Blocking votes on Defense, CIA posts unconscionable
Conservatives in the U.S. Senate have refused to allow a confirmation vote for director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
For six years.
They did it to President George W. Bush, refusing to allow a vote on nominee Michael Sullivan. They are doing it to President Obama as well. Their stance has nothing to do with the quality of those nominated — both Sullivan and Todd Jones, Obama’s nominee, were very well qualified. It is instead an effort to cripple the operations of an agency that the gun industry finds annoying.
Again, the Senate is not rejecting the nominees. Using Senate rules, conservative members are refusing to even allow a vote to take place, because they know they would lose it.
For the past 18 months, Republicans have also refused to allow a vote on the nomination of Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, created by Congress in the wake of the Wall Street collapse. Initially, Obama intended to appoint Elizabeth Warren to the post, but backed down from the controversial appointment when GOP senators made it clear she would not be confirmed. Obama instead nominated Cordray, who as Ohio attorney general had led successful lawsuits to rein in banking-industry excesses, but the gesture got him nowhere.
Still no vote.
Led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Republicans are refusing to even confirmation of a permanent CFPB director unless the agency is first gutted of its independence and authority to monitor the mortage, credit-card and student loan industries on behalf of consumers.
It doesn’t matter that the GOP lacks the votes to force such a major change, just as it lacked the votes to implement when the agency was created. It is using the confirmation process to undercut the agency through extra-constitutional means.
The story is repeated yet again with the the National Labor Relations Board. By refusing to allow even a vote on confirmation of NLRB nominees, Republicans have reduced the five-member to just one member, and without a quorum the board cannot function. When President Obama attempted to get the agency operational by making recess appointments to the board, he was blocked at least temporarily by a federal appeals court.
While the BATF, NLRB and CFPB are important government agencies, their functions are relatively narrow. However, the tactics being used to neuter those agencies are now being implemented to block far more important nominations.
Over the weekend, Republican senators announced they would block votes on the nomination of Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense and John Brennan as CIA director. Sen. Lindsey Graham, for example, said that he would put a “hold” on both nomination until he gets answers to questions about Benghazi.
Those jobs cut to the core of national security. They should not be left vacant as a consequence of petty personal feuds.
A group of 25 Republican senators, led by Ted Cruz of Texas, is insisting that Hagel prove that none of the eight private companies where he served on the board of directors — several of them private equity and investment firms — ever received what the senators call “foreign funding.” The apparent implication is that Hagel, a Vietnam War hero, a longtime Republican senator from Nebraska and a member of both the Senate Intelligence and Foreign Relations committees, has been bought off by other countries.
No other defense nominee has ever been asked to disprove such claims. And as Hagel points out, the companies in question are private firms and he has no right or authority to ask them to disclose such sensitive business information in response to a partisan fishing expedition.
To hide the absence of actual fire in the effort to block Hagel and Brennan, the right-wing conspiracy machine has begun to generate a lot of smoke. For example, did you know that Brennan, a 25-year CIA veteran and deputy national security advisor, is not only a Muslim sympathizer, he is a secret convert to a fundamentalist Islam sect?
And did you know that according to the crackerjack reporters at Breitbart, who in turn quote “Senate sources,” Hagel has taken money from a front group calling itself “Friends of Hamas”?
Let me suggest that if “Senate sources” actually possessed such information, they would not be leaking it to an outlet with the reputation of Breitbart, but instead would be plastering it across every cable news outlet and newspaper in the country.
Under the Constitution, the Senate is given clear authority to either confirm or reject presidential nominees. But time after time, and for increasingly flimsy and indefensible causes, the Senate is refusing to do either. The practice represents not just an abuse of the Senate rules, but an abuse of the Constitution itself.
Applying such cheap partisan tactics to nominations that are critical to national security represents yet another new low for those in Congress.
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373 comments Add your comment
btull27
February 11th, 2013
12:56 pm
Republican leadership has no intention of doing anything but blocking Obama at every turn?
