Bolton Confirmation Blocked...

WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats blocked John Bolton's confirmation as U.N. ambassador for the second time Monday and President Bush left open the possibility of bypassing lawmakers and appointing the tough-talking former State Department official on his own.The vote was 54-38, six shy of the total needed to force a final vote on Bolton, and represented an erosion in support from last month's failed Republican effort. Sen. George Voinovich (news, bio, voting record), R-Ohio, who voted in May to advance the nomination, switched positions and urged Bush to consider another candidate, while only three Democrats crossed party lines...In remarks on the Senate floor, Sen. Joseph Biden (news, bio, voting record) of Delaware, senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said White House chief of staff Andrew Card had offered to provide some information about Syria. "I indicated to him that was not sufficient," Biden said. Rather, he said, Democrats would give Bolton a final confirmation vote only when the administration provided all the information they seek.
"The vote we're about to take is not, is not about John Bolton, the vote is about taking a stand," Biden said. He called it "totally unacceptable" for the president — no matter the political party — to "dictate to the United States Senate how he, the president, thinks we should proceed."...