Bush has thumbed his nose at the Senate and the world but no surprise here, no one expects anything else. That's what hubris is all about. Bolton's appointment will mean we will have no UN Ambassador for the next year and a half as the world quit listening to his insane rantings years ago. It will complicate Bush's relationship with the Senate which was already becoming increasingly complicated with even Bill Frist willing to go against the administration. This leaves little doubt that Dick Cheney is still the man in charge as Bolton was Cheney's man.

Update
Jazz has more over at Running Scared