And Harry Reid declared, at election time, if Mitt was elected, the chances of Senate Democrats working with him to pass anything as laughable. Explain the difference. Why do you only see through either your left eye or right eye? Open them both at the same time and you will see they’re all idiots. The embarrassing thing is you argue so passionately for these guys. It’s like 2 groups standing in a pasture gathered around 2 different cow pies and arguing that only the other group’s stinks. Wake up and smell the ……….
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
February 11th, 2013
12:58 pm
Headline: “Pope to leave at end of month”
I don’t suppose El Jeffe would …………….. nah ……………. oh, well.
Vet
February 11th, 2013
12:59 pm
It’s funny to see how all the liberals are crybabies! You won the election but you’re still fear the Republicans about everything! When you have nothing to response..you call people liars,or worst! Democrats have so much hate…they need to see a shrink!!
getalife
February 11th, 2013
12:59 pm
Lets annihilate the gop with our President.
No mercy.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
February 11th, 2013
12:59 pm
btull27:
Thank you as you have eloquently exposed the HYPOCRISY of some of our liberal friends on here.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
February 11th, 2013
1:00 pm
getalife:
Heard this today.
The American Eagle flys high and long ……….. but it takes a “left” wing and a “right” wing to stay in the air.
semper augustus
February 11th, 2013
1:01 pm
Funny thing about MY mania,..I could never find out when I starting costing so much or why it happened …..
Erwin's cat
February 11th, 2013
1:01 pm
Headline: “Pope to leave at end of month”
I hear Hillary is in the mix
Itchy Finger
February 11th, 2013
1:01 pm
Partisay
“Libs cheer on the death of a Kindergarten teacher from a botched abortion…”
Itchy Finger…you should be banned for posting such a statement. Cheer? Do us a favor and just turn your computer off.
Libs cheer for the right to kill babies… I realize its hard for you loons to accept the truth but it is reality….
getalife
February 11th, 2013
1:02 pm
scout,
The right wing is broken.
Fix it or die.
getalife
February 11th, 2013
1:02 pm
The pope has a pedophile legacy.
alex
February 11th, 2013
1:03 pm
0311/… Love the symbolism….
saywhat?
February 11th, 2013
1:04 pm
I guarantee that if the Republicans somehow regain the senate, the filibuster will be gone from the rules, because they are so desperate to hang onto power.
getalife
February 11th, 2013
1:04 pm
itchy scratchy show,
Stay out of people’s bedrooms perv.
In the middle
February 11th, 2013
1:04 pm
So, since when is the senate required to due the presidents bidding, when he wants, who he wants, how he wants. If the senate is doing their job confilct will occur from time to time. We have a president and not a king. If the current president gets a little put off by the senate, get over it..When Bush’s nominations were stonewalled by the democrats there was no huge outcry by the press. The republicans got pissed, so what, now the democrats are pissed, who cares. Conflict is built into our system of government. The greater the conflict, the less chance the federal government has in steamrolling the citizens. The president can make his appointments during a “real” recess.
DannyX
February 11th, 2013
1:06 pm
“I hear Hillary is in the mix”
Naw, she will will turn it down, she will be starting a new job in a few years that is much more powerful.
saywhat?
February 11th, 2013
1:08 pm
“And Harry Reid declared, at election time, if Mitt was elected, the chances of Senate Democrats working with him to pass anything as laughable”
——————————————————–
As apparently are the chances of Senate Democrats working with Obama to pass anything. Reid sucks as speaker, and his first priority is clearly his own political survival.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
February 11th, 2013
1:08 pm
If it was broken, we would already be dead as the Eagle could not fly.
Granny Godzilla
February 11th, 2013
1:08 pm
Mr Right
February 11th, 2013
12:42 pm
Granny Godzilla
February 11th, 2013
10:23 am
Mr Right
“f you think Obama did a good job on the economy, that’s not only dumb but also foolish!”
Piffle
Are you still having money problems?
