Bolton Gets Recess Appointment

The president has given Bolton a recess appointment to the post of UN ambassador. The guy strikes me as someone unqualified for any position in the government. But, really, who cares? I've seen concerns from Senators and bloggers that such an appointment will undermine Bolton's credibility. Bolton is an ambassador, a representative of the president. Any credibility he has derives from who he represents, not who he is. Bolton, like any ambassador, can do nothing on his own. Anything that gets accomplished there on behalf of the US will be because of Bush's credibility, not Bolton's.

In many ways, ambassadorships are anachronisms of a bygone age, a time when communication was slow and direct contact between governments consequently rare. In an age of telephones, faxes, email, etc., the president can talk to any world leader he wishes whenever he wishes. If not the president, then the secretary of state. Therefore, any ambassadorship is largely a ceremonial position. So, why have Democrats gotten so much up in arms about this nomination? In the end, so what?