The prospect of a recess appointment for John Bolton has loomed ever since a second cloture vote on the nomination failed last week. Now, as Congress approaches the July 4 holiday, Senate Democrats have stuck to their pledge to tie up Bolton's nomination until the president acquiesces to bipartisan requests that documents relevant to the nominee be released. But the White House has refused to do so. As it is not apparent that the White House will admit defeat and pull the nominee, George W. Bush may find himself in the unenviable position of being the first president to send an ambassador to the United Nations without the consent of the Senate.

Back in January, not long after Senator Majority Leader Bill Frist committed his caucus to the nuclear option, Senator John Warner came as close as he has yet in taking a side on the filibuster debate now at a rolling boil in the Senate. Not surprisingly, for the seasoned legislator, it came the way of a typically non-declarative comment: “I tend to be a traditionalist, and the right of unlimited debate has been a hallmark of the Senate since its inception. Without question, though, I am strongly opposed to the use of the filibuster to block judicial nominations."