LINCOLN CHAFEE OPPOSING JOHN BOLTON UN CONFIRMATION OFFICIALLY: BOLTON CONFIRMATION BATTLE OFFICIALLY OVER

Word has just reached me from a well-placed source that the White House has continued to push John Bolton's confirmation prospects as US Ambassador to the United Nations despite the election outcome.

Another highly placed source has informed me that in just a few minutes Senator Lincoln Chafee is calling a press conference to state categorically that he will not support John Bolton's confirmation in the upcoming lame duck session.

The Bolton confirmation will be officially dead in a few minutes.

-- Steve Clemons is Senior Fellow and Director of the American Strategy Program at the New America Foundation and publishes the popular political blog, The Washington Note
Update: Here is a copy of what the White House did today. Does this look like a new "bipartisan" start? I don't think so:

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release -- November 9, 2006

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

John Robert Bolton, of Maryland, to be the Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and the Representative of the United States of America in the Security Council of the United Nations.

John Robert Bolton, of Maryland, to be Representative of the United States of America to the Sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations during his tenure of service as Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations.

The President is showing that he is not as ready as people think to collaborate with the new Senate and new House.

-- Steve Clemons