Bolton resigns as U.N. ambassador

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

BAD move.  If I were Bush, I'd say, "Appoint him, or no UN ambassador."
Bolton resigns as U.N. ambassador 

By Bebeto Matthews, AP
President Bush, in a statement, said he was "deeply disappointed that a handful of United States senators prevented Ambassador Bolton from receiving the up or down vote he deserved in the Senate."


By staff and wire reports
Unable to win Senate confirmation, U.N. Ambassador John Bolton will step down when his recess appointment expires soon, the White House announced this morning.
"It is with deep regret that I accept John Bolton's decision to end his service in the administration as Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations when his commission expires," President Bush said this morning in a statement issued by the White House.

Bush gave Bolton the job temporarily in August 2005, while Congress was in recess. That appointment will expire when Congress adjourns, no later than January.

Bolton's nomination has languished in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for more than a year, blocked by Democrats and several Republicans. The White House resubmitted Bolton's nomination in mid-November.

BOLTON RESIGNS: Your thoughts? | Video

In the statement, Bush said he was "deeply disappointed that a handful of United States Senators prevented Ambassador Bolton from receiving the up or down vote he deserved in the Senate. They chose to obstruct his confirmation, even though he enjoys majority support in the Senate, and even though their tactics will disrupt our diplomatic work at a sensitive and important time.

"This stubborn obstructionism ill serves our country, and discourages men and women of talent from serving their nation," Bush said in the statement.

Bolton's decision came only weeks after White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten said the administration did not plan to back down from a fight to win Senate approval for him.

Bush planned to meet with Bolton and his wife later today in the Oval Office.

In mid-November, White House Counselor Dan Bartlett said Bolton has done a remarkable job. "He's proven the critics wrong on all the charges they've leveled against him," Bartlett said. "So let's have a conversation about it. We'll see."

But just after the midterm election in November, the Senate's top Democrat said lawmakers have more pressing matters to deal with during the post-election session this week. "I think we should go to things that we can work together on," said Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Finding a replacement for Bolton would come at a sensitive time for the Bush administration. It is counting heavily on U.N. diplomacy to help confront North Korea and Iran over their nuclear programs and to end fighting in Sudan's Darfur region.

With Democrats capturing control of the next Congress, Bolton's chances of winning confirmation appeared slim at best. In early November, the incoming chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Democratic Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, said he saw "no point in considering Mr. Bolton's nomination again."

Democrats say Bush should alter course now and nominate someone less hard-charging, with greater finesse in handling sensitive diplomatic matters.

"There's a lot of competent people. Send someone new up, Mr. President," Biden said in mid-November. "He doesn't even have the votes in the committee. He doesn't even have the votes of a Republican-controlled committee today."

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

BAD move.  If I were Bush, I'd say, "Appoint him, or no UN ambassador."

Fair enough that you think it's a bad move, but Bush saying that would be an even worse move.

There is speculation that Lieberman could be a replacement, I wonder how that could play out.

I never said I thought that was a good move, just what I'd do.