John Bolton

John R. Bolton's prospects for remaining the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations dwindled Thursday as Democrats and a key Republican senator rejected efforts to have the still-Republican- controlled Senate confirm his nomination. The White House continued to explore ways to keep Bolton at the U.N. without going through a confirmation process. Outgoing Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.

I SPEAK NOW not so much in praise of John Bolton as in dispraise of Boltophobia. Bolton is a fine man, a sharp intellectual, a committed public servant and has the most aggressive mustache in American politics today. He's done a first-rate job as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during his yearlong interim appointment, and were it not for the waffling of Republican Sen.

America's combative U.N. ambassador, John R. Bolton, launched a second campaign to win full Senate approval Thursday, saying he had done his best "to work with others to advance our national interests" during his year at the world body. "I do believe important advances have been made," he said during a 3 1/2 -hour hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee announced Friday that it will hold hearings next week on the renomination of John R. Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations. A yearlong lobbying effort by Bolton has converted his most vocal opponent, Sen. George V. Voinovich (R-Ohio), into a key supporter.

President Bush is considering a new effort to have John R. Bolton confirmed as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, a year after appointing him to the job over Senate objections. Bush appointed Bolton while the Senate was in recess last August after senators had blocked the former State Department official's confirmation, saying he had an abrasive style. His appointment runs out in January at the end of the congressional session.

John R. Bolton, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Monday that Iran's leaders could stay in power and improve their ties with Washington if they ended their pursuit of nuclear arms. He later insisted that he had not meant to threaten Tehran with regime change if its leaders failed to do so.

U.S. Ambassador John R. Bolton's mission to overhaul the U.N. is a lot like Hercules' mythical labor to clean a mountain of manure from the Augean stables, joked a friend while introducing him before a recent speech. The difference for Bolton, she said, is that the animals making the mess are still there. Recounting the story, Bolton leans his head back and laughs. And laughs, until his face turns red. "She said it. I didn't," he says.

United Nations Ambassador John Bolton told Congress on Wednesday that U.N. member countries should consider making donations to some of the world body's agencies voluntary -- rather than mandatory -- to prod the organization into improving its efficiency. Although Bolton said the U.N. must show it deserves the money it gets, he told the House International Relations Committee that the U.S. government should not withhold its dues to the U.N. to ensure reforms.

Your Sept. 20 editorial advocates that Democrats in the Senate vote to "Confirm Roberts." Why? John G. Roberts Jr. has an extensive record of advocating positions that are in opposition to core Democratic beliefs; voting for his confirmation would be voting against those beliefs. Roberts will be confirmed. The American people assured that when they turned control of the Senate over to the Republicans. The Democrats are the opposition party, so why shouldn't they oppose? Your editorial makes no sense.