Breaking: Bolton resigns; Update: George Mitchell on the short list?
posted at 9:34 am on December 4, 2006 by Allahpundit
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Just across at Fox. He’ll stay on until the end of his recess appointment but that’s it. Not a surprise, really.
Bad things happen when you lose your majority.
Standby for updates. While you wait, watch Lou Dobbs’s tribute from a few weeks back.
Update: His recess appointment ends as soon as this session of Congress does, which means he could be out by the end of the week. No more of this, alas:
Update: Interesting:
Although Bush could not give Bolton another recess appointment, the White House was believed to be exploring other ways of keeping him in the job, perhaps by giving him a title other than ambassador. But Bolton informed the White House he intended to leave when his current appointment expires, White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino said.
Update: Happy day at Turtle Bay, huh?
Update: Hotline has the text of Bush’s statement. Quote:
I am 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.
Update: John Miller suggests Santorum as a replacement. It’d be interesting to watch some of the Dems pull their punches out of residual collegiality but they’d never confirm him. The nutroots wouldn’t let them.
Update: Drudge has a hot tip that George Mitchell is on the short list to replace Bolton. There’s nothing about it on the wires. First Rumsfeld is canned, then Mel “Amnesty” Martinez is nominated for RNC chair, and now allegedly he’s thinking of appointing a Democrat to the UN. He’s really embracing this bipartisan thing, huh?
Potential Machiavellian silver lining: maybe Bush has military plans for Iran and wants to trade on the international goodwill Mitchell earned from the Irish peace process when the attack eventually comes.
Update: The Times is using its story on this to mock Bush.
Update: Video of Bush’s press conference with Bolton is here.
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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MikeyB on December 4, 2006 at 9:36 AM
DAMN IT!!!
Troy Rasmussen on December 4, 2006 at 9:38 AM
@#$%!!!
E L Frederick (Sniper One) on December 4, 2006 at 9:40 AM
Everyone knew it was coming, but this is giving me a chill anyway. Very bad news.
forest on December 4, 2006 at 9:41 AM
Maybe he can replace him with Bill Clinton.
reaganaut on December 4, 2006 at 9:42 AM
Ah crap. That guy’s the only good thing about the UN.
Farmer_Joe on December 4, 2006 at 9:43 AM
Were Doomed!, everyday like a disease more and more bad news for our movement. Sadly Bolton just gave in he was the right person for that position..now we’ll see who’s next..my gut is Jimmy (the worst President) Carter…:)
KMA0455 on December 4, 2006 at 9:44 AM
He was most likely the best thing to happen to the UN. What a shame.
mdconservative on December 4, 2006 at 9:45 AM
…why should the man go through the soul-grinding process of confirmation, where he knows that he’ll receive lukewarm support (nowadays, everyone counting on the Bush administration receives lukewarm support)? Why should he have to put up with cackling traitors in the now barely Democrat Senate? Why should he bother? Patriotism? Patriotism for a country which is failing by the numbers?
They’ll probably replace him with a UN apologists, a go-along/get-along guy who’ll slip by the Dems. Kofi will have won, then…getting off scot-free. For all the talk lately about Chavez, Carter, Olbermann, etc. ad nauseum, Annan is a truely evil character: a man *WITHOUT* character in a position of great import and trust.
Sorry to lose that ‘Stache.
Puritan1648 on December 4, 2006 at 9:48 AM
Am I the only one who feels this is the last move that robs America of its greatness? When will we be a “great” country once again? I know this is pessimistic, but I don’t see any light at the end of this dark tunnel.
Darksean on December 4, 2006 at 9:50 AM
Ah crap. Well, at least he’s talking Lincoln Chaffee with him.
Hey, why don’t we replace him with Schwarzkopf? Or Santorum?
Pablo on December 4, 2006 at 9:52 AM
Do not replace Bolton . . . simply let that crooked, worthless organization rot on the vine.
rplat on December 4, 2006 at 9:53 AM
How about Jimmy Carter? He is a perfect fit into the totally useless UN.
Wade on December 4, 2006 at 9:54 AM
A real shame.
WriterMom on December 4, 2006 at 9:55 AM
Maybe when he leaves, he can just turn out the lights at that worthless rat hole… Just dreaming of better things cause I don’t do bad news well on Monday morning.
RalphyBoy on December 4, 2006 at 9:57 AM
What’s going on lately?? Are the Republicans going soft? The Dem’s take Congress, and the entire Bush administration, Bush included, seems to be crumbling down…I hope Dubya isn’t going to pull a “Clinton” and try to go out on a high note…
JetBoy on December 4, 2006 at 10:02 AM
I say he waits until the first recess and just appoint Rumsfeld to the job.
n2sooners on December 4, 2006 at 10:06 AM
I’m beginning we really are gonna have to fight another civil war at some point. Sometimes it feels like what the USSR went through when the wall came down and their failures were apparent to the world and they ceased to be a superpower.
I sincerely hope this does not turn out to be the case. But it’s sure not looking good right now.
Once again I will remind you that Time magazine is seriously thinking about making hugo chavez its person of the year. After all… he spoke at the UN too, didn’t he?
techno_barbarian on December 4, 2006 at 10:06 AM
I’m beginning to think… D’oh! More coffee. Stat!
techno_barbarian on December 4, 2006 at 10:08 AM
Bad things happen when you lose your majority? We HAD a majority and Bill Frist couldn’t manage to get the man confirmed. I’ll not blame Democrats for this fiasco, I’ll blame Republicans for refusing to govern as if they were the majority party.
It does little good to control the Congress if the leadership refuses to exercise that control. Believe me when I say the Dems will never miss an opportunity to rule as the majority, they never stopped.
Jeff Naylor on December 4, 2006 at 10:11 AM
Damn, Damn, Double Damn, HELL!!!!
Ellen on December 4, 2006 at 10:15 AM
I agree with techno-barbarian. It’s starting to get to the point where it’s down to the street. Bolton’s loss is a staggering blow. Now there is no one left at the UN except third world dictators and weak democracies.
Poor Israel has no one to back them up anymore. I hope they start using their nukes on Iran soon…
NeoConSnakePlissken on December 4, 2006 at 10:16 AM
Thank you, Gang of 14. The Senate RINO purge must begin anew in 2008.
Kid from Brooklyn on December 4, 2006 at 10:17 AM
The Republicans held the White House, the Senate and the House. Bush is a wimp!
Hilts on December 4, 2006 at 10:18 AM
Carter’s available, so is Gore.
right2bright on December 4, 2006 at 10:18 AM
I nominate Eric Shawn from Fox News to replace him. Eric was one of the lead investigators in the Oil for Food scandal that was ignored by the entire world.
LakeRuins on December 4, 2006 at 10:18 AM
He was the only voice of reality left in that worthless orginization. It is a sad commentary of our time that people get punnished and slapped down for speaking the truth. In this day and age, perception and feelings matter more than reality. Sad.
jman on December 4, 2006 at 10:22 AM
SHIITE!!!!!
OBX Pete on December 4, 2006 at 10:22 AM
We had the majority and could not get him in. The inept majority is why they are a minority now.
Valiant on December 4, 2006 at 10:26 AM
Bolton was one of the better things the White House has done. Damn dirty shame.
BillLalor on December 4, 2006 at 10:28 AM
At least this frees him up for his Prez run in 08.
;-)
Good Lt on December 4, 2006 at 10:28 AM
We all knew this was coming, but it makes me depressed anyway.
BTW, the USA will not cease to be a superpower. We are a superpower in the world, not because of our government, but in spite of it. We grew economically out of relative obscurity in the 19th century to dominance in the 20th century because we have a society that grows, instead of represses. This is unbeatable. When the Middle East has run out of oil, there will be nothing left. China will rip itself apart because tyrannies can’t survive forever. Any cataclysm that comes (world war, disease, economic depression, etc.), the USA is better equipped to survive than any other nation. But our own governmental perfidy/incompetance/whatever will mean that everyone in the world will pay a high price before order is restored. Like Churchill said, “the Americans will do the right thing, after every other option has been exhausted” (or something to that effect).
urbancenturion on December 4, 2006 at 10:32 AM
And the hits just keep on comin’. The spiral continues. Geez.
Bolton is a revolutionary and a patriot. Let’s hope some Miers-esque replacement doesn’t show up.
CP on December 4, 2006 at 10:33 AM
Claudia Rosett for UN Ambassador.
Slublog on December 4, 2006 at 10:35 AM
Terrible loss of a valuable person.
John Bolton was the type of person badly needed during these times of extreme stress in the UN.
If nominated by president Bush, maybe the democrats would consider approving Jesse Jackson, Jimmy Carter, Ramsey Clark, Wesley Clark. Bill Clinton, or some other do nothing sell out America out flake.
byteshredder on December 4, 2006 at 10:37 AM
I agree. This is a sad day indeed, no doubt our enemies at the U.N. approve.
infidel4life on December 4, 2006 at 10:37 AM
Ross Perot for UN Ambassador.
natesnake on December 4, 2006 at 10:38 AM
I hate to see this man leave.
We will miss you, Mr. Bolton.
Chris L. on December 4, 2006 at 10:41 AM
Do you believe Chavez should have got the rotating security council seat? Do you believe that Bi-lateral negotiation with Kim Jong IL is the only option? Do you believe Iran has a right to nuclear power? Do you believe that Israel should be shelled daily with no retaliation? Do you believe Oil for Food was working? Do you believe U.S. interests are not paramount? If your answers are yes, congress wants you to sell out Uncle Sam at UN.
infidel on December 4, 2006 at 10:42 AM
Everybody calm down. Yes this is bad news, but it’s not the end of the world. Two things:
1) The UN was always anti-American, and Bolton didn’t change that. He was one good man in a swamp, his absence won’t have much effect.
2) Read your history. Republicans and our philosophy (conservatism/libertarianism) is stronger now than ever. The foundational philosophy of the Democrats, socialism, is slowly but inexorably fading away as a proven failure.
Now is not the time to lose hope. Now is the time to fight to the finish.
Jason on December 4, 2006 at 10:42 AM
The sandwich king, Chris Dodd, ought to be thrilled, as is his master, Fidel Castro. That is, if Fidel is actually still breathing.
JammieWearingFool on December 4, 2006 at 10:49 AM
Sad, sad, sad. Bolton is a good man, maybe the best man for the job. But honorable and straightforward don’t sell in the wonderful world of politics, and with Democrats in charge, it’s a dealbreaker. Who needs someone who stands up for America? Send in John F’ing Kerry. He’ll whip those dictators into shape.
byteshredder on December 4, 2006 at 10:51 AM
I’m with you, Jeff Naylor. Bill Frist, as Majority Leader, was so far out of his depth it was stupid. To let “the inmates run the asylum” is not leadership and, now, we’re left without John Bolton. What next???
Aunt B on December 4, 2006 at 10:52 AM
No, it isn’t. We lost fair and square; this is what happens. Tough shit.
I don’t want to hear this garbage again. Not only is it creepy but neither Michelle nor I feel that way — yet we’re the ones who’ll bear the brunt when some nutroots moron like Olbermann sees your comment and exploits it to smear her as having “incited” you to violence.
Take the revenge fantasies to Free Republic, okay? Next time it’s a banning.
Allahpundit on December 4, 2006 at 10:55 AM
Not only did we lose our majority…the real sad thing is that we didn’t use it when we had it…that is the real crime here…we had nobody up on the hill with any backbone. Still don’t.
DoctorDentons on December 4, 2006 at 10:57 AM
I’d like to see things from the Democrats point of view but I can’t seem to get my head that far up my ass.
there it is on December 4, 2006 at 10:58 AM
Noooooooooooo!
Make it stop! When does the spate of anti-Christmas presents end and when do the good ones start coming?
I’ve been good all year.
Thanks a lot, all you demented people who voted Democrat.
Jen the Neocon on December 4, 2006 at 10:59 AM
…suggestion: send a nomination to the Senate of the sort of person *NEEDED* at the UN.
