As noted below, Bush accepted the resignation of John Bolton today, as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Bolton had submitted a resignation letter on Friday finally facing the fact that there was no way that Democratic majority in the Senate would confirm him to the position. Sounding like a whiny kid and clearly forgetting that Bolton could not get confirmed in the past, Bush said:

“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.”

What majority support? When Bush nominated Bolton in March 2005 for the U.N. post, “the choice quickly ran into opposition from Democrats and a few Republicans over allegations that he tried to spin intelligence to support his political views and bullied subordinates who disagreed with him.”

John Kerry issued the following statement today, on Bolton’s resignation:

“Like Secretary Rumsfeld’s departure, Ambassador Bolton’s resignation offers a chance to turn the page at a critical period. With the Middle East on the verge of chaos and the nuclear threats from Iran and North Korea increasing, we need a United Nations ambassador who has the full support of Congress and can help rally the international community to tackle the serious threats we face. This is an opportunity for the President to appoint a United Nations ambassador who enjoys the support necessary to unite our country and the world and who can put results ahead of ideology. There are many qualified candidates from across the political spectrum with the respect and experience necessary to be effective in this crucial post. The President should act quickly to nominate a United Nations Ambassador who can be confirmed with broad bipartisan support.”

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