John Bolton steps down as ambassador

John Bolton has stepped down as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. It's about bloody time that he resigned even if I agree with him on Israel.

Most major U.S. Jewish groups broke with tradition to endorse Bolton, who in addition to his support of Israel is a strong opponent of Iran’s nuclear drive.

Speaking of Iran, their president met with the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, and in my opinion, it doesn't look so good with both vowing to see Israel eliminated. This won't help any peace talks in the Middle East when it comes to Israel-Palestinian relations.

Israel is scaling back some of it's operations in the West Bank. I hope this helps with regards to peace talks but who knows.

Hugo Chavez was re-elected president of Venezuela. What does this mean? It means we have six more years of someone who is presumed to be anti-Semitic.

Kentucky native George Clooney was invited to Israel. I've been told that the Clooneys are supporters of Israel and their right to exist.

The Indy Star has this update on the status of other candidates.

While speaking in Iowa, Senator Bayh warned against an "ideological agenda."

At a stop in the early voting state of Iowa, Bayh told business leaders that Democrats' hold on power, secured with Election Day wins last month, could be brief if the party isn't careful.

"We cannot be as partisan as the other side," Bayh said. "We cannot be as ideologically extreme as the other side."

Bayh said the lesson from the Nov. 7 elections were simple.

"My observation was that most of the American people voted against, they voted against the mess in Iraq, they voted against the president personally, they voted against the dysfunction and gridlock in Washington," he said. "They voted for something different and they wanted to give us a chance."

Bayh, 50, has followed a centrist's course throughout his political career, including two terms as governor and eight years in the Senate. He also has served as chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council, which is a prominent voice for moderation within the party, and has helped establish the centrist New Democrat Coalition.

From the same article, we have this from Sen. Obama:

But the charismatic, sharply dressed Obama wouldn't say - again - if he was going to take a shot at the White House, disappointing the media horde hanging on his every word.

Instead, he had some kind words for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the powerful New York senator, who tops every national poll of likely Democratic candidates. He called her smart and tough.

"I'm not one of these people who thinks she can't win," he told reporters at a news conference after the charity event.

Bayh also believes that he can win Iowa, even with Gov. Vilsack in the race.

Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius will lead the Democratic Governor's Association.