No, I am not having money problems but I’m sure those millions that can’t find a job do . I guess 7.9% unemployrment rate is the new normal so pat Obama on the back and say good job! $16,500,000,000,000.00 debt and predicted to be over $20,000,000,000,000.00 by the end of Obama’s term, yea, piffle, (yawn) no big deal!
.
.
.
.
No Mr. Silly Pants,
Gaining close to 200,000 jobs in a month vs losing 885,000 jobs in a month
is the new normal.
So is a republican party cleaved in two, with neither side having any sense whatsoever….
getalife
February 11th, 2013
1:08 pm
” since when is the senate required to due the presidents bidding”
w had a rubber stamp congress to blow out our deficit but the dems do not march lock step with the President.
saywhat?
February 11th, 2013
1:09 pm
not speaker, majority leader. duh.
getalife
February 11th, 2013
1:10 pm
“If it was broken, we would already be dead as the Eagle could not fly.”
It is flying with just the left wing.
The right wing is useless.
Erwin's cat
February 11th, 2013
1:10 pm
Naw, she will will turn it down, she will be starting a new job in a few years that is much more powerful.
the FED?
DannyX
February 11th, 2013
1:10 pm
“the FED?”
appleseed
February 11th, 2013
1:11 pm
to bad Jay get over it.Can you imagine this coming from the biggest sore loser.Get over it,take your own advice cc.
saywhat?
February 11th, 2013
1:12 pm
The American Eagle flys high and long ……….. but it takes a “left” wing and a “right” wing to stay in the air.
——————————————————-
The right wing is broken.
Fix it or die.
——————————————————–
If it was broken, we would already be dead as the Eagle could not fly.
——————————————————–
Actually, it has two right wings, and now is stuck fying in circles and going nowhere.
getalife
February 11th, 2013
1:12 pm
Let Hillary rest and then make millions.
Latrina
February 11th, 2013
1:13 pm
“Initially, Obama intended to appoint Elizabeth Warren to the post, but backed down from the controversial appointment when GOP senators made it clear she would not be confirmed.”
Boy talk about your best laid plans coming back to bite you. The GOP screwed that one up on two levels. Not only is she now in the Senate, she would have been an excellent director of the CFPB.
Gale
February 11th, 2013
1:13 pm
getalife, That must be why we keep going in circles.
getalife
February 11th, 2013
1:13 pm
The eagle crashed over the cliff but the left wing brought it back.
The right wing is just dead weight.
getalife
February 11th, 2013
1:14 pm
Gale,
The point is the eagle is still flying after crashing.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
February 11th, 2013
1:16 pm
SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS!
Gale
February 11th, 2013
1:16 pm
I get it, but it is still dysfunctional. What America needs is two functional wings so we can move forward.. and up.
getalife
February 11th, 2013
1:18 pm
The costs of easing is 85 billion a month because the gop refuse to pass a jobs bill.
The market is due for a correction because easing will end one day.
getalife
February 11th, 2013
1:20 pm
“What America needs is two functional wings so we can move forward.. and up”
I agree but the gop are not going to fix their party.
They will stay the course and just pass immigration for some of the Latino vote.
DannyX
February 11th, 2013
1:21 pm
Cheney shot the eagle, it was in critical condition, “This bird could go down,” Bush said. Now the bird is recovering but not fast enough for the people that shot it. “Our goal is to make sure the eagle never recovers,” said McConnell.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
February 11th, 2013
1:21 pm
The point is some of you need to study aeronautics (political and otherwise) …………
)
aer·o·nau·tics
[air-uh-naw-tiks, -not-iks]
noun
the science or art of flight.
Got to run ……….. everyone be nice !
getalife
February 11th, 2013
1:22 pm
Well said DannyX.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
February 11th, 2013
1:23 pm
P.S.
Benjamin Franklin wanted the American symbol to be the “turkey”.
He may have been more prophetic than he ever thought.
getalife
February 11th, 2013
1:23 pm
cheney was a third rate appointment by appointing himself.
