Democrats force John Bolton the US Ambassador to the UN to resign.

By: John_York

John Bolton is the second high profile member of President George Bush's team to leave after the Republicans lost badly in Novembers mid-term elections. President Bush had originally angered senators by bypassing them by appointing Mr Bolton in August 2005 on a temporary basis whilst the senate was in recess.

The new chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (Senator Joe Biden), made it clear that Mr Bolton would not be confirmed by his committee, saying that "he saw no point in considering Mr. Bolton's nomination again."

John Bolton sent his resignation letter to the White House on Friday. "After careful consideration, I have concluded that my service in your administration should end when the current recess appoint expires," he wrote.

In response to the forced resignation, President 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."

It is not known when President Bush will announce his nomination for Mr Bolton's replacement.

This highlights how the situation in the USA has now changed and that George W Bush is increasingly seen to be a lame duck president. The current sessions is expected to end with most of the spending bills in the current fiscal bill being held up into the next session, and therefore be delayed into the next session of Congress. The effect this has on the US economy is to effectively cut goverment expenditure.

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