Another "Meet the New Boss" Moment

John Bolton tendered his resignation on Friday. President Bush accepted it today.

Key Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee indicated that they would not approve a committee vote on re-confirmation of Mr. Bolton's appointment. At least one outgoing, "moderate" Republican--Senator Lincoln Chaffee--joined the Democrats.

More from the WP:

President Bush today accepted the resignation of John R. Bolton as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, expressing deep disappointment that "a handful" of senators had blocked his confirmation last year.

"I accept it; I'm not happy about it," Bush told reporters this afternoon in the Oval Office after a meeting with Bolton. He said his nominee "deserved to be confirmed" as the U.S. envoy to the United Nations. "We're going to miss you in this administration," Bush told Bolton. "You've been a stalwart defender of freedom and peace."

Bolton thanked Bush but did not comment further at the photo opportunity, and the president did not take any questions after his brief remarks.

Bolton, 58, submitted a resignation letter Friday after it became clear that he was unlikely to win a new confirmation battle in the Senate, where Democrats won a narrow majority in the Nov. 7 midterm elections.

(snip)

With the appointment nearing its expiration, Bush resubmitted the nomination Nov. 9. But Democrats remained opposed to the choice, and Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.), the incoming chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, labeled it a nonstarter. Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee (R-R.I.), a moderate Republican who lost his reelection bid in the Nov. 7 elections, also expressed opposition to the new appointment.

Chafee's opposition was key because without his vote on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Bolton nomination stood virtually no chance of winning committee approval and moving to a Senate floor vote in the current congressional lame-duck session. Republicans currently hold a 10-8 majority on the committee, but that will switch in favor of the Democrats when the new Congress convenes next month with a 51-49 Democratic majority and Biden assumes the chairmanship.

Meet the new Boss; same as the old boss.

Let's not consider the long-term, diplomatic interests of the United States. Let's not face the excruciating international challenges ahead. Let's ignore N. Korea's growing aggression. Let's whistle past Syria and Iran's manuevers in the Middle East. Above all, let's run from the reality of the UN's corruption and impotence.

No, let's consider what's truly important: our position with our mouth-foaming, Reasonable base. We must forward the Agenda. American must surrender to the Trans-National Internationalism that has succeeded so well in Europe. The US must rely on the UN for military and strategic help should she face future terrorist strikes. That's vital.

When Beltway insiders stop pandering and posturing--and start representing the people--our Society will prosper and become secure. Until then...

Meanwhile, the Democrats continue to prove that they're no alternative to the me-first governmentalists that the outgoing Republicans were. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.