Back in this country. In a rare move, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has sent John Bolton’s name to the full Senate for an up or down vote without recommending his confirmation as the next US ambassador to the UN. While the move is embarrassing to Bolton, it does not mean that his quest to become UN ambassador is dead. Republicans control 55 of the Senate’s 100 seats and only a simple majority is needed. The lack of a committee endorsement came after Republican Senator George Voinovich of Ohio, said he would vote against the nomination because the United States “can do better.” Voinovich called Bolton “the poster child of what someone in the diplomatic corps should not be.” The committee chairman, Indiana Republican Richard Lugar had predicted a 10-to-8 vote endorsing Bolton. After Voinovich’s dissent, Lugar was forced to broker a deal where the committee’s Republicans agreed to send Bolton’s name to the full Senate with no recommendation. The panel’s eight Democrats remained united in opposing his nomination. It was the first time in 12 years the committee has passed along a non-endorsement. We’ll have more on this in a moment.