The truth about Bolton

As weak as Bush looks being unable to get his chosen candidate through the Senate, the New York Times points out that it's an even bigger weakness that forced the Bolton nomination in the first place:

"Most of the reforms sought by the United States are well on their way to completion," said a senior administration official, speaking anonymously to avoid undercutting the rationale for the Bolton appointment. Another said that because so much had been achieved, there was little concern that Mr. Bolton's combative personality would jeopardize the agenda...

United Nations and American diplomats are predicting that the main challenge facing Mr. Bolton will be less to "reform" the United Nations than to convince his conservative admirers in Congress that recent changes are real, particularly those put in place after scandals in the oil-for-food program and in some peacekeeping operations.

So the sole reason for thumbing his nose at most of the world was...because otherwise, Bush couldn't count on his own party supporting his plans for the U.N.

Suffice it to say that this isn't the action of a leader working from a position of strength.