Republicans seem to be shuffling about ... who's next to go?

John Bolton's working today -- an up-to-date photo ... how 'bout that?

There are lots of ups and downs these days, but not just the Democrats up and the Republicans down. Nosiree! I was on my way back from Olympia yesterday (lots of red tape vis-a-vis my new job) and chatted with my brother, Richard from Connecticut, while cruising along on US 12. He asked me who might be next to go after Rummy and I had to admit that I didn't have an immediate thought on the matter. He immediately popped up, "John Bolton"!

And sure enough, as if on cue, young George decided today to push forward John Bolton's nomination to be the US Ambassador to the United Nations. If you recall, he slipped John into the UN through a parliamentary trick called a recess appointment -- filling a vacancy while Congress is on recess.

His hope, of course, is to get Bolton confirmed before the new Democratic Congress takes over in January. Interestingly, he was afraid to push Bolton's name with his "own" Republican Congress in the past; what makes him think that the American people ... or Congress -- Republican or Democrat ... would dare to try to "sneak" Bolton through during a "lame duck session"?

He won't succeed, of course.

But the bigger picture is the bigger picture!

Bolton isn't the only nomination that is facing either the lame duck session or the new body that meets in January. There are 51 vacancies among federal judgeships and a couple of odd-ball other nominations hanging around, not the least of which is Donald Rumsfeld's replacement.

It's rumored (strong UPI and AP sources) that Cheney fought hard to save Rumsfeld, is opposed to the James Baker Commission that is working out an Iraq Exit Strategy as we live and breath today, and is still hoping (against desperate hope) that he can save Bolton's nomination.

Personally, other than his far too pro-Israel stance, John Bolton has been a surprisingly effective UN Ambassador for us. I didn't think he would ever get the sanctions through (against Iran) and has managed to get along well with the other members of the Security Council -- even taking them all to an NBA (basketball) game.

But ...

The fact is that there are clear ups and downs within the Republicans that fall along George Bush 41 versus George Bush 43 lines. I think we can expect to see names like James Baker, Brent Scowcroft and George Herbert Walker Bush himself suddenly step onto the stage as regards foreign affairs over the next few weeks ... and I still see Dick Cheney resigning (or worse) before his term is over naturally.

Two columnists (Tim Reid and Tom Baldwin) even broke Condoleezza Rice into three persons (this is not a Kerryesque religious joke!) whom he called Condi Mk I, Condi Mk II and Condi Mk III. [I retired from a long career with the military and liked their use of the "Mk-numbering" scheme.] Anyway, they saw Condi Mk I and Condi Mk III going up with only Condi Mk II going down. Although they didn't explain their humor or their rationale, I think we all know that the original Condi and the most recent Condi are the brilliant young woman whom we remember from the early days of GWB's time in the WH.

Their article from The Times Online (UK) is worth reading and I'll go back, find it and link you to it. It basically pitted the Republican "realists" against the hard-right neocons. Sorry that it took so long to find the article again. But I did, and here it is!

Anyway ... the fun is just beginning, isn't it?