Bolton to Resign

Bummer.

Unable to win Senate confirmation, U.N. Ambassador John Bolton will step down when his temporary appointment expires within weeks, the White House said Monday.

Bolton's nomination has languished in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for more than a year, blocked by Democrats and several Republicans. Sen. Lincoln Chafee, a moderate Republican who lost in the midterm elections Nov. 7 that swept Democrats to power in both houses of Congress, was adamantly opposed to Bolton.

Critics have questioned Bolton's brusque style and whether he could be an effective bureaucrat who could force reform at the U.N.

President Bush gave Bolton the job temporarily in August 2005, while Congress was in recess. Under that process, the appointment expires when Congress formally adjourns, no later than early January.

Here's an idea.

Don't fill the seat.

Let it languish empty.

Make the Democrats beg for a nomination.

Then send Bolton.

In anycase, what will the difference between an empty American seat and a filled American seat be? The UN is a mess and no one is serious about anything over there.

John Miller says how 'bout Rick?

How about Rick Santorum for the UN job? Yeah, there'd probably be a confirmation fight. And he may want to take a breather after 16 years in elected office. But it's worth thinking over.

That's a great idea.

On foreign policy, he's like Bolton without the mustache.

Surely the Senator can cash in some of his bi-partisan chips.

United Nations Posted by AlexC at December 4, 2006 10:22 AM