Frist reverses himself, pushes Bolton vote

Frist said the president did not discuss the possibility of going around the Senate and making a recess appointment while they are on break. That would allow Bolton to take the job without a confirmation vote and serve until early 2007.

Before Frist met with Bush, White House press secretary Scott McClellan had said there had been no talk of withdrawing Bolton's nomination. McClellan continued to refuse to rule out a recess appointment, but said only that the White House was pushing for an up-or-down vote in the Senate.

"It's not that many more that is required to move forward on this nomination," he said.

Asked about Frist's initial comments that he would not schedule another vote on ending Democratic delays, McClellan said, "We'll continue to work with the Senate leadership."

Earlier, McClellan ruled out withdrawing Bolton's nomination and issued a new call for a vote, accusing Democrats of being unwilling to compromise.

Democrats want to check list
Democrats have demanded that the administration check a list of 36 U.S. officials against names in secret national security intercepts that Bolton requested and received. They also want documents related to the preparation of testimony that Bolton planned to deliver — but ultimately never gave — in the House in July 2003 about Syria's weapons capability.

On Monday, Democrats made clear they weren't budging, and most stood together to defeat a GOP effort to force a final vote on Bolton. The Senate voted 54-38, six shy of the total needed to advance his nomination. The vote represented an erosion in support from last month's failed Republican effort to end debate on the nomination.

Biden of Delaware, the lead Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a chief critic of Bolton, said White House Chief Staff Andrew Card had offered to provide some of the Syria information but that "was not sufficient." Rather, Biden said Democrats want the administration to turn over all information they seek.

Recess appointment remains a possibility
At a White House news conference Monday, the president left open the possibility of circumventing the Senate when he sidestepped a question on whether he would appoint Bolton to the ambassador's post when Congress leaves Washington for a July 4 recess.

Some Republicans urged Bush to continue fighting for Bolton rather than appoint him on his own during the upcoming Senate break — a so-called recess appointment — for fear of sending a weakened nominee to the United Nations. "That would not be in our best interest," said Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Such an appointment would only last through the next one-year session of Congress — in Bolton's case until January 2007.

Bush has said that Bolton, with a history of blunt talk and skepticism about the U.N.'s power, would be ideally suited to lead an effort to overhaul the world body's bureaucracy and make it more accountable. Critics say Bolton, who has been accused of mistreating subordinates, would hurt U.S. efforts to work with the United Nations and other countries.

MORE FROM POLITICS

Politics Section Front

Senate Dems near health care agreement   Obama set to extend bank bailout fund General: Bin Laden capture key to U.S. efforts Congress readies huge year-end spending bill Gate-crashers to take the Fifth if subpoenaed Mass. voters pick nominees in Senate primaries Obama outlines bailout for Main Street Lieberman appears open to health bill deal Report: States cut tobacco prevention funds Mayor sorry for Obama 'Peanuts' accusation Politics Section Front   Add Politics headlines to your news reader: