Don't Let La Porte Hit You in the Ass on Your Way Out

Bolton Withdraws From UN Nomination Amid Opposition (Update4)

By Brendan Murray and Judy Mathewson

Dec. 4 (Bloomberg) -- John Bolton will step down this month as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, as President George W. Bush conceded that opposition from Democrats would make it impossible for the envoy to stay in the job. (full story)

Woo hoo! It's about fricking time. I mean seriously. This guy couldn't even get confirmed when the Republicans controlled the Senate. Bush is trying to fault the Democratic and Republican Senators who have opposed Bolton's confirmation by saying that this is a bad time to interrupt our foreign diplomatic corps. I think that he has a point given what's going on with Iran and North Korea, but it is Bush's stubbornness that has created this situation. It was Bush who kept Bolton at his post despite the fact that the Senate did not confirm him since his nomination in March 2005. And despite the clear message of the elections a month ago, he re-nominated this guy. You can't blame other people for the problems you create yourself. Although, from what I know about this guy's upbringing, I don't believe that he was ever taught that you are responsible for the consequences of your own actions.

Come again?

I thought Bush had seen the election results. Apparently he's trying to sneak this one under the radar. If the last Congress didn't like him, I doubt John Bolton will fare much better now.

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 9, 2006

Nominations Sent to the Senate

John Robert Bolton, of Maryland, to be the Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and the Representative of the United States of America in the Security Council of the United Nations.

John Robert Bolton, of Maryland, to be Representative of the United States of America to the Sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations during his tenure of service as Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations.

Siempre Nadie

Can you believe this is still going on?

After 35 rounds of voting, neither Venezuela nor Guatemala have attained the 2/3 vote necessary for the temporary seat on the Security Council. Venezuela has put forth a "compromise" candidate. Can anyone guess who that would be? That's right!

Mini Me. Bolivia.

Now again, I'm all for dialogue and having developing countries on the Security Council (should be a permanent seat), but come on now Hugo. This is not a "compromise."

Que Lastima!

After 7 rounds of voting, the world can still not agree on who should have the "Latin American" elected seat on the U.N. Security Council being vacated by Argentina: Guatemala or Venezuela. I think that the U.S. has done Guatemala a disfavor by lobbying on their behalf, and it just plays into Chavez's North-South rhetoric. No one dislikes Guatemala, but by supporting the central-American country, the US has allowed Chavez to turn this into a proxy contest between the US and Venezuela.

I think it is high time that developing countries have a permanent place on the Security Council, not just an elected spot. However, I think it's pompous on Chavez's part to proclaim that he should be the porte-parole for all of the economically disadvantaged countries just because he's apologetically anti-American. While I'm sure that sounds refreshing to a lot of people on this earth, it should not in and of itself suffice.

Apparently China supports Venezuela because Guatemala has stronger diplomatic ties with Taiwan (yeah, real mature China). Russia is also supporting Venezuela because of "high-level" contracts Venezuela has with them to buy weapons (See petro dollars). Arab countries support Venezuela because of Chavez's anti-U.S. stance, and Mercosur wants to keep Venezuela in the fold even though its support of Bolivia's nationalization of its oil and gas assets is in direct opposition of the free-market principles Mercosur is founded on.

A compromise candidate might be necessary if this continues.

Tout cela dit, je suis très content que personne n'ait mis en question la candidature de la Belgique, un pays qui me sera toujours très chere. Le plat-pays qui a connu la perspective de Magritte mérite bien une place sur le Conseil de sécurité.

UPDATE 10.17.06: After 14 Rounds, Guatemala 108, Venezuela 76. Rumors of a new compromise candidate are getting louder.

UPDATE 10.18.06, 16.21 PT: After 22 Rounds, we're still in deadlock.