Bolton Resigning as U.N Ambassador
Michelle Malkin’s bummed that John Bolton’s resigning as U.N. Ambassador. I too liked his brashness, his aggressiveness, his ability to take that group of vapid diplomats down a notch. But in the big scheme of things Bolton isn’t that important. He’s just the U.N. Ambassador. Malkin writes,
If the White House thinks throwing in the towel and throwing Bolton overboard will appease the Dems or the U.N., it doesn’t know what reality is.
James Joyner is correct when writing, “It’s a shame that the use of extraordinary tactics by the minority in the Senate kept him from getting confirmed to begin with.” Since the position isn’t mucho-vital it would have demonstrated Democrats embracing bipartisanship to confirm Bolton. But Sen. Biden, chairman-to-be of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee sees the need to flex his muscles and preen for the cameras.
To those Bolton groupies I ask: What has he done of real significance to advance U.S. interests? I can’t think of anything off-hand. That’s not because of Bolton’s abilities so much the position he’s in. As U.N. Ambassador he’s the mouthpiece for the administration. I’m sure he helped craft the message at the U.N. but he’s not the chief policy maker. I’d argue Paul Volker and Sen. Norm Coleman have done more to get the U.N. to reform. Bolton hasn’t made a dent. The administration and the Congress could do a lot more to push reform if they had the guts to shut off the United States’ financial spigot.
As for Bolton’s replacement John Miller suggests Rick Santorum. Where have I heard that before?
“CNN Alert: Bush to Accept Bolton’s Resignation”
UPDATE: Andrew Sullivan isn’t fond of a possible Ambassador Santorum. He’s letting Santorum’s anti-gay marriage stance trump his foreign policy views which are probably very similar.
UPDATE II: President Bush cited some of Bolton’s achievements:
“Ambassador Bolton led the successful negotiations that resulted in unanimous Security Council resolutions regarding North Korea’s military and nuclear activities. He built consensus among our allies on the need for Iran to suspend the enrichment and reprocessing of uranium,” Bush added. “His efforts to promote the cause of peace in Darfur resulted in a peacekeeping commitment by the United Nations. He made the case for United Nations reform because he cares about the institution, and wants it to become more credible and effective.”
I’ll give credit where credit is due. Bolton did some good work. But he’s just a bit player. Both North Korea’s and Iran’s nuclear programs still exist with no sign of a solution arising. That’s not Bolton’s fault because he was never in a position to get to a solution. He’s just the U.N. Ambassador not a miracle worker.
[via Mary Katharine Ham]





(Announcer) Welcome to Episode #10
of the Sean “Chillers Coalition” Hackbarth
Show!!
(Audience Clapping)Yaaaaaay!
(Sean Hackbarth) Hello guys and gals, it’s wussification and Oprah Winfrey all throughout America and I am your host, the one and only, the biggest Coalition Chiller of them all,
Seaaan Hackbarth!
(Audience Clapping) Yaaaaaaay!
(Sean Hackbarth)
“To those Bolton groupies I ask: What has he done of real significance to advance U.S. interests? I can’t think of anything off-hand.”
The Democrats want to remove Donald Rumsfeld from Secretary of Defense?
Bleh… Let em do it!
They want to remove John Bolton from Un Ambassadorship?
Bleh… Let em do it!
(Audience Clapping)
Yaaaaaay!
Wuss! Wuss! Wuss!
Wuss! Coalition Chiller Sean is my hero!
(Announcer)
And now ladies and gentlemen, Sean Hackbarth will attempt to defend his Carpet Bagging ways against Jeff MacMillan “The Real Conservative.”
(Audience Booing)
Jeff you suck! We want the wuss! Sean is our hero!
(Jeff MacMillan)
Well?
Let’s see what John Bolton accomplished:
1) In his first act he defeated a UN reform Resolution based on its language that was damaging to America and Israel and introduced one with better language that was far more fair.
(Sean Hackbarth)
Bleh!
Who cares…
“I’d argue Paul Volker and Sen. Norm Coleman have done more to get the U.N. to reform.”
(Jeff MacMillan)
What exactly have they done to reform anything at the UN?
At least John Bolton has single handidly shot down UN resolutions damaging to America.
(Sean Hackbarth)
Cricket…
Cricket…
Cricket…
Bleh….
I still think the replacement John Miller is kewl!
(Jeff MacMillan)
But, doesn’t replacing John Bolton said the wrong message to all of our allies at the United Nations?
Aren’t we in effect saying to everyone that what John Bolta has been preaching is wrong? That we are now replacing him after 2 short years sends a message that America can’t diplomatically defend itself?
(Sean Hackbarth)
Uhm…
Well….
Jeff, would you like a membership to the Coalition Chillers association?
We play carpet to everyone!
(Audience Clapping)
Yaaaaaaaay!
Wuss! Wuss! Wuss!
Wuss! Wuss!