Well this certainly didn’t take very long. The New York Times reports in Tuesday editions that the major rationale for John Bolton’s recess appointment to the United Nations (“to provide clear American leadership for reform,” President Bush said this morning) is basically a moot point.

First of all, the guest bloggers on TWN have been stimulating, provocative, and very much worth reading. Thanks to all during these few days I am away.

I’m sure Steve will soon offer a post on why Bush should apologize for the Bolton appointment. Although it’s a shameless personal plug, Washington Note readers might be interested in my new Salon piece looking at the many other reasons that Bush should apologize.

President Bush’s decision to appoint Bolton this morning only denies those fighting the nomination closure – but not much else. We may have lost the Bolton battle, but it sure looks like we won the war.

The reaction is pouring out, with non-Voinovich Republicans tepidly embracing Bush’s decisions, and Democrats strongly criticizing it. The Washington Post has a round up. Senator Biden’s statement hits most of the key points: BIDEN “DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED” IN BOLTON RECESS APPOINTMENT WASHINGTON, DC â€â

Throughout the Bolton battle, it’s never been clear exactly why Bush was so dead-set on having Bolton at the United Nations. He doesn’t believe in the institution, and clearly won’t be interested in “reform” — and Anne Patterson would have been much better suited to push through a real reform agenda.

I’m Henry Farrell, an assistant professor of international relations in the Department of Political Science and Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University. I’m a regular member of the academic group-blog Crooked Timber. There’s an interesting three way conversation going on about the role of democracy promotion in US foreign policy.

This is Asheesh Siddique from the Princeton Progressive Nation. It’s a little intimidating to be asked to write alongside such a distinguished group of commentators when you’re only going to be a college junior in September. Nevertheless, I’ll do my best.

The shockingly unscientific, yet still interesting, online polls are running overwhelmingly against the recess appointment. AOL is 66% opposed, 34% in favor. MSNBC is 74% opposed, 26% in favor, with 46014 total votes cast.

Just perusing some of the headlines this morning… With regard to North Korea, it is China that has taken the lead in setting the agenda. The EU-3 process with Iran appears to be approaching its crisis point.