Greetings folks. Sorry if I seemed AWOL today. I organized a very large-scale conference on U.S. economic policy today that went quite well — but I have not lost focus of our effort to encourage President Bush to reconsider John Bolton.

Bill Frist said today that the legislative effort to confirm John Bolton as Ambassador to the United Nations had been “exhausted” and that there were no more votes on the matter planned.

I have just written a selection this morning posted at TPM Cafe on the choices that the White House faces on Bolton. I hope you find it of interest.

The Senate spoke loud and clear today. John Bolton is NOT getting the approval of the United States Senate unless the White House fully concedes on the document requests that Senators have requested since April that might help better inform them as to controversial and important parts of John Bolton’s record.

BOLTON VOTE CLOTURE RESULTS 38 Oppose Cloture — 54 Favor Cloture — 60 Votes Needed to Get Cloture CLOTURE ON BOLTON VOTE BLOCKED BECAUSE OF WHITE HOUSE OBSTRUCTIONISM ON DOCUMENTS John Bolton is the wrong person for the job.

We just gained George Voinovich, who favored cloture last time. We also kept Senator Joseph Lieberman whom the White House was furiously courting. The White House is losing more ground than expected.

It is fascinating that Senator Frist had Senator John McCain join him in a pro-Bolton press conference the other day, and I have no doubt that John McCain will vote in favor of cloture on Bolton and would probably support John Bolton.

There are two reasons why this cloture vote on Bolton is taking place today. First, Frist wants to try and paint Democrats opposing John Bolton as obstructionists, but the media covering the Bolton nomination are clearly not letting Frist have his way on that claim.

Debate began at 5 p.m. on the Bolton cloture vote, and a vote is scheduled at 6 p.m. but may come as early as 5:30 p.m. if the entire debate time is not used.