Bush Appoints Bolton as U.N. Envoy, Bypassing Senate
President Bush bypassed the Senate today and installed John R. Bolton as his ambassador to the United Nations over strong Democratic objections that he was abusing power and undermining the credibility of the United States. .... The president said he was sending Mr. Bolton, a combative, outspoken protégé of Vice President Dick Cheney, to New York with "complete confidence." He praised him as a man who "believes passionately in the goals of the United Nations Charter, to advance peace and liberty and human rights." Mr. Bolton would remain in the job until the end of the current Congress in late 2006.
The appointment brought to a close a five-month standoff between the White House and Senate Democrats, who had held up Mr. Bolton's confirmation over accusations that the former undersecretary of state for arms control had manipulated intelligence to conform to his hawkish ideology and had bullied subordinates.
... In his remarks, Mr. Bush blamed the holdup on "partisan delaying tactics by a handful of senators," but Democrats countered that the handful numbered at least 43, including two Republicans.