There is no such thing as infighting

John Bolton, perhaps the only American nominee for United Nations ambassador ever to say "[t]here is no such thing as the United Nations," will have to wait a little while longer to learn his employment future.

Several Republican members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have begun to waver in their support of Bolton as more allegations about his past come to light. Some of the recent charges the committee has heard include an assertion that Bolton tried to orchestrate the firings of intelligence analysts who didn't change their findings to jibe with his views and a claim that he chased a woman through a hotel, threw things at her, and spread malicious rumors about her. In addition, former Secretary of State Colin Powell has expressed concerns about Bolton's ability to get along with others, The Washington Post reported Friday.

If the White House doesn't decide to withdraw Bolton's nomination, things could get ugly in a hurry within the GOP. Already, a conservative group is buying radio ads in Ohio to accuse U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, who voted to postpone the committee vote, of "stab[bing] the president and Republicans right in the back." Three other GOP committee members who are uneasy about Bolton -- Sens. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska -- may face similar attacks.

Can you still be a good Republican if you disagree with something that's very important to the Bush administration? The Bolton confirmation battle soon may answer that question.