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| US envoy to UN 'set to lose job' | US envoy to UN 'set to lose job' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The US envoy to the UN, John Bolton, looks set to lose his job after the Democrats' victory in mid-term polls. | The US envoy to the UN, John Bolton, looks set to lose his job after the Democrats' victory in mid-term polls. |
| Mr Bolton was appointed to the post during a Congressional recess after his nomination stalled in the Senate. | Mr Bolton was appointed to the post during a Congressional recess after his nomination stalled in the Senate. |
| The White House wants Mr Bolton to stay at the UN, but the chances are slim of him being backed by the Senate. | The White House wants Mr Bolton to stay at the UN, but the chances are slim of him being backed by the Senate. |
| He would become the second high-profile member of President George Bush's team to leave after the polls, following Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. | He would become the second high-profile member of President George Bush's team to leave after the polls, following Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. |
| Mr Bolton's appointment in August 2005 was a procedural manoeuvre which avoided the need for him to be confirmed until the end of this year. | Mr Bolton's appointment in August 2005 was a procedural manoeuvre which avoided the need for him to be confirmed until the end of this year. |
| That procedure cannot be repeated, and the new climate in Congress appears to rule out winning a two-thirds majority of senators. | That procedure cannot be repeated, and the new climate in Congress appears to rule out winning a two-thirds majority of senators. |
| President Bush has formally asked for Mr Bolton to be confirmed during the final session of the outgoing Senate. | President Bush has formally asked for Mr Bolton to be confirmed during the final session of the outgoing Senate. |
| Climate change | |
| But the senators who opposed Mr Bolton last time, including one Republican, are refusing to change their minds. | But the senators who opposed Mr Bolton last time, including one Republican, are refusing to change their minds. |
| I see no point in considering Mr Bolton's nomination again Sen Joseph BidenForeign Relations Committee href="/1/hi/world/americas/6128474.stm" class="">Democrat plans for Congress Lincoln Chaffee, who was defeated by his Democrat rival in Rhode Island this week, said it would be illogical to change his stance at the last minute. | |
| "The American people have spoken out against the president's agenda on a number of fronts, and presumably one of those fronts is on foreign policy," Mr Chaffee said. | "The American people have spoken out against the president's agenda on a number of fronts, and presumably one of those fronts is on foreign policy," Mr Chaffee said. |
| "And at this late stage in my term, I'm not going to endorse something the American people have spoken out against." | "And at this late stage in my term, I'm not going to endorse something the American people have spoken out against." |
| At the state department, a spokesman defended Mr Bolton, describing his work at the UN as "extraordinarily effective". | At the state department, a spokesman defended Mr Bolton, describing his work at the UN as "extraordinarily effective". |
| "Now is not the time to have a gap in your UN ambassador," Sean McCormack said, referring to the current impasse over North Korea's nuclear test and other issues. | |
| But with the Democrats due to take over in January, the door has slammed shut, says the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington. | |
| "I see no point in considering Mr Bolton's nomination again in the Foreign Relations Committee because regardless of what happens there, he is unlikely to be considered by the full Senate," said Joseph Biden, senior Democrat on that committee. | "I see no point in considering Mr Bolton's nomination again in the Foreign Relations Committee because regardless of what happens there, he is unlikely to be considered by the full Senate," said Joseph Biden, senior Democrat on that committee. |
| Back to work | |
| Following a meeting on Thursday with the woman set to be the new Democrat Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, Mr Bush was due to meet the expected new Senate majority leader on Friday. | |
| CHANGES IN CONGRESS | |
| Nevada Senator Harry Reid, 66, has called for co-operation between Republicans and Democrats over the next two years. | |
| "It's time for bipartisanship, it's time for open government, transparency, and it's a time for results," he said after the Democratic victory in the Senate was confirmed. | |
| Completing unfinished business is the priority for the outgoing Congress in the final few weeks before it dissolves, both parties have agreed. | |
| Congress still has outstanding legislation to pass, including tax-relief measures and spending bills. | |
| The Senate also needs to confirm a new defence secretary. | |
| "That means the next few weeks are going to be busy ones," Mr Bush said on Thursday. |