President George W. Bush will urge confirmation of John Bolton as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations before power in Congress shifts to the Democrats, the White House said Thursday. The White House formally renewed its request that the Senate take up Bolton's nomination. But Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senate Democrats, said they continue to resist Bolton's confirmation and “he is unlikely to get a vote any time soon.” Bolton, the controversial former undersecretary of state, was blocked by the current Republican-led Senate after Bush nominated him in 2005, but he has been serving under a temporary “recess appointment” that allows him to serve until the new Congress convenes in January. However, Bolton's prospects in the newly-elected Congress look even worse, with Democrats taking control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, which has the power to confirm or reject presidential nominations. White House spokesman Tony Snow said Bush discussed a desire to get Bolton confirmed during a morning meeting with Republican congressional leaders at the White House on Thursday. “This is something that we think is important, that he stay there,” he said. The outgoing congress is set to convene next week to finish its business before the end of the year. Bush also is seeking confirmation during that time for former Central Intelligence Agency Director Robert Gates, his nominee to replace Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
