John Bolton is now formally and appropriately addressed as “Ambassador Bolton” because of the right of the executive branch to make recess appointments in the wake of inaction by Congress on presidential nominations.
Bolton never got a confirmation vote in the Senate. And fast forward a few years, neither have a long list of Obama nominees to key government positions received their votes.
So, President Obama has just announced 15 recess appointments that have been tied up an average of 214 days (that is 30 and a half weeks — or about 7 and a half months).
Obama’s list strangely does not include his nominee for Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs, Lael Brainard — whom Senator Chuck Grassley seems to be personally committed to ongoing vetting harrassment.
Here is the roster of folks who soon will get their titles:
Jeffrey Goldstein: Nominee for Under Secretary for Domestic Finance, Department of the Treasury
Michael F. Mundaca: Nominee for Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy, Department of the Treasury
Eric L. Hirschhorn: Nominee for Under Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration and head of the Bureau of Industry and Security, Department of Commerce
Michael Punke: Nominee for Deputy Trade Representative – Geneva, Office of the United States Trade Representative
Francisco “Frank” J. S
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