Granny Godzilla
February 11th, 2013
1:24 pm
http://thinkprogress.org/security/2013/02/11/1568871/scarborough-gop-hagel/
getalife
February 11th, 2013
1:26 pm
You should be thanking the left wing for being strong enough to keep the eagle flying.
Mick
February 11th, 2013
1:27 pm
Cheney – one of the most despicable men ever to slither his way to power, and absolute american disgrace! Who in their right mind would hold five deferment dick in any kind of regard?
In the middle
February 11th, 2013
1:29 pm
So how will two left wings be any better. Like it or not need both..
getalife
February 11th, 2013
1:31 pm
We don’t need the dead weight of the right wing.
It is useless and a drag on the eagle.
Fix it or we cut it off.
getalife
February 11th, 2013
1:33 pm
I don’t think blocking national security leaders is fixing the broken right wing.
Americans are asking what good is a worthless right wing.
They may amputate in 14.
Peadawg
February 11th, 2013
1:34 pm
“we cut it off.”
And the bird falls and dies with just one wing you ding dong.
In the middle
February 11th, 2013
1:35 pm
Question does “Fix it” mean agree with you, or do what they were voted into office to do. Did it ever occur that there is a substantial percentage of the population that does not want their senators to rubberstamp anything Obama puts forth.
getalife
February 11th, 2013
1:36 pm
The bird is still flying without it silly pea.
getalife
February 11th, 2013
1:36 pm
“Did it ever occur that there is a substantial percentage of the population that does not want their senators to rubberstamp anything Obama puts forth.”
Great, then debate and vote.
Peadawg
February 11th, 2013
1:37 pm
“The bird is still flying without it silly pea.” – Really? A bird can fly with ONE wing.
*facepalm*
getalife
February 11th, 2013
1:38 pm
The gop do not want to debate because the neocons failed on national security.
getalife
February 11th, 2013
1:41 pm
pea,
The eagle is still flying.
Fact.
Deal with it pea.
getalife
February 11th, 2013
1:42 pm
But the eagle has a disability.
A broken right wing.
It is worthless and will not move.
Peadawg
February 11th, 2013
1:44 pm
show me a bird that flies with one wing, getalife.
since this is Jay’s blog, I’ll refrain from calling you an idiot.
UNCLE SAMANTHA
February 11th, 2013
1:45 pm
JAY
MAYBE A DEAL………. SENATE DEMOCRATS PASS A BUDGET AND REPUBLICANS LET THE NOMINATIONS THROUGH
In the middle
February 11th, 2013
1:45 pm
Disability – no problem. Put them on SSI, problem solved. Just gotta love entitlements.
alex
February 11th, 2013
1:47 pm
Bad day today ,Jay–you’re paycheck is in jepardy, clowns reduced to eagle metaphors, need something better….
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 11th, 2013
1:47 pm
Sheets…
Road Scholar
February 11th, 2013
1:50 pm
To paraphrase: Either vote, or get off the pot!
Enough is enough! And this goes for both sides!
rightwingextreme
February 11th, 2013
1:50 pm
Fly-On-The-Wall
February 11th, 2013
10:24 am
I think the President did as good a job on the economy as the Republicans would let him do. Given how they blocked him at every step and still lost the election says a lot more about the President and his policies versus the Republicans and their policies.
you must forget that prez skeeter and the dimlibs had the House and Senate with super majorities for the first two years of his adminstration. they could have passed anything they wanted to.
Granny Godzilla
February 11th, 2013
1:52 pm
rightwingextreme
February 11th, 2013
1:50 pm
Fly-On-The-Wall
February 11th, 2013
10:24 am
I think the President did as good a job on the economy as the Republicans would let him do. Given how they blocked him at every step and still lost the election says a lot more about the President and his policies versus the Republicans and their policies.
you must forget that prez skeeter and the dimlibs had the House and Senate with super majorities for the first two years of his adminstration. they could have passed anything they wanted to.
.
.
.
.
.
