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Wednesday, Jun 22, 2005

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International

Democrats again block Bolton nomination

Sridhar Krishnaswami

Rebuff to the White House for the second time; call to consider another candidate

WASHINGTON: In a second rebuff to the White House, Democrats in the U.S. Senate have blocked yet another attempt to confirm the nomination of John Bolton as Ambassador to the U.N.

The Republican-led Senate fell six short of the 60 votes needed to end the debate and head for an up-down vote.

Two choices for Bush

The setback means that President George W Bush has one of two choices — he can try to force a change in the attitude of the Senators or bypass the Senate process by confirming Mr. Bolton when lawmakers go for the July 4 recess.

Mr. Bush did not answer directly a question on what he will do.

"I think it's time for the Senate to give him an up-or-down vote. Now," he said in what is seen in some quarters as an indication of Mr. Bush going the recess appointment route.

The Republicans have a 55 to 44 majority and can easily confirm Mr. Bolton but are unable to get the 60 votes needed to break the Democrats' tactic to reach the final process.

Support slipping

As the controversy drags on, Mr. Bolton's support on Capitol Hill is slipping. Ohio Republican Senator George Voinovich who voted in May to advance the nomination is asking Mr. Bush to consider another candidate.

Some analysts believe that Mr. Bush would not do so.

But lawmakers have warned the White House that a recess appointment sends the signal of a weak American envoy at New York.

Democrats have long been demanding that the White House should turn over a number of secret documents including a list of officials that Mr. Bolton asked for and received; and the kind of remarks he prepared on Syria's weapons capability but did not present to the House in 2003.

The White House is said to have relented on the Syria request but not on the others.

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