Well, things are looking bleak for Bolton backers everywhere (pick your source here), and at this stage there is no smart money being wagered on his confirmation to the post of UN Ambassador. The Dems are actually acting like an opposition party, key GOP senators are getting noticeably twitchy, and even Colin Powell, the most faithful party-line purse pup Dubya could ever ask for, is now openly questioning whether Bolton might be the ideal choice to work at a place he openly loathes.

So here’s how you might expect things to play out over the next couple weeks.

• At some point, Bolton will call a press conference to announce that he’s withdrawing his nomination. Some noble remarks will be made about sparing America and the president the untoward divisiveness his nomination seems to have mysteriously inspired.
• Bush will accept his withdrawal with deep regret.
• Here there’s an either/or: depending on Bush’s sense of which way the winds are blowing in his own party, we may be given to understand that this is all the fault of the Democrats, who really do hate America, or Bush may quietly send Scotty McLellan out to waffle about how unfortunate the whole mess is.
• In neither case will any mention will be made of the fact that a growing number of Republicans agree with the aforementioned godless liberals.

Then will commence the search for Plan B – my guess is that we’ll be looking for a kinder, gentler UN-hating bully, but Bush may surprise me. Hell, maybe he’ll nominate Clinton, huh?