RIGHTWING EXTREME WRONG AGAIN
it was 142 days, you flipping so and so….
HDB
February 11th, 2013
1:53 pm
Keith
February 11th, 2013
12:08 pm
Let me get this straight Jay- 1.Americans are killed in the line of duty and our facility is under attack, 2. the Prez is unaccounted for during the attack killing our guys, but doing what is necessary to find the truth is “petty and personal.”
Who in the admin wrote your gem of a talking point?”
Doesn’t this sound more like Reagan and the Marines that dies in Lebanon???
rightwingextreme
February 11th, 2013
1:54 pm
Mick
February 11th, 2013
1:27 pm
Cheney – one of the most despicable men ever to slither his way to power, and absolute american disgrace! Who in their right mind would hold five deferment dick in any kind of regard?
I offer William Jefferson Clinton. Abuser of multiple women….you could even include rape in that category. pathological liar….cannot practice law due to lying under oath. Hung out in moscow during vietnam war. I could go on.
xxx
February 11th, 2013
1:55 pm
If the Congress was a horse, we would’ve shot it a long time ago.
rightwingextreme
February 11th, 2013
1:55 pm
Granny Godzilla
February 11th, 2013
1:52 pm
rightwingextreme
February 11th, 2013
1:50 pm
Fly-On-The-Wall
February 11th, 2013
10:24 am
I think the President did as good a job on the economy as the Republicans would let him do. Given how they blocked him at every step and still lost the election says a lot more about the President and his policies versus the Republicans and their policies.
you must forget that prez skeeter and the dimlibs had the House and Senate with super majorities for the first two years of his adminstration. they could have passed anything they wanted to.
.
.
.
.
.
RIGHTWING EXTREME WRONG AGAIN
it was 142 days, you flipping so and so….
GG…ok for 142 days he had both houses and could have gotten anything he wanted passed. you mo……:)
Tap Out
February 11th, 2013
2:09 pm
We must remove these unpatriotic republicans with our votes. Their leadership shows no interest in practical and honest governing. Of course removing them won’t happen in Georgia, but we can at least hope the more intelligent citizens of other states will save the rest of our nation from these clowns.
stands for decibels
February 11th, 2013
2:12 pm
could have gotten anything he wanted passed.
This again?
Do I really have to remind you that this brief window depended on the cooperation of a Senator who had actively campaigned against Obama in 2008?
Fly-On-The-Wall
February 11th, 2013
2:52 pm
rightwingex’er
Nope you’re wrong on all points. The Democrats did NOT have super majorities in both houses. Where the heck do you think this whole issue of 60 votes is coming from? You may *claim* that in theory we had those numbers but the reality on the ground (or floor) is at that time that wasn’t true and you know it.
Les Moor
February 11th, 2013
3:51 pm
Ah, the obstruction continues proving that the GOTP have not a clue. I liked the comments from Cantor recently about how friendly they were now to Hispanic voters. The circus will never be short of clowns with the GOTP in town.
independent thinker
February 11th, 2013
8:52 pm
Old turtle head McConnell had better realize the country is tired of his obstruction and fillibustering.
Now he got two more cranky old farts to join in along with that nut job Cruz from Texas to keep the country from having a secretary of defense- stupid party hard at work.
fair and balanced
February 11th, 2013
8:57 pm
Jay is totally off base. Just look at this classified part of the hearing that causes any Republican or Democrat deep concern about Hagel:
http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2013/02/11/SNL-Unaired-Hagels-Israel-comments-Sketch?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BreitbartFeed+(Breitbart+Feed)
Z
February 12th, 2013
12:33 am
Republican’s can’t win on their failed policies, so they obstruct, lie, cheat, commit voter fraud, suppress the votes, Gerrymander districts, filibuster and on and on and on. These people aren’t politicians, they act like a bunch of street bullies thumping their chests in a public park to get attention. There getting it, the wrong kind. Who needs enemies when we have Republican’s such as these in office who are out to destroy this countries very foundation! 2014 here we come.