Send a non-person to the UN. Send somebody who won’t stick up for America, won’t even participate in floor debate in the Security Council. Send someone who’ll be given detailed, blanket and rigid instructions to veto *EVERYTHING* except what is explicitly and unquestionably favorable to the US or Israel.
Give him orders, then don’t *EVER* allow him to sit in any further cabinet meetings.
Show the UN what contempt we have for them, how we’ll run our own humanitarian missions when we feel it necessary, thank you very much. Show them that we won’t allow our troops to serve next to, let alone under, UN troops and command. Show them that we don’t give a south-bound rat’s north-facing aspect what the “community of nations” — read, dictators, socialists, socialist dictators, syncophants, idiots, syncophantic dictatorial socialist idiots, etc. — thinks of our actions in the world…particularly, that we have little beyond contempt for the opinions of the other permanent members of the Security Council, save Britain…which seriously needs to clean up its security act.
Send a man from the janitorial staff of the State Department. Find and dispatch the simgle most junior lawyer on the DOS staff.
…or, send John Murtha…not only won’t he be empowered to do anything binding, he’ll look ridiculous doing whatever it is he does….
The US was shackled by communists in the Roosevelt/Truman administrations to a fresh corpse when it was hoodwinked into forming the UN. Throughout its history, it has been an anti-American body, from the days of Soviet ambassadors or Soviet stooges submitting 9 out of 10 initiatives, to today’s list of corruption, outrage, rape and costly inefficiency.
Turn off the spigot and send ‘em a cipher…so’s they’ll know what we think of ‘em.
Puritan1648 on December 4, 2006 at 11:03 AM
Sweet! Now I guess it’s on to some cushy job at Exxon or Bechtel?
GregH on December 4, 2006 at 11:06 AM
This is an unfortunate setback. John Bolton stood up for the USofA when we needed it and put an agenda in proper perspective. The unfortunate part of this is the PC police in Congress who are concerned about our image and how they think we’re viewed outside our borders. Maybe JASON above is correct and ALLAHPUNDIT also. With the Congressional takover, this could play out in a positive way. Hope it does; time will tell.
USN6872 on December 4, 2006 at 11:07 AM
No way, man.
Halliburton. That’s where the sweet, sweet green resides.
Slublog on December 4, 2006 at 11:10 AM
Damn Bush!!!!
Dread Pirate Roberts VI on December 4, 2006 at 11:15 AM
One way to pull down a leader, is to get rid of his strong followers.
Rummy… now Bolton… what we are seeing is the Wimpization of the Bush administration…
Romeo13 on December 4, 2006 at 11:15 AM
…you got a problem with the guy getting a job?
What is it with socialists that any success — other than their own success at ruining and impoverishing others — is distasteful?
I hope that he’s made CEO…of Exxon/Halliburton.
I hope that he spends his signing bonus on veal and a fur coat for the wife.
I hope that he lives to be a hundred…smoking $20 stogies, eating bacon and drinking 100 year-old Napoleon brandy.
I hope that, when it comes time for him to die, he does so in a solid-gold framed bed, surrounded by great-grandkids, all millionaire corporate attorneys and Southern Baptist pastors.
May he live long and p*ss you off at every opportunity.
Puritan1648 on December 4, 2006 at 11:16 AM
Now what impotent fool are the Dems going to offer up as an appeasement to the UN?
ViperPilot on December 4, 2006 at 11:17 AM
Jeff Naylor,
Amen. I hope George Voinovich’s grandchildren are happy, now that it’s America’s turn to cry.
Pablo on December 4, 2006 at 11:20 AM
I am very gratfull for Bolton’s service where he tried but was up against it evry step of the way. I hope he enjoys his retirement and enjoys not having to deal with the ridiculous peopl he has had to deal with these past few months. Biden is such a wizard, let’s see who he thinks can do even half the job as Bolton did for our country. Biden might as well put his name in because he won’t be getting anywhere as the Dem noninee for ‘08.
bones47 on December 4, 2006 at 11:23 AM
Smart money’s on George Mitchell! One more dustbunnie to drag out from under the bed! I am so disgusted.
NEWT NEWT NEWT NEWT
Dread Pirate Roberts VI on December 4, 2006 at 11:25 AM
Newt would be awesome.
CP on December 4, 2006 at 11:27 AM
OK, are you for or against dustbunnies? This wouldn’t exactly be Newt’s first rodeo.
honora on December 4, 2006 at 11:29 AM
There goes our shot at winning the global public relations war. A war we are so sadly losing.
It’s always about political agenda and never about the good of the country. Sometimes, I think I’ve lived too long and I’m only in my 40’s.
The lack of accomplishment by our political leaders is truly criminal. Every Senator and Congress Person should resign. Now that would fix alot of problems.
voiceofreason on December 4, 2006 at 11:30 AM
A damn shame, for all that it was expected. John Bolton is a good, honorable, and patriotic man whose “crimes” were daring to represent American interests and attempting to clean up the cesspool of U.N. corruption. This is just one more reason to pull the U.S. out of that putrid sewer.
ReubenJCogburn on December 4, 2006 at 11:36 AM
Mitchell? Not a chance. He’d never work for the Bush administration.
Now Bill Cohen on the other hand…
Slublog on December 4, 2006 at 11:37 AM
Well maybe it should be Murtha or Alcee, they’re both familiar with deception. They would fit right in.
shooter on December 4, 2006 at 11:41 AM
This is in thanks to all those “angry” conservatives who elected to stay home on election day to make their pathetic little statement. Odds on getting a true conservative Supreme Court judge through????
EEprom on December 4, 2006 at 11:43 AM
From Thomas:
Republicans did this.
Valiant on December 4, 2006 at 11:45 AM
Now, we have a government of goons and moonbats. I’m so angry about this.
Ouabam on December 4, 2006 at 11:53 AM
I hate to see him go, but I’m not sure we deserve people like Bolton any longer.
The voters yanked the rug out from under the GOP this past election, and now the Administration is yanking the rug out from under people like Bolton (And Rumsfeldt).
Rumsfeldt and Bolton are two of the people in positions of power that our enemies really feared. Removing them from their jobs now simply tells our enemies that we are (defacto) giving up the fight.
Lawrence on December 4, 2006 at 11:56 AM
I don’t remember a thread that I enjoyed as much as this memorial for Bolton. Great thoughts all around. Pablo, loved the Santorum and Schwarzkopf ideas, and DPR, love the Newt idea even more. What better way to get his mind off running a vain and senseless campaign for President?
Puritan, I’ll miss Bolton’s mustache, too. My monitor has Bolton’s ’stache and Carter’s peanut-brain in the same frame: Thanks, Allah! Is that what juxtaposition means?
Barbarian, gotta take a deep breath and stop listening to the Voices. This is Allah’s world, and he prefers sanity to the bull feathers that you talk at the bar after midnight.
Nice to read GregH’s profound thoughts, as always. Art gallery closed today, Greg?
Valiant: bing! Pablo, can you ask Voinovich to give me his hanky? My turn to snivel…
Jaibones on December 4, 2006 at 12:11 PM
The Bush Administration is eliminating all the best character from my In My Worlds. It all started with when they didn’t consult with me before Ari resigned…
frankj on December 4, 2006 at 12:18 PM
No balls, no more calls! The Dems didn’t win, the Repubs lost, for certain reasons. In politics there are no moral victories!!!
GregH, learn what the next UN Rep. currently does and then come back and harp. And don’t make me send you a long list of filthy rich corporate types, who’re all democrats. I despise nothing more than hypocrisy.
urbancenturion on December 4, 2006 at 10:32 AM, you’re right. It will be hard but this country will carry the day/world, in spite of the GregHs. Freedom is an incredibly powerful thing! Everyone sane inherently and desperately needs/wants it.
Entelechy on December 4, 2006 at 12:34 PM
Rick Santorum for UN. He is known by his collegues and has a chance to be confirmed.
William Amos on December 4, 2006 at 12:41 PM
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