The benefits of the Senate

Looks like Allen will concede today around 3PM EST, so the Democrats have the Senate. Besides being able to stymie judicial appointments, there is another great benefit that I had forgot about... Bolton will be gone form the UN

Joseph Biden of Delaware is expected to chair the Senate Foreign Relations Committee if Democratic control of the US Senate is formally confirmed.

"I never saw a real enthusiasm (for Bolton's nomination) on the Republican side to begin with. There's none on our side. And I think John Bolton's going nowhere," he said.

Mr Bolton, the controversial former undersecretary of state in charge of non-proliferation, was nominated by President George W Bush to be UN envoy in March 2005.

But after his confirmation was blocked in the Republican-led Senate, Mr Bush made a recess appointment, which will last until the new Congress convenes in January 2007.

Sweet.