John Bolton nominated for U.N. ambassador, round two

Guess they're finished constructing those cement overshoes.

"My observations are that while Bolton is not perfect, he has demonstrated his ability, especially in recent months, to work with others and follow the president's lead by working multilaterally," Voinovich said in a statement.

The senator told reporters he believed Bolton had been "tempered" in recent months and no longer proved to be a divisive representative to the United Nations.

Voinovich told reporters he was not pressured into his decision by the White House.

Yeah, right. Meanwhile, this from the "diplomat" himself:

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - John Bolton, the U-S ambassador to the United Nations, says this is not the time to demand a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Michael Roston at Boltonwatch:

As a nervous Republican power base in the US Senate looks to November, they see a new round of Bolton hearings as an opportunity to take the Democrats to the cleaners, painting them as best buddies of the appeasers of tyrants and enablers of corruption at the United Nations. Voinovich, with his talk of sending the wrong message to the terrorists, is just the tip of the spear. The Senate Republican leadership clearly sees this circus as an opportunity for some of their weaker co-conspirators to run over Democrat challengers on national security when Election Day rolls around back home.

And, it's now fact. Bolton Will Get A New Chance In the Senate. Next Thursday morning, Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Voinovich aside, it should be bruising.

Must read: Jeffrey Laurenti at The Century Foundation:

Ever alert to exploit tragedy, political strategists inside the White House see the current deadly spiral of violence in the Middle East as their opening to…press for John Bolton’s belated confirmation as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations...