Didn’t See That One Coming
John Bolton has resigned as UN Ambassador:
Unable to win Senate confirmation, U.N. Ambassador John Bolton will step down when his recess appointment expires soon, 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.
President Bush gave Bolton the job temporarily in August 2005, while Congress was in recess. But the appointment expires when Congress formally adjourns, no later than early January.
I knew he probably wouldn’t be confirmed, but I didn’t expect the early withdrawal…
So who’s the likely contender? Jim Baker, Bill Clinton? Or perhaps nobody?
James Taranto has a